Patent Description:
Ejection systems are designed to expel pilots from an aircraft cockpit. Ejection seats in high performance aircraft benefit from safely removing the pilot or other occupant from the disabled aircraft across a wide variety of aircraft speed regimes, altitudes and aircraft attitudes. Ejection seats may experience a high velocity windblast due to ejection seats entering a wind stream during an ejection event. Arms of occupants may be susceptible to being exposed to the high velocity wind blast during the ejection event.

<CIT> describes improvement in or relating to restraining means in vehicle ejection seats. <CIT> describes a limb retention system. <CIT> describes a vehicle ejection seat. <CIT> describes personnel escape equipment. <CIT> describes s restraint system.

An evacuation system for an aircraft ejection system is disclosed herein and defined in claim <NUM>.

In various embodiments, the controller is in operable communication with the retraction mechanism, the controller further configured to command the retraction mechanism to retract the cord in response to the ejection event being initiated. The controller may be further configured to command the retraction mechanism to lock the cord in response to the ejection event being initiated. The cuff assembly may be disposed between being flush with a seat back and being a foot (<NUM>) from the seat back in response to the retraction mechanism locking. The system may further comprise a second cuff assembly coupled to the cord. The system may comprise: a first cuff assembly disposed on a first side of an ejection seat; a second cuff assembly disposed on a second side of the ejection seat; a first cord extending from within the ejection seat to the first cuff assembly; a second cord extending from within the ejection seat to the second cuff assembly, the system configured to allow a free range of motion of the first cuff assembly and the second cuff assembly during an aircraft flight, the system configured to retract and lock the first cuff assembly and the second cuff assembly in response to a seat ejection being initiated.

In various embodiments, the retraction mechanism may be disposed in a seat back of the ejection seat, the retraction mechanism configured to retract the first cord. The system may further comprise a first guillotine and a second guillotine, the first guillotine configured to sever the first cord during a seat ejection process, the second guillotine configured to sever the second cord during the seat ejection process. The system may further comprise a first retraction mechanism operably coupled to the first cord and a second retraction mechanism operably coupled to the second cord. The first retraction mechanism and the second retraction mechanism may each comprise a spool, the first cord wound around the spool of the first retraction mechanism, the second cord wound around the spool of the second retraction mechanism. The first retraction mechanism and the second retraction mechanism may each be without a spring. The first cuff assembly and the second cuff assembly may each comprise a cuff and a size adjuster.

A method is disclosed herein and defined in claim <NUM>.

In various embodiments, the guillotine severs the cord after the ejection seat is ejected from the aircraft. The method may further comprise commanding, via the processor, a second retraction mechanism to retract a second cuff assembly towards the seat back of the ejection seat simultaneously with the cuff assembly. The cuff assembly may be coupled to a bicep and/or wrist of an occupant. The method may further comprise commanding, via the processor, locking of the retraction mechanism. The retraction mechanism may lock the cuff assembly between being flush with the seat back and being a foot (<NUM>) from the seat back.

A more complete understanding of the present disclosure, however, may best be obtained by referring to the detailed description and claims when considered in connection with the following illustrative figures. In the following figures, like reference numbers refer to similar elements and steps throughout the figures.

The detailed description of exemplary embodiments herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings, which show exemplary embodiments by way of illustration. While these exemplary embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosures, it should be understood that other embodiments may be realized and that logical changes and adaptations in design and construction may be made in accordance with this disclosure and the teachings herein.

The scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than by merely the examples described. For example, the steps recited in any of the method or process descriptions may be executed in any order and are not necessarily limited to the order presented. Also, any reference to tacked, attached, fixed, coupled, connected or the like may include permanent, removable, temporary, partial, full and/or any other possible attachment option. Surface shading lines may be used throughout the figures to denote different parts but not necessarily to denote the same or different materials.

Disclosed herein, is a bicep and/or wrist retention system for use in ejection seats of aircraft ejection systems. The bicep and/or wrist retention system is configured to retract and/or lock a bicep and/or wrist retention apparatus during an ejection process. In this regard, the bicep and/or wrist retention system may be configured to retract a cord during the ejection process to a side of the ejection seat during the ejection process. In response to the initial ejection process being completed and the passenger beginning to descend, the cord, may be severed allowing arm movement for a respective passenger, in accordance with various embodiments. In various embodiments, the bicep and/or wrist retention system may help prevent limbs from flailing during an ejection process, resulting in a safer ejection process relative to typical ejection systems.

With reference to <FIG>, an aircraft ejection system <NUM> is shown, in accordance with various embodiments. Aircraft ejection system <NUM> may be installed in aircraft <NUM> to expel an ejection seat <NUM> and an occupant <NUM> of ejection seat <NUM> from a cockpit <NUM> of aircraft <NUM>. Ejection seat <NUM> may be urged from cockpit <NUM> by a propulsion system <NUM>. In accordance with various embodiments, ejection seat <NUM> includes a bicep and/or wrist retention system <NUM>. The bicep and/or wrist retention system <NUM> may be coupled to, or integral with, a respective seat back pad or a respective seat pan pad. The bicep and/or wrist retention system <NUM> may be sized and configured to retract an arm, or bicep and/or wrist, of an occupant <NUM> during the ejection process as described further herein.

Referring now to <FIG>, an ejection seat <NUM> is illustrated with a bicep and/or wrist retention system <NUM>, in accordance with various embodiments. Ejection seat <NUM> includes a seat back <NUM> and a seat pan <NUM>. The ejection seat <NUM> comprises a bicep and/or wrist retention system <NUM>. The bicep and/or wrist retention system <NUM> comprises a cord <NUM> and a cuff assembly <NUM>. The bicep and/or wrist retention system <NUM> is configured to be coupled to an occupant <NUM> of an aircraft <NUM> from <FIG>. For example, the cuff assembly <NUM> comprises a size adjuster, as described further herein, the size adjuster configured to adjust a diameter of a cuff in the cuff assembly <NUM> to secure the cuff assembly <NUM> to the occupant <NUM>.

The cord <NUM> of the bicep and/or wrist retention system extends from the cuff assembly <NUM> to a retraction mechanism as described further herein. In various embodiments, the retraction mechanism is disposed within the seat back <NUM>. In various embodiments, the retraction mechanism may be disposed in the seat pan <NUM> and in a routed channel of the seat back <NUM>. The present disclosure is not limited in this regard. In various embodiments, the retraction mechanism is configured to allow rapid movements by the occupant <NUM>. In this regard, the occupant <NUM> may be allowed to move about normally when reacting during flight of the aircraft <NUM> of <FIG>, in accordance with various embodiments. In various embodiments, the retraction mechanism is configured to lock in response to an ejection event as described further herein. Although illustrated as being coupled to the bicep in <FIG>, the present disclosure is not limited in this regard. For example, coupling the cuff assembly <NUM> to a wrist is also within the scope of this disclosure. In various embodiments, multiple cuffs may be utilized to couple to a wrist and a bicep of an arm of an occupant <NUM>. For example, the bicep and/or wrist retention system <NUM> may further comprise a second cord <NUM> in accordance with cord <NUM> and a second cuff assembly <NUM> in accordance with cuff assembly <NUM>. The second cuff assembly <NUM> may be configured to couple to a wrist of an occupant <NUM> in accordance with various embodiments.

Referring now to <FIG>, a detailed view of a portion of the bicep and/or wrist retention system <NUM> is illustrated in accordance with various embodiments. The cuff assembly <NUM> may comprise a cuff <NUM> and a size adjuster <NUM>. The size adjuster <NUM> may include a hook and loop fastener attachment mechanism, a belt and buckle attachment mechanism, a press fit connection or the like. In various embodiments, the size adjuster <NUM> comprises webbing loops configured to secure the cuff <NUM> to an arm of an occupant <NUM> from <FIG>. Although illustrated as comprising a size adjuster <NUM>, the cuff assembly <NUM> is not limited in this regard. For example, the cuff <NUM> may comprises a flexible sleeve configured to stretch during a process of coupling the cuff <NUM> to an arm of an occupant <NUM> and contract once the flexible sleeve is in place, in accordance with various embodiments.

Referring now to <FIG>, a retraction mechanism <NUM> of the bicep and/or wrist retention system <NUM> is illustrated in accordance with various embodiments. The retraction mechanism comprises a spool <NUM>. The spool <NUM> comprises a generally cylindrical body <NUM> extending from a first flange <NUM> to a second flange <NUM>. In various embodiments at least one of the first flange <NUM> or the second flange <NUM> comprises a plurality of teeth <NUM> extending radially outward from the first flange <NUM> and/or the second flange <NUM>. The plurality of teeth <NUM> may be configured to interact with a locking mechanism <NUM> as described further herein.

In various embodiments, the cord <NUM> of the bicep and/or wrist retention system <NUM> is wound around the generally cylindrical body <NUM> of the spool <NUM>. In various embodiments, the bicep and/or wrist retention system <NUM> does not include a spring or other mechanism configured to keep the cord taut. In this regard, the bicep and/or wrist retention system <NUM> is configured to allow uninhibited movement of an arm of an occupant <NUM> during operation of the aircraft <NUM> from <FIG>.

In various embodiments, the retraction mechanism <NUM> of the bicep and/or wrist retention system <NUM> further comprises a locking mechanism <NUM>. The locking mechanism <NUM> may comprise an actuator <NUM> or the like configured to actuate a locking component <NUM> configured to engage the plurality of teeth <NUM> in response to an ejection event as described further herein. In this regard, the actuator <NUM> may be activated electronically (e.g., electrically or wirelessly) via a sequencer, or ballistically (e.g., via a catapult pressure or the like) as described further herein.

In various embodiments, the retraction mechanism <NUM> further comprises a motor <NUM> powered by pressure from the catapult. The motor <NUM> is operably coupled to the spool <NUM>. In this regard, during an ejection event, the motor <NUM> may be commanded to retract the cord <NUM> to a predetermined position (i.e., proximate the seat back). In various embodiments, upon reaching the predetermined position from the retraction, the actuator <NUM> of the locking mechanism <NUM> may be commanded to engage a groove defined between adjacent teeth in the plurality of teeth <NUM>. In this regard, the retraction mechanism <NUM> is configured to retract the cuff assembly <NUM> from <FIG> and <FIG> and restrain the cuff assembly <NUM> in response to an ejection event, in accordance with various embodiments. Although described herein with respect to a motor <NUM> driving the retraction of cord <NUM>, the present disclosure is not limited in this regard. In various embodiments, the retraction mechanism <NUM> comprises an inertia reel.

Referring now to <FIG>, a schematic view of a control system <NUM> for the bicep and/or wrist retention system <NUM> is illustrated, in accordance with various embodiments. In various embodiments, the control system <NUM> comprises a controller <NUM> and a memory <NUM>. In various embodiments, controller <NUM> may be integrated into computer systems of ejection seat <NUM>. In various embodiments, controller <NUM> may be configured as a central network element or hub to access various systems and components of control system <NUM>. In various embodiments, controller <NUM> may comprise a processor. In various embodiments, controller <NUM> may be implemented in a single processor. In various embodiments, controller <NUM> may be implemented as and may include one or more processors and/or one or more tangible, non-transitory memories (e.g., memory <NUM>) and be capable of implementing logic. Each processor can be a general purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof. Controller <NUM> may comprise a processor configured to implement various logical operations in response to execution of instructions, for example, instructions stored on a non-transitory, tangible, computer-readable medium configured to communicate with controller <NUM>.

System program instructions and/or controller instructions may be loaded onto a non-transitory, tangible computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by a controller, cause the controller to perform various operations.

In various embodiments, the controller <NUM> is in electronic communication (e.g., wirelessly or electrically) with a first retraction mechanism <NUM>, a first guillotine <NUM>, a second retraction mechanism <NUM>, and a second guillotine <NUM>. In various embodiments, the retraction mechanisms <NUM>, <NUM> are in accordance with the retraction mechanism <NUM> of <FIG>. In various embodiments, the guillotines <NUM>, <NUM> are configured to sever a respective cord <NUM>, <NUM> of a respective bicep and/or wrist retention system <NUM> in response to receiving a control signal from controller <NUM> in accordance with various embodiments. The guillotines may include an electrically activated actuator configured to release a cutting component and sever the respective cord <NUM>, <NUM> as described further herein. Although illustrated as including cord <NUM> extending from a retraction mechanism <NUM> and cord <NUM> extending from a retraction mechanism <NUM>, the present disclosure is not limited in this regard. For example, a single cord may extend from a single retraction mechanism and then split into cord <NUM> and <NUM>, in accordance with various embodiments. In this regard, only a single guillotine could be utilized as well, in accordance with various embodiments.

In various embodiments, the guillotines <NUM>, <NUM> and the retraction mechanisms <NUM>, <NUM> are disposed in the seat back <NUM>. In this regard, the guillotines <NUM>, <NUM> and the retraction mechanisms <NUM>, <NUM> may be hidden from view, in accordance with various embodiments.

In various embodiments, the controller <NUM> and the memory <NUM> may be components of an electronic sequencer for ejection system <NUM> from <FIG>. For example, an electronic sequencer of an ejection system <NUM> is configured to initiate a sequence of events in response to an ejection handle being pulled (i.e., an ejection event being initiated). An electronic sequencer may initiate deployment of a drogue gun, a parachute, a stabilization firing system, etc., in accordance with various embodiments.

Referring now to <FIG>, a process <NUM> flow chart for the controller <NUM> from <FIG> during an ejection event is illustrated, in accordance with various embodiments. The process <NUM> comprises, receiving, via a processor, an ejection initiation signal (step <NUM>). The ejection initiation signal may be received in response to an occupant (e.g., occupant <NUM> from <FIG>) pulling an ejection handle or the like.

The process <NUM> further comprises commanding, via the processor, retraction of a first cord <NUM> and a second cord <NUM> (step <NUM>). The cords <NUM>, <NUM> are in accordance with the cord <NUM> from <FIG> and <FIG>. In various embodiments, the first cord <NUM> may be retracted via a first retraction mechanism <NUM> and the second cord <NUM> may be retracted via second retraction mechanism <NUM>. In various embodiments, the first cord <NUM> and the second cord <NUM> may be retracted via a single retraction mechanism. The present disclosure is not limited in this regard. In various embodiments, by retracting the cords <NUM>, <NUM> towards the seat back <NUM> from <FIG>, arms of an occupant <NUM> may be better secured, preventing flailing of arms during the ejection event, in accordance with various embodiments. In various embodiments, the cords <NUM>, <NUM> may retract the respective cuffs <NUM>, <NUM> to between flush with the seat back <NUM> and a foot (<NUM>) from the seat back, or between flush with the seat back <NUM> and <NUM> inches (<NUM>) from the seat back.

The process <NUM> further comprises commanding, via the processor, locking of the first cord <NUM> and the second cord <NUM> (step <NUM>). In various embodiments, first cord <NUM> is locked by a first locking mechanism (e.g., a locking mechanism <NUM>) and the second cord <NUM> is locked by a second locking mechanism (e.g., a locking mechanism <NUM>). In various embodiments, the first cord <NUM> and the second cord <NUM> may be locked by a single locking mechanism. The present disclosure is not limited in this regard.

The process <NUM> further comprises commanding, via the processor, severing of the first cord <NUM> and the second cord <NUM> (step <NUM>). In various embodiments, the cords <NUM>, <NUM> may be commanded to be severed in accordance with step <NUM> based on an event in the ejection process. For example, the severing step <NUM> may occur simultaneously with a parachute being deployed, or a drogue chute being deployed, or the like. In this regard, when the occupant <NUM> from <FIG> may start using his or her arms, the severing step <NUM> may be performed just prior, in accordance with various embodiments.

Referring now to <FIG>, a control system <NUM> for a bicep and/or wrist retention system <NUM> is illustrated, in accordance with various embodiments. The control system <NUM> may comprise the controller <NUM> and the memory <NUM> as disclosed previously herein, and the control system <NUM> may further comprise a catapult <NUM>. The catapult <NUM> may include a propulsion system configured to eject the occupant <NUM> from an aircraft <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>. In various embodiments, pressure generated from the catapult <NUM> may be utilized to operate the retraction mechanisms <NUM>, <NUM> of the respective bicep and/or wrist retention devices <NUM>, <NUM>. For example, pressure generated from the catapult <NUM> may be utilized to wind up the spool of the retraction mechanism <NUM> and lock the retraction mechanism <NUM> in place, in accordance with various embodiments. In various embodiments, with the catapult automatically performing the retraction and locking function of process <NUM>, steps <NUM> and <NUM> by the controller <NUM> may be eliminated, in accordance with various embodiments.

However, the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any elements that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as critical, required, or essential features or elements of the disclosures. The scope of the invention is accordingly to be limited by nothing other than the appended claims, in which reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean "one and only one" unless explicitly so stated, but rather "one or more.

In the detailed description herein, references to "various embodiments", "one embodiment", "an embodiment", "an example embodiment", etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic.

Claim 1:
An aircraft ejection system, comprising:
an ejection seat (<NUM>);
a catapult configured to eject the ejection seat from the aircraft;
a cuff assembly (<NUM>);
a retraction mechanism;
a cord (<NUM>) extending from the retraction mechanism to the cuff assembly, wherein the retraction mechanism is configured to utilize pressure from the catapult to retract the cord;
a guillotine configured to sever the cord; and
a controller in operable communication with the guillotine, the controller configured to:
receive (<NUM>), via a processor, an ejection initiation signal indicating an ejection event of an ejection seat has been initiated; and
command (<NUM>), via the processor, severing of the cord after ejection of the ejection seat.