FR2783232A1 - Vest for military aircraft pilot, has harness sewn on it having straps, with first straps forming shoulder straps and second straps forming thigh straps - Google Patents

Abstract

The vest comprises a principal body (1) adjusted to enclose all the top of the user's chest by a fastener extending vertically from the neck to the vest lower edge (7). A harness sewn on the vest comprises four principal straps (5,6,10,11) arranged symmetrically in pairs. The first straps (5,6) form shoulder straps crossing in the back and ending in hoisting loops (14,15). These straps pass in front of the vest under the user's arms. The second straps extend between the loops and the vest lower edge at the level of the hips. There they are extended beyond the lower edge by fasteners (16,17) which close the fasteners (8,9) around the user's thighs.

Description

- 1 - The present invention relates to a vest incorporating a number

  of components necessary for the survival, protection and comfort of an aircraft pilot. It applies in particular, but not exclusively, to the equipment of pilots

  weapons or training aircraft equipped with ejection seats.

  At present, vests of this type do not provide sufficient physiological protection for the pilot and prove to be unsuitable for the performance of modern aircraft. In particular, they are not designed to adapt to the different missions of the aircraft, do not withstand the considerable pull-out forces exerted during the pilot's ejection, and offer resistance.

  and insufficient comfort in the event of a pilot hoisting or abseiling.

  In addition, there is a tendency to want to impose numerous constraints and additional functions on such a vest which must of course remain compatible with the other physiological protection equipment which is specific to each aircraft, and in particular, the flight suit, the gloves , the helmet and the

  respiratory mask, as well as the ejection seat, and in particular its harness.

  In particular, we would like such a vest to be equipped, depending on the missions and the type of aircraft, with physiological protection against load factors (thoracic back pressure bladder), with specific equipment to protect the pilot -2- during an ejection (arm support), and equipment ensuring the pilot's survival in the water (float). These various additional pieces of equipment must therefore be removable, which causes difficulties in ensuring compatibility with the behavior of the vest during ejection during which it undergoes very large breakout forces due to the wind resistance and deceleration. . We also want the vest to carry a large number of components necessary for the pilot's survival in a hostile environment. However, the total mass of these required components becomes more and more important, possibly exceeding 3.5 kg, which causes pressure and therefore significant discomfort at the pilot's shoulders. In addition, the mass and volume of these components affect the resistance of the vest to ejection by providing large areas of wind resistance, which can cause the tearing and loss of these components just when o

  they become necessary, as well as the tearing of the vest.

  It must also withstand the fire and pyrotechnic projections that occur

  when ejecting the canopy.

  The object of the present invention is to satisfy all these requirements which appear in certain contradictory cases. To this end, it offers a vest for pilot of a weapon or training aircraft, comprising a fitted main body and closing over the entire top of the user's bust, by means of closure extending vertically from the lower edge of the vest up to the neck, and

hoisting loops.

  According to the invention, this vest is characterized in that it incorporates a harness sewn onto the vest, this harness comprising two main straps arranged symmetrically, these straps comprising a first part forming straps, on one side ending on the front of the vest by lifting loops at the closure means, and on the other side, crossing on the back of the vest where they are fixed together, ironing in front of the vest under the user's arms, and ending at beyond the lower edge of the vest by ends fitted with first fastening means, and a second part extending over the front of the vest, lifting loops up to the lower edge of the vest at the user's hips where they intersect with the first straps, and ending beyond the lower edge of the vest by ends fitted with second fixing means allowing adjustment and cooperating with the first fixing means n, to close and adjust around the thighs of the user. Thanks to these provisions, the vest itself is reinforced by a network of straps forming a harness and therefore has great resistance to tearing, while ensuring the hoisting or rappelling function. Advantageously, the vest according to the invention comprises pockets and component fastening elements, which are fixed directly to the harness. In this way the mass of these components is distributed over the entire harness, which allows the carrying of a large mass of components without discomfort to the user. This solution gives the vest a good resistance of the vest to ejection,

  and in particular, avoids any risk of pockets being torn off.

  According to a feature of the invention, the vest comprises an inner lining forming with the main body of the vest a pocket in which is engaged an inflatable bladder of chest pressure, connected to a source of enriched air or oxygen, allowing apply pressure to the user's chest in case

  significant load factors resulting from centrifugal forces.

  Advantageously, this bladder is made of a microporous material so as to ensure ventilation of the body of the user, which allows

  limit thermal overload in hot environments.

  The vest can be equipped with an inflatable bladder in the shape of an inverted U, ensuring the buoyancy function, placed on the front of the vest and passing behind the neck of the user. Preferably, this bladder is housed in a protective cover which is removably attached to the vest, and it is protected against pyrotechnic projections by a removable sheath consisting of a

  multiplicity of layers of a resistant material.

  An embodiment of the vest according to the invention will be described below, by way of nonlimiting example, with reference to the appended drawings in which Figures 1 and 2 show in front and back views the vest according to the invention , shown without accessories; Figures 3 and 4 are front and back views of the vest shown in Figures 1 and 2, shown with its accessories, Figure 4 -4- showing the vest without float; Figure 5 shows a top view of the buoyancy bladder fitted to the vest of Figures 1 and 2; Figures 6 and 7 show in top and bottom views the protective cover of the buoyancy bladder, shown in Figure 3; FIGS. 8 and 9 show the upper and lower parts of the protective sheath against the pyrotechnic particles of the buoyancy bladder, only half of the surface of the covering being shown in FIG. 9; Figure 10 shows the thoracic counterpressure bladder fitted

  the vest shown in Figures 1 to 4.

  Figures 1 and 2 show a vest intended to equip pilots of combat aircraft. This vest comprises a main body 1 intended to cover the entire upper part of the user's bust, comprising for this purpose an upper opening 2 and two lateral openings 3 respectively for the passage of the user's neck and arms. It opens completely along a vertical line centered on its front part, and going from the opening 2 to the lower edge 7 of the main body 1, so as to allow the user to easily put on the vest, and includes quick closing means, such as a zipper protected by a flap 4, and allowing the user to close the vest once donned. The main body is preferably made of a fire-resistant fabric, at least part of which can be made of mesh so as to ensure good

  ventilation of the user's body.

  According to the invention, a harness is sewn onto the vest, this harness comprising a network of two main straps arranged symmetrically. These straps each comprising: - a first part 5, 6 forming suspenders, extending substantially from an area 12, 13 situated substantially in the thorax on the anterior face of the main body 1 of the vest, passing over the shoulders , crossing in the upper part of the back in a zone 28, passing under the openings 3 and ending beyond the lower edge 7 by respective ends provided with first fastening means such as snap hooks 8, 9, and - a second part 10, 11 forming on one side two respective hoisting loops 14, 15 in which one can engage a carabiner for hoisting or abseiling, and on the other side, passing at the hips of the user o they cross the first part 5, 6 of the straps, in zones 26, 27, and ending beyond the edge 7 of the main body 1 by respective ends fitted with second adjustable fixing means such

  as loops 16, 17, cooperating with the first fixing means.

  The parts of the straps 5, 6, 10, 11 extending beyond the lower edge of the main body 1 are intended to roll up and close around the thighs of the user. To improve the comfort of the harness, these parts of the strap can

  be sewn on larger straps as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

  The straps 5, 6, 10, 11 are sewn together at their crossing zones 26,

  27, 28, as well as at the zones 12, 13.

  According to a feature of the invention, the vest according to the invention comprises a network of secondary straps intended to reinforce its structure, sewn on the

  main body 1 and on the main straps.

  This network of secondary straps comprises: - two straps 18, 19 forming straps and extending substantially parallel to the straps 5, 6, on the anterior side of the lower edge 7, passing over the shoulders, up to a zone 20, 21 straps 5, 6, located below the crossing zone 28, - two straps 22, 23 sewn on the front part of the main body 1 extending from zones 24, 25 respectively of the straps 5, 6 at the shoulders of the user, up to zones 26, 27 at the level of the user's hips, passing near the central closure of the vest where they

  are folded back on themselves so as to form an elbow.

  Furthermore, the zipper system of the vest protected by the flap 4 is reinforced by two sets of loops and safety hooks 30, 31 mounted on straps 32, 33, 34, 35 sewn onto the main body. 1 and presenting to

  minus one end sewn on a main strap 5, 6, 10, 11.

  To improve the comfort of the vest, the main body 1 comprises two shoulder pads 36, 37 fixed inside the vest allowing the pressure exerted by

  the straps, in particular the straps 18, 19 on the shoulders of the user.

  In this way, all of the forces exerted on the vest during the hoisting or the abseiling of the user, or by the weight of the accessories carried by the vest, is not applied to the main body 1, but directly to the harness and in

  particular to main straps 5, 6, 10, 11.

  As shown in particular in FIG. 3, the vest includes numerous accessories, such as a removable buoyancy bladder, housed in a cover 41,

  two pockets 44, 45 with several compartments, located on the side parts

  ribs of the vest, allowing the carrying of numerous survival components, a strap 47 for holding the oxygen supply piping 48, and a strap 46 ensuring the connection of the vest with the package located under the seat of the

  pilot and comprising in particular a lifeboat.

  According to the invention, these accessories are fixed to the main straps 5, 6, 10, 11 or secondary 18, 19, 22, 23, so as to distribute the masses of these accessories over the entire harness. This results in significantly increased comfort

for the user.

  This arrangement also makes it possible to guarantee the holding of these components, even

in case of ejection.

  As shown in more detail in Figures 6 and 7, the protective cover 41 of the buoyancy bladder which has a substantially inverted U shape, is fixed to the front of the vest by each part corresponding to the branches of the U, by means of two zippers 51, 52, the part of the zippers 51 mounted on the vest being sewn on respective flaps 53, which themselves are fixed respectively on the straps 22, 23, while the part

  zippers 52 are sewn directly onto the harness 5, 6, 10, 11.

  Furthermore, the part of the protective cover forming the base of the U is fixed to the back of the vest by means of a quick-closing loop 39 fixed to the vest by two secondary straps 38, 40 fixed to the straps 5, 6 below. of their crossover area 28. The hook 55 which cooperates with the loop 39 is fixed to the cover 41 by means of a strap 54. In addition, to guarantee the maintenance of the float, even in the event of failure of the closures slides 51, 52, there is provided at each end of the parts constituting the branches of the U, a positive locking device, for example consisting of a ring 56 fixed to the harness of the vest, which cooperates with a toggle 57 fixed to the cover 41 through a

strap 58.

  In FIGS. 3, 6 and 7, the protective cover 41 preferably has a slightly indented shape on each side of the neck so as not to hinder the movements of the user's head when he is wearing a helmet. This protective cover is closed over its entire outer edge, for example by a zipper 60 which opens automatically when the buoyancy bladder which it contains inflates. For this purpose, this zipper comprises a weakened zone located on the outer edge of the part corresponding to the base of the U-shape. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the vest can also be provided with sleeves 42 , 43 also removable, which are fixed to the main body, along the openings 3, for example by means of laces, preferably with a part under the arms which remains open for ventilation of the interior of the vest and

  to facilitate movement in the cabin.

  These sleeves have two straps 61, 62 for holding the arms, making it possible to hold the user's arms at the time of ejection, the strap 61 connecting the free ends of the sleeves 42, 43 passing through the back of the vest, while that the strap 62 passes over the forearms of the sleeves 42, 43 and into the back of the vest, and includes two free ends each provided with a hooking loop 64 to an element of the seat and loops 63 located under the arms in which the strap 61 can slide. For this purpose, the straps 61, 62 are guided in the back of the vest in sleeves 65, 66 which can open over their entire length when it is desired to remove the sleeves from the vest. In this case, the two rounds

  42, 43 remain linked to each other by the straps 61 and 62.

  Pockets 67, 68 can be provided on the sleeves 42, 43 for storing the free ends of the strap 62 intended to hang on a fixed part,

  when not in use.

  The sleeves 42, 43 further include wrist straps 77, 78 which can be tightened around the wrists of the user to prevent the sleeves from going up along the arms of the user in the event of ejection and traction

on strap 61.

  FIG. 5 shows flat the shape of the buoyancy bladder 70 housed in the cover 41. This bladder consists of two pieces of waterproof fabric, for example a polyurethane fabric, of the same shape, assembled together of

  tightly along their edges.

  It has two substantially oval pockets 71, 72 which communicate with each other via a substantially rectangular pocket 73. As can be seen in this figure, the pockets 71 and 72 are slightly asymmetrical, the pocket 71 being slightly smaller that the pocket 72, so as to obtain the automatic reversal of the user in the event that his face is in the water and is unconscious. This pocket also includes anti-clogging elements 74 ensuring good circulation of the inflation gas between the

  different pockets 71, 72, 73, and a mouth inflation tip 75.

  According to a feature of the invention, to increase the availability of the buoyancy function, the bladder 70 comprises three pieces of waterproof fabric of the same shape, assembled together along their edges, so as to form two entirely separate pockets one from the other, one of the two pockets being provided with an automatic inflation system which is triggered in contact with water, or manually by a handle 59 shown in FIG. 3, while the other pocket is connected to the mouth inflation nozzle 75. In order for the automatic inflation system to come into contact with water, the orifice 76 allows the

  penetration of water inside the protective cover 41.

  According to another feature of the invention, the buoyancy bladder 70 is protected in the cover 41 against pyrotechnic projections occurring during the ejection of the canopy, by a protective sheath 91 shown in Figures 8 and 9. This sheath consists of two pieces 92, 93 of substantially the same U-shape, joined to one another along the inner edges of the U-shape. The bottom piece 92 having notches 94 at the ends of the branches of the U-shape for the passage of the fixings between the bladder and the protective cover. This protective sheath advantageously consists of several layers of a spray-resistant fabric

  pyrotechnics, for example six layers of Kevlar fabric.

  -9- The main body 1 also includes an inner lining so as to form a pocket for accommodating a thoracic counterpressure bladder shown in detail in FIG. 10. The vest has adjustment means constituted by two sets of ribbons 86 and loops 87, 88 located symmetrically on the back of the vest, allowing the user to adjust the vest himself around his bust, these assemblies being masked by flaps 89, advantageously made of an elastic material to adapt to the adjustment of the two sets of ribbons and loops, which are held in place by pieces of fabric comprising hooks which cooperate with pieces of fabric comprising

velvets.

  The counterpressure bladder 81 shown in FIG. 10 has a substantially inverted U shape and includes two chest pockets 82, 83 intended to cover the entire chest of the user, while allowing a central opening of the vest, these two pockets being connected together by a channel 84 passing behind the neck of the user. It is made using two pieces of fabric

  lightweight and waterproof, tightly connected to each other along their edges.

  Advantageously, these two pieces of fabric are microporous, which makes it possible to

ventilate the inside of the vest.

  The vest lining and the counterpressure bladder can be removable, so that the vest can be adapted to missions not requiring such a function. The bladder is held in place in the lining of the main body 1 by pieces of fabric 85 comprising hooks which cooperate with pieces of fabric

  comprising velvet provided in the lining of the main body.

  The bladder 81 is supplied with enriched air or oxygen by the piping 48 which is connected to the airplane and to the pilot's breathing mask, this piping

being separable from the bladder.

- 10-

Claims (11)

  1. Vest for pilot of weapon or training aircraft, comprising a main body (1) adjusted and closing over the entire top of the user's bust, by means of closure extending vertically from the neckline to the lower edge (7) of the vest, and lifting loops (14, 15), characterized in that it incorporates a harness sewn onto the vest, this harness comprising two main straps arranged symmetrically, these straps comprising a first part (5, 6) forming straps, on one side ending on the front of the vest by the lifting loops (14, 15) at the closure means, and on the other side, crossing on the back of the vest where they are fixed together, passing in front of the vest under the user's arms, and ending beyond the lower edge (7) of the vest by ends fitted with first fastening means (8, 9), and a second part (10, 11) extending over the front of the vest, hoisting loops (14, 1 5) to the lower edge of the vest (7) at the user's hips where they cross with the first straps (5, 6), and ending beyond the lower edge (7) of the vest by ends equipped with second fixing means (16, 17) allowing adjustment and cooperating with the first fixing means (8, 9), to close around the thighs of the user.   2. Vest according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises pockets (44, 45) and fastening elements   (51, 52, 56, 46) of components (41), which are fixed directly to the harness.   3. Vest according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises an inner lining forming with the main body (1) of the vest a pocket in which is engaged an inflatable bladder (81) of thoracic counterpressure, connected to a source enriched air or oxygen, allowing pressure to be applied to the user's chest if factors   high load resulting from centrifugal forces.   4. Vest according to claim 3, characterized in that the counterpressure bladder (81) is made of a microporous material so as to ensure ventilation of the body of the user.   5. Vest according to one of the preceding claims, - 11 -   characterized in that the vest's harness further comprises a network of secondary straps, sewn onto the main body (1) and onto the main straps (5, 6,, 11), this network of secondary straps comprising: two straps (18 , 19) forming straps and extending substantially parallel to the straps (5, 6), on the anterior side of the lower edge (7), passing over the shoulders, to an area (20, 21) of the straps (5 , 6), located below the crossing zone (28) of the straps (5, 6), - two straps (22, 23) sewn on the front part of the main body (1) extending from zones (24, 25) respectively straps (5, 6) at the user's shoulders, to areas (26, 27) at the user's hips, passing near the central closure of the vest where they   are folded back on themselves so as to form an elbow.   6. Vest according to one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that it is equipped with an inflatable bladder (70) in the shape of an inverted U, ensuring the buoyancy function, disposed on the front of the vest and passing behind the neck of the user, this bladder being housed in a cover   protection (41) which is removably attached to the vest.   7. Vest according to claim 6, characterized in that the buoyancy bladder (70) is protected against pyrotechnic projections by a sheath (91) removable consisting of   multiplicity of layers of a resistant material.   8. Vest according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the protective cover (41) of the buoyancy bladder (70) is closed over its entire outer edge for example by closing means which open automatically when the buoyancy bladder inflates.   9. Vest according to one of claims 6 to 8,   characterized in that the buoyancy bladder (70) is asymmetrical so as to obtain the automatic reversal of the user in the event that he has the face in the water.   10. Vest according to one of claims 6 to 9,   characterized in that the buoyancy bladder (70) comprises three pieces of waterproof fabric of the same shape, joined together along their edges, so as to form two pockets which are entirely separated from each other , provided with separate inflation means.   11. Vest according to one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that it comprises two removable sleeves (42, 43) connected to each other by straps (61, 62) to allow the arms to be held in the event user ejection.