US4261535A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Streamline afterbody for an ejection seat
Assignee: United States Department of the Air Force
•
Filing: 1979-10-05
•
Granted: 1981-04-14
•
Expires: 1999-10-05
Abstract
Abstract The ejection seat on a high performance aircraft is provided with a plurality of inflatable air bags on the back of the seat. The air bags are generally elliptical in cross-section and arranged one above the other in two parallel vertical rows on a supporting pallet attached to the seat back. Suitable gas generators cause the air bags to inflate in sequence top-to-bottom as the seat ejects from the aircraft to produce a rearwardly extending generally streamline afterbody thereby reducing aerodynamic drag and stabilizing the seat with its occupant after emergency ejection.
Inventors
- 👤 Douglas E. Swanson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 22:07
CPC Classifications
B; B64; B64D; B64D25/00; B64D25/08; B64D25/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
A streamline afterbody for attachment to the ejection seat of a high performance aircraft, comprising a support pallet fixedly attached to the back of the ejection seat, a rigid skin cover over said pallet, a plurality of inflatable air bags attached to said skin cover, said air bags being fully deflated when the ejection seat is in position in the cockpit of the aircraft, said inflatable air bags being arranged in two vertical parallel rows for rearward extension from the back of the ejection seat, and means for inflating said air bags during ejection of the seat from the aircraft to produce a rearwardly extending steamline afterbody for stabilizing the seat and reducing aerodynamic drag after ejection from the aircraft.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
120 words
A streamline afterbody for attachment to the ejection seat of a high performance aircraft, comprising a support pallet fixedly attached to the back of the ejection seat, a rigid skin cover over said pallet, a plurality of inflatable air bags attached to said skin cover, said air bags being fully deflated when the ejection seat is in position in the cockpit of the aircraft, said inflatable air bags being arranged in two vertical parallel rows for rearward extension from the back of the ejection seat, and means for inflating said air bags during ejection of the seat from the aircraft to produce a rearwardly extending steamline afterbody for stabilizing the seat and reducing aerodynamic drag after ejection from the aircraft.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
66 words
The streamline afterbody for attachment to the ejection seat of a high performance aircraft as defined in claim 1 wherein said inflatable air bags are positioned in two vertical rows of five each and inflate sequentially from top to bottom as the seat is ejected from the cockpit with the upper bags inflating first and the lower bags fully inflating after the seat leaves the cockpit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The streamline afterbody for attachment to the ejection seat of a high performance aircraft as defined in claim 2 wherein said inflatable air bags are elliptical in cross section and fabricated of a flexible airtight fabric.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2733027A
Cited
US2702680A
Cited
US2737411A
Cited
US3042347A
Cited
US3286951A
Cited
US3372893A
Cited
US3432125A
Cited
US3412962A
Cited
US3618877A
Cited
US3679157A
Cited
US4005655A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-04-13 | 1984-10-13 | 1985-04-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-04-13 | 1988-10-13 | 1989-04-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-04-13 | 1992-10-13 | 1993-04-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |