Patent US3561703A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
US3561703A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Canopy breaking by shaped charge

Assignee: Stencel Aero Engineering Corp
•
Filing: 1969-07-07
•
Granted: 1971-02-09
•
Expires: 1989-07-07
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A device for breaking the canopy overlying an aircraft ejection seat prior to the time that the seat contacts the canopy. An explosive shaped charge is provided for directly blasting an opening in the canopy and detonating means are provided for exploding the change. Movable means, advantageously in the form of canopy breaker means are provided for movement toward the underside of the canopy as a seat ejection operation is initiated and the detonating means explodes the charge at substantially the same time as the canopy breaker means contacts the underside of the canopy. As the charge blasts an opening in the canopy, the breaker means continues moving through the canopy to enlarge the opening, if necessary.

Inventors

  • 👤 Fred B Stencel

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-02 07:46
CPC Classifications
B; B64; B64C; B64C1/00; B64C1/32

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim 97 words
In the combination of an aircraft having a cockpit covered by a frangible canopy and an ejection seat installed in said cockpit and being selectively ejectable therefrom, the improvement for breaking said canopy to facilitate ejection which comprises: movable means mounted within said cockpit and being movable toward the underside of said canopy as an ejection operation of said seat is initiated; an explosive shaped charge for directly blasting an opening in said canopy; and detonating means for exploding said shaped charge at substantially the same time as said movable means contacts said underside of said canopy.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 97 words
In the combination of an aircraft having a cockpit covered by a frangible canopy and an ejection seat installed in said cockpit and being selectively ejectable therefrom, the improvement for breaking said canopy to facilitate ejection which comprises: movable means mounted within said cockpit and being movable toward the underside of said canopy as an ejection operation of said seat is initiated; an explosive shaped charge for directly blasting an opening in said canopy; and detonating means for exploding said shaped charge at substantially the same time as said movable means contacts said underside of said canopy.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 14 words
The improvement defined in claim 1 wherein said movable means comprises canopy breaker means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 32 words
The improvement defined in claim 2 wherein said detonating means includes a first portion mounted on said canopy breaker means and a second cooperating portion mounted on the underside of said canopy.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 18 words
The improvement defined in claim 2 wherein said explosive shaped charge is mounted on said canopy breaker means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 19 words
The improvement defined in claim 2 wherein said explosive shaped chargE is mounted on the underside of said canopy.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 51 words
The improvement defined in claim 2 wherein said canopy breaker means is moved through said canopy after said explosive charge blasts said opening therein, such movement of said canopy breaker means serving to enlarge said opening and further fracture said canopy if said blast failed to form a large enough opening.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 20 words
The improvement defined in claim 1 wherein said movable means comprises a headrest forming a part of said ejection seat.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 18 words
The improvement defined in claim 7 wherein said explosive shaped charge is mounted on top of said headrest.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 19 words
The improvement defined in claim 7 wherein said explosive shaped charge is mounted on the underside of said canopy.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2605704A Cited
US2543057A Cited
US2587243A Cited
US2693326A Cited
US3152781A Cited
US3248072A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1974-02-08 1974-08-10 1975-02-09 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1978-02-08 1978-08-10 1979-02-09 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1982-02-08 1982-08-10 1983-02-09 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag