Airfoil Arm Restraint Stabilizes Ejection Seat

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Solution Overview

Problem

Ejection seat systems destabilize upon entering the wind stream, increasing the risk of injury to the pilot due to changes in pitch, roll, and yaw, and often require a drogue parachute that adds weight and cost.

Innovation Solution

An arm restraint assembly with airfoil structures mounted on the primary and secondary arms, which deploy before the pilot enters the wind stream, stabilizing the ejection seat by utilizing the principles of aerodynamics to reduce rotational movements and potentially eliminating the need for a drogue parachute.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If a drogue parachute is used to stabilize the ejection seat, then the stability and directional control are improved, but the weight and cost of the system increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovestabilityVSAvoidweight

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the drogue parachute from the ejection seat system by replacing it with airfoil structures mounted on the arm restraint assembly. The airfoils generate aerodynamic forces that provide the necessary stability and directional control without requiring the additional weight and complexity of a parachute system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical parachute system with aerodynamic airfoil structures. The airfoils utilize aerodynamic principles to generate lift and directional control forces, substituting the mechanical deployment and braking mechanism of a parachute with a more integrated aerodynamic solution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Stability of the object's composition

If a drogue parachute is used to stabilize the ejection seat, then the stability and directional control are improved, but the cost of the system increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovestabilityVSAvoidcost

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the drogue parachute component from the ejection seat system, thereby eliminating the associated manufacturing costs. The airfoil structures are integrated into the existing arm restraint assembly, reducing overall system cost while maintaining stability functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The airfoil structures serve multiple functions: they provide stability, directional control, and act as part of the arm restraint mechanism. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for a separate parachute system, reducing overall system cost while maintaining necessary performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Weight of moving object

If airfoil structures are mounted on the arm restraint assembly, then the weight of the system decreases, but the complexity of the arm restraint assembly increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveweightVSAvoidcomplexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the airfoil structures with the arm restraint assembly into a single integrated component. This combination eliminates the need for separate parachute systems and reduces overall weight, while the integrated design manages complexity by consolidating functions rather than adding separate systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The airfoil structures perform multiple functions including stability, directional control, and arm restraint integration. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components, thereby managing system complexity while achieving weight reduction goals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The airfoil structures effectively stabilize the ejection seat, reducing the risk of injury and allowing for the potential elimination of the drogue parachute, thereby decreasing the system's weight and cost while enhancing safety and directional control.

Implementation Method 1

the airfoil structures effectively stabilize the ejection seat, reducing the risk of injury and allowing for the potential elimination of the drogue parachute, thereby decreasing the system's weight and cost while enhancing safety and directional control

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAerodynamic lift: Aerofoil

Data Source

PatentUS11414197B2Airfoil arm restraint systems

Publication Date: 2022.08.16 AMI IND INC

AI summary

An arm restraint assembly for an ejection seat may comprise a primary arm configured to pivot about a primary arm pivot joint, and a secondary arm configured to pivot about a secondary arm pivot joint. A primary airfoil structure may be coupled to the primary arm assembly. The primary airfoil structure may include an airfoil body.