Separation device for releasing parachutes
AssigneeDeutsche Forschungs- und Versuchsanstalt fur Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V.
InventorDieter Munscher
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A separation device for releasing parachutes from loads enables an attacht to be made between the parachute and the load before the load is dropped and when the load reaches the ground the load is automatically released from the parachute by operation of the device. The device consists of a hook-shaped body attachable to the parachute lines, the load lines being located in the hook. An ejector member is spring urged towards an ejection position of the load lines and a holding element serves to prevent ejection until after the parachute has operated. While falling, tension holds the load lines on the hook and on reaching the ground the ejector member operates to release the lines from the hook.
Claims9
An automatic separation device for separating a parachute from a load, comprising a body having an opening formed therein that defines a hook portion on which a free end is formed, said opening receiving a connecting means for said load therein and being formed as an arc of a circle, the center of curvature of which is located in the free end of said hook portion, a torsion spring mounted in the free end of said hook portion and including a spring arm that extends outwardly of said free end and spans the arcuate shaped hook opening, said spring arm being pivotal about the axis of said spring for movement from a load tensioned position adjacent to the inner end of said opening to an ejecting position adjacent to the exposed outer end of said opening, the axis of said spring being substantially coincident with the center of curvature of said arcuate opening, and frangible means mounted on said body adjacent to said opening for initially securing said connecting means in said arcuate opening intermediate the inner and exposed outer ends thereof during securement of said load to said parachute, wherein said frangible means is ruptured upon dropping of said parachute to cause said connecting means to force said spring arm to the tensioned position thereof, whereafter said spring arm ejects said connecting means from said hook portion when moved to the ejecting position upon landing of said parachute and load attached thereto upon a surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.