Self-staging parachute apparatus

A self-staging parachute apparatus, being usable for controlling descent of a given load, comprising:

• A. a load line means attached to a given load to facilitate securement thereto;
• B. a main parachute means including a main canopy means and a plurality of main suspension line means attached to said main canopy means and extending downwardly therefrom and attached with respect to a common main load suspension point, said load line means being attached with respect to said common load suspension point to facilitate controlled descent of a given load responsive to deployment of said main parachute means;
• C. a main parachute deployment bag means of fabric material surrounding said main parachute means to selectively control deployment thereof, said main parachute deployment bag defining a main parachute retaining chamber therein adapted to receive said main parachute means packed therein to selectively prevent deployment thereof while said main parachute means is retained therein, said main parachute deployment bag means defining a lower opening means therein in fluid flow communication with respect to said main parachute retaining chamber, said main parachute deployment bag means defining a guide means therein, said guide means comprising a side pocket means defined in said main parachute deployment bag means, said main parachute deployment bag means further including a removal strap means to facilitate removal of said main parachute means from said main parachute deployment bag means;
• D. a drogue parachute means including a drogue canopy means and a plurality of drogue suspension line means attached with respect to said drogue canopy means and extending downwardly therefrom and attached at a common drogue load suspension point;
• E. a drogue parachute deployment bag means of fabric material surrounding said drogue canopy means to selectively control deployment thereof, said drogue parachute means packed within said drogue parachute deployment bag means and said main parachute packed within said main parachute deployment bag means each being of complementary partial cylindrical shapes such as to comprise an overall approximate cylindrical shape when juxtaposed prior to deployment thereof;
• F. a pre-deployment tie means extending about said main parachute deployment bag means and said drogue parachute deployment bag means in juxtaposition prior to deployment of said main parachute means and said drogue parachute means;
• G. a supplemental drogue suspension means attached with respect to the common drogue load suspension point and extending downwardly therefrom, said supplemental drogue suspension means comprising a first supplemental drogue suspension line means and a second supplemental drogue suspension line means;
• H. a lanyard means attaching said supplemental drogue suspension means with respect to said removal strap means of said main parachute deployment bag means to facilitate removal thereof from around said main parachute means responsive to release of said drogue parachute means and allow deployment of said main parachute means;
• I. a retention bridle means positioned extending through said side pocket means of said main parachute deployment bag to be movably attached with respect thereto, said retention bridle means including:
• 1) a retention cord means attached with respect to said first supplemental drogue suspension line means and said second supplemental drogue suspension line means of said supplemental drogue suspension means and passing through said side pocket means of said main parachute deployment bag means and also being attached with respect to said load line means to retain a given load with respect to said drogue parachute means initially during a first stage of descent prior to deployment of said main parachute means;
• 2) a time-delay cable cutting means positioned extending around said retention cord means at a position between said first supplemental drogue suspension line means and said second supplemental drogue suspension line means, said time-delay cable cutting means being responsive to activation thereof for cutting of said retention cord means to facilitate release of said drogue parachute means from said load line means, said lanyard means attaching said supplemental drogue suspension means with respect to said main parachute deployment bag means and being responsive to activation of said time-delay cutting means to remove said main parachute deployment bag means from around said main parachute means and allow said main parachute to exit said main parachute retaining chamber through said lower opening means for deployment of said main canopy means of said main parachute means, said time-delay cable cutting means including a sear pin extending therein and adapted to delay activation of said time-delay cable cutting means for approximately four seconds after removal therefrom;
• 3) a sear pin line means attached with respect to said sear pin means and said load line means and operable to remove said sear pin from said time-delay cutting means responsive to deployment of said drogue parachute means;
• and
• J. a rigging aid means extending around said retention cord means and said time-delay cable cutting means.