Aeronautics and astronautics – Safety lowering devices – Entire aircraft
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-21
2001-03-13
Eldred, J. Woodrow (Department: 3644)
Aeronautics and astronautics
Safety lowering devices
Entire aircraft
C244S147000, C244S017150
Reexamination Certificate
active
06199799
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a parachute, more particularly to a parachute device that can assist in safe landing of a helicopter.
2. Description of the Related Art
Helicopters are in wide use in view of their vertical takeoff and landing capabilities, which result in increased safety and which eliminate the need for long runways. However, conventional helicopters are not provided with equipment to assist in safe landing thereof. Thus, destruction of property and loss of lives are commonly encountered in case of an emergency situation, such as power loss or breakdown while the helicopter is in flight.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a parachute device that is adapted to be mounted on a rotor drive shaft of a helicopter to assist in safe landing of the same.
According to the present invention, a parachute device is adapted for use with a helicopter having a tubular rotor drive shaft, and comprises:
an elongate hollow mounting member having top and bottom ends, and a hole that extends longitudinally through the top and bottom ends, the bottom end of the mounting member being adapted to be mounted securely to the helicopter, the mounting member being adapted to be extended rotatably inside the rotor drive shaft such that the top end of the mounting member projects upwardly and outwardly of the rotor drive shaft;
a canopy confining case having a stationary casing part mounted securely on the top end of the mounting member, and a removable casing part mounted removably on the stationary casing part, the stationary and removable casing parts cooperatively forming a compartment;
a parachute canopy received inside the compartment of the canopy confining case, the parachute canopy having a release cord connected to the removable casing part, and a suspension line unit;
an anchoring line extending through the hole in the mounting member and having a first end that is adapted to be fixed to the helicopter and a second end that extends into the canopy confining case and that is coupled to the suspension line unit of the parachute canopy;
a rocket member including a launch tube mounted on the stationary casing part externally of the compartment, and a rocket disposed in the launch tube and connected to the removable casing part, the rocket being capable of propelling from the launch tube when ignited; and
an ignition control line extending through the hole in the mounting member and having a first end connected to the rocket member and a second end provided with an ignition unit that is operable so as to ignite the rocket.
When the rocket propels from the launch tube, the removable casing part will be removed from the stationary casing part, thereby allowing the removable casing part to pull the release cord and open the parachute canopy. The parachute canopy is adapted to support the weight of the helicopter when opened via the anchoring line that interconnects the suspension line unit of the parachute canopy and the helicopter.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2549407 (1951-04-01), Apostolescu
patent: 2812147 (1957-11-01), Trabucco
patent: 3138348 (1964-06-01), Stahmer
patent: 3436037 (1969-04-01), Stanley
patent: 4709881 (1987-12-01), Rafikian et al.
Eldred J. Woodrow
Fish & Richardson
Light's American Sportscopter Inc.
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