Discard assembly for parachute deployment mechanism

In a parachute deployment assembly including a closed parachute packed in a container, a deployment mechanism for extracting the parachute from the container, and a discard assembly for discarding the deployment mechanism from the parachute, the improvement comprising:

• means, coupled to the parachute and to the discard assembly, for actuating the discard assembly in response to the transverse opening of the parachute by a preselected amount,
• said means for actuating including
• first and second rings coupled to the parachute adjacent the apex thereof and spaced apart,
• a first lanyard coupled at one end to the discard assembly and at the other end to said second ring, said first lanyard passing through said first ring, and
• a second lanyard coupled at one end to the discard assembly and at the other end to said first ring, said second lanyard passing through said second ring.

In a parachute deployment assembly including a closed parachute packed in a container, a deployment mechanism for extracting the parachute from the container, and a discard assembly for discarding the deployment mechanism from the parachute, the improvement comprising:

• means, coupled to the parachute and to the discard assembly, for actuating the discard assembly in response to the transverse opening of the parachute by a preselected amount,
• said means for actuating including
• a ring coupled to the parachute adjacent the apex thereof, and
• a lanyard coupled at one end to the discard assembly and at the other end to the parachute, said lanyard passing through said ring,
• the parachute including a vent at its apex, and
• said ring being located adjacent one side of said vent with the other end of said lanyard being coupled to the parachute adjacent the other side of said vent.

An apparatus for discarding a parachute deployment mechanism which extracts a closed parachute from a container, the combination comprising:

• deployment means for extracting the parachute from the container;
• discard means, coupled to the parachute and to said deployment means, for releasably connecting the parachute and said deployment means;
• and
• actuator means, coupled to said discard means and to the parachute, for actuating said discard means to release the connection between the parachute and said deployment means in response to the transverse opening of the parachute by a preselected amount,
• said actuator means including means for transmitting the force generated by the transverse expansion of the parachute to said discard means.

An apparatus for discarding a parachute deployment mechanism which extracts a closed parachute from a container, the combination comprising:

• deployment means for extracting the parachute from the container;
• discard means, coupled to the parachute and to said deployment means, for releasably connecting the parachute and said deployment means;
• and
• actuator means, coupled to said discard means and to the parachute, for actuating said discard means to release the connection between the parachute and said deployment means in response to the transverse opening of the parachute by a preselected amount,
• said discard means comprising
• a first rod having a first notch at one end and being coupled to said deployment means at the other end,
• a second rod having a second notch at one end and being coupled to the parachute at the other end,
• said first and second notches being engageable to interconnect said first and second rods, and
• an open-ended, hollow housing enclosing said first and second rods when they are interconnected,
• said actuator means comprising
• a ring coupled to the parachute adjacent the apex thereof, and
• a lanyard coupled at one end to said housing and at the other end to the parachute, said lanyard passing through said ring.

An apparatus for discarding a parachute deployment mechanism which extracts a closed parachute from a container, the combination comprising:

• deployment means for extracting the parachute from the container;
• discard means, coupled to the parachute and to said deployment means, for releasably connecting the parachute and said deployment means;
• and
• actuator means, coupled to said discard means and to the parachute, for actuating said discard means to release the connection between the parachute and said deployment means in response to the transverse opening of the parachute by a preselected amount,
• said actuator means comprising
• a ring coupled to the parachute adjacent the apex thereof, and
• a lanyard coupled at one end to said discard means and at the other end to the parachute, said lanyard passing through said ring,
• the parachute including a vent at its apex, and
• said ring being located adjacent one side of said vent with the other end of said lanyard being coupled to the parachute adjacent the other side of said vent.

An apparatus for discarding a parachute deployment mechanism which extracts a closed parachute from a container, the combination comprising:

• deployment means for extracting the parachute from the container;
• discard means, coupled to the parachute and to said deployment means, for releasably connecting the parachute and said deployment means;
• and
• actuator means, coupled to said discard means and to the parachute, for actuating said discard means to release the connection between the parachute and said deployment means in response to the transverse opening of the parachute by a preselected amount,
• said actuator means comprising
• four rings coupled to the parachute adjacent the apex thereof, and
• four lanyards, each coupled at one end to said discard means and at the other end to the parachute, each lanyard passing through a different one of said four rings.

A method of deploying a closed parachute from a container and discarding the deployment mechanism therefrom, comprising the steps of

• pulling the parachute from the container via a deployment mechanism,
• initiating the transverse opening of the parachute, and
• disconnecting the deployment mechanism from the parachute in response to the transverse opening of the parachute by a preselected amount,
• the disconnecting step including transmitting the force generated by the transverse expansion of the parachute to disconnect the deployment mechanism from the parachute.