US 12,428,123 B2 · Drogue deployment for lighter than air vehicle descent

Abstract

The technology relates to techniques for drogue deployment for a lighter than air (LTA) vehicle descent. A drogue deployment system for an LTA vehicle descent can include a drogue comprising a drogue parachute coupled to a carrier. A spring can be configured to launch the drogue from a launch tube directed outward from an apex of the LTA vehicle in an acute angle from a horizontal plane. A core can be placed around the launch tube and placed around the spring, the core compressing the spring and holding the spring in a compressed state prior to deployment, and a riser can couple the carrier to the envelope of the LTA vehicle. In some cases, the drogue deployment system can comprise two or more drogues, wherein intervals between the two or more drogues can be selected such that horizontal components of drogue deployment forces approximately cancel out.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method for deploying a drogue parachute comprising:

providing a drogue parachute;
releasing a biasing element coupled along a launch tube with a drogue deployment mechanism;
launching the drogue parachute from the launch tube wherein launching includes:
transitioning the biasing element from a deformed condition to a non-deformed condition, and
driving a carrier from the launch tube according to the transition of the biasing element between the deformed condition and the non-deformed condition, wherein the drogue parachute is coupled around the carrier;
and, deploying a tether between the drogue parachute and the launch tube as the drogue parachute is moving away from the launch tube.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Drogue deployment for lighter than air vehicle descent

Life of this patent

Drogue deployment for lighter than air vehicle descent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20