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US 5,687,931 AGranted
Parachute ground disconnecting devices
AssigneeIrvin Industries Canada Ltd.
InventorJames V. Hogan
Life of this patent
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AssigneeIrvin Industries Canada Ltd.
InventorJames V. Hogan
Estimating the term…
Reusable parachute ground disconnecting devices provide constant release load percentages within a range of 25 to 70 percent of the load weight for more reliable delatching characteristics on ground contact even in the presence of high ground winds, and with virtually no risk of premature delatching occurring while airborne. Non-linear main springs consisting of stacked disk springs provide ever diminishing deflection to the load suspending assembly as the load size increases, in combination with fixed latch geometry produce constant load release characteristics for the entire capacity rating for a given device. Various time delay means, including an hydraulic dampened load release timer provide added safety and reliability by isolating the delatching system when fluctuations in load weight occur during initial deployment. Disclosed concepts are readily adaptable to high capacity devices for loads of up to 30 tons, and even more.
A parachute ground disconnecting device, which comprises a casing with at least one interior compartment, a load suspending assembly located at a first end of said device, means for connecting said device to a parachute located at a second end of said device, latching means for securing a load on said load suspending assembly during more turbulent initial period of descent under force of load, locking means for restricting movement of said latching means during a period of stable steady descent under force of load, timer means for delayed actuation of said locking means for restricting movement of said latching means during said period of stable steady descent, and spring means positioned in the interior compartment of said casing for limiting downward deflection of said load suspending assembly, for retraction of said load suspending assembly on ground contact of said load and for automatically disengaging said latching means with retraction of said load suspending assembly.
A parachute ground disconnecting device for maintaining a substantially constant release load percentage, which comprises a casing with at least one interior compartment, a load suspending assembly located at a first end of said device, means for connecting said device to a parachute located at a second end of said device, means for locking and releasing a load on said load suspending assembly comprising a longitudinally movable bar or rack which freely moves with fluctuating load weights during the initial period of descent, spring means positioned in the interior compartment of said casing characterized by retaining said device in a retracted position when not under load and limiting downward deflection when under force of load, and timer means for automatically actuating said means for locking and releasing a load on said load suspending assembly after lapse of a sufficient time interval for stabilized descent of the parachute and load and for release of said load from said load suspending assembly as said spring means returns towards a fully retracted position upon ground contact by the load.
A parachute ground disconnecting device for maintaining a substantially constant release load percentage, which comprises a casing with an interior compartment and means for connecting with a parachute, an axially aligned load suspending assembly movable relative to said casing, said load suspending assembly comprising a rod extending into said casing interior, connecting means for holding a load, means for locking and releasing a load on said connecting means, and a rack for engaging said locking and releasing means of said load suspending assembly at a first end, said rack extending into said casing interior at a second end;
A high capacity cargo parachute ground disconnecting device for maintaining a substantially constant release load percentage, which comprises a parachute disconnecting block and an axially aligned load suspending casing having interior compartments and means for connecting a load, said load suspending casing being movable relative to said parachute disconnecting block, said parachute disconnecting block comprising plurality of rods extending into the interior of said load suspending casing, an outer frame member for supporting a plurality of parachute riser fingers and parachutes when said fingers are locked, an axially slidable spring loaded retainer assembly positioned adjacent to said outer frame member for locking and releasing parachute riser fingers, and a rack for engaging said slidable retainer assembly at a first end, said rack extending into the interior of said load suspending casing at a second end, spring means characterized by limited deflection and positioned in said load suspending casing for engaging with the rods of said parachute disconnecting block for retaining said load suspending casing in a retracted position when not under load and for limiting the stroke of said load suspending casing away from said parachute disconnecting block when under force of a load, timer means for providing a delay interval corresponding substantially to the period running from the time of opening of a parachute to the time of stabilized descent of the parachute and load, rack locking means automatically actuated by said timer means for engaging said rack and preventing longitudinal movement of said rack during stabilized descent and when the distance between said load suspending casing and said parachute disconnecting block moves towards zero upon contact of the load with the ground to retract said axially slidable retainer assembly for releasing the parachute riser fingers and parachute from said device.
A parachute ground disconnecting device for maintaining substantially constant release load percentages, which comprises a casing with an interior compartment and means for connecting with a parachute, an axially aligned load suspending assembly movable relative to said casing, said load suspending assembly comprising a rod extending into said casing interior, connecting means for holding a load, means for locking and releasing a load on said connecting means, load release timer means housed in said casing interior compartment, spring means housed in said casing interior for engaging with said rod for retaining said load suspending assembly in a retracted position when not under load and for limiting the stroke of said load suspending assembly away from said casing when under force of a load, said load release timer means comprising a pushrod cylinder, an axially aligned pushrod at a first end engaging said pushrod cylinder and linking with said locking and releasing means of said load suspending assembly at a second end, ram means axially aligned with said pushrod cylinder and pushrod, and means for dampening vertical movement of said ram means when under compression.
A parachute ground disconnecting device comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.