US1386815A - Safety device for aeronautical machines - Google Patents

Description

L. VAN METER, .liz. SAFETY DEVICE FOR AERONAUTICAL MACHINES. APPLICAHON FILED JUNE28, 1919.

1386,8150 PatentedAugL 9, 1921.

YSHEETS-SHEET I- powmon L, VZm Meter; J

S. L. VAN METER, JR. SAFETY DEVICE FOR AERONA UTICAL MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 28, 1919.

1,386,81 5., I Patented Aug. 9, 1921..

ISHEETS-SHEET Z.

S. L. VAN METER, JR. SAFETY DEVICE FOR AERON'AUTICAL MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNi 28. 1919. 1,386,815.

Patented Aug; 9, 19211.

7 SHEETSSHEET 3.

s. L. VAN METER, JR;

SAFETY DEVICE FOR AERONAUTICAL MACHINES.

APPLICAHON FILED wnzzs, m9.

1,38 ,8 1 5, Patented Aug. 9, 19211..

7 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

, 4Q I 4 F 5 ,j l? l D 00 Lo 0 o o 6 o o o o o o o i o o o S. L. VAN METER, In.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR AERONAUTICAL MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 28', 19l9 1,386,815., Patented Aug. 9, 1921..

TSHEETS-SHEET 5- S. L. VAN METER, In.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR AERONAUTICAL MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JUN E28, 1919.

Patented A11 9, 1921 YSHEETS-SHEET 6.

1 29 "annual/g S. L. VAN METER, Jn.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR AERONAUTICAL MACHINES.

APPLICATlON FILED JUNE 28, 19I9.

A r I L Q m M, 2 m w WM H 9. NWMQ a a E w n m Q MM L 7 t n. m m x w m RE z W a 2 S S mm m U QM J E. 5 i m R Q UNHTED snares SOLOMON L. VAN METER, JR,

or Lnxme'ron, KENTUCKY.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR AERONAUTICAL MACHINES.-

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 9, 1921..

Application filed June 28, 1919. Serial No. 307,362.

To'all whom it may concern Be it known that I, SOLOMON L. VAN METER, J r., a citizen of the United States, residing 'at Lexington, in the county of Fayette and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in-Safety Devices for Aeronautical Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to safety devices for aeronautical machines whereby the occupants of the machines can make their descent in safety to the ground in event of accidents or other causes which might make descent in the machines impossible or dangerous.

Greater degree of safety is now generally recognized as fundamentally essential in the future .of aeronautics. The subject is receiving the careful attention of inventors, and interests generally engaged in the manu- .facture and commercialization of various types of flying machines, particularly of aeroplanes. The various Governments are also giving the subject most careful attention and are cooperating in various ways to work out an erlfective solution of the problem.

In this connection my present invention is preceded by two earlier inventions relating to the same purpose but consisting of a different arrangement of mechanical devices. These earlier inventions comprise the may consist of any suitable mechanical devices, such as compressed springs, or compressed air or rush of air-due to ship falling, manually controlled by an occupant of the machine, or controlled by suitable connections whereby the parachutes will be cast off without any conscious act. Such means may consist of automatic mechanism operable by an occupant jumping from the machine, or by the action of the air in case of sorbed sufliciently to avoid injury to the occupant.

A further object of the invention is to provide safety devices in connection with the seats and body structure of the aeroplane whereby an occupant of the machine may be removed therefrom by the parachute without sustaining bodily injuries.

It is also an object of my invention to provide an improved cast-off harness to be worn by an occupant of the aeroplane whereby he may be'releasably secured to the seat of the machine and to the parachute and -which may readily be released and cast ofl when the ground is reached to prevent inury to the occupant by being dragged over the ground by the parachute.

These main objects of my invention are realized by an improved construction of the various devices which are comprised in the apparatus, and by a novel arrangement of the devices whereby the functioning thereof relative to each other and to the apparatus as a whole is made dependable, the pos sibility of failure of the device to function properly under all circumstances being reduced to a minimum.

While the construction here shown is a preferred form as to the underlying prin ciples of the invention, the details of construction and mechanical arrangement are to some extent conventional and are shown for illustration purposes only, as it will be understood that the details may be widely varied without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the aeroplane in flight and showing'the parachute container as first cast off from the machine;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of an aeroplane on the ground equipped with my safety devices, and having the door removed to the space in which the parachute and castingoif mechanism are contained;

Fig. 3 is a erspective view showing the aeroplane falling and the second stage of operation, the parachute having been released from the container and opened to the I air, the aviator having-been removed from tions for releasing the parachute;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged side elevation, partly in section, of the parachute container, showing the manner of folding the parachute and parachute spreaders within the container;

Figs. 6 and 7 are front and rear views repectively of the harness as worn by the aviator whereby he is connected to the parachute and to the seat of the aeroplane;

Fig. 8 is a detail view of the guide used to protect the aviator from injury as he 1s removed from the machine;

. Fig. 9 is a detail view of the mechanism for releasing the aviator from the seat;

Fig. 10 is .a detail of the mechanism for releasing the parachute cast-ofi' mechanism;

Fig. 11 is a detail of the mechanism for releasing the parachute from its container;

Fig. 12 is a detail view of'the parachute removed from the container and showing the arrangement of the spring steel loops for opening the parachute to the air'when it is cast off from the aeroplane;

Fig. 13 is a detail side elevation, partly in section, of a preferred arrangement of the seat construction and combination cover for I aeroplanes or other flying machines, requiring only modifications of details of construction and arrangement to adapt the same to the different types of machines. 1

As shown inthe drawings, a suitable space is provided in the fuselage of the. aeroplane for the parachute container and the cast-off reeaeia seat, substantially at the center of the fuselage. The fuselage is preferably provided with a sideopening 1 and a door 2 whereby the parachute mechanism is readily accessible. An aperture 3 is provided in the top cover or back of the fuselage through which the parachute container is projected when cast off from the machine. The aperture is preferably covered with a piece of cloth or any suitable material having perforated seams and a coat of aeroplane dope applied thereto, thus serving to prevent ingress of dust and moisture to the compartment, and being readily yieldable to the force exerted thereon when the container is ejected from the machine. I

As best shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings the parachute container consists of a cylindrical, metal casing, a light metal such as aluminum being preferably used, having a conical-shaped top 4, whereby to minimize resistance of the air when .the container is cast off; and having its cylindrical wall formed of a plurality of slats 5, hinged at their upper ends adjacent the conical top 4, as at 6, and having their lower ends confined within a bottom plate 7, whereby when the bottom is removed the hinged slats, due tothe pressure thereon from within, will open outwardly to release the parachute, as best shown in a detail of Fig. 3.

The bottom 7 consists of an integral plate having a central base portion 8 upon which the parachute parts rest when packed in the container, a peripheral flange 9 and an annular depression 10 inwardly adjacent the flange within which "the free ends of the slats 5 are confined, when the container is closed. The under side of the bottom plate is depressed and has slidably secured to the plate therein oppositely disposed spring plunger bolts 11 which engage at their outer ends detents 12 formed in two oppositeslats 5. The plungers are supported in suitable hearings on the bottom plate and rest with their inner ends against a locking plate 14 which is mounted on the plate 7 and is operable to release the plungers, and adapted to normally hold the same outwardly projected in engagement with the slats 5. \Vhen the plate 14 is operated its innerend moves out of contact with the plungers which are then projected inwardly by the compression springs 15, thus releasing the plungers from the slats 5, and permitting the bottom plate to fall free of the container, and the slats 5 to swing outwardly to release the parachute.

To facilitate releasing ofthe parachute from the container a compression spring 16, confined in a cover 17 is preferably employed within the cone 4, the parachute being compressed against the spring is thrown outwardly with the expansion of the spring when the bottom plate of the container is released, To further facilitate delivery of the parachute the cone-shaped end of the container is provided with air vanes or. fins 4 which are acted upon by the air when the container is projected from the machine in a manner which causes the container more readily to assume a streamline relation to the machine and therefore directly in line for the withdrawal and expansion of the parachute when the connecting line is drawn taut.

The plate 23 upon which the parachute container rests is connected to the seat and aviator releasing mechanism by a cable 19 which is preferably inclosed in a tube 19 to prevent accidental displacement thereof. The cable is preferably operable over a small roller 2O secured to the stationary telescopic casing -21and may be connected to the plate 23 in any suitable manner. The parachute is connected to a harness worn by the aviator in any suitable manner by a connecting rope or cable 18, a portion of the rope being coiled and confined preferably within the parachute container to provide for suitable distance between the parachute and the aviator when the parachute is cast off.

The parachute cast-ofl mechanism, as here shown, consists of a compression spring 20 confined within a telescopic casing 21 and '22, the lower section 21 of the'casing being secured in any suitable manner on the frame of the fuselage, and the upper section 22 1 being movable with the springm the upward projectipn thereof. The casings 21 and 22 have which serve to prevent the formation of a vacuum therein. The plate 23 is secured to the upper end of the casing 22 and acts as a support for the parachute container and as a seat for the upper end of the spring 20.

In normal position the spring 20 is compressed and the casings 21 and 22 are in the relation shown in Fig. 4, the parts being held in normal relation by a stirrupshaped locking member 24 which is supported in the plate 23 and has its projecting ends 25 extending through the base in the bottom of the fuselage upon which the cast-off mechanism is mounted. The projecting endsof the stirrup are notched as at 26 and are engaged in locked position by oppositely disposed latch plates 27, the inner ends of the latch plates being supported by a vertically pivoted lever 28 which has its free end held in raised position by a horizontally pivoted latch 29 operable from the seat of the aeroplane by a rope 30. The operation of the casting-off mechanism will presently be described in connection with the operation of the safety devices as a whole.

As shown in Figs. 6 and 7 the harness worn by the aviator as contemplated in my invention may consist of the usual body belt large openings 21 and 22 31 having a quick releasing clasp 32. Connected to the body belt by loop straps 33 are leg belts 34. A metal plate 35 suitably covered and padded is secured to the body belt at the back; shoulder straps 36 connectt ed to the plate and looped to the body belt in front aid in supporting the plate in right positions.

Coiled on the plate 35 and secured thereto by shock resisting bindings 37 isean elastic cable 18 which forms the first section of the connecting cable 18 between the aviator and the parachute and serves to reduce the force of the shock transmitted to the aviator when the parachute is cast off and opened to the air. The shock resisting bindings 37, also act to further absorb the shock, the bindings releasing one after another as the connecting cable is drawn taut.

As shown in Fig. 9 the mechanism for releasing the aviator from the seat'consists of a suitable casting 39 secured to the under side of the seat and having formed at its opposite outer ends enlarged portions 40 which are apertured to receive downwardly projecting apertured extensions 41 securedto the opposite sides of the seat, and apertured links 42 suspended from the harness worn by the p aviator. The apertures in the extensions 41 and links 42 when in normal relation with the parts '40 are substantially in alinement with the spring plungers 43 and are adapted to be engaged by the outer ends of the plungers, the aviator being thus securely held on the seat of the machine.

. The plungers 43 are normally held outwardly in engagement with the extensions 41 and links 42 by a locking block 44 which is secured to a bolt 45- and mounted on the frame 39 betweem bearings 46 in which the bolt 45 is supported. When the locking block 44 is withdrawn out of contact with theplungers 43 the springs 47 act to retract the plungers out of engagement with the ears 41 and links 42, thus releasing the aviator and permitting the back of the seat to swing rearwardly, as best shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings, the seat being pivotally connected in a suitablemanner to permit of the tilting movement thereof.

To insure positive releasing of the plungers 43 from the seat connections 41 and belt connections 42 the plungers aremounted in open bearings or guides 48, which, when the locking block 44 is withdrawn, permit the 120 inner ends of the plungers to swing clownwardly and the outer ends to be drawn upwardly until the projections 41 and links 42 slip free of the plungers. The cable 19 connects the releasing block 44 to the supporting 125 plate'23 of the parachute cast-off mechanism as above described, the cable being connected to the block in any suitable manner. Thus, with the actuation of the cast-off mechanism, by drawing on the rope 30 the plate 23 will 130 be projected upwardly by the spring 20 and will act'through the cable '19 to withdraw the block 44, thereby releasing. the aviator from the machine and permitting the seat to pivot rearwardly to accommodate the movement whereby the aviator is removed from the machine.

In the operation just described the releasing of the block 44 is readily accomplished through the pull upon the rope 19 and the pressure of the spring near the bearing 46, which togetherare more than suflicientto overcome the pressure of the spring of the metal of which the bar 45 is composed. Should however, it be desired to not use automatic means for this purpose, the rel-easing can be brought about manually, by the pilot from his chair. It will he observed in Fig. 4 that the rope 30 terminates at the seat in a ring to which a smaller rope 30 is attached being fastened at its farther end to the lower end of the latch 31 pivotally mounted upon an angular piece 32' depending from the frame work. Now instead of relying upon the automatic means, the operator may pull upon the rope 30 and thus swing this pivotally mounted latch 31' from its engagement with its notch in the end of the bar 45 whereupon the pressure of the spring near the bearing 46 will be quite suflicient without a pull upon the rope 19, to bring about the actuation of the releasing mechanism.

As best shown in Fig. 8, an inclined guideway 51 is provided at the rear of the seat which serves to guide the body of the aviator as he is removed from the seat and to protect him from injury by striking the sides or projections of the machine. As above stated, when the aviator is released from the seat, the back of the seat also is released and swings rearwardly to substantially the inclination of the guide-way 51, thus permitting the aviator to be more readily removed from the machine.

A detachable cover plate 52 is normally closed over the guide way 51 and is held in position by cords (not shown) or other suitable connections secured thereto which are released when the aviator is releasedifrom the seat, thus permitting the cover plate 52 to fall free of the machine.

The arrangement shown in Fig. 14 of the drawings for operating the parachute castofl' mechanism by compressed air is for purposes of illustration only without reference to exact details of construction, as various forms of pneumatically operated devices may be employed for this purpose. As here shown, the arrangement consists of a suitable cylidrical casing 54 in which the parachute container is seated upon a piston 55 which works within the casing and normally forms the bottom thereof. The casing is further provided with an enlarged hollow base 56 having an inner casing or tube '57 asaaw extending vertically through the center thereof and resting at its upper end against the piston 55. The piston has a stem 58 extending downwardly through the tube 57 by which it may be releasably secured in any suitable manner, as here shown by notches 59 formed in the end of the piston stem, to the bottom of the base 56. The piston is further secured to the, bottom by means of a slackened cable 60 which passes through an aperture 61 at the juncture of the stem 58 with the piston, and is anchored at its opposite ends to the bottom of the casing. Thus it will be seen that the cable will act to limit the extent of upward movement of the piston.

lVithin the base 56 any suitable means may be pror ided for containing air under pressure, which when released will act with suflicient force to drive the piston upwardly, thereby castingv off the parachute in the manner herein described. As here shown, the means for providing the air pressure consist of an expansible circular tube 62 adapted to be inflated in the usual manner through a valve 63. A portion of the tube .when inflated rests against the piston and, when the piston is released. expands into the open end of the casing 54, moving the piston upwardly until the tube blows out by expansion; the released air then acting to drive the piston upwardly with suiticient force to cast oil? the parachute. To hasten the blow-out of the tube, sharpened projections 64 may be provided atthe entrance to the casing 54 which will act to puncture the tube and release the air therein directly with the expansion of the tube beyond normal. The stem 58 may be released from the bottom of the casing in any suitable manner as in the other form of construction described.

To prevent the parachute container from falling through the aperture3 when flying upside down, the outer spring casing 22' is provided with two apertures 22 arranged diametrically opposite each other in the easing, each having a curved finger 22 cooperating therewith. ords 22 secured at one end to the bottom plate 8 of the container passing through the steel plate 23 are looped over the fingers 22 at their opposite ends in I a manner to be readily released with the upward movement of the parts when the castoif mechanism is actuated, but acting normally to prevent displacement of the parachute oontainer in event of flying the machine upside down.

To protect the parachute parts within the container from dust and moisture, the bottom plate 8 is preferably sealed With a cover of heavy paper 8 treated with suitable aeroplane dope to make the same impervious to moisture. The paper covers all apertures in the plate leading into the interior of the container, and is held in place on the plate by an expansion ring 8 which fits into the flange of the plate.

The parachute spring expanders 18', as here shown, consist of surveyors steel tape 'of plural strength,ab0ut four-ply being found most satisfactory. When the parachute is confined within thecontainer the loops of the springs are folded upwardly, as shown in Fig. 5. When the parachute is rereased these loops spring outwardly and spread the parachute at its bottom to open it to the air. The springs are secured to the parachute by suitable clips 18 which secure the springs releasably to a cord 18 secured to the bottom edge of theparachute. When the parachute is opened the clips release the cord and the spring expanders fall free of the parachute.

In the preferred construction shown in Figs. 13 and 14, the underlying principle of construction and operation is essentially the same as in the construction above described.

However, the details of arrangement and operati'on are radically diiferent,thedifferences consisting essentially in the means for casting'off' the parachute and in guiding the occupant from the machine.

As best shown in Fig. 13 the turtle-back? of the fuselage isv formed of a' tilting back which extends well toward therear of the fuselage and is hinged or pivoted to the frame thereof in any suitable manner, as at 66. The forward end of the back is pro-- vided with 'an auxiliary back 67 which is pivoted to the main back 65 as at 68. When the backs 65 and 67 are in normal position relative to the fuselage they may be held in place by any suitable locking mechanism, such as is shown in one form in Fig. 15 of the drawings, which is mounted in the back 65 in any suitable manner and consists of a cam plate 69 having cam slots 7 0 disposed on opposite sides of the center thereof and cooperating with lock bolts 71 operating through guides 72 and through the casing of both co,vers 65 and 67 and having their ends projecting through lock plates 7 3 which are secured to the opposite longerons 74. Thus both the backs 65 and 67 will be releasably held in normal position.

To release the backs the aviator draws on a rope 75 connected to a cam plate 69 bya lever 76, thus actuating the plate clockwise to withdraw the lock bolts 71 from the plates 73 and from the back 67. When the backs 65 and 67 are thus released, the action of the air on the back'67 will cause it to rise to a position substantially at right angles to the fuselage and to the back 65. I Air pockets 77 of suitable shape and capacity are preferably provided at the forward end of the back 67 to cause the 'air to more readily lift the cover, or rather to start the lifting or opening movement thereof. With the beginning of the opening of the back 67 lifting force due to theincreasing air pressure will be exerted'on the back 65 which will rise with a rapid movement to a position substantially parallel with the center line or stream line of the tail of the machine which is of modified construction, as shown in Fig. 13.

The force of contactof the back 65 with the fin 78 of the tail will act to cause the fin to break through the fabric-covered back 65, when the same is operated to full-open position. To minimize breakage or other damage to the structure the fuselage is provided with a longitudinal open space 79, extending substantially the entire length thereof, and having an elastic or shock absorbing element 80. of any suitable material interlaced between the vertical braces 81 whereby the force of contact will be broken.

The opening of the backs 65 and 67 may be accomplished entirely, as above described, by the action of the air, or, if desired, mechanical devices such as a spring 82, connected to the cover 65 by a cable 83 may be employed in connection with the action of the air to lift the backs. The spring may be normally compressed to any desired tenslon, thus acting to' draw the cable 83 taut, and, when the covers are released, to exert its full force through the cable to aid in the raising of the cover 65. i i

In the form of construction here shown the parachute container 84.- is secured to the back 65 and is carried upwardly therewith when the back is released to a position sufiiciently above the air plane to permit of the proper releasing and expanding of the parachute. The container may be of any suitable construction whereby the parachutemay be effectually delivered therefrom. As here shown the container is ofthe general construction shown in Fig. 5, but modified as to details. As shown. in Fig. 13 the container is normally held in closed position by cords 85 secured to the bottom thereof and looped at their upper ends to receive holding fingers 86 secured to and operable 'taut when the desired position to release the parachute is reached, and will act to withdraw the fingers 86 from the looped ends of the cords 85, thus permitting the bottom 88 and slats 89 to fall apart thereby to release the parachute.

An object of the preferred construction is to provide a longer guide way for the aviator as he is removed from the machine. To this end the guide way 96 is extended rearwardly in the fuselage substantially the ing to the tail.

' A forms a continuation of'the guide way 90.

As shown in Fig. 13, the guide 90 ay be hinged at its rear end, as shown at 9 and connected at its front end to the base of the seat, the front end of the guide, together with the seat and the aviator thereon, being adapted to move upwardly to a position in which the bottom, of the guide is substantiallv parallel with the upper edge of the fuselage, thus increasing the freedom of movement by which the aviatoris set freeof the machine by the parachute.

To cause the guide 90 and the seat, to move upwardly with the lifting of the back 65 any suitable leverage or lifting con nection between the back and the guide may be provided. As here shown a rearward projection 92 of the back 65 may be employed which acts as a lever to engage the guide forward of its pivotal connection in the. fuselage, thus exerting lifting force thereon.

Compression springs 93 mounted on the machine frame in tubes 93 and engaging the seat on opposite sides thereof by cables 93 act further to lift the front end of the guide together with the seat and the aviator there on to raised position. I

In the modified construction here shown the seat back and sides are also mounted pivotally in any suitable manner relative to the seat base, one preferred form bemg shown in detail in Fig. 9 of the drawlngs.

Thus the back and sides of the seat when first by the action of .the air thereon, in-

creases the resistanceto the air and acts to lift the back 65, and with it the parachute container, which is opened and the 'para-.

chute released therefrom by the releasing cable 87 which acts to withdraw the releas-' ing members 86 from the looped retaining cords 85. An extension 87 of the cable 87, extends through a protecting tube 87 and is connected tothe seat releasing mechanism.

Thus with the releasing of the parachute 'fering movements.

The seat releasing mechanism .to accomplish delivery of the parachute and aviator from the machine without inter- As above stated the details of construction and operation herein shown and described are intended for illustrative purposes only,

.to show the underlying principle of my invention whlch consists 1n providing an aeroplane or other aeronautlcal machine with a parachute of suitable size and .con-

struction to be carried by the machine; to be released and cast-off the machine by any suitable mechanism or force, and which, as opened to the air, acts to lift an occupant free of the machine, or to support the occupant in theair as the machine falls or travels away from him. To accomplish these purposes any suitable force, such as air or mechanical devices or a combination of air and mechanical devices may be employed to perform the various operations of releasing the aviator and the parachute and cast-off mechanism so that the aviator may be effectually released from the machine and safely conducted to the ground.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an aeronautical machine, the combination, a parachute carried by saidmachine, and ejector mechanism coiiperating with the parachute, means for securing an aviator in said machine, connections between the aviator and the parachute and means connecting the ejector mechanism to the securing means, whereby when said ejector mechanism is actuated the parachute will be cast off and said mechanism will act to release said securing means and to bination, a parachute carried by said ma- -chine, and manually controlled ejector mechanism cooperating with the parachute, means for securing an aviator in said machine, connections between the aviator and the parachute and means connecting the ejector mechanism to the securing means, whereby when said ejector mechanism is actuated the parachute will be cast oil and said mechanism, will act to release said securing means and to free the aviator from said m'achine.

3. In an aeronautical machine, the combination, a container having a parachute therein, an ejector mechanism. cotiperating with said container, means for securing an aviator in saidgmachine, connections between the aviator and the parachute and means connecting the ejector mechanism to the securing means, whereby whensaid ejector mechanism is actuated the container will be cast ofi', the securing means released thereby,-

and the parachute released from the container willact to remove the aviator from said machine. 5

4. In an aeronautical machine, the combination, a separable container normally closed and having a parachute disposed therein, an ejectorimechanism cooperating with said container, means for securing an aviator in said machine, connections between th aviator and the parachute and means connecting the ejector mechanism to the securing means, whereby when said ejector mechanism is actuated the container will be cast off, the securing means released thereby and the parachute released from the container and opened to the air will act to re- Y move the aviator from said machine.

bination, a parachute carried by said ma- 5. In an aeronautical machine, the combination, a container having expandible walls normally confined to support a parachute therein, an ejector mechanism cooperating withsaid container, means for scour-- 'ing, an aviator in said machine, connections between the aviator and the parachute and means connectingthe ejector mechanism to the securing means, whereby when said ejector mechanism isactuated the container.

will be cast ofi and the walls thereof expanded, the securing means will be released thereby, and the parachute released from the container will act to remove the aviator from said machine.

6. In an aeronautical machine, the combination, a container consisting of a cylindrical casing having an ejector spring compressed therein and a parachute disposed against the spring, an ejector mechanism cooperating with said container, means for securing an aviator in said machine, and

connections between the aviator and .the

parachute and means connecting the ejector mechanism to the securing means, whereby whensaid ejector mechanism is actuated the container will be cast 03, the securing means released thereby, and the parachute released fromthel container by the expansion of said spring will act to remove the aviator from said machine.

7. In an aeronautical machine, the comchine and having an expander cooperating therewith, e ector mechanism cooperating with the parachute, means for securing an aviator in sa1d machine, connections be-- tween the aviator, and the parachute and means connecting the ejector mechanism to the securing means, whereby when said ejector mechanism is actuated the securing means will be released thereby and the parachute will be cast (III and actuated by said expander will act to remove the aviator from said machine.

8. In an aeronautical machine, the combination, a container having a collapsible posed therein,an ejector mechanism cooperating with said container, means for securing an'aviator in said machine, connections-between the aviator and the parachute and means connecting the ejector mechanism to the securing means, wher by when said ejector mechanism is actuated the container will be cast off, the securing means will be actuated thereby to i'eleasethe aviator, and the parachute released from the container and actuated by said expander will act to remove the aviator from the machine.

9. In an aeronautical machine, the combination, a container having cylindrical walls and a cone-shaped end forming a projectile and having a parachute disposed therein, fins on the exterior surface of the cone shaped end, an ejector mechanism cooperating with said container, means for securing an aviator in said machine, connections between the aviator and the parachute and means connecting the ejector mechanism to the securing means, whereby when said ejector mechanism is actuated the container will be cast oil, the securing means released thereby, and the parachute released from the container will act to remove the aviator from said machine.

10. vIn an aeronautical machine, the combination, a parachute carried by said machine, ejector mechanism cooperating with nation, a parachute carried by said machine,

ejector mechanism cooperating with the parachute, a seat and cast-off harness worn by an. aviator and means on said harness for secu'rin the aviator to said seat, and connections bet-ween the parachute and means connecting the ejector mechanismto the securing means and said harness, whereby when said ejector mechanism is actuated the parachute will be cast oil' and said mechanism will act to release saidsecuring means and to free the aviator from said machine, and a quick release for said harness whereby the same may be cast off.

12. In an aeronautical machine, the combination, a parachute carried by said machine, ejector mechanism cooperating with the parachute, means for securing an aviator in said machine, elastic connections between the aviator and the parachute and means contween the aviator and the parachute and means connecting the ejector mechanism to the securing means, and a plurality of shockabsorbing fastenings securing said connections to said plate, whereby When said ejector mechanism is actuated the parachute will be cast off and said mechanism, will act to release saidsecuring'means and to .free the aviator from said machine and whereby part of theshock transmitted through said connections will be absorbed by said fastenings.

14. In an .aeronautical machine,-the combination, a parachute carried by said machine, ejector mechanism cooperating with the parachute, means for securing an aviator in said machine, a plate and connections between the aviator and the parachute coiled on said plate and a plurality of shock-absorbing fastenings securing said connections to said plate and means. connecting the ejector mechanism to the securing means, whereby when said ejector mechanism is actuated the parachute will be cast off and said mechanism will act to release said securing means and to free the aviator from said machine and whereby part of the shock transmitted through said connections will be absorbed by said fastenings.

\ 15. In an aeronautical machine, the combination, a parachute carried by said machine, ejector mechanism cooperating with the parachute, means for securing an aviator in said machine, connections and a shock absorbing element between the aviator and the parachute and means connecting the ejector mechanism to the securing means, whereby when said ejector mechanism is actuated the parachute will be cast off and said mechanism will act to release said securing means andv to free the aviator from said'machine and whereby part of the shock transmitted through said connections will be absorbed by said fasten'ings.

16. In an/aeronautical machine, the combination, a parachute carried by said machine, manually controlled ejector mechanism cooperating with the parachute, means for securing an aviator in said machine, connection between the aviator and the parachute and manually controlled means connecting the ejector mechanism to the securing means whereby whe 'saidejector mechanism is actuated the parachute will be cast ofl and the mechanism will actto releases id securing means and to free the aviator from the machine.

17. In an aeronautical machine, the combination, a arachute carried by the machine, means for disengaging the parachute therefrom, a detachable seat, and releasing means therefor, harness worn by the aviator, links on said harness cooperating with said releasing means to hold the aviator to the seat, manually controlled ejector mechanism cooperating with the parachute, an inclined guideway cooperating with the seat and means connecting the ejector mechanism to the means securing the aviator to his seat, whereby the aviator may eject the'parachute and release himself from the machine.

18. In an aeronautical machine, the combination with a parachute carried by the machine, a detachable seat, means to secure an aviator 1n sald seat and connections between the aviator and'the seat and the parachute,'

SOLOMON L. VAN METER, JR.

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