Abstract: A line cutter or discharge valve responsive to aircraft attitude is posited on an aircraft ejection seat to interrupt the gas initiated sustainer rocket system. During inverted ejections, the cutter or valve will either sever or discharge pressure from a tube which leads from the firing squib to the sustainer rocket. Preventing sustainer rocket ignition enhances inverted ejection survivability by reducing crew member velocity toward the ground, thereby lengthening the time available for parachute deployment.

Abstract: A spherical piston for high-pressure applications. By shifting the o-ring oove to the pressure side of the major diameter of a spherical piston such that one edge of the groove is the major diameter, a very close fitting spherical piston that will not have metal to metal interference is created. Contrary to traditional spherical pistons, the spherical diameter of the present invention is less than the diameter of a cylinder wall. Elimination of metal to metal interference between the piston and the cylinder wall permits the piston to be made of harder metal than the cylinder wall without concern for damage if the piston cants on its axis within the cylinder.

Abstract: An attitude reference system which uses microwave radiometry to sense the orientation of a vehicle. A fundamental fact of microwave radiometry is that more natural energy emanates from the earth than from the sky. The difference in energy, which is directly proportional to temperature, can be used to estimate attitudinal position. Microwave antennas mounted on an escape vehicle, such as an aircraft ejection seat, receive energy from different directions in a base plane and from a direction perpendicular to the base plane. Vehicle orientation relative to the earth is discerned by comparing the sensed radiometric temperature received from each antenna direction, and seat guidance equipment is programmed to steer the seat in a predefined direction based upon the radiometrically sensed orientation.

Abstract: A drogue parachute deployment system for an ejection seat comprises a dro parachute mounted in a bag on the seat, a rocket motor, and a tow line attached between the parachute and the rocket motor. Upon firing of the rocket motor, the bag is caused to rip and the parachute is deployed.

Abstract: A rocket powered escape vehicle is equipped with an electrostatic attitude ensing system which commands a rocket motor mounted in gimbals on the bottom of the vehicle to provide a vertically upward seeking escape from an aircraft independent of aircraft attitude.