Method and apparatus for parachute reefing control
First Claim
1. A parachute reefing control apparatus for use with a payload attached through suspension lines to a parachute having a canopy with a canopy reefing device and a reefing release mechanism for controlling canopy inflation and airborne descent after deployment thereof, said parachute reefing control apparatus comprising:
- A. a reefing control processor means mounted with respect to the payload and preprogrammed with a release schedule for generating of at least one release signal therefrom;
B. a wireless transmitter means mounted with respect to the payload and operatively connected to said reefing control processor means, said wireless transmitter means being responsive to receiving at least one release signal from said reefing control processor means for wirelessly transmitting a wireless signal; and
C. a wireless receiver means attached with respect to the parachute canopy and being operative to be actuated responsive to receiving a wireless signal transmitted from said wireless transmitter means to actuate the reefing release mechanism to initiate disengagement of the canopy reefing device to allow initiation of inflation of the canopy of the parachute to facilitate controlled descent thereof with the payload attached thereto.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for controlling the drag area growth of a parachute canopy during airborne descent with sensors attached to the payload for facilitating modification of the schedule of release of a parachute canopy reefing mechanism. A control processor is included that can receive and/or calculate a schedule for disengaging the reefing on the parachute. One or more wireless transmitters at the payload transmit the releasing signal from the payload to the reefing mechanism normally located adjacent the parachute canopy. The control processor can also be configured to receive input information from multiple sensors attached to the payload that monitor parameters such as altitude, position, load force, dynamic pressure, time and others to facilitate instantaneous recalculation of the disreefing schedule responsive to such conditions.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. A parachute reefing control apparatus for use with a payload attached through suspension lines to a parachute having a canopy with a canopy reefing device and a reefing release mechanism for controlling canopy inflation and airborne descent after deployment thereof, said parachute reefing control apparatus comprising:
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A. a reefing control processor means mounted with respect to the payload and preprogrammed with a release schedule for generating of at least one release signal therefrom;
B. a wireless transmitter means mounted with respect to the payload and operatively connected to said reefing control processor means, said wireless transmitter means being responsive to receiving at least one release signal from said reefing control processor means for wirelessly transmitting a wireless signal; and
C. a wireless receiver means attached with respect to the parachute canopy and being operative to be actuated responsive to receiving a wireless signal transmitted from said wireless transmitter means to actuate the reefing release mechanism to initiate disengagement of the canopy reefing device to allow initiation of inflation of the canopy of the parachute to facilitate controlled descent thereof with the payload attached thereto. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A parachute reefing control apparatus for use with a payload attached solely through suspension lines to a parachute having a canopy with a multistage canopy reefing device and a reefing release mechanism for controlling canopy inflation and airborne descent after deployment thereof, said parachute reefing control apparatus comprising:
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A. a plurality of sensing means mounted with respect to the payload for monitoring parameters to facilitate determination of a release schedule for disengaging the reefing of the parachute canopy, said sensing means including;
(1) a mission time clock for determining the time lapsed after deployment of the parachute and payload;
(2) a global positioning system device to instantaneously monitor the position of the payload relative to the earth therebelow;
(3) a pressure sensing means for monitoring the dynamic pressure being exerted instantaneously on the payload;
(4) a load sensing means for sensing the load force of the canopy;
B. a reefing control processor means mounted with respect to the payload and operatively connected to said sensing means for receiving information therefrom instantaneously for facilitating determining a release schedule for generating a plurality of release signals;
C. a wireless transmitter means mounted with respect to the payload and operatively connected to said reefing control processor means, said wireless transmitter means being responsive to receiving release signals from said reefing control processor means for wirelessly transmitting a wireless signal;
D. a wireless receiver means attached with respect to the parachute canopy and being operative to be actuated responsive to receiving wireless signals transmitted from said wireless transmitter means to sequentially actuate the stages of the reefing release mechanism to initiate disengagement of the canopy reefing device to allow at least partial inflation of the canopy of the parachute to facilitate controlled descent thereof with the payload attached thereto and thereafter to allow full canopy inflation; and
E. a parachute deployment inhibiting means attached to the payload and operatively positioned between said reefing control processor means and said wireless transmitter means to selectively prevent deployment and/or disreefing of the parachute unless all parameters being monitored by said sensing means are within predetermined tolerances values.
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26. A parachute reefing control apparatus for use with a payload attached through a plurality of individual sets of suspension lines to a plurality of individual parachutes, each having a canopy with a canopy reefing device and a reefing release mechanism for controlling canopy inflation and airborne descent after deployment thereof, said parachute reefing control apparatus comprising:
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A. a reefing control processor means mounted with respect to the payload and preprogrammed with a release schedule for generating of at least one release signal therefrom;
B. a plurality of wireless transmitter means mounted with respect to the payload and operatively connected to said reefing control processor means, each of said wireless transmitter means being responsive to receiving at least one release signal from said reefing control processor means for wirelessly transmitting a wireless signal designated for each reefing release mechanism of each parachute; and
C. a plurality of wireless receiver means each being attached with respect to the canopy of the associated parachute and being operative to be actuated responsive to receiving a wireless signal designated therefore and transmitted from one of said wireless transmitter means to actuate the reefing release mechanism associated therewith to initiate disengagement of the associated canopy reefing device to allow initiation of the canopy of the associated parachute to facilitate controlled descent thereof with the payload attached thereto and coordinated inflation of each parachute canopy of the plurality of parachutes attached to the payload.
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27. A method for parachute reefing control for use with a payload attached solely through suspension lines to a parachute having a canopy with a canopy reefing device and a reefing release mechanism for controlling canopy inflation and airborne descent after deployment thereof, said method comprising:
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A. providing a reefing control processor mounted on the payload which is preprogrammed with a release schedule for controlling release of the reefing of the parachute canopy;
B. transmitting of at least one wireless release signal from the payload to the reefing release mechanism mounted adjacent the reefing device at the parachute canopy in accordance with the release schedule;
C. receiving of the wireless release signal at a position adjacent the canopy; and
D. actuating a reefing release mechanism positioned adjacent to the canopy to allow at least partial inflation of the parachute canopy to facilitate controlled descent thereof with the payload attached thereto. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A method for parachute reefing control for use with a payload attached solely through suspension lines to a plurality of individual parachutes, each having an associated canopy with an associated canopy reefing device and an associated reefing release mechanism for controlling canopy inflation and airborne descent after deployment thereof, said method comprising:
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A. providing a reefing control processor mounted on the payload which is preprogrammed with a release schedule for controlling release of the reefing of each of the parachute canopies;
B. transmitting of at least one wireless release signal from the payload to each reefing release mechanism mounted adjacent to each reefing device at the associated parachute canopy in accordance with the release schedule;
C. receiving of the associated wireless release signal at a position adjacent each associated canopy; and
D. actuating a reefing release mechanism positioned adjacent to each canopy to allow at least partial inflation of the associated parachute canopy to facilitate controlled descent thereof with the payload attached thereto and coordination of the inflation of each of individual parachute canopies.
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Specification