GB998535A - Energy-absorbing means - Google Patents

Abstract

998,535. Seats. AEROTEC INDUSTRIES Inc. March 27, 1962, No. 11634/62. Heading A4J. [Also in Division F2] In an aircraft seat construction energy absorbing devices (see Division F2), in the form of deformable tubes 20, 52 passing through dies 36, 60, are provided to reduce the shock when a descending aircraft is suddenly decelerated or when the forward movement of the aircraft is suddenly decelerated. The aircraft seat is provided with a triangular seat frame 14, 16, 18 supported by a stanchion frame 2 and the seat frame is adjustable for fore and aft movement by adjustment devices 12, 10, 6 mounted on guide rails 8 and for adjustment in a vertical direction by adjustment device 32, 34. Each leg of the U-shape frame member 18 contains a draw tube 20 connected at its lower end to the forwardly extending frame 14. At the lower end of each leg of the frame member 18 is a die 36 through which passes the lower end of the draw tube 20 such that as the descending aircraft is abruptly decelerated, the resultant downward loading of the seat frame will force the draw tubes 20 through the dies 36, reducing the diameter of the unreduced portion of the tubes to bring the frame to rest with uniform deceleration and without objectionable shock to the seat occupant. A pair of diagonally extending braces 38 comprising a tube 44 pivotally connected at one end to the stanchion frame 2 and a tube 46, into which the tube 44 extends slidably, is pivotally attached at its lower end to the corresponding channel member 6. A drive rod 50 extends along the interior of each of the tubes 44 and 46 and for part of its length lies within a draw tube 52 which passes through a die 60 fastened on the inner wall of each tube 46. Shouuld a forwardly moving aircraft be decelerated abruptly the tubes 44 of the braces 38 will be moved downwardly within the tubes 46 of the braces to force the draw tubes 52 through the dies 60, reducing the diameter of the unreduced portion of the tubes, thereby absorbing energy and uniformly decelerating the seat and its occupant. Specification 998,536 is referred to.