GB1226991A - - Google Patents

Abstract

1,226,991. Ejection seats. HONEYWELL Ltd. 17 April, 1969 [12 March, 1968], No. 11967/68. Heading B7G. An ejection seat comprises propulsion means 4, 7 at each side of the seat 1, each propulsion means being able to eject a high velocity stream in either of two generally downward directions, one direction having a forward component and the other a backward component, and control apparatus 12-15 responsive to the output of pitch and yaw sensing means 10 and 11 to switch the propulsive streams between their two possible directions to oppose the sensed pitch and yaw movements. Sensing means 10 and 11 are pure fluid vortex sensors, and their outputs are summed by fluid summing amplifiers 21-24; considering the left half of Fig. 2, the outputs from summing amplifiers 21 and 22 cause a pressure difference between lines 25 and 26, thereby determining the mark/space ratio of fluid bi-stable oscillator 12. The oscillator mark output appears at 12a, and the space output at 12b, and both are amplified by a fluid amplifiee cascade 14 and fed, at 14a, 14b, to opposite sides of bifurcated propulsion nozzle 4. The fluid flow along lines 14a, 14b deflects the main propulsive stream between bifurcations 5 or 6, the amount of time the stream passes through each bifurcation depending on the mark/space ratio; the sensed pitch and yaw movements may thus be opposed, using nozzle 4 in conjunction with similarly operated nozzle 7. Vortex sensors 10, 11, require an integrating component (not shown), as they are rate sensors. The fluid control system may operate from a pressurized air supply; the fluid control system may also be replaced by electromechanical sensors, electronic amplifiers and oscillators and electromechanical deflecting vanes. Nozzles 4 and 7 may be connected to a single rocket unit, or to separate rockets 2, 3. The mean thrust of nozzles 4 and 7 may be displaced slightly forwards or backwards from the yaw axis to cornpensate for any known tendency of seat 1 to pitch or yaw, but this would generate small rolling moments.