Electronically controlled and pyrotechnic crew escape system and method

Claim 2

In a crew escape system of the type including an electrical power source and a plurality of pyrotechnic devices adapted to be ejected with a crew member from a vehicle, electronic switch means connected intermediate the power source and pyrotechnic devices for selectively controling the flow of power from said source to said devices for firing said devices, said electronic switch means including a plurality of solid state switching devices each having terminals connected intermediate said power source and one of said pyrotechnic devices, each of said switching devices also having a conductive state in which power can flow between its terminals and a nonconductive state in which such power cannot flow, and electronic signal conditioning means connected to said switching devices for supplying control signals to said devices for selectively switching them between their conductive and nonconductive states and maintaining them in such states independently of the presence of absence of power at said terminals.

Claim 3

A system as in claim 1 together with environmental sensing means responsive to predetermined environmental conditions such as altitude and velocity, and means connecting said sensing means to said signal conditioning means in such manner that the control signals supplied to said switching devices are determined by said environmental conditions.

Claim 4

In a crew escape system of the type including an electrical power source and at least one pyrotechnic device adapted to be ejected with a crew member from a vehicle, electronic switch means connected intermediate the power source and pyrotechnic device, and capacitive discharge means connected for firing said pyrotechnic device, said capacitive discharge means including a capacitor connected to said power source for receiving current therefrom, solid state switch means adapted for connecting said capacitor to said pyrotechnic device in response to a trigger signal from said electronic switch means, and current limiting means intermediate said capacitor and said power source to prevent excessive power drain from said source following the firing of said pyrotechnic device.

Claim 5

In a crew escape system of the type including an electrical power source and at least one pyrotechnic device adapted to be ejected with a crew member from a vehicle, electronic switch means connected intermediate the power source and pyrotechnic device, and capacitive discharge means connected for firing said pyrotechnic device, said capacitive discharge means including a capacitor connected to said power source for receiving current therefrom, solid state switch means adapted for connecting said capacitor to said pyrotechnic device in response to a trigger signal from said electronic switch means, and current limiting means intermediate said capacitor and said power source to prevent excessive power drain from said source following the firing of said pyrotechnic device.

Claim 6

A system as in claim 3 together with an additional pyrotechnic device and additional capacitive discharge means of the character described in claim 3 for firing said additional device from the same trigger signal that fires the first named device, and diode means connected intermediate said power source and the capacitor in each discharge means to provide isolation between the first named and additional pyrotechnic devices.

Claim 7

In a crew escape system for ejecting a crew member from a vehicle, a first battery and at least one pyrotechnic device adapted to be ejected with the crew member, said battery having active and inactive states and being adapted for assuming the active state in response to an electrical signal, electronic switch means adapted to be ejected with the crew member, said electronic switch means being connected intermediate the battery and pyrotechnic device for controlling the flow of power from said battery to said device, ejection sequencer means carried by the vehicle for applying an electrical signal to said battery, and means releasably connecting said battery electrically to said ejection sequencer means, said ejection sequencer means including a second battery having inactive and active states and being adapted for mechanical and electrical activation, electrically ignited rocket catapult means for ejecting the crew member from the vehicle, and electronic time delay means connected intermediate said second battery and said catapult means for delaying the ejection of said crew member for a predetermined interval of time after activation of said second battery.

Claim 8

In a crew escape system for ejecting a crew member from a vehicle, a first battery and at least one pyrotechnic device adapted to be ejected with the crew member, said battery having active and inactive states and being adapted for assuming the active state in response to an electrical signal, electronic switch means adapted to be ejected with the crew member, said electronic switch means being connected intermediate the battery and pyrotechnic device for controlling the flow of power from said battery to said device, ejection sequencer means carried by the vehicle for applying an electrical signal to said battery, and means releasably connecting said battery electrically to said ejection sequencer means, said ejection sequencer means including a second battery having inactive and active states and being adapted for mechanical and electrical activation, electrically ignited rocket catapult means for ejecting the crew member from the vehicle, and electronic time delay means connected intermediate said second battery and said catapult means for delaying the ejection of said crew member for a predetermined interval of time after activation of said second battery.

Claim 9

In an electronically controlled pyrotechnic system for enabling a crew member to escape from a vehicle, electronic ejection sequencing means carried by said vehicle, electronic recovery sequencing means adapted to be ejected from the vehicle with the crew member, and electrical means releasably connecting said ejection sequencing means to said recovery sequencing means, said ejection sequencing means including battery means having active and inactive states and being adapted for mechanical and electrical activation, means connecting the output of said battery means to said electrical means, electrically ignited pyrotechnic means for ejecting the crew member from the vehicle, and electronic delay means connected intermediate said battery means and said pyrotechnic means for delaying the ignition of said pyrotechnic means for a predetermined time interval after activation of said battery means.

Claim 10

In an electronically controlled pyrotechnic system for enabling a crew member to escape from a vehicle, electronic ejection sequencing means carried by said vehicle, electronic recovery sequencing means adapted to be ejected from the vehicle with the crew member, and electrical means releasably connecting said ejection sequencing means to said recovery sequencing means, said ejection sequencing means including battery means having active and inactive states and being adapted for mechanical and electrical activation, means connecting the output of said battery means to said electrical means, electrically ignited pyrotechnic means for ejecting the crew member from the vehicle, and electronic delay means connected intermediate said battery means and said pyrotechnic means for delaying the ignition of said pyrotechnic means for a predetermined time interval after activation of said battery means.

Claim 11

In an electronically controlled pyrotechnic system for enabling a crew member to escape from a vehicle electronic ejection sequencing means carried by said vehicle, electronic recovery sequencing means adapted to be ejected from the vehicle with the crew member, and electrical means releasably connecting said ejection sequencing means to said recovery sequencing means, said recovery sequencing means including a battery having active and inactive states, said battery being connected to said electrical means for receiving a signal from said ejection sequencing means for causing said battery to assume its active state, latching electronic switch means electrically connected to said battery and adapted to be triggered as the recovery sequencing means is ejected from the vehicle, a plurality of pyrotechnic devices, multiple pole electronic switch means connected intermediate said battery and said pyrotechnic devices for selectively controlling the flow of power to said devices, electronic time delay means connected intermediate said multiple pole electronic switch means and said pyrotechnic devices for sequencing the firing of said devices, and electronically controlled firing means intermediate Said delay means and pyrotechnic means adapted for receiving and storing energy from said battery and delivering said energy to the pyrotechnic devices in response to signals from said delay means.

Claim 12

In an electronically controlled pyrotechnic system for enabling a crew member to escape from a vehicle electronic ejection sequencing means carried by said vehicle, electronic recovery sequencing means adapted to be ejected from the vehicle with the crew member, and electrical means releasably connecting said ejection sequencing means to said recovery sequencing means, said recovery sequencing means including a battery having active and inactive states, said battery being connected to said electrical means for receiving a signal from said ejection sequencing means for causing said battery to assume its active state, latching electronic switch means electrically connected to said battery and adapted to be triggered as the recovery sequencing means is ejected from the vehicle, a plurality of pyrotechnic devices, multiple pole electronic switch means connected intermediate said battery and said pyrotechnic devices for selectively controlling the flow of power to said devices, electronic time delay means connected intermediate said multiple pole electronic switch means and said pyrotechnic devices for sequencing the firing of said devices, and electronically controlled firing means intermediate Said delay means and pyrotechnic means adapted for receiving and storing energy from said battery and delivering said energy to the pyrotechnic devices in response to signals from said delay means.

Claim 13

In a crew escape system, a liquid amonia battery, at least one pyrotechnic device adapted to be ejected with a crew member from a vehicle, said battery having active and inactive states and being adapted for assuming the active state in response to an electrical signal, electronic switch means connected intermediate the battery and pyrotechnic device for controlling the flow of energy from said battery to said device, ejection sequencer means carried by the vehicle for applying an electrical signal to said battery to activate the same, and means releasably connecting said battery electrically to said ejection sequencer means before said battery is activated.

Claim 14

In a crew escape system, a liquid amonia battery, at least one pyrotechnic device adapted to be ejected with a crew member from a vehicle, said battery having active and inactive states and being adapted for assuming the active state in response to an electrical signal, electronic switch means connected intermediate the battery and pyrotechnic device for controlling the flow of energy from said battery to said device, ejection sequencer means carried by the vehicle for applying an electrical signal to said battery to activate the same, and means releasably connecting said battery electrically to said ejection sequencer means before said battery is activated.