FUNCTION PREPARATION  FOR  USE It is impossible for an aircrewman to select the altitude  at  which  an  emergency  may  occur.  By using  the  automatic  ripcord  release,  you  can  bring the  aircrewman  down  to  a  safe  altitude  before  the parachute  opens. When  an  aircrewman  makes  an  emergency ejection  at  an  altitude  above  that  for  which  the ripcord release is set to open the parachute, the following  functions  take  place: 1. The arming pin is pulled. This pin locks the ripcord release firing mechanism while installed. When the arming pin is withdrawn, the assembly fires at or below the preset altitude of the ripcord release. 2. The sear and the aneroid mechanism lock the  ripcord  release. 3. As the aircrewman free-falls, increasing air pressure  causes  the  aneroid  to  contract. 4.  As  the  operating  altitude  is  reached,  the aneroid contracts enough to remove the sear from the  firing  hammer  lock. 5.  The  hammer’s  firing  pin  strikes  the  car- tridge. 6.  The  time-delay  cartridge  fires  (time  de- pending on the type of cartridge used) after the hammer strikes. 7. The piston is forced forward in the barrel, pulling the power cable, which is attached to the parachute locking pins. (The power cable travels 3.75  inches.) 8. The locking pins are pulled, and the normal parachute  opening  sequence  begins. When   an   aircrewman   bails   out   below   the operating  altitude  of  the  automatic  parachute ripcord release, the hammer releases as soon as the  arming  pin  is  pulled,  and  the  following functions  take  place: 1.  The  hammer’s  firing  pin  strikes  the  car- tridge. 2.  The  time-delay  cartridge  fires  (time  de- pending on the type of cartridge used) after the hammer strikes. 3. The piston is forced forward in the barrel, pulling the power cable, which is attached to the parachute  locking  pins. 4. The locking pins are pulled, and the normal parachute  opening  sequence  begins. When  you  receive  an  automatic  parachute ripcord  release  from  supply,  there  are  some preparations  for  you  to  make  before  placing  it into service. Upon removal of the ripcord release from the shipping carton, the exterior parts of the unit must be inspected for damage during shipping and  storage.  An  inspection  should  be  made  for corrosion, dirt, dents, and cracks. If any damage or  discrepancy  is  found,  a  quality  deficiency report  must  be  submitted,  and  a  tag  must  be affixed to the ripcord release stating that it is not to be used. Remove this tag only after correction has been made. Fired ripcord release assemblies must  not  be  reused. All  Model  7000  automatic  parachute  ripcord release assemblies that fail any inspection points must have a tag affixed stating the nature of the defects. NOTE: Refer to NAVAIR 11-100-1.1 for the cartridge service life/total life. The cartridge service life must not expire prior to  the  next  scheduled  repack  of  the parachute  assembly. WARNING YOU  SHOULD  EXERCISE  EXTREME CAUTION  WHEN  HANDLING  AUTO- MATIC   RIPCORD   RELEASE   AS- SEMBLIES AFTER THE CARTRIDGE HAS  BEEN  INSERTED  IN  THE  BAR- REL.  DO  NOT  ALLOW  EITHER  END OF  THE  COVER  ASSEMBLY  TO  BE POINTED   TOWARD   YOUR   FACE AS  HIGH  VELOCITY  FLAME  AND SMOKE MAY BE PRODUCED IF THE CARTRIDGE  GOES  OFF.  ANOTHER REASON FOR EXTREME CAUTION IS THE  POSSIBILITY  THAT  THE  PIS- TON   OF   THE   RIPCORD   RELEASE MAY  BECOME  A  PROJECTILE  IF THE  CARTRIDGE  ACCIDENTALLY FIRES. An automatic ripcord release in service must be inspected each time its parachute assembly is repacked.  You  must  pay  particular  attention  to detail  when  working  on  a  automatic  ripcord release. The importance of careful work must be impressed  upon  personnel  actually  performing  the work, as well as those assigned to collateral duty 2-2