US3774870A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Emergency activating apparatus
Assignee: Wickes Manufacturing Co
•
Filing: 1970-01-12
•
Granted: 1973-11-27
•
Expires: 1990-01-12
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for unlatching airmen from equipment to which they are fastened to permit emergency egress from an aircraft, including a squib for operating the unlatching mechanism and a reliable circuit for energizing the squib. The energizing circuit includes a portable battery which is connected to a capacitor at all times prior to and after the emergency egress, and a silicon controlled rectifier for discharging the capacitor through the squib when an emergency switch is closed. In one system where an airman is held by latch assemblies to a parachute canopy and to a seat, and where the airman routinely operates manual latches every time he enters and leaves the aircraft, a squib-operated latch is placed in series with each manual latch so that operation of either latch of a series separates the man from the one location on the parachute or seat. The manual latches are of a type which is of proven reliability and familiar manner of operation, and the squib-operated latches are placed between the manual latches and the equipment from which the airman must be separated.
Inventors
- 👤 H Sheffield
- 👤 A Reiter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 19:12
CPC Classifications
B; B64; B64D; B64D25/00; B64D25/02; B64D25/06; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T24/00; Y10T24/34; Y10T24/3401; Y10T24/3403; Y10T24/3405; Y10T24/3407
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
190 words
In emergency apparatus normally held within a craft and ejected from said craft upon the operation of emergency switch means that is operated upon the occurence of an emergency requiring egress from the craft, said emergency apparatus having squib means for operating said emerGency apparatus at a time after said ejection, the improvement comprising: a capacitor mounted on said emergency apparatus for ejection with it from said craft; an electrical battery mounted on said emergency apparatus for ejection with it, said battery being of a type which utilizes a chemical reaction to generate current and which always supplies a voltage between its output terminals until it is exhausted; means for connecting said battery to said capacitor substantially continuously at least from a time prior to operation of said emergency switch means to a time after ejection of said emergency apparatus from said craft, so that said capacitor is maintained in a charged state prior and after operation of said emergency switch means; and means responsive to an occurrence normally occurring after ejection of said emergency apparatus from said craft, for at least partially discharging said capacitor through said squib means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
190 words
In emergency apparatus normally held within a craft and ejected from said craft upon the operation of emergency switch means that is operated upon the occurence of an emergency requiring egress from the craft, said emergency apparatus having squib means for operating said emerGency apparatus at a time after said ejection, the improvement comprising: a capacitor mounted on said emergency apparatus for ejection with it from said craft; an electrical battery mounted on said emergency apparatus for ejection with it, said battery being of a type which utilizes a chemical reaction to generate current and which always supplies a voltage between its output terminals until it is exhausted; means for connecting said battery to said capacitor substantially continuously at least from a time prior to operation of said emergency switch means to a time after ejection of said emergency apparatus from said craft, so that said capacitor is maintained in a charged state prior and after operation of said emergency switch means; and means responsive to an occurrence normally occurring after ejection of said emergency apparatus from said craft, for at least partially discharging said capacitor through said squib means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
108 words
The improvement described in claim 1 wherein: said emergency apparatus includes a first device for operation by said squib means and a second device for operation by a second squib means; and including a second capacitor mounted on said emergency apparatus; means for connecting said battery to said second capacitor substantially continuously at least from a time prior to operation of said emergency switch means to a time after ejection of said emergency apparatus from said craft; and means responsive to a second occurrence normally occurring after ejection of said emergency apparatus from said craft, for at least partially discharging said second capacitor through said second squib means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
195 words
In a system for holding an airman or the like securely to equipment which is normally held in a craft, and for quickly releasing him from said equipment, the improvement comprising: a plurality of manual latches, each having a pair of latch parts for manual coupling and uncoupling; a plurality of automatic latches, each having a pair of automatic latch parts normally held together, and squib means for releasing said automatic latch parts so they can separate; means for connecting each of said manual latches in series with one of said automatic latches to form a plurality of series-connected latch sets; means for coupling one latch part of each series-connected latch set to said airman and another latch part thereof to a location on said equipment, so that release of either latch of a series-connected latch set will release said airman from a corresponding location on said equipment; an electrical energy source; and emergency switch means for coupling said electrical energy source to said squib means of each of said automatic latches, whereby to simultaneously release said airman from all locations where he is tied to said equipment when said emergency switch means is operated.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
195 words
In a system for holding an airman or the like securely to equipment which is normally held in a craft, and for quickly releasing him from said equipment, the improvement comprising: a plurality of manual latches, each having a pair of latch parts for manual coupling and uncoupling; a plurality of automatic latches, each having a pair of automatic latch parts normally held together, and squib means for releasing said automatic latch parts so they can separate; means for connecting each of said manual latches in series with one of said automatic latches to form a plurality of series-connected latch sets; means for coupling one latch part of each series-connected latch set to said airman and another latch part thereof to a location on said equipment, so that release of either latch of a series-connected latch set will release said airman from a corresponding location on said equipment; an electrical energy source; and emergency switch means for coupling said electrical energy source to said squib means of each of said automatic latches, whereby to simultaneously release said airman from all locations where he is tied to said equipment when said emergency switch means is operated.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
81 words
The improvement described in claim 3 wherein: said equipment is designed for ejection from said aircraft with said airman; said electrical energy source includes a portable battery for operation independently of said aircraft and which is a type of battery that always supplies a voltage output until it is exhausted, and a capacitor connected to said battery to keep said capacitor charged prior to an emergency; and said emergency switch means includes means for coupling said capacitor to said squib means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
The improvement described in claim 3 wherein: the automatic latch of each series-connected latch set is located between the manual latch of that set and a location on said equipment, whereby the airman does not have to regularly carry the automatic latches to and from the aircraft.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
86 words
A process for automating the emergency release of a person from equipment to which he is held by a manually operable latch of a predetermined type which is of proven reliability and familiar manner of operation comprising: connecting an automatically operable latch in series with a manuallY operable latch of said predetermined type which has latching parts that are independent of parts of said automatically operable latch; and coupling emergency sensing means to said automatically operable latch to operate said latch when an emergency is sensed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
86 words
A process for automating the emergency release of a person from equipment to which he is held by a manually operable latch of a predetermined type which is of proven reliability and familiar manner of operation comprising: connecting an automatically operable latch in series with a manuallY operable latch of said predetermined type which has latching parts that are independent of parts of said automatically operable latch; and coupling emergency sensing means to said automatically operable latch to operate said latch when an emergency is sensed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The process described in claim 6 wherein: said manually operable latch is located between said person and said automatically operable latch, whereby to minimize the weight of equipment which said person must carry.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-11-26 | 1977-05-28 | 1977-11-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-26 | 1981-05-28 | 1981-11-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-26 | 1985-05-28 | 1985-11-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |