Goggles emergency release apparatus

• US 5,176,342 A
• Filed: 12/30/1991
• Issued: 01/05/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Government Of The United States As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Dillon, Thomas J., Greth, Ricky L., Schmidt, Daniel J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peters, Jr., Joseph F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BIDWELL, ANNE
• Application Number:
  US07/815,294
• Time in Patent Office: 372 Days
• Field of Search: 244/122 AE, 244/121, 244/122 AG, 244/122 A, 244/122 AH, 2/6, 2/422, 33/262, 33/252, 33/263
• US Class Current: 244/122.0AE
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/042 Optical devices night vision goggles G02B23/12
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 25/08 Ejecting or escaping means escape apertures B64C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0154 with movable elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0156 with optionally usable elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/125 head-mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0176 characterised by mechanical features

Abstract

A goggles emergency release apparatus is disclosed wherein an actuator, ptioned adjacent the goggles latching mechanism, drives a wedge into the mechanism to push a release pin into the open position and push the goggles away from the helmet. The actuator receives its initiation power when the ejection seat movement closes a microswitch.

Claims

1. A goggles emergency release apparatus for forcibly separating goggles latched to a pilot'"'"'s helmet when a pilot ejects from his aircraft, comprising:

base means attached to the top of the helmet to provide a housing and a guiding track adjacent to a goggles latching pin;

actuator means situated in said housing;

release means having a forward section with a sloped front surface in a first position adjacent said actuator means and slidably situated to move from said first position apart from the latching pin to a second position impacting the pin; and

initiator means connected to said actuator means and the pilot'"'"'s ejection seat to provide a signal to said actuator means,

whereupon said actuator means forces said release means to impact the latching pin separating it from the helmet and moving the goggles away from the helmet.

2. A goggles release apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said base means is a tube.

3. A goggles release apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said actuator means is a ballistic actuator that generates approximately twenty pounds of pressure.

4. A goggles release apparatus as described in claim 3 wherein said ballistic actuator is a bellows actuator.

5. A goggles release apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said release means has a rear section containing a retaining means extending from a side surface.

6. A goggles release apparatus as described in claim 5 wherein said release means comprises a shell portion at the rear section.

7. A goggles release apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said initiator means comprises a separation means connected to stationary and moving sections, respectively, of the ejection seat.

8. A goggles release apparatus as described in claim 7 wherein said separation means includes a rigid pin fixedly attached to the stationary section.

9. A goggles release apparatus as described in claim 8 wherein said separation means comprises a microswitch connected to an energy source and fixedly attached to the moving section.

10. A goggles release apparatus as described in claim 9 wherein said microswitch contains a lever arm held in a first, closed position by said rigid pin and movable to a second, open position once said pin is removed.

11. A goggles release apparatus for forcibly separating latched goggles from a pilot'"'"'s helmet when the pilot actuates his ejection seat, comprising:

an anchor plate fixedly attached to a predetermined location on the helmet adjacent a goggles latching mechanism;

a tubular housing situated on and fixedly attached to said anchor plate;

a wedge-shaped block located inside a first end of said housing and connected to impact underneath a latching pin;

a ballistic actuator located inside a second end of said housing and adjacent said block;

an energy source; and

switching means connected to movable and stationary sections of the ejection seat and said energy source to transmit a signal to said actuator upon separation of said movable and stationary sections.