Patent GB-585274-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in safety devices for the occupants of aircraft
IPC: B64D25/10
Filed: 1945-01-10
Abstract: 585,274. Safety devices for occupants of aircraft. QUILTER, J. R. C., and MOTLEY, L. Jan. 10, 1945, No. 831. [Class 4] Means for ejecting the pilot or other occupant from an aircraft in an emergency, comprise a displaceable seat, power-operated means for ejecting the seat and occupant through an opening afforded by release of the cockpit cover, a hand lever controlling the rip-cord cover, a hand lever controlling the upward displacement of the seat and also adapted to release the cover, and a flexible wire rope or other attachment anchoring the seat to the aircraft', so that the seat and occupant will separate at a suitable distance from the aircraft when the attachment is fully extended. As shown, the pilot is supported on a seat 15 in a cockpit having a floor 10, instrument panel 11, armour plating 12 and a cover 13 hinged at its rear end 14. The pilot is held on the seat by the usual safety harness 17 and 19, anchored to the cockpit at 18 and 20 respectively. The seat is anchored to the cockpit by a wire rope 43 and is mounted on cross rails connected to collars 23 slidable on fixed guide tubes 22, the connection between the upper cross rail and collars comprising pins 24 which engage slots 25 in the upper ends of the tubes and pass through cross-heads carried by the rods 26, Fig. 6, of pistons 27 slidable in the tubes. The connection between the lower cross rail and oollars may be similarly constructed, in which case the slots 25 extend to the lower part of the tubes. The spaces below the pistons 27 are in communication with a compressed air bottle 30 or other source of fluid pressure, and the seat is retained in position by catches 28 which engage rollers 29 mounted at the upper ends of the piston rods 26. To eject the seat, the pilot operates a lever 31 which acts through a linkage 33, 34, 36 to release the catches. Movement of the lever also causes its lower end to engage a tappet'37,and operate a linkage 38, 39, 40, 41 to release a catch 42 which normally holds the cover 13 in a closed position. Alternatively, operation of the lever 31 may be arranged to cause fluid under pressure to be admitted to the spaces below the pistons 27. As the seat rises, the harness 17, 19 is released and the rollers 29 contact the cover 13 to raise it a small amount so that the slipstream will swing it to the open position. Pilot and seat are then ejected together. As an alternative or in addition to the air bottle 30, a chamber 45 may be provided in which a propellant charge is exploded to produce the necessary pressure to eject the seat. The air bottle 30 may be replenished by an auxiliary pump 46 operated by a hand lever 47. A pressure gauge 48, connected to the bottom of the tubes 22, is mounted on the instrument panel and indicates whatever the pressure acting on the pistons 27 is sufficient to eject the seat. Means may be provided for the semi-automatic or automatic operation of the ejection device if the pilot is incapacitated or has " blacked out " under the effect of excessive acceleration. For example, the initial 'movement of the lever 31 may energize a relay. In the latter case the pilot may depress a button 52 to slide a plunger through the abutting ends of the sections and so prevent automatic operation of the device while he retains consciousness. The displacement of the seat may be guided by parallel rails arranged on either side of the seat back, two fluid pressure cylinders being arranged beside the rails or a single cylinder arranged centrally between them.