TRIMMING DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING THE GLIDE SLOPE AND DESCENT SPEED OF A PARAFOIL
First Claim
1. A parafoil system having an adjustable trim angle during flight to control glide slope and descent speed of a parafoil, the system comprising:
- a canopy having a forward portion and an aft portion;
a forward suspension line coupled to the forward portion;
an aft suspension line coupled to the aft portion;
first and second pulleys, wherein the first pulley has a first diameter and the second pulley has a second diameter, and wherein the first diameter and the second diameter are different; and
a motor coupled to the first and second pulleys, wherein the motor rotates the first and second pulleys to extend or retract the forward suspension line or the aft suspension line to adjust a trim angle of the canopy during flight,wherein the first and second pulleys and the motor are mounted on a structure.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A parafoil system having an adjustable trim angle during flight to control glide slope and descent speed of a parafoil is provided. The parafoil system may include a pulley cluster comprising first and second variable trim pulleys, each having a different diameter. The pulley cluster may be coupled to forward and aft suspension lines of a parafoil canopy such that the pulley cluster may rotate to retract or extend the forward and aft suspension lines to adjust the trim angle during flight. The parafoil system may further include a motor for rotating the pulley cluster to extend or retract the suspension lines to adjust the trim angle during flight. By adjusting the trim angle of the canopy during flight, the glide slope and descent speed of the parafoil system may be controlled.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A parafoil system having an adjustable trim angle during flight to control glide slope and descent speed of a parafoil, the system comprising:
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a canopy having a forward portion and an aft portion; a forward suspension line coupled to the forward portion; an aft suspension line coupled to the aft portion; first and second pulleys, wherein the first pulley has a first diameter and the second pulley has a second diameter, and wherein the first diameter and the second diameter are different; and a motor coupled to the first and second pulleys, wherein the motor rotates the first and second pulleys to extend or retract the forward suspension line or the aft suspension line to adjust a trim angle of the canopy during flight, wherein the first and second pulleys and the motor are mounted on a structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An apparatus for adjusting a trim angle during flight to control glide slope and descent speed of a parafoil, the apparatus comprising:
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first and second pulleys coupled to suspension lines of a parafoil, wherein the first pulley has a first diameter and the second pulley has a second diameter, and wherein the first diameter and the second diameter are different; and a motor coupled to the first and second pulleys, wherein the motor rotates the first and second pulleys to extend or retract the suspension lines to adjust the trim angle during flight.
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20. A system for adjusting a trim angle during flight to control glide slope and descent speed of a parafoil, the system comprising:
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first and second pulleys coupled to suspension lines of a parafoil, wherein the first pulley has a first diameter and the second pulley has a second diameter, and wherein the first diameter and the second diameter are different; a motor coupled to the first and second pulleys; and a processor operatively coupled to the motor, wherein the processor causes the motor to rotate the first and second pulleys to extend or retract the suspension lines to adjust the trim angle during flight.
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Specification