Ejection

Mechanism for
Helicopters
Aakash Kale

Vivek Yadav

Adithyan TR.
TOC

Understanding the problems

Project objective
Method-1
Event Time Sequence-Method 1
Method-2
Event Time Sequence-Method 2
Understanding the problems

01 Hindrance in conventional seat ejection due to rotor

system

02 Minimize possibility of collision with external

objects/fuselage

03 To provide a viable solution for in-service helicopters as

well
Project objective

The objective is to design a

complete sequential mechanism
for safe ejection of pilot and
other crew members in case of
certain emergencies or mishaps.
 MATERIAL ANALYSIS & DESIGN PARAMETERS
The airframe, or fundamental structure, of a helicopter, can be made of either metal or organic composite materials, or
some combination of the two Tubular and sheet metal substructures are usually made of aluminium, though stainless
steel or titanium are sometimes used in areas subject to higher stress or heat. A helicopter's rotary wing blades are
usually made of fibre-reinforced resin, which may be adhesively bonded to an external sheet metal layer to protect
edges. The helicopter's windscreen and windows (Canopy) are formed of polycarbonate sheeting.
Helicopter Length Width Height Weight
Element (ft) (ft) (ft) (kg)

Cockpit 10 5 6 1000

Rotor Blade 24 1 - 45-115

Fuselage 48 8 12 5000
 Method-1 (For yet to manufacture helicopters)

Rotor system- 04 Drogue and

Engine Parachute
Disengagement Deployment
The power to the rotor shaft and Drogue chute and parachute are
engine is cut off by freewheeling deployed, safe landing
clutch
01 03
Release and
Rotor stopping
Ejection of
mechanism
Two-revolution stopping cockpit
mechanism stops the rotor blade Clamps are released, rocket
motion 02 motors ignited.
 PROPOSED COCKPIT DESIGN

● FIG. 1-a shows the isometric view of the

detachable cockpit. It is connected to the
main fuselage through jaw clamps. One of
the clamps is located on the nose of the
cockpit. When the clamps are removed,
the cockpit is free to slide on the rail slider.
● FIG. 1-b shows the side view of the
cockpit.
● FIG. 1-c shows the frontal honeycomb-
structure members that are attached to
absorb frontal impact load when landing.
● FIG. 1-d (up) shows the back portion of the
cockpit depicting the three rocket motors
that propel the cockpit forward on the
rails. Also, the drogue gun, Barometric
Sensors and main parachute are also
located in this portion as shown
● FIG. 1-d (down) shows the front view of
the cockpit when the flaps and the main
parachute has been deployed.
Two revolution stopping mechanism

The given figure

depicts the two-revolution
stopping mechanism used
to stop the main rotor shaft
rotation. The stopping
mechanism is inserted
through a spring release
mechanism into the
periphery of the drive shaft
thereby stopping its motion.
METHOD 1 :- COCKPIT DETACHMENT VISUALISATION
 Event time sequence-Method 1
Seconds

t=0 t=0.2 t=1.7 t=2 t=7.5

Firing handle Cockpit Complete Drogue chute Main

pulled release Cockpit Deployed Parachute
Detachment Deployment
Rotor blades Free sliding Drogue chute is
disengaged, motion of cockpit deployed to Depending on
stopped. on rails, rocket The rocket stabilize cockpit altitude sensors,
motors fired motors propel the spin motion the main
cockpit away parachute is
from the fuselage deployed
 Method-2 (For existing helicopters)

Seat Ejection,
Rotor blade 04 Drogue and
detachment Parachute
Deployment
Controlled detonation of rotor Drogue chute and parachute are
blades deployed, safe landing

01 03
Whirlybird
Canopy Jettison
Mechanism
Canopy is jettisoned through The flaps are opened to
controlled detonation and nullify/control the haphazard
pitched backwards 02 motion of detached rotors
Top view of helicopter
depicting the detached rotor
blades.
WHIRLYBIRD
MECHANISM

The rotor blade

consists of flaps held
together by a tensile
cord. On detonation,
the ordc breaks and
the flaps open. These
flaps help in
stabilizing the
random motion of the
rotor by providing a
controlled spinning
motion about its axis.
METHOD 2 :- SEAT EJECTION VISUALISATION
 Event time sequence- Method 2
Seconds

t=0 t=0.5 t=2.5 t=3 t=6.5

Firing handle Rotor Blade Canopy Seat Ejection,

Seat separation,
pulled detachment Jettison Drogue
Main Parachute
Deployment
Deployment
Rotor blades Rotor blades are
disengaged, detached,
Seat is propelled Depending on
stopped. whirlybird The canopy is
upwards. Drogue altitude sensors,
mechanism jettisoned using
chute is deployed the main
operates and screw and jack
to stabilize cockpit parachute is
nullifies haphazard release
spin motion deployed
rotor motion mechanism