Aeronautics and astronautics – Safety lowering devices – Parachutes
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-08
2001-12-11
Eldred, J. Woodrow (Department: 3644)
Aeronautics and astronautics
Safety lowering devices
Parachutes
C244S145000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06328262
ABSTRACT:
STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT INTEREST
The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by the U.S. Government for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalty thereon.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the fabrication of parachutes and is directed more particularly to a parachute and method for forming a parachute of round configuration when deployed.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The fabrication of parachutes having generally round canopies when deployed conventionally includes sewing together of panels
10
in diagonal fashion, as shown in
FIG. 1
, along panel seams
12
, to form triangularly-shaped gores
14
. An outboard edge
16
of each gore
14
is straight, rather than curved, but after the edges
16
are rolled to provide a skirt hem
24
, and the canopy is deployed, the canopy presents to the eye of an observer a generally circular configuration. The gores
14
are sewn together along main radial seams
18
to form a canopy
20
. Suspension lines
22
are secured within the main radial seams
18
and extend from a skirt hem
24
of the canopy
20
toward the apex of the canopy and across a vent area
26
at the apex of the canopy
20
and down the diametrically opposite radial seam
18
to the canopy skirt hem
24
(FIG.
2
).
The above method of construction is time consuming and expensive, and contributes to a greater than desirable weight, bulk and pack volume. A parachute referred to in the U.S. Army as a G-12 cargo parachute, made in accordance with the above-described method, includes 2,050 feet of main radial seams
18
in four rows of stitching along their lengths, and 1,072 feet of panel seams
12
.
There is thus a need for an improved parachute and parachute forming procedure, the latter being less time-consuming and less expensive, and the former exhibiting less weight, bulk and pack volume than is present in parachutes fabricated in accordance with the conventional procedure.
SUMMARY OF TIE INVENTION
An object of the invention is, therefore, to provide a parachute and a method for forming a parachute which provide the advantages of reduced weight, bulk, and pack volume, compared to parachutes made in accordance with current procedures.
A further object of the invention is to provide such an improved method which, in addition, requires less time and is less expensive to fabricate.
With the above and other objects in view, as will hereinafter appear, a feature of the present invention is the provision of a method for forming a parachute of a round configuration when deployed, and having a diameter D and a central vent of a diameter d, the method comprising the steps of sewing together a plurality of elongated bolt widths of parachute cloth, the parachute cloth bolt widths being sewn together along lengthwise edges thereof to provide a sheet having seams interconnecting pairs of the bolt widths of cloth, the sheet having a width of about ½ D, less ½ d, cutting triangular pieces from the sheet, cutting opposite side edges of the triangular pieces to a length such that each side edge length is substantially equal to ½ D, cutting the triangular pieces from outboard edge ends to provide arc-shaped edges, and sewing together the triangular pieces along the side edges thereof to produce main seams and to provide a round parachute canopy.
In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the above-described method includes the additional steps of sewing radial tapes to the canopy, the tapes extending from a skirt hem of the canopy, radially through a central vent of the canopy to the opposite skirt hem of the canopy, and attaching suspension lines to the canopy at the skirt hem and to the radial tapes.
In accordance with a still further feature of the invention, there is provided a parachute comprising a substantially round canopy having a central vent and a peripheral skirt hem. Tapes are sewn to the canopy and extend from a first point on the skirt hem, radially through the vent, and to a second point on the skirt hem diametrically opposed to the first point, each of the tapes having a loop at each end thereof. A hem channel is fixed to the canopy along the skirt hem. A plurality of suspension lines are provided for interconnecting the skirt hem and a load supported by the parachute in operation, the suspension lines each having a loop at an upper end thereof. A plurality of yoke lines each are provided with hoops at first and second ends thereof, each of the yoke lines extending through the loop of one of the suspension lines. A hem line extends through the hem channel, the tape loop and the yoke hoops, whereby to fix the suspension lines to the canopy.
The above and other features of the invention, including various novel details of construction and combinations of parts and method steps, will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims. It will be understood that the particular device and method embodying the invention are shown by way of illustration only and not as limitations of the invention. The principles and features of this invention may be employed in various and numerous embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3507467 (1970-04-01), Sepp
patent: 3741506 (1973-06-01), Kohnke
patent: 3856240 (1974-12-01), Forbis
patent: 4529153 (1985-07-01), Conn
patent: 4637330 (1987-01-01), Shewmon
patent: 4684082 (1987-08-01), Gargano
patent: 4813636 (1989-03-01), Lindgren
patent: 4993667 (1991-02-01), Uotila
patent: 5123616 (1992-06-01), Buckley et al.
patent: 6270128 (2001-08-01), Coe
Beck James R.
Sadeck James
Eldred J. Woodrow
Ronucci Vincent J.
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of
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