Intelligent ballistic parachute system with fuel discharge
OwnerHoyt A. Fleming, IIIinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method performed by an aircraft, the aircraft including a wing, aircraft fuel, and a whole-aircraft parachute that is coupled to the aircraft. The method comprises: deploying the whole-aircraft parachute while the aircraft is in flight; and after deploying the parachute, but before the aircraft contacts the earth or any object coupled to the earth, discharging at least a portion of the aircraft fuel from the wing of the aircraft.
Claims24
A method performed by an aircraft, the aircraft including a wing, aircraft fuel, and a whole-aircraft parachute that is coupled to the aircraft, the method comprising:
- receiving a single request from an aircraft occupant;
- based upon the receipt of the single request, both deploying the whole-aircraft parachute while the aircraft is in flight and also discharging at least a portion of the aircraft fuel from the wing of the aircraft.
A method performed by an aircraft, the aircraft including a wing, aircraft fuel, and a whole-aircraft parachute that is coupled to the aircraft, the method comprising:
- deploying the whole-aircraft parachute while the aircraft is in flight;
- and after deploying the parachute, but before the aircraft contacts the earth or any object coupled to the earth, discharging at least a portion of the aircraft fuel from the wing of the aircraft;
- wherein the aircraft includes a lower wing skin and a panel coupled to the lower wing skin and wherein the method further includes:
- during the deployment of the whole-aircraft parachute, tensioning a strap that couples the aircraft to the parachute, and tensioning a cable, which is coupled to the strap and the panel.
A method performed by an aircraft, the aircraft including a wing, aircraft fuel, and a whole-aircraft parachute that is coupled to the aircraft, the method comprising:
- deploying the whole-aircraft parachute while the aircraft is in flight;
- and after deploying the parachute, but before the aircraft contacts the earth or any object coupled to the earth, discharging at least a portion of the aircraft fuel from the wing of the aircraft;
- wherein the aircraft includes a lower wing skin and a panel coupled to the lower wing skin and wherein the method further includes:
- during the deployment of the whole-aircraft parachute, tensioning a strap that couples the aircraft to the parachute and tensioning a cable, which is coupled to the strap and the panel;
- and
- then creating a fuel discharge passageway for discharging the at least a portion of the aircraft fuel from the wing of the aircraft.
A method performed by an aircraft, the aircraft including a wing, aircraft fuel, and a whole-aircraft parachute that is coupled to the aircraft, the method comprising:
- deploying the whole-aircraft parachute while the aircraft is in flight;
- and after deploying the parachute, but before the aircraft contacts the earth or any object coupled to the earth, discharging at least a portion of the aircraft fuel from the wing of the aircraft;
- wherein the aircraft includes a lower wing skin and a panel coupled to the lower wing skin by a joint that includes epoxy and wherein the method further includes:
- during the deployment of the whole-aircraft parachute, breaking at least a portion of the epoxy joint between the panel and the lower wing skin.
An aircraft including:
- a whole-aircraft parachute;
- a harness containing a plurality of straps that couple the whole-aircraft parachute to a plurality of locations on the aircraft;
- aircraft fuel;
- and
- a fuel discharge system;
- wherein the aircraft is operative to receive a single request from an occupant of the aircraft, and both deploy the whole-aircraft parachute and also discharge at least a portion of the aircraft fuel based upon the receipt of the single request.
An aircraft including:
- a parachute;
- a harness containing a plurality of straps that couple the parachute to a plurality of locations on the aircraft
- aircraft fuel;
- and
- a fuel discharge system operative to discharge at least a portion of the aircraft fuel, after deployment of the parachute while the aircraft is in flight, but before the aircraft contacts the earth or any object coupled to the earth;
- wherein the fuel discharge system includes:
- a wing that contains a fuel tank that stores the aircraft fuel, a first portion of the fuel tank being formed by a lower wing skin, a second portion of the fuel tank being formed by a panel that is coupled to the lower wing skin and separately coupled to at least one of the plurality of straps.
An aircraft including:
- a whole-aircraft parachute;
- a harness containing a plurality of straps that couple the whole-aircraft parachute to a plurality of locations on the aircraft;
- and
- retractable landing gear;
- wherein the aircraft is operative to receive a single request from an occupant of the aircraft, and based upon the receipt of the single request, both deploy the whole-aircraft parachute and also extend the landing gear.
A method performed by an aircraft, the aircraft including a wing, retractable landing gear, and a whole-aircraft parachute that is coupled to the aircraft, the method comprising:
- receiving a single request from an occupant of the aircraft;
- and
- based upon the receipt of the single request, both deploying the whole-aircraft parachute and also extending the landing gear.
An aircraft including:
- a whole-aircraft parachute;
- a harness containing a plurality of straps that couple the whole-aircraft parachute to a plurality of locations on the aircraft;
- and
- anti-icing fluid;
- wherein the aircraft is operative to receive a single request from an occupant of the aircraft, and based upon the receipt of the single request, both deploy the whole-aircraft parachute and also discharge at least a portion of the anti-icing fluid from the aircraft.
A method performed by an aircraft, the aircraft including a wing, anti-icing fluid, and a whole-aircraft parachute that is coupled to the aircraft, the method comprising:
- receiving a single request from an occupant of the aircraft;
- and
- based upon the receipt of the single request, both deploying the whole-aircraft parachute and also discharging at least a portion of the anti-icing fluid from the aircraft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.