Aeronautics and astronautics – Safety lowering devices – Parachutes
Reexamination Certificate
2001-11-20
2002-09-24
Eldred, J. Woodrow (Department: 3644)
Aeronautics and astronautics
Safety lowering devices
Parachutes
C244S145000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06454213
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention deals with the field of parachutes and other aerial descent control mechanisms and, in particular, in regard to designs for the purpose of more rapidly and in a more controlled manner achieving inflation of the canopy of such parachutes. The use of pocket bands positioned attached adjacent at least some of the radial lines between adjacent gores of the canopy have been utilized heretofore. The present invention provides a unique configuration for such pocket bands which orients them angularly with respect to the radial lines and with respect to the movement of air which causes inflation of the canopy in order to enhance lateral movement of the lowermost edge of the canopy to a more rapidly and in a more controlled manner inflate the parachute. This improved configuration for the pocket bands allows more efficient and reliable canopy inflation than with pocket bands utilized heretofore.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various devices have been designed for the purposes of enhancing initial inflation of a parachute including pocket bands and other devices such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 1,509,410 patented Sep. 23, 1924 to J. W. Ruff on a “Self-Opening Parachute”; and U.S. Pat. No. 1,877,227 patented Sep. 13, 1932 to W. L. Cunningham on an “Air-Vent Parachute”; and U.S. Pat. No. 1,951,864 patented Mar. 20, 1934 to L. L. Driggs, Jr. and assigned to International Flare-Signal Company on a “Parachute”; and U.S. Pat. No. 2,404,672 patented Jul. 23, 1946 to C. A. Volf on a “Vented Parachute”; and U.S. Pat. No. 2,505,954 patented May 2, 1950 to L. P. Frieder et al and assigned to Reconstruction Finance Corporation on a “Pilot Parachute”; and U.S. Pat. No. 2,511,263 patented Jun. 13, 1950 to E. F. Hiscock on a “Parachute Construction”; and U.S. Pat. No. 2,525,798 patented Oct. 17, 1950 to M. Hattan on a “Shockless Parachute”; and U.S. Pat. No. 2,974,913 patented Mar. 14, 1961 to A. J. Steinthal and assigned to M. Steinthal & Co., Inc. on a “Pilot Chute With Auxiliary Deployment Canopy”; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,013,753 patented Dec. 19, 1961 to C. W. Hughes et al and assigned to Capital Parachuting Enterprises on a “Steerable Parachute”; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,055,621 patented Sep. 25, 1962 to J. Martin on a “Parachute Apparatus”; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,099,426 patented Jul. 30, 1963 to P. M. Lemoigne on a “Parachute”; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,195,842 patented Jul. 20, 1965 to K. R. A. Wilson and assigned to Irving Air Chute Company, Inc. on a “Parachute”; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,393,885 patented Jul. 23, 1968 to O. W. Neumark on “Parachutes”; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,434,681 patented Mar. 25, 1969 to V. G. Bockelmann and assigned to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy on a “Parachute Canopy Deflation Apparatus”; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,452,951 patented Jul. 1, 1969 to K. R. A. Wilson and assigned to Irvin Industries, Inc. on a “High Drag Efficiency Parachute Canopy”; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,525,491 patented Aug. 25, 1970 to D. T. Barish and assigned to Barish Associates, Inc. on a “Parachute”; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,703,268 patented Nov. 21, 1972 to M. Pravaz and assigned to Etudes et Fabrications Aeronautiques on a “Parachute Container And The Application Of The Container To A Parachute”; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,487,384 patented Dec. 11, 1984 to H. V. G. Astrand and assigned to Irvin Fallskarms AB on a “Parachute Canopy”; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,607,813 patented Aug. 26, 1986 to W. W. Jeswine and assigned to William W. Jeswine on a “Parachute Assembly”; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,813,636 patented Mar. 21, 1989 to M. J. Lindgren and assigned to Lockheed Missiles & Space Company, Inc. on an “Anti-Fouling Tube For An Inflation-Control Line On A Parachute”; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,927,099 patented May 22, 1990 to R. C. Emerson et al and assigned to DeCel Incorporated on an “Aerodynamic Controllably Vented Pressure Modulating Drogue”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,174,527 patented Dec. 29, 1992 to A. D. Kasher and assigned to Alliant Techsystems Inc. on an “Annular Spinning Parachute”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,360,187 patented Nov. 1, 1994 to J. E. Hengel and assigned to The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration on a “Parachute Having Improved Vent Line Stacking”.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an enhanced pocket band configuration for use with a parachute in order to control and speed initial inflation thereof. This improved parachute design includes a canopy adapted to be inflated to provide controlled descent for a load attached thereto. The canopy preferably includes an inner surface defining an inflation chamber therein and an outer surface about the exterior area thereof oppositely located from the inner surface.
The canopy further includes a lower edge being generally circular in shape and extending peripherally around the parachute. Preferably, a apex opening or canopy vent is defined by the canopy at the uppermost point or apex thereof.
A plurality of suspension lines are attached to the lower edge of the canopy and extend downwardly therefrom for attachment selectively to a load therebelow. A load attachment device such as risers or the like can be attached to the suspension lines in order for detachably securing a load thereto for providing controlled aerial descent thereof.
A plurality of radial lines extend along the canopy from the apex opening or canopy vent to the lower edge thereof. Usually these radial lines are attached to the lower canopy edge at locations where suspension lines also extend downwardly therefrom. The radial lines are attached along the length thereof to the adjacent surface of the canopy. A plurality of gores are defined in the canopy adjacent the lower edge thereof between each pair of the radial lines.
The upper ends of the radial lines terminate at the lowermost edge of the apex opening. Vent lines extend across the apex opening from the lowermost edge thereof. To facilitate distribution of forces, it is preferred than these vent lines be freely movable relative to one another, thus normally they are not secured to one another as they cross over one another in the apex opening area.
A pocket band is attached preferably to the outer surface of the canopy at every gore, or, in some configurations, at every other gore. The means of securement can be by any conventional manner such as adhesives or by being sewn in place to the adjacent members or surfaces. Each of these pocket bands preferably includes a first end fixedly secured to the outer surface of the canopy adjacent one of the gores at an acute angle relative to the radial line secured thereto. The pocket band further also preferably includes a second end fixedly secured by adhesive or being sewn to the outer surface of the canopy adjacent the gore and spatially disposed from the first end and the second end and secured to the canopy preferably at an acute angle relative to the radial line secured at that point.
A central band section of the pocket band is included which can be formed with a width of any reasonable dimension which should be proportional to the parachute diameter. A width of approximately two inches has been found to be preferred for most moderate sized parachutes. This central band section is secured at one end to the first end means and at the other end to the second end means and is not attached in any manner with respect to the canopy such that it is freely movable away from the canopy to enhance forming of an inflation pocket therebetween. The first end and the central band section and the second end of each of the pocket bands can preferably comprise a single integral member of any flexible material, however usually they will be formed of a woven fabric. The central band section is defined to extend between the first end and the second end across an adjacent radial line therebetween and be oriented angularly with respect thereto.
The central band section is preferably movable away from the gore of the canopy to be oriented at an angle
Eldred J. Woodrow
Pioneer Aerospace Corporation
Sperry, Zoda & Kane
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