Shock load attenuation
AssigneeRockwell Collins, Inc.
InventorsChristopher Thistlethwaite, Andrew Shawver
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A shock load attenuation device is provided. The shock load attenuation device includes a crushable material; a first compartment in the crushable material surrounding a first line; and a second compartment in the crushable material surrounding a second line. In response to the first line being acted upon by a first force and the second line being acted upon by a second force, a first loop in the first line is configured to slide along the second line and a first loop in the second line is configured to slide along the first line, crushing the crushable material.
Claims18
A shock load attenuation device for a parachute assembly, the shock load attenuation device comprising:
- a crushable material;
- a first compartment in the crushable material surrounding a first line;
- and
- a second compartment in the crushable material surrounding a second line,
- wherein the first line passes through the first compartment, loops around the second line, and passes back through the first compartment,
- wherein the second line passes through the second compartment, loops around the first line, and passes back through the second compartment, and
- wherein, in response to the first line being acted upon by a first force and the second line being acted upon by a second force, a first loop in the first line is configured to slide along the second line and a first loop in the second line is configured to slide along the first line, crushing the crushable material.
A parachute, comprising:
- a canopy;
- a riser;
- a first line coupled to the canopy;
- a second line coupled to the riser;
- and
- a shock load attenuation device, wherein the shock load attenuation device comprises:
- a crushable material;
- a first compartment in the crushable material surrounding the first line;
- and
- a second compartment in the crushable material surrounding the second line,
- wherein the first line passes through the first compartment, loops around the second line, and passes back through the first compartment,
- wherein the second line passes through the second compartment, loops around the first line, and passes back through the second compartment, and
- wherein, in response to the first line being acted upon by a first force and the second line being acted upon by a second force, a first loop in the first line is configured to slide along the second line and a first loop in the second line is configured to slide along the first line, crushing the crushable material.
A method of assembling a parachute assembly, comprising:
- passing a first end of a first line through a first compartment of a shock load attenuation device;
- looping the first end of the first line around a second line thereby forming a first loop of the first line;
- passing the first end of the first line back though the first compartment of the shock load attenuation device;
- coupling the first end and a second end of the first line to a same location on a canopy of a parachute of the parachute assembly;
- passing a first end of the second line through a second compartment of the shock load attenuation device;
- looping the first end of the second line around the first line thereby forming a first loop of the second line;
- passing the first end of the second line back though the second compartment of the shock load attenuation device;
- and
- coupling the first end and a second end of the second line to a same location on a riser of the parachute assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.