Airbag payload landing system for damping landing impact forces on a flying payload
AssigneeDaimlerChrysler AG
InventorsStefan Menne, Peter Nikolaus Keerl
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An airbag configuration for braking the landing impact of flying payloads has a central airbag (17) and at least one torus ring (11, 12, 13) surrounding the central airbag. A payload (L) is attachable on the central airbag (17). A stabilizing device (19) is provided which extends from the lowermost portion of the at least one torus ring (11, 12, 13) to the central airbag (17). The central airbag provides primarily vertical braking of the landing impact while the torus ring provides primarily horizontal braking of the landing impact.
Claims18
An airbag payload landing system for damping impact forces on a payload (L) when the landing system contacts a landing surface (LS), said landing system (1) comprising a payload, an inflatable airbag central section (17) having an upper surface (21) carrying said payload (L), at least one inflatable airbag ring section (13) surrounding said airbag central section (17), and a stabilizing device (19) interconnecting said airbag central section (17) and said at least one airbag ring section (13), said airbag central section (17) comprising a first deflating member (17A) for deflating said airbag central section (17) in response to an impact whereby said airbag central section generates a vertical braking action, and wherein said at least one airbag ring section (13) comprises a second deflating member (11A) for releasing pressure from said at least one ring section (13) independently of any pressure release from said airbag central section (17) whereby said at least one ring section generates a horizontal braking action.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.