Aeronautics and astronautics – Safety lowering devices
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-17
2001-05-29
Barefoot, Galen L. (Department: 3644)
Aeronautics and astronautics
Safety lowering devices
C244S10000R
Reexamination Certificate
active
06237875
ABSTRACT:
PRIORITY CLAIM
This application is based on and claims the priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of German Patent Application 198 37 329.5, filed on Aug. 18, 1998, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an airbag payload landing system for braking or damping vertical and horizontal impact force components caused by a landing impact when a flying payload hits a landing surface.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Conventional airbags of this type have the disadvantage that they do not sufficiently stabilize the cross inclination of the payload when horizontal braking takes place. Further, conventional airbags have a relatively large volume so that their configuration adversely influences their handling. British Patent Publication 604,938 discloses a parachute landing gear for payloads to be dropped from an aircraft. The payload is mounted in a frame equipped with outrigger arms each carrying at its free end a foot for contacting the landing surface. A crash pan is mounted under the frame that carries the load. The crash pan is supposed to absorb most of the landing impact energy.
French Patent Publication 2,664,233 discloses an inflatable airbag for helicopters. The bag is normally stored as a deflated package between the landing skis or under the landing skis and laterally of the helicopter body.
The prior art leaves room for improvement especially with regard to avoiding damage to drop loads.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
In view of the above it is the aim of the invention to achieve the following objects singly or in combination:
to provide an airbag for braking or damping the landing impact of flying payloads which keeps the cross inclination of the payload during the braking action small;
to combine several differently shaped airbag configurations to form a nest in which the payload is protected;
to optimally reduce the weight and space requirements of such airbags; and
to conform the size of the airbag combination to the size of the load.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention there is provided an airbag system for damping impact forces of a payload when the payload contacts a landing surface, said airbag system comprising an inflatable airbag central section for carrying said payload, at least one inflatable airbag ring section surrounding said airbag central section, and a stabilizing device interconnecting said airbag central section and said at least one airbag ring section.
The embodiment of the airbag according to the invention has a simple construction without separation walls or intermediate walls in order to minimize the packing volume and the packing weight of the airbag. Further, the load will retain a substantially upright position during a landing and will in most instances not contact the landing surface. Another advantage is seen in that a more precise dropping of a load into a well defined target area is now possible, even where the load and the airbag are dropped by parachute.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2700518 (1955-01-01), Ryno et al.
patent: 5259574 (1993-11-01), Carrot
patent: 535577 (1957-01-01), None
patent: 3247694 (1984-06-01), None
patent: 2664233 (1992-01-01), None
patent: 572152 (1945-09-01), None
patent: 604938 (1948-07-01), None
patent: 842370 (1960-07-01), None
Keerl Peter Nikolaus
Menne Stefan
Barefoot Galen L.
Daimler-Chrysler AG
Fasse W. F.
Fasse W. G.
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