Abstract: A head equipment comprises a component such as a helmet connectable to the head of a wearer and movable by the wearer in a limited field, with at least five degrees of freedom. It comprises an arm constituted by articulated segments giving the component at least five degrees of freedom with respect to the fixed structure and linking the component to a fixed structure.

Abstract: A pitch stabilization system for an ejection seat includes a gyroscope rotor assembly having a pinion gear attached to two rotor wheels. The rotor assembly is mounted with a geometry to precess in response to change in the pitch rate of the seat. Precession of the gyro rotor rotates a vernier rocket with the resulting thrust applying a correcting moment to counter the adverse moment causing the ejection seat to pitch. When the seat is at rest in the cockpit of the aircraft, the rotor pinion gear teeth engage the teeth of a rack mounted stationarily to a fixed attach point on the aircraft. When an ejection force is applied to the seat, by a catapult or the like, the rotor wheel is rotated by virtue of the interengaging relationship between the rotor pinion gear teeth and the rack teeth so that by the time the ejection seat exits the cockpit the rotor disengages from the upper end of the rack, and is fully spun to operating revolution so that it can precess gyroscopically.

Abstract: An escape device such as an ejection seat system (10) has a propulsion system (42) that accelerates and changes the angular orientation of the device. The system (10) includes sensors (54) for determining certain parameters associated with device altitude, attitude, and sink rate. A microprocessor (36), operatively connected to both the sensors (54) and the propulsion system (42), operates the propulsion system so that the device will move at desired acceleration levels and turn to a desired attitude.

Abstract: An aircraft ejection seat (10, 120) having a combined catapult (46, 122) and rocket motor (88, 90, 130, 132, 142, 144) in which the amount of rocket thrust is selectable. An outer catapult tube (46, 122) forms a seat support structure. In the outer catapult tube there is a plug (66, 66A) at its upper end before ejection and carries a propellant for ejecting the seat from the aircraft when the propellant is discharged. There is a fixed sleeve (84) in the lower end of the outer catapult having an internal circumferential bearing surface with which the inner catapult tube is engaged before and during ejection. The holding sleeve is positioned to engage the plug (66, 66A) when the ejection has become complete. The plug then seals the outer catapult to receive gas from the rocket gas generators to elevate the seat substantially above the aircraft, as necessary under certain conditions.

Abstract: Inner catapult tubes (8) of aircraft (2) are pivotably mounted on the upper rear portion of ejection seat (12). When they separate from outer catapult tubes (4), tubes (8) pivot upwardly and rearwardly to form stabilizing booms (8). A drag device (30,30',30") is stowed inside the outer end of each boom (8) and extends axially outwardly therefrom upon deployment to apply a small drag load to the upper portion of seat (12) and counteract a tendency of seat (12) to pitch forward during operation of stabilization control rockets (18,20). The drag surfaces of devices (30,30',30") are folded around a center shaft (32,32',32") when stowed and extend radially outwardly from shaft (32,32',32") when deployed. The drag device may be a ram air inflatable device (30), a split tube/daisy petal device (30"), or a device having spring steel ribbons (40) forming a tuft-like appendage (30'). Ribbons (40) are wound around shaft (32' ) when stowed and spring radially outwardly from shaft (32') upon deployment.

Abstract: A crewmember (12) is positioned within an ejection seat or other escape device (10). The escape device (10) is ejected from the aircraft or other flying vehicle when it is desired to effect an escape. At the start of ejection, the altitude, sink rate and roll angle of the escape device (10) are determined, by appropriate sensors (128, 132). A microprocessor (66) is used for dividing the altitude by the sink rate to obtain a first time value. The microprocessor (66) is used to divide the roll angle by a desired rate of roll angle correction, to obtain a second time value. The second time value is subtracted from the first time value to obtain a third time value, t.sub.c. In response to t.sub.c being larger than a predetermined value, the microprocessor (66) controls separation to subject the crewmember (12) to a relatively low injury risk level. In response to t.sub.

Abstract: A programmable crewmember emergency ejection system is disclosed which will eject the crewmember expeditiously from a disabled aircraft, while at the same time assuring that the crewmember will not be subjected to forces that are beyond crewmember tolerance. This is accomplished by a control system involving sensors having signals that are processed and used to vary ejection thrust and acceleration onset rate. The system involves a two phase ejection: A catapult phase followed by a rocket phase, both phases cooperating to provide a substantially constant maximum thrust that is well within human tolerances such that a second jolt to the crewmember is substantially minimized.

Abstract: An ejection seat (10) having roll thrusters (38, 40, 112, 114) and propellant chambers in the inner catapult tubes (44, 46, 124, 126). The roll thrusters (38, 40, 112, 114) are adapted to roll the seat (10), when ejected from an inverted or unsatisfactory attitude to an upright proper attitude. Solid propellants (44, 46, 128, 130) within the inner catapult tubes are to be ignited after the seat is being ejected. There is a roll thruster valve housing (36, 110) connected to both roll thruster nozzles (38, 40, 112, 114) and to both inner catapult tubes (24, 26, 124, 126) so that propellant gas may flow from both catapult tubes to both nozzles. The check valve (52) in each inner catapult is operable to open during ejection by ejection gas and is operable to close by the roll thruster gas when the roll thruster propellants are ignited. The check valve system modulates the catapult gas pressure during ejection, prior to roll thruster propellant ignition.

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: An improved rocket catapult is disclosed for use in aircraft ejection systems permitting direct ignition of the rocket motor by a mechanically-actuated igniter situated in proximity to the rocket motor grain and which is actuated when the rocket motor has traveled a predetermined distance during the catapult phase of its operation.

Abstract: A rocket catapult ejection system for a seat-occupant mass of a disabled craft in which the rocket motor has an annular nozzle throat defined by a spherical pintle and an adjustable nozzle housing. Axial adjustment of the nozzle housing will displace the centroid of the nozzle throat and adjust the rocket thrust vector to compensate for deviations in the occupant-seat mass center of gravity.

Abstract: An igniter mechanism for a rocket motor utilized for towing a load or extting an air crew member from a disabled aircraft. The mechanism operates whenever a sufficient force is exerted on the tow line to shear a pin allowing closure of the switch. Electrical energy coupled to the switch is conducted to a squib which ignites a charge to cause ignition of the rocket motor propellant. The electrical switch mechanism can only be actuated by a predetermined pulling force on the tow line thereby causing the electrical contacts to be brought positively together.