US 12,077,304 B2
Universal sequencer and wire harness assembly for ejection systems
Jeff Benjamin, Colorado Springs, CO (US); and Steve Bredl, Colorado Springs, CO (US)
Assigned to AMI INDUSTRIES, INC., Colorado Springs, CO (US)
Filed by AMI Industries, Inc., Colorado Springs, CO (US)
Filed on May 17, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/415,863.
Prior Publication US 2020/0361614 A1, Nov. 19, 2020
Int. Cl. B64D 25/10 (2006.01); B64D 17/72 (2006.01); G05B 19/042 (2006.01)
CPC B64D 25/10 (2013.01) [B64D 17/725 (2013.01); G05B 19/0426 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A universal sequencer for an ejection seat, the universal sequencer comprising:
a sequencer connector defining a plurality of pin receptacles;
a controller electrically coupled to the sequencer connector; and
a tangible, non-transitory memory configured to communicate with the controller, wherein a plurality of ejection timetables is stored in the tangible, non-transitory memory accessible by the controller, with a first ejection timetable of the plurality of ejection timetables is associated with a first pin configuration of pins of a first wire harness and a second ejection timetable of the plurality of ejection timetables is associated with a second pin configuration of pins of a second wire harness and wherein the tangible, non-transitory memory having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by the controller, cause the controller to perform operations comprising:
determining, by the controller, a particular model of an ejection seat within which the universal sequencer is installed, a particular model of aircraft in which the ejection seat having the universal sequencer installed therein is located, and an ejection seat location within the aircraft based on the first pin configuration of pins of a first harness connector of the first wire harness or the second pin configuration of pins of a second harness connector of the second wire harness being coupled to various ones of the plurality of pin receptacles of the sequence connector of the universal sequencer, wherein determining the particular model of the ejection seat in which the universal sequencer is installed, the particular model of aircraft in which the ejection seat having the universal sequencer installed therein is located, and the ejection seat location within the aircraft comprises:
determining, by the controller, which pin receptacles of the plurality of pin receptacles are in an open state indicating either a pin from either the first pin configuration of pins of the first harness connector of the first wire harness or the second pin configuration of pins of the second harness connector of the second wire harness failing to be present in the various ones of the plurality of pin receptacles of the sequence connector of the universal sequencer;
determining, by the controller, which of the pin receptacles of the plurality of pin receptacles are in a closed state indicating either a pin from either the first pin configuration of pins of the first harness connector of the first wire harness or the second pin configuration of pins of the second harness connector of the second wire harness being present in the various ones of the plurality of pin receptacles of the sequence connector of the universal sequencer; and
determining, by the controller, the particular model of the ejection seat in which the universal sequencer is installed, the particular model of aircraft in which the ejection seat having the universal sequencer installed therein is located, and the ejection seat location within the aircraft based on which of the various ones of the plurality of pin receptacles of the sequence connector of the universal sequencer are in the open state and which of the various ones of the plurality of pin receptacles of the sequence connector of the universal sequencer are in the closed state;
determining, by the controller, which of the first ejection timetable or the second ejection timetable to employ based on the determination of the particular model of the ejection seat the universal sequencer is installed, based on the determination of the particular model of aircraft the ejection seat having the universal sequencer installed therein is located, and based on the determination of the ejection seat location within the aircraft; and
implementing, by the controller, either the first ejection timetable or the second ejection timetable based on the determination of which of the first ejection timetable or the second ejection timetable to employ, wherein, when the controller implements the first ejection timetable a parachute mortar fires a first number of seconds after initiation of an ejection sequence, wherein, when the controller implements the second ejection timetable the parachute mortar fires a second number of seconds after initiation of the ejection sequence, and wherein the second number of seconds is greater than the first number of seconds.