Aircraft ejection seat with moveable headrest

• US 8,191,830 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2010
• Issued: 06/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AMI Industries, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: AMI Industries, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Mastrolia, Brad
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Christopher P
• Application Number:
  US12/959,839
• Publication Number:
  US 20110084167A1
• Time in Patent Office: 550 Days
• Field of Search: 244/122.AG, 244/122.A, 244/122.AB, 297/216.14, 297/216.12
• US Class Current: 244/122.AG
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 25/10 Ejector seats

Abstract

An ejection seat includes a headrest that, upon initiation of the ejection seat, moves forward to support the pilot'"'"'s head in a tilted-forward position. By holding the crewmember'"'"'s head in a tilted-forward position, windblast forces are controlled to prevent the helmet from pulling upward and backward on the crewmember'"'"'s head. The headrest may include a pair of struts that extend forward around the sides of the crewmember'"'"'s helmet to support the crewmember'"'"'s head against flailing from the windblast. A flexible panel extending between the struts and the headrest panel may also be included to further support the crewmember'"'"'s head against windblast flailing.

Claims

1. A method of ejecting an aircraft occupant from an aircraft comprising:

providing an ejection seat, the ejection seat having a seat frame, a propulsion subsystem for propelling the ejection seat free of the aircraft in response to an eject signal, and a parachute for supporting the occupant after ejecting from the aircraft;

providing a moveable head support mounted to the seat frame, the moveable head support adapted to support the rear of the occupant'"'"'s head in a tilted-forward position;

in response to the eject signal, initiating the propulsion subsystem which exposes the occupant to a vertical acceleration causing the occupant'"'"'s head to assume an acceleration-induced tilted forward position;

in response to movement of the ejection seat in a direction away from the aircraft, deploying the moveable head support to a deployed position in which the moveable head support holds the occupant'"'"'s head forward in the acceleration-induced tilted forward position; and

deploying a plurality of side members to support the lateral sides of the occupant'"'"'s head against lateral forces caused by a windblast striking the occupant'"'"'s head.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

exposing the aircraft occupant directly to a windblast as the aircraft occupant ejects from the aircraft.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the acceleration-induced tilted forward position comprises an angle θ

of at least 30 degrees between the occupant'"'"'s head and torso.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

deploying the parachute to separate the occupant from the ejection seat; and

in response to the parachute beginning to deploy, moving the moveable head support from the deployed position to a retracted position whereby the parachute is able to freely separate the occupant from the ejection seat.

5. An ejection seat for an aircraft comprising:

a seat frame for supporting an aircraft occupant, said seat frame including a seat portion and a back portion;

a propulsion subsystem for propelling the seat frame free of the aircraft in response to an eject signal; and

means responsive to an eject signal for supporting the occupant'"'"'s head in an acceleration induced tilted-forward position, said means for supporting the occupant'"'"'s head including means for supporting the sides of the occupant'"'"'s head against lateral forces caused by a windblast striking the occupant'"'"'s head.

6. The ejection seat of claim 5, wherein the means for supporting the aircraft occupant'"'"'s head comprises a rigid central member.

7. The ejection seat of claim 5, wherein the means for supporting the aircraft occupant'"'"'s head comprises a fully-flexible central member.