Patent GB-786078-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in personal service connectors for the crews of aircraft
Inventor: PETTINGER DONALD STANLEY
IPC: B64D25/00
Filed: 1955-02-02
Abstract: 786,078. Personal service connectors for use by airmen. HYMATIC ENGINEERING CO., Ltd. Feb. 2, 1956 [Feb. 2, 1955], No. 3054/55. Class 4. A connecting device for the personal service supplies such as microphone, oxygen and pressure connections for an airman occupying an ejector seat in aircraft comprises a seat plate d attached to the airman's ejector seat (not shown) and comprising a fixed plate i spaced from plate d to sandwich a sliding plate e which is moved lengthwise against the action of springs by a projection k or Bowden control m operated by the airman (see Fig. 1). The plate e is formed with keyhole apertures f which in the position shown lock, and with plate e moved by the control, release, two pairs of cones b, each having an annular recess c, formed on a seat bracket a. Fig. 10. The bracket a is apertured for the passage of the various services and it carries a plate n having connections o for the supplies, the plate n being releasably secured to bracket a by a catch plate t, Fig. 8, said catch plate having two lugs t<SP>1</SP> with holes therein to be engaged by catches s operated by a pair of levers u pivoted about fixed fulcrum points in a fitting v secured to plate n. A spring-loaded plunger r, formed with a collar r<SP>1</SP> to engage levers u, is connected to the aircraft structure by a lanyard so that plate n is automatically released when the seat is ejected from the aircraft. A conical end on plunger r holds catches s apart to lock plate n to bracket a and a visible plunger is provided to indicate that the catches are not in locking position. An airman's coupling unit comprising halves p connected by catches y, figures 6 and 8, and inter-locking handle elements x, Fig. 6, is releasably secured to seat bracket a by two pairs of spring-loaded catches 10, 11, one catch of each pair being bevelled so that it can be freed by a pull by the airman on the coupling unit handle x, the other catch of each pair providing a positive means of locking which can be released only by operation of a lever 12 which is automatically actuated by the airman when he releases his seat harness buckle. The coupling halves p carry service connections q complementary to the connections o on platen. In use, the airman on entering the aircraft, connects the halves p of his unit and presses it downwards on to the seat bracket a (to which the supply plate n is already attached) where it will be retained by one each of the catches 10 and 11, the other catch of each pair springing into their locking positions when all services are established and valves opened. During a normal exit from the aircraft the airman will release his harness buckle, thus freeing some catches 10, 11 and then pull out his unit against the restraint of the remaining catches. During an ejection exit plunger r will be operated to release automatically supply plate n from the remainder of the assembly. At the same time an emergency oxygen and pressure supply for the airman during descent will be opened and the normal gas services automatically sealed. Once out of the aircraft the operation of a combined parachute and seat harness release mechanism causes a pull on cable m to move sliding plate e so that the remainder of the assembly becomes separated from seat plate d. On landing, the airman will release his harness buckle, thereby freeing catches 10, 11 and by exerting a pull on handle x he will separate the half-coupling unit p from seat bracket a and sever his emergency supplies.