Integrated Aircraft Ejection Sequencer Design

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ejection systems for aircraft require separate sequencing systems for aircraft escape and ejection seat subsystems, leading to increased weight, part count, and costs.

Innovation Solution

A single sequencer system that controls the deployment of both aircraft escape and ejection seat subsystems, including canopy removal and seat catapult systems, using a tangible computer-readable storage medium with instructions to manage the sequence and deployment of these subsystems, reducing the need for a separate aircraft sequencer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate sequencing systems are used for aircraft escape and ejection seat subsystems, then each system can be independently controlled, but system weight, part count, and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindependent control capabilityVSAvoidsystem weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the aircraft escape sequencing system and ejection seat sequencing system into a single integrated sequencer unit. This merging eliminates the need for separate sequencing systems while maintaining the ability to independently control both subsystems through a unified control architecture that manages canopy removal, seat catapult, drogue parachute, main parachute, and inertia reel functions from one centralized device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated sequencer is designed as a multi-functional device that performs both aircraft escape sequencing and ejection seat sequencing operations. It universally controls multiple subsystems including canopy removal system, seat catapult system, drogue parachute assembly, main parachute assembly, restraint release assembly, and inertia reel assembly, thereby reducing the overall number of components needed in the ejection system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If separate sequencing systems are used for aircraft escape and ejection seat subsystems, then each system can be independently controlled, but part count and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindependent control capabilityVSAvoidpart count

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the aircraft escape sequencing system and ejection seat sequencing system into a single integrated sequencer unit. This merging eliminates the need for separate sequencing systems while maintaining the ability to independently control both subsystems through a unified control architecture that manages canopy removal, seat catapult, drogue parachute, main parachute, and inertia reel functions from one centralized device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Weight of moving object

If a single integrated sequencer is used for both aircraft escape and ejection seat subsystems, then system weight and part count are reduced, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem weightVSAvoidsequencing control complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The integrated sequencer is segmented into distinct control modules or functional units that independently manage different subsystems. This segmentation allows the complex sequencing control to be organized into manageable sections (canopy removal control, seat catapult control, parachute control, restraint release control) while maintaining overall system integration and reducing weight compared to separate sequencing systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS11548649B2Aircraft escape system and ejection seat sequencer for ejection systems

Publication Date: 2023.01.10 AMI IND INC

AI summary

An article of manufacture may include a tangible, non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon for controlling deployment of aircraft escape and ejection seat subsystems. The instructions, in response to execution by a sequencer, cause the sequencer to perform operations, which may comprise receiving, by the sequencer, a power input; sending, by the sequencer, a first deploy signal to a first aircraft escape subsystem; and sending, by the sequencer, a second deploy signal to a first ejection seat subsystem.