Intelligent Ballistic Parachute System that Performs Pre-activation and/or Post-activation Actions

• US 20100176246A1
• Filed: 02/10/2009
• Published: 07/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cirrus Design Corporation (Aviation Industry Corporation of China, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hoyt A Fleming
• Inventors: Fleming, Hoyt A. III
• Granted Patent: US 8,100,365 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/139
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 13/04 actuated personally
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 17/00 Parachutes non canopied parachutes B64D19/00
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 17/34 adapted to control direction or rate of descent
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 17/343 by reefing means
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 17/72 by explosive or inflatable means
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 17/725 by explosive means
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 17/80 in association with aircraft, e.g. for braking thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 25/00 Emergency apparatus or devices, not otherwise provided for parachutes B64D17/00, B64D19/00; jettisoning of fuel tanks or fuel per se B64D37/00; specially adapted for protection against criminal attack, e.g. anti-hijacking systems B64D45/0015 ; safety belts or body harnesses in general A62B35/00; safety belts or body harnesses for land vehicles B60R22/00; jettisonable parts of fuselage facilitating emergency escape B64C
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 37/26 Jettisoning of fuel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/40 Weight reduction

Abstract

An aircraft, the aircraft including a whole-aircraft ballistic parachute that is coupled to the aircraft. The aircraft determines if a pre-activation action needs to be performed before activation of the whole-aircraft ballistic parachute. The aircraft also receives a whole-aircraft ballistic parachute activation request. The aircraft then issues a command to perform the pre-activation action and then activates the deployment of the whole-aircraft ballistic parachute. The aircraft then issues a command to perform a post-activation action.

Claims

1. A method performed by an aircraft, the aircraft including a whole-aircraft ballistic parachute that is coupled to the aircraft, the method comprising:

determining if a pre-activation action needs to be performed before activation of the whole-aircraft ballistic parachute;

receiving, by a processor in the aircraft, a whole-aircraft ballistic parachute activation request;

then issuing a command to perform the pre-activation action;

then activating the deployment of the whole-aircraft ballistic parachute.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the pre-activation action includes increasing the altitude of the aircraft above the ground.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the pre-activation action includes decreasing the airspeed of the aircraft.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the pre-activation action includes controlling the reefing of the whole-aircraft ballistic parachute.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the controlling the reefing includes restraining a reefing control line.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the controlling the reefing includes restraining a reefing control line that is coupled to a reefing device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the pre-activation action includes changing the heading of the aircraft.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the pre-activation action includes changing the attitude of the aircraft.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the pre-activation action includes displaying a visual indication on a display that is coupled to the processor.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising, after activating the deployment of the whole-aircraft ballistic parachute, issuing a command to perform a post-activation action.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the post-activation action includes controlling the reefing of the whole-aircraft ballistic parachute.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the controlling the reefing of the whole-aircraft ballistic parachute includes releasing a reefing control line that is coupled to a reefing device.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the controlling the reefing of the whole-aircraft ballistic parachute includes extending a reefing control line, which is coupled to a reefing device, and then releasing the reefing control line.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the post-activation action includes setting a transponder mode.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the post-activation action includes activating an emergency locator transmitter.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the post-activation action includes setting a transmitter frequency of a communication radio to 121.5 MHz.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the post-activation action includes setting a transmitter frequency of a communication radio to 121.5 MHz and then transmitting a message on the transmitter frequency containing the aircraft type, the aircraft N number, the aircraft colors, the aircraft latitude and longitude coordinates, the fact that a whole-aircraft ballistic parachute has been deployed, and at least one phone number.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the post-activation action includes displaying a visual indication on a display that is coupled to the processor.

19. The method of claim 10, wherein the post-activation action includes lowering the landing gear of the aircraft.

20. An aircraft, the aircraft including a whole-aircraft ballistic parachute that is coupled to the aircraft, a processor, and a program storage device, the program storage device containing instructions, that when executed by the processor performs a method comprising:

determining if a pre-activation action needs to be performed before activation of the whole-aircraft ballistic parachute;

receiving a whole-aircraft ballistic parachute activation request;

then

issuing a command to perform the pre-activation action;

then

issuing a command to activate the deployment of the whole-aircraft ballistic parachute.