Method and apparatus for landing a wing
AssigneeUSBI Co.
InventorsJeffrey A. Fisher, Edward V. Miller, Dennis Van Dam
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Abstract
The deployable wing of the present invention comprises an internal structure having diverging leading edge spars attached to a keel spar and cross spars to form a delta wing configuration. This internal structure is enclosed within a volume defined by a fabric sail having an upper section and a lower section. This fabric sail volume is internally pressurized through a ram air intake at the nose stagnation point. This deployable wing can be folded closed, extracted from an aircraft, deployed in the air and landed with the aid of parachutes.
Claims10
A deployable wing, comprising:
- a.) a fabric sail mounted to a payload pod;
- b.) a keel having a slider mounted thereto, said keel being substantially disposed within said fabric sail, said payload pod being mounted to said keel;
- c.) A kingpost mounted to said slider, said kingpost being movable from a position adjacent and substantially parallel to said keel, to a position substantially perpendicular with respect to said keel;
- d.) a parachute attachment line having one end joined to said wing and an opposite end joined to a parachute deployment system, said parachute deployment system being substantially disposed within said pod and including at least one parachute;
- and
- e.) A secondary release mechanism operatively associated with said parachute attachment line wherein deployment of said at least one parachute transmits a deployment force through said parachute attachment line, said deployment force activating said secondary release mechanism thereby providing controlled landing of said wing.
A method for landing a wing comprising the steps of:
- a.) flying the wing;
- b.) deploying at least one parachute attached to the wing we rhein deployment causes said wing to decelerate and descend;
- c.) landing the wing with the aid of the parachute;
- d.) the step of deploying includes a rocket connected at one end to said at least one parachute such that deployment of said rocket causes deployment of said at least one parachute;
- e.) the step of transmitting a deployment force through said at least one parachute to a second line thereby activating a secondary release mechanism;
- and
- f.) the step of transmitting including activation of said secondary release mechanism so as to cause movement of a piston substantially disposed in a cylinder in a first direction, thereby forcing fluid at a predetermined rate from said cylinder, through a fluid line and into a chamber disposed adjacent to the cylinder.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.