Aerial cargo container with deceleration and orientation assembly

A deceleration and orientation assembly for an aerial cargo container comprised of a cargo box with an upper end and a plurality of rotor blades hinged adjacent said cargo box upper end, said blades having a stowed position against said box and a deployed position extending outwardly from said box in a generally horizontal plane, said blades being rotatable with said box, said assembly comprising:

• a) a drogue chute;
• b) a retractable blade retainer to encircle said box and blades to secure said blades in the stowed position;
• c) a metering cord with a plurality of adjacent folded segments, a first end attachable to said drogue chute and an opposed end attachable to the upper end of said box, and an elongated folded segment to secure said blade retainer around said box and blades;
• d) a breakable thread securing said cord folded segments together, whereby tension exerted on said cord sequentially releases said cord segments and thereafter detaches said metering cord from said blade retainer;
• and
• e) a housing to enclose said drogue chute and cord, said housing having a first opening for removing said chute and said cord, a second opening for attaching said cord to said container, and a third opening for attaching said cord to said blade retainer.

An aerial cargo container comprising:

• a) a cargo box having an upper end;
• b) a plurality of rotor blades having aerodynamic camber, leading and trailing edges, and roots hinged to adjacent said cargo box upper end, said blades having a stowed position against said box and a deployed position extending outwardly from said box in a generally horizontal plane, said blades being rotatable with said hub and said box;
• c) an air resistance device;
• d) a blade retainer securing said blades in the stowed position;
• e) a metering cord including a plurality of folded segments having a first end attached to said air resistance device and an opposed end attached to the upper end of said box, a portion of said cord securing said blade retainer, whereby said cord segments unfold sequentially upon exertion of a force between said air resistance device and said container to slow and orient said container, said blade retainer thereafter being released to permit said blades to move to their extended positions;
• and
• f) a housing to enclose said air resistance device and cord, said housing having a first opening for removing said chute and said cord, a second opening for attaching said cord to said container, and a third opening for attaching said cord to said blade retainer.

An aerial cargo container comprising:

• a) a cargo box having an upper end;
• b) a plurality of rotor blades having aerodynamic camber, leading and trailing edges, and roots hinged to adjacent said cargo box upper end, said blades having a stowed position against said box and a deployed position extending outwardly from said box in a generally horizontal plane, said blades being rotatable with said hub and said box;
• c) a drogue chute;
• d) a stretchable blade retainer to encircle said box and blades to secure said blades in the stowed position;
• e) a metering cord with a plurality of adjacent folded segments, a first end attachable to said drogue chute and an opposed end attachable to the upper end of said box, and an elongated folded segment to secure said blade retainer around said box and blades;
• and
• f) a breakable thread securing said cord folded segments together, whereby tension exerted on said cord sequentially releases said cord segments and thereafter detaches said metering cord from said blade retainer;
• and
• g) a housing to enclose said drogue chute and cord, said housing having a first opening for removing said chute and said cord, a second opening for attaching said cord to said container, and a third opening for attaching said cord to said blade retainer.