RAM air inflatable gliding wing
First Claim
1. A ram-air inflated gliding wing (10) having a leading edge (66) and a closed trailing edge (68) comprising:
- A. a plurality of interconnected cells (14-30), each of said cells including(1) first means (78) defining an upper surface (80) having side edges (82-84);
(2) second means (86) defining a lower surface (88) having side edges (90-92);
(3) third means (32-46) for securing said first and second means side edges directly together over the length thereof;
(4) an air intake (96) at said leading edge; and
(5) reinforcing tape (114-116) having first and second ends, said tape being disposed span-wise between and secured at said first and second ends to opposed ones of said side edges of said upper and lower surfaces at a pre-selected chord-wise position between said leading and trailing edges.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A RAM air inflatable gliding wing including a plurality of cells interconnected as by stitching along appropriate adjacent side edges thereof. Each of the cells is constructed utilizing an upper and lower flexible member secured together over the entire length thereof. Disposed span wise between and secured to the side edges of the upper and lower flexible members is reinforcing tape preferably carried by a plurality of sections of flexible material. The structure provides airfoil shaped tubes or cells which when in inflated profile is that of shark and cetacean design. An air intake is provided at the leading edge of each of the cells and is constructed including a non-return valve. The reinforcing tape provides a central load network system which provides reinforcement and serves to stabilize the canopy when fully deployed both span wise and chord-wise while at the same time attenuating stress and pressure on the lower surface of the parachute canopy during deceleration.
38 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A ram-air inflated gliding wing (10) having a leading edge (66) and a closed trailing edge (68) comprising:
A. a plurality of interconnected cells (14-30), each of said cells including (1) first means (78) defining an upper surface (80) having side edges (82-84); (2) second means (86) defining a lower surface (88) having side edges (90-92); (3) third means (32-46) for securing said first and second means side edges directly together over the length thereof; (4) an air intake (96) at said leading edge; and (5) reinforcing tape (114-116) having first and second ends, said tape being disposed span-wise between and secured at said first and second ends to opposed ones of said side edges of said upper and lower surfaces at a pre-selected chord-wise position between said leading and trailing edges. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A ram-air inflated gliding wing having a leading edge and a closed trailing edge comprising:
a plurality of interconnected cells, each of said cells including (1) first means defining an upper surface having side edges; (2) second means defining a lower surface having side edges; (3) third means for securing said first and second means side edges together over the length thereof; (4) fourth means defining a middle surface disposed span wise at a pre-selected chord-wise position and secured to said side edges of said upper and lower surfaces; (5) reinforcing tape disposed span-wise between, and secured to (a) said side edges of said upper and lower surfaces, and (b) to said middle surface; (6) an air intake at said leading edge including a flexible valve means having an inwardly converging hollow flexible member disposed internally of said cell and affixed at one end thereof to said leading edge, said valve remaining open during inflation of said wing and closing upon the pressure internally of said cell exceeding the pressure externally of said cell at said leading edge; and (7) said middle surface defining means being disposed aft of said flexible valve means. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
Specification