the manual override initiator cartridge. This
duplicates the function of the TRM and fires the
drogue gun secondary cartridge. The drogue
gun then deploys the drogue parachutes and
personnel parachute concurrently.
The TRM altitude-sensing barostatic time
release prevents the 1.5-second timer from
starting at altitudes above 11,500 feet. The
barostatic time release ensures that the pilot
descends rapidly through the upper atmosphere
to a more survivable altitude. At altitudes
between 7,500 and 11,500 feet, the time delay
for deployment of the personnel parachute is con-
trolled by an internal g-limiter, which interrupts
the timing sequence until the deceleration force
is less than 1.5 gs. This results in lower parachute
opening loads. At altitudes below 7,500 feet, the
1.5-second timer starts without interruption.
After the 1.5-second timer delay, the TRM
cartridge fires. This releases the upper restraint
mechanism, lower restraint mechanism, parachute
mechanical lock, and drogue shackle. When the
drogue is free from the scissor mechanism, it
deploys the personnel parachute. The personnel
parachute lifts the pilot and the survival kit from
the seat and pulls the sticker-clip strap lugs from
their clips. This is necessary to ensure that collision
between the seat and the pilot is avoided. The
radio beacon activates when pilot and seat
separation occurs. Then a normal parachute
descent begins.
While descending in the parachute, the pilot
can pull the survival kit handle to separate the kit
halves. This allows deployment and automatic
inflation of the life raft. The life raft and survival
kit items are connected by a lanyard to the
survival kit lid, which is attached to the pilot.
SYSTEM COMPONENTS
The SJU-5/A ejection seat system (fig. 6-20)
provides support for the pilot during normal flight
conditions and a method of escape from the air-
craft during emergency conditions. Selected seat
system components are discussed in the follow-
ing paragraphs and keyed to figure 6-20.
Catapult
The catapult (3) is a cartridge-actuated device
that provides the initial force required to eject the
6-28
seat from the aircraft. The catapult is located
within the main beam assembly (6) and is attached
to the bulkhead of the cockpit by two mounting
lugs. The ejection seat is installed on the catapult
with three pairs of slippers located on the
inboard side of the main beam assembly. The
main beam assembly fits into catapult guide
rails located on the outboard sides of the
catapults outer barrel. The ejection seat is
locked to the catapult by the top latch mechanism.
The catapult consists of three major parts: the
inner barrel, the intermediate barrel, and the outer
barrel.
INNER BARREL. A neck-shaped piston
head, fitted with a set of expander and piston
rings, is attached to the lower end of the inner
barrel to provide a gas seal with the intermediate
barrel. A breech is located at the upper end of
the inner barrel for the primary firing mechanism
and cartridge. The breech has a groove on the out-
side edge into which the plunger of the top latch
mechanism of the ejection seat is engaged.
INTERMEDIATE BARREL. The inter-
mediate barrel is located between the inner
barrel and the outer barrel. The intermediate
barrel increases the length of catapult extension.
It also restrains bending loads incurred during
ejection. A piston head fitted with two sets of six
expander and piston rings is attached to the lower
end. The piston head serves as a gas seal between
the intermediate barrel and the outer barrel. A
guide bushing is riveted to the upper end of the
intermediate barrel to keep the inner barrel steady
during extension. The guide bushing rivets are
sheared by the neck-shaped piston head of the
inner barrel during ejection. This allows separa-
tion of the inner and intermediate barrels. Twelve
pressure rings are installed on the intermediate
barrel to absorb the inertia forces encountered
during barrel separation.
OUTER BARREL. The outer barrel houses
the intermediate and inner barrel assemblies. Two
breeches are located on the aft side to accept the
auxiliary cartridges. Two guide rails are bolted on
the outboard sides of the outer barrel. The lower
end is used to attach the catapult to the aircraft.
The upper end has a square aperture to engage
the plunger of the top latch mechanism. The
upper fitting is threaded for the guide bushing that
retains the intermediate barrel. The guide bushing
is locked in place by a dowel screw.