Hybrid parachute
AssigneePioneer Astronautics
InventorNicholas F. Jameson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hybrid parachute, method of deploying a parachute and method of landing a payload. The hybrid parachute utilizes a reefing system that provides for the initial deployment of a deceleration stage that is configured to withstand the stresses of high-speed and/or high altitude openings. The deceleration stage has operating characteristics similar to known high-speed parachutes. After sufficient deceleration has been achieved with the deceleration stage, reefings are released deploying one or more low-speed high drag stages of the device. The high drag stage(s) provide the landing characteristics of a low-speed parachute, including the possibility of controlled descent and landing.
Claims28
A parachute comprising:
- a high speed deceleration stage configured to be deployed initially;
- and
- a high drag parafoil stage directly attached to the high speed deceleration stage wherein the high drag stage is configured to be substantially undeployed while the high speed deceleration stage is initially deployed and substantially completely deployed after the deceleration stage has slowed the parachute and with the deceleration stage forming a portion of the deployed high drag parafoil stage;
- wherein the high speed deceleration stage is a non-parafoil parachute form and upon deploying the high drag parafoil stage, the parachute flight is controlled by the high drag parafoil stage.
A method of deploying a parachute comprising:
- deploying a high speed deceleration stage initially;
- and
- deploying a high drag parafoil stage directly attached to the high speed deceleration stage after deployment of the deceleration stage;
- wherein the high drag parafoil stage is configured to be substantially undeployed while the high speed deceleration stage is initially deployed and substantially completely deployed after the deceleration stage has slowed the parachute and with the deceleration stage forming a portion of the deployed high drag parafoil stage;
- and
- wherein the high speed deceleration stage is a non-parafoil parachute form and upon deploying the high drag parafoil stage, the parachute flight is controlled by the high drag parafoil stage.
A method of landing a payload comprising:
- attaching the payload to a parachute having more than one stage;
- deploying a high speed deceleration stage initially;
- and
- deploying a high drag parafoil stage directly attached to the high speed deceleration stage after deployment of the deceleration stage;
- wherein the high drag parafoil stage is configured to be substantially undeployed while the high speed deceleration stage is initially deployed and substantially completely deployed after the deceleration stage has slowed the parachute and with the deceleration stage forming a portion of the deployed high drag parafoil stage;
- and
- wherein the high speed deceleration stage is a non-parafoil parachute form and upon deploying the high drag parafoil stage, the parachute flight is controlled by the high drag parafoil stage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.