Controllable Ejection Seat Catapult.

Abstract

A catapult seat ejection system for ejecting a pilot and seat from an aircraft is disclosed in which the thrust of the catapult is controlled to prevent injury to the pilot due to acceleration forces. The catapult comprises a main catapult tube; a piston within the tube driven by gas pressure from the burning of two solid propellants cartridges; and four shuttle vent valves powered by gas from a plurality of electrically ignited squibs controlled by an electronic control system. The catapult is intially driven by only one of the two solid propellant cartidges and the electronic controller continuously monitors acceleration. If acceleration is too great the controller fires squibs with a control signal to open the shuttle vent valves to vent the gasses from the catapult and thereby reduce the pressure and acceleration of the seat. It the acceleration is too low and the vent valves are closed, and the sensor fires the second cartridge with a second conrol signal.

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 19, 1986
Accession Number
ADD012592

Entities

People

  • J. A. Cuevas

Organizations

  • United States Department of the Air Force

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aircrafts
  • Catapults
  • Control Systems
  • Ejection
  • Ejection Seats
  • Propellants
  • Seats
  • Solid Propellants

Readers

  • Aerospace Propulsion Engineering.
  • Electrical Engineering

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics
  • Microelectronics - Microelectromechanical Systems