Patent GB-883527-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in multi-service connector devices for the occupants of the occupants of aircraft
IPC: F16L37/32
Filed: 1957-03-11
Abstract: 883,527. Hose &c. connectors. MARTIN, J. March 11, 1958 [March 11, 1957 ; July 5, 1957], Nos. 8028/57 and 21366/57. Class 99(1). A multi-service connector, for use in an aircraft having an airman's ejection seat and at least two sources for the supply of fluid to an airman in the seat and for coupling such supply sources to supply lines carried by the airman, comprises a personal part having at least two passages therethrough and which is the terminal piece for the supply lines carried by the airman; a body part adapted for attachment to and retention by the ejection seat and formed with at least two passages therethrough for conveying the fluid through such body part to the corresponding passages in the personal part and thereby to the airman's supply lines, an aircraft part adapted for attachment to the body part and having at least two passages therethrough serving to connect the passages in the latter to the aircraft supply sources, and releasable means for fluid-tightly but releasably attaching together the personal and body parts and the body and aircraft parts of the connector respectively so as to place the passages in such attached parts in register and the airman's supply lines in fluid-tight communication with the supply sources. There are opposed coaxial and relatively axially slidable spring-biased valve means in each of at least two of the passages in the body part and adapted to automatically respectively to close opposite ends of such passages upon disconnection of the personal and/or the aircraft part of the connector therefrom, and further valve means in at least one of the passages in at least one of the personal and aircraft parts and adapted to close the inlet to, or outlet from, such passage upon disconnection from one another of the body and personal parts or body and aircraft parts of the connector. As shown, the body 43 is formed with fluid passages 44, 45 and 46 and a passage 47 for the reception of an electrically-insulating bush 48 carrying electrical conductors, valve assemblies 49, 50 and 51 being mounted in the passages and each comprising two valves 52, 53 adapted to cooperate with inwardly converging seats 54, 55 at opposite ends of the passages. The valves are formed integrally with hollow bodies 56, 57 which telescope one within the other and enclose a spring 58 which urges the valves apart in an axial direction and towards the seats 54, 55; the outer valve body 57 is centralised by longitudinal ribs 59 of aerofoil form. The generally domed or hemispherical end surfaces of the valves are provided with axial projections 60, 61 which serve to co-operate with the parts 67, 106 of the connector to thereby open the valves. The latter or the seats therefor are provided with rubber sealing rings 52<SP>1</SP>. Formed at one end of the body 43 and in communication with the passage 44 is a bore 62 which receives a tubular nipple 63 for connection to a flexible hose 64 connected through a relief valve 66 to an emergency oxygen supply 65. An upper plate part 67 of the connector is furnished with holes 68, 69, 70 and 71 registering with the passages in the body 43 and having tubular nipples 75, 76 and 77 to receive hoses 78, 79 and 80. Detent means for connecting the part 67 to the body comprises a longitudinally slidable plunger 83 urged forwardly by a spring 85 and provided with a latch-shaped head 87 for co-operation with a wedge-like portion 88 on the part 67, the plunger being connected to a lever 89 mounted on a shaft 90 and connected to a link 93. By pushing the link forwardly, the plunger is withdrawn rearwardly to disengage the head 87 from the portion 88 to release the part 67 from the body. For manual release of the part there is provided a hand lever 94 having a bifurcated portion pivoted on a pin 96 and straddling a lug 95 on the part, that portion having parts 97 which, when the lever is pulled forwardly, pushes the head 87 rearwardly to disengage the latter from the portion 88. To avoid accidental forward movement of the lever 94, the latter has a thumb-operated catch comprising a plunger 98 pivotally connected to a pivoted, spring-loaded, thumb-pressed lever 100 and normally retained within a notch 105 in the lug 95. To automatically hold the head 87 in the withdrawn position thereof, a pivoted, latchretaining pawl 145 urged upwardly by a spring 148 is provided with a nose 149 for engaging the head 87 and an extension 150 acting as a kicker for engaging the underside of the part 67 so as to eject the latter from the body when released by the head 87. Attached to the underside of the body 43 is a part 106 having tubular bushes 107, 108 and 109, corresponding to the passages 44, 45 and 46, for the reception of nipples 110, 111 and 112 which receive hoses 113, 114 and 115 leading to sources of pressurized air and oxygen. The part has chamfered portions 116 to engage under overhanging lugs 117 on the body, and a chamfered portion 118 for co-operation with a latch head 119 on a spring-loaded plunger 120 carried by the body. The part also carries a latch release lever 123 having toe parts 125 adapted, when the lever is pulled downwardly, to push the head 119 rearwardly, and to release the part 106 from the body, the lever being connected by a flexible, static line 126, or a telescopic rod, to the floor of the aircraft when the ejection seat, with which the connector is associated, leaves the aircraft. The bushes 72, 73, 74 and 107, 108, 109 are provided with valves 135, 129 adapted to co-operate with seats 136, 130, and to open the valves 52, 53 and mounted for sliding movement on guide pins 131, the valves, when the parts 67, 106 are disconnected from the body, being biased by springs 133 to a closed position. When a valve is not provided in one or more of the bushes 72, 73, 74, a crossbar 144 is disposed across the or each bush to act on the spigot 60 and open the corresponding valve 52. Guide plates 138 on the sides of the connector body 43 have notches 140, 141 to receive and register with locating studs 142, 143 on the parts 67, 106. When the part 67 is removed from the body 43, a blank cover is fitted to close and protect the top of the body ; the plate, when detached from the body, is stowed in a tray mounted in the aircraft, cockpit or on the ejector seat. Specifications 583,257, 640,520, 652,131, 673,147, 685,125, 711,234, 721,752, 761,506, 761,507, 770,914 and 854,769 are referred to.