Ejection Seat Survival Kit Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current aircraft ejection seat survival kits are often stored at the base, increasing seat height and limiting platform compatibility, and their tethering configuration can strain the occupant's spine during ejection due to conflicting parachute forces.
Innovation Solution
An aircraft ejection seat assembly with a survival kit storage system integrated into the seat back, utilizing an actuator to release the survival kit from the seat back, which can be activated by an electrical signal or pressurized fluid, allowing the kit to separate and be suspended from parachute lines without direct tethering to the occupant.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the survival kit is stored in the base of the ejection seat, then the survival kit is securely stored, but the seat height increases and platform compatibility is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The survival kit is relocated from the base (vertical dimension) to the seat back (horizontal/different spatial dimension), maintaining secure storage while reducing seat height and improving platform compatibility
2Reliability
If the survival kit is tethered to the seat occupant, then the survival kit remains secured during ejection, but the occupant's spine is strained due to conflicting parachute forces
Solution Approach 1:
The survival kit is extracted from the direct tethering relationship with the occupant and instead attached to the seat back, eliminating the harmful spinal stress while maintaining security through the retention pin and actuator system
Solution Approach 2:
The seat back acts as an intermediary between the survival kit and the ejection system, allowing the kit to be secured during ejection without direct connection to the occupant, thereby preventing spinal strain
3Adaptability or versatility
If the survival kit is integrated into the seat back with an actuator system, then seat height is reduced and platform versatility is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator system serves multiple functions: it secures the survival kit during normal operation, releases it during ejection, and can be integrated across different aircraft platforms, making the complex system universally applicable
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
This configuration reduces spinal stress during ejection, allows for more versatile seat integration across various aircraft platforms, and optimizes the center of gravity and space utilization within the ejection seat.
Implementation Method 1
the biasing member (e.g., a spring) or other actuator. The locking pin may extend at least into the retention pin, and the biasing member may engage the retention pin
Implementation Method 2
The actuator may be in the form of a pressurized fluid source, and which may be in the form of a stored fluid in a pressure vessel or which may be in the form of a gas generator. Pressurized fluid may be released from the fluid source in any appropriate manner to exert a fluid pressure on the retention pin to move the retention pin from the retention position to the released position
Implementation Method 3
a gas generator (e.g., which uses a gas-generating propellant). Pressurized fluid may be released from the fluid source in any appropriate manner
Data Source
AI summary
An aircraft ejection seat assembly is disclosed where a survival kit is incorporated into a seat back of an ejection seat, and that is released from the ejection seat by one or more actuators. The survival kit is attached to the parachute lines. One or more retention pins may secure the survival kit relative to the seat back. Representative actuators that may be used to move the retention pin(s) to a release configuration including mechanical (e.g., a bell crank), electrical (e.g., a controller such as a MASS), or pressurized fluid.