DEMONSTRATION OF HEAD AND NECK PROTECTION DEVICES FOR HIGH-SPEED EJECTION

摘要

Ejection seats are safe and effective, having saved thousands of lives. Yet serious and fatal injuries still occur in high-speed ejections due to strong aerodynamic forces on the seat and occupant. Among its many goals for better seat performance, the Joint Ejection Seat Program seeks to reduce the risk of these injuries. A prototype head and neck protection ensemble was recently designed to address the dominant injury modes, and was tested in a series of 600-knot blasts. An inflatable structure remained attached to the seat and in position to reduce aerodynamic lift through a flow stagnation effect. An inflatable headpad absorbed the head impact and reduced the risk of injury compared to a baseline test. An inflatable head support collar maintained the head in an upright position and limited the neck bending loads. In these initial concept demonstration tests, each device showed a level of effectiveness that warrants further development. The ensemble shows promise for helping push the safe ejection envelope towards the goal of 700 knots.