Patent ID: 7954765

Claim:
A store ejector for an aircraft having a flight computer configured to provide store release pitch data corresponding to aircraft flight conditions, the store ejector comprising: at least one pair of pneumatically activated ejector pistons; a pneumatic source for providing pressurized gas to the pneumatically operated ejector pistons; an adjustable orifice assembly including: a housing having a mandrel bore formed therein and including at least one inlet port and a pair of outlet ports; a pair of orifices disposed within the mandrel bore in spaced relation to one another; a mandrel slidably disposable within the bore and being axially translatable to alter the ratio of pressurized gas flow from the outlet ports and into the ejector pistons; and a drive mechanism operatively coupled to the mandrel and being configured to axially translate the mandrel; and a variable pitch valve controller configured to receive the store release pitch data from the flight computer and command the drive mechanism to move the mandrel to an optimum orifice setting corresponding to the store release pitch data; wherein the mandrel comprises: a pair of tapered portions; and a necked portion interconnecting the tapered portions; and wherein each one of the tapered portions is configured to cooperate with an adjacent one of the orifices to collectively define an orifice setting, the mandrel being axially translatable such that the tapered portions are movable relative to the orifices to alter the ratio of pressurized gas flow therebetween.