Abstract: A locking mechanism for a pyrotechnic safe and arm interrupter 98 may be constructed with an external lock casing 2, longitudinally extending bolt 3, washer 4, spring 5, retaining ring 8 and interlocking element 9 that may be configured in various shapes and features corresponding with a safety release component. A key 10 may be constructed with key stem 11, handle 12 and two pairs of teeth 13, 14 of different diameters radially protruding from successively reduced diameters along a distal portion of key stem 11. Lock 1 may be installed with notch 19 in alignment with a corresponding feature of the safe and arm interrupter mechanism and fastened in place with mounting holes 20 so that only mounting flange 17 and the key access 18 are external to the interrupter device, panel or door.

Abstract: A Joint Combined Aircrew Systems Tester (JCAST) that can be used to test aircrew integrated life support equipment currently authorized for use by aircrew members of the Air Force, Navy and Army. The JCAST will be capable of Chemical/Biological seal testing of all the Joint Service Aircrew Mask (JSAM) variants including the Type 2 JSAM for high performance aircraft. Like traditional Testers, the JCAST is capable of Performance and Fit Testing of masks at pressure levels, including COMBAT EDGE (Combined Advanced Technology Enhanced Design “G” Ensemble), consistent with aircraft supply levels. The JCAST provides an apparatus and technique for accurately measuring a leak rate for an elastic body such as a chemical mask at 0.5 sccm at 6 IWG. The JCAST is portable and light weight while providing novel leak testing using pressure decay.

Abstract: The invention enables testing of nearly all aircrew equipment including COMBAT EDGE system components which include a mask, a G-suit, communication systems, and a goggle. A gas system includes an input filter, a first compressor comprising at least one blower, preferably three blowers connected in series, a second compressor, a first flow sensor, a second flow sensor, a first flow valve, a second flow valve, a regulator, a first pressure sensor, a second pressure sensor, a first pressure valve, a second pressure valve, and a controller. The second compressor produces a lower flow at a higher pressure than the first compressor. When the G-suit inflates, initially there is a large change in volume without much change in pressure, and then, as the G-suit fills and becomes firm, the change in volume slows down and the rate of the pressure increases. A normal breathing test, a preflight test, a fit test, a G-suit leak test and two dynamic flow leak tests are conducted.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for fitting mechanical parts to minimize prevent free play are described. An apparatus having a piston is designed so as to restrain the piston before actuation, and so as to allow the piston to gain momentum before striking an object. The described apparatus are applicable to devices involving shearable elements. An embodiment of the invention relates to a pyrotechnically activated valve incorporating such features to minimize free play in conjunction with such features so as to restrain the piston and also allow the piston to gain momentum.

Abstract: The present invention enables functional testing nearly all aircrew equipment including a COMBAT EDGE (combined advanced technology enhanced design “G” ensemble) system components which include a mask, a G-suit, communication systems, and a goggle. The present invention includes a gas system which includes an input filter, a first compressor comprising at least one blower, preferably three blowers connected in series, a second compressor, a first flow sensor a second flow sensor, a first flow valve, a second flow valve, a regulator, a first pressure sensor, a second pressure sensor, a first pressure valve, a second pressure valve, and a controller. The inlet filter designed to accept a chemical filter. The second compressor produces a lower flow at a higher pressure than the first compressor.

Abstract: An initiator device for activating air crew escape systems comprising a housing of elongate cylindric configuration defining a central chamber having a propellant gas discharge bore at one end and being open at the other end for receiving and static pressure mounting in the central chamber a pyrotechnic cartridge that is held in mounted position by a separate screw threaded head screw threadedly mounted in the housing open end, with the cartridge including a metallic body defining a compression chamber having at the portion of same that is engaged by the housing head, and having a piston received in the compression chamber that is frangibly secured to the cartridge body; the cartridge body also defines a separate pyrotechnic material receiving chamber that is open to the body compression chamber with a column of suitable pyrotechnic materials, tailored in light of the job to be done by the initiator, being mounted in the pyrotechnic material receiving chamber having a head end and terminating with an initiato

Abstract: An ejector arrangement for aircraft store racks that are carried by military type aircraft and the like for releasably attaching to the aircraft stores such as conventional or nuclear weapons, in which the ejector arrangement is duplicated in mirror image form at the usual fore and aft positions of the rack, with each ejector arrangement being in the form of an elongated housing with which the usual fore and aft sway braces are respectively integral, which ejector housing internally defines an elongate internal chamber in which are mounted an outer cylinder and inner cylinder that in the dormant relation of the ejector are in substantially telescoped coaxial relation with like ends of same disposed adjacent one end of the housing to which the rack ballistic gas is supplied, with the ejector cylinders at their other ends being exposed externally of the other end of the housing and keyed for sequential movement to their extended relations under the action of the ballistic gas involved, to thrust the store which

Abstract: An emergency remover device for ejecting an aircraft canopy preliminary to in-flight ejection of personnel from the aircraft, which device is a ballistic gas actuated telescoping multi-cylinder assembly that is normally keyed in retracted relation and comprises an inner cylinder, an intermediate cylinder, and an outer cylinder, with the assembly arranged for upright incorporation in the usual aircraft canopy actuating extensible and retractable strut, in which assembly the outer cylinder is fixed against movement relative to the aircraft on emergency actuation of the device, and the inner and intermediate cylinders act under ballistic gas pressure released within the device to effect the imposition on the canopy of the needed unbalanced force in a more or less uniform manner to effect the application to the canopy of maximized release momentum prior to the remover device to effect the application to the canopy of maximized release momentum prior to the remover device reaching its extending length, and to prov