Deployable Overhead Protection Assembly for Canopy Fragilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ejection systems face challenges in safely removing pilots from aircraft during high-speed ejections, particularly in backup modes where canopy fragilization is not pre-activated, leading to potential load transfer to the occupant's head.
Innovation Solution
A deployable overhead protection assembly comprising a base, stabilizers, and a mitt that extends forward to act as a tertiary breaker in the canopy fragilization system, configured to pivot and contact the canopy before the occupant, propagating cracks and transferring impact loads to the ejection seat.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a transparency/canopy is not previously fragilized in backup mode ejection, then the ejection system can be used in a wider variety of conditions, but load transfer may potentially be transferred to the occupant's head if the transparency does not sufficiently break
Solution Approach 1:
The deployable overhead protection assembly performs preliminary action by deploying the mitt to contact and break the canopy before the occupant's head reaches it. The assembly is positioned and ready to activate, initiating crack propagation in the canopy structure ahead of time, ensuring the canopy breaks in a controlled manner that prevents harmful load transfer to the occupant during backup mode ejection
Solution Approach 2:
The deployable overhead protection assembly acts as an intermediary between the ejection system and the occupant's head. The mitt component serves as a mediating element that intercepts the canopy, initiates its breakup, and redirects the force away from the occupant's head, thereby protecting the occupant while enabling backup mode ejection
2Reliability
If a deployable overhead protection assembly with mitt is added as a tertiary breaker, then canopy breakage reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ejection system is segmented into multiple functional components with distinct roles: sharp breakers as primary breakers, blunt breakers as secondary breakers, and the deployable overhead protection assembly with mitt as a tertiary breaker. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function in a coordinated sequence, improving overall canopy breakage reliability while maintaining modular system architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The overhead protection assembly incorporates dynamic deployment capability, transitioning from a stowed position to a deployed position during ejection. The pivoting base and extendable stabilizers allow the mitt to be positioned optimally at the moment of canopy contact, enabling reliable canopy breakage while keeping the system compact when not in use, thus managing complexity through dynamic rather than static configuration
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 solution effectively reduces the load on the occupant by initiating crack propagation in the canopy before the occupant contacts it, ensuring safe ejection and stabilizing the head during high-speed events.
Implementation Method 1
a forward end of the mitt configured to contact a canopy of an aircraft prior to an occupant contacting the canopy of the aircraft
Implementation Method 2
The mitt may be configured to propagate a crack in a canopy of an aircraft forward in response to an ejection event of the ejection seat
Implementation Method 3
a first stabilizer extending from a first side of the base, the first stabilizer configured to extend a first forward distance from the headrest when in a deployed position; a second stabilizer extending from a second side of the base
Data Source
AI summary
A canopy fragilization system for use in an aircraft ejection system may comprise: a sharp breaker disposed on a first side of an ejection seat, the sharp breaker configured to act as a primary breaker of a canopy of an aircraft; a blunt breaker disposed on a second side of the ejection seat, the blunt breaker configured to act as a secondary breaker of the canopy of the aircraft; and a deployable overhead protection assembly comprising a mitt extending forward of the sharp breaker and the blunt breaker when in a deployed position, a forward end of the mitt configured to act as a tertiary breaker of the canopy of the aircraft.