Means for safely launching a pilot or other occupant escaping from an aeroplane in flight

摘要

583,257. Pilot escape apparatus. MARTIN, J., and MARTIN-BAKER AIRCRAFT CO., Ltd. Feb. 28, 1945, No. 4978. [Class 4] Means for launching a pilot escaping from a plane in flight comprise a seat or platform sliding on guides directed towards the opening of a cockpit or escape hatch and an impeller unit acting under fluid pressure supplied by explosive cartridges to launch the seat or platform from the plane. The seat 6, Fig. 8, is carried by a tubular frame secured to a strong U-shaped back frame 10 slidably mounted by rollers 14 on a guide frame 11, which is pivotally secured to the plane by fixed brackets 12 and carries within it the impeller unit 20 secured at its top through the cartridge-firing chamber 28 to the arch of the frame 10. There is provided a face-screen, which may be flexible and unwound for use from a roller with handles 9a, the movement of the screen serving to release thecartridge firing-pin. The impeller unit, shown separately in Fig. 9, comprises a fixed tube 21 containing a sliding tube 22 at the top of which is mounted the cartridge firing chamber 28. Modifications are described, which include provision for firing supplementary charges and for tilting the seat backwardly before launching.