Programmable ejection seat system

DETAILED DESCRIPTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved ejection seat system that automatically compensates for flight dynamics, crewmember mass, and ambient conditions.
It is another object of the present invention to improve the safety of aircraft ejections, to insure that the physical limits of the individual crewmember are not exceeded.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a programmable ejection seat system that controls acceleration onset rate and ejection thrust that the crewmember is subjected to during emergency separation from a disabled aircraft as a function of variable sensed parameters.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an ejection seat system that minimizes rocket jolt to the crewmember.
Briefly, this improved system for ejecting a crewmember from an aircraft uses a rocket catapult and a hydraulic catapult.
The hydraulic catapult initiates ejection and provides a controlled ejection force throughout the ejector stroke.
The use of hydraulic power provides a more predictable and repeatable ejection force than is possible with explosives.
An ejection processor monitors sensor inputs (crewmember-seat mass, flight dynamics, ambient conditions) that are needed to determine ejector output.
The only manual input required is the initiation command.
After initiation, the processor takes into account these sensor inputs and selects the performance requirements for the controllable catapult, the rocket phase, and the complete timing sequence.
The hydraulic ejector includes a programmable valve, hydraulic power supply, a rechargeable accumulator, and a two-position valve.
The accumulator is able to store very high pressures and release the stored energy upon demand.
The two-position valve is opened upon crewmember initiation.
The programmable valve receives a signal from the processor, which in response adjusts the fluid flow to the ejector.
The ejector is similar to the unit described in U.
S.
Pat.
No.
4,399,968 to W