US 2008/0111029 A1Published application

Automatic activation device for a parachute and a method for activating an opening of a parachute

AssigneeSocofimmo Holding S.A.

InventorJo Smolders

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Abstract

An automatic activation device for a parachute. The device comprises pressure input means for inputting a pressure value. The device is provided for operating in selectable working configurations according to which a reference pressure is determined either on the basis of the input pressure value or on the basis of a QNH value. Preferably the device can also operate in another selectable working configuration, where a preset time and a reference fall down speed are use.

Claims18

Dependent claims

An automatic activation device for a parachute, said device having pressure input means, provided for inputting a pressure value, said pressure input means being connected to a processing element, provided for determining a reference pressure, which in a first working configuration of said processing element is determined on the basis of a first pressure value, input at said pressure input means and indicating an actual atmospheric pressure value at a take-off zone, said processing element being further provided for determining during a jump, executed by a jumper, a series of subsequent pressure values, wherein each pressure value of said series is determined on the basis of a second pressure value, input at said pressure input means and indicating an atmospheric pressure value above a drop zone at the height where said jumper is at the moment when said second pressure value is input into said pressure input means, said processing element being also provided for determining each time on the basis of said reference pressure and at least two subsequent pressure values of said series, a time value indicating an evaluated time for reaching said reference pressure and for generating a correspondence signal upon establishing that said time value has reached a predetermined value, said processing element being further provided for determining on the basis of subsequently determined pressure values of said series, a first fall down speed value indicating a speed at which said jumper falls down, said processing element being further provided for comparing under control of said correspondence signal, said first fall down speed with a reference fall down speed and for generating a control signal, when said first fall down speed corresponds to, or is higher than said reference fall down speed, said processing element being connected to an activation element, which is provided for activating an opening of said parachute under control of said control signal, characterised in that said device comprises a QNH input, provided for inputting a QNH value as well as an elevation value, indicating a height difference between mean sea level and the height of the drop zone, said processing element being provided to operate in a second working configuration in which said reference pressure is determined on the basis of said QNH value and said elevation value, said device comprising selection means provided for enabling a selection between said first and second working configuration.

A method for activating an opening of a parachute, said method comprising:

measuring a first pressure value indicating an actual atmospheric pressure value at a take-off zone;
determining in a first working configuration a reference pressure on the basis of said first pressure value;
subsequently measuring, during a jump executed by a jumper, a second pressure indicating an atmospheric pressure above a drop zone at the height where said jumper is at the moment where said second pressure is measured;
determining a series of subsequent second pressure values on the basis of a further series of subsequent second pressures;
determining each time on the basis of said reference pressure and at least two subsequent pressure values of said series, a time value indicating an evaluated time for reaching said reference pressure;
generating a correspondence signal upon establishing that said time value has reached a predetermined value;
determining on the basis of subsequently determined pressure values of said series, a first fall down speed value indicating a first speed at which said jumper falls down;
comparing, under control of said correspondence signal, said first fall down speed with a reference fall down speed and generating a control signal when said first fall down speed corresponds to or is higher than said reference fall down speed;
activating an opening of said parachute under control of said control signal;
characterised in that said method further comprises when operating in a second working configuration:
receiving a QNH value as well as an elevation value indicating a height difference between mean sea level and the height of the drop zone;
determining said reference pressure on the basis of said QNH value and said elevation value.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

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Abstract

An automatic activation device for a parachute, said device having pressure input means, provided for inputting a pressure value, said pressure input means being connected to a processing element, provided for determining a reference pressure, which in a first working configuration of said processing element is determined on the basis of a first pressure value, input at said pressure input means and indicating an actual atmospheric pressure value at a take-off zone, said processing element being further provided for determining during a jump, executed by a jumper, a series of subsequent pressure values, wherein each pressure value of said series is determined on the basis of a second pressure value, input at said pressure input means and indicating an atmospheric pressure value above a drop zone at the height where said jumper is at the moment when said second pressure value is input into said pressure input means, said processing element being also provided for determining each time on the basis of said reference pressure and at least two subsequent pressure values of said series, a time value indicating an evaluated time for reaching said reference pressure and for generating a correspondence signal upon establishing that said time value has reached a predetermined value, said processing element being further provided for determining on the basis of subsequently determined pressure values of said series, a first fall down speed value indicating a speed at which said jumper falls down, said processing element being further provided for comparing under control of said correspondence signal, said first fall down speed with a reference fall down speed and for generating a control signal, when said first fall down speed corresponds to, or is higher than said reference fall down speed, said processing element being connected to an activation element, which is provided for activating an opening of said parachute under control of said control signal, characterised in that said device comprises a QNH input, provided for inputting a QNH value as well as an elevation value, indicating a height difference between mean sea level and the height of the drop zone, said processing element being provided to operate in a second working configuration in which said reference pressure is determined on the basis of said QNH value and said elevation value, said device comprising selection means provided for enabling a selection between said first and second working configuration.