Personnel guided aerial delivery device

• US 5,899,415 A
• Filed: 03/14/1997
• Issued: 05/04/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Edward Strong, Robert Conway
• Original Assignee: Edward Strong, Robert Conway
• Inventors: Strong, Edward, Conway, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Jordan, Charles T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DINH, TIEN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US08/818,495
• Time in Patent Office: 781 Days
• Field of Search: 242/152, 242/138 R, 242/142, 242/195, 242/151 R, 242/904, 242/107, 242/233, 242/388.6, 242/388.7, 242/390.9
• US Class Current: 244/152
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 1/08 the articles being load-carrying devices
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 17/025 for gliding chutes
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 17/30 Harnesses harnesses per se A62B

Abstract

A personnel guided aerial delivery device is disclosed which can be used to safely and precisely deliver personnel, cargo, or a combination of both from an aircraft in flight, to a precise target or location. In the preferred embodiment, the aerial delivery device generally consists of a large "ram-air" type gliding parachute, a "drogue" parachute, an encapsulated crew module, a "fly-by-wire" control system, and a landing impact attenuation system. The aerial delivery device can employ an onboard human pilot to navigate the module. The use of a skilled pilot allows the aerial delivery device to be guided to a designated landing site.

Claims

1. A personnel guided aerial delivery device, said aerial delivery device capable of delivering one or more occupants and/or cargo to a designated landing area, comprising:

an open crew module having no enclosures and a plularity of seats with at least two seats divided and at least one seat facing a first direction and a second seat facing a second opposite direction having an open during flight occupant seating area;

a parachute member attached to said crew module;

means for stabilizing said crew module during initial freefall of said crew module;

an independently controlled landing impact attenuation member disposed at the bottom of said crew module; and

means for steering said parachute member.

2. The personnel guided aerial delivery device of claim 1 wherein said means for stabilizing is a drogue parachute member attached to said parachute member.

3. The personnel guided aerial delivery device of claim 1 wherein said crew module is encapsulated to provide protection to the one or more occupants and/or cargo.

4. The personnel guided aerial delivery device of claim 2 wherein said drogue parachute is activated by dropping said device out of an in flight aircraft.

5. The personnel guided aerial delivery device of claim 1 wherein said parachute member is of a gliding parachute type.

6. The personnel guided aerial delivery device of claim 1 wherein said landing impact attenuation member comprises:

a pair of movable skid members, a first of said movable skid members disposed at a first side of said crew module and a second of said movable skid members disposed at a second side of said crew module;

a first pair of shock members associated with said first movable skid member and a second pair of shock members associated with said second movable skid member;

means for moving said first movable skid member in a vertical direction; and

means for moving said second movable skid member in a vertical direction.

8. The personnel guided aerial delivery device of claim 1 wherein said means for steering comprises:

a pair of joysticks operable by an occupant disposed within the seating area of said crew module;

a pair of steering lines associated with said parachute member;

a first motor assembly associated with a first of said pair of steering lines;

a second motor assembly associated with a second of said pair of steering lines;

means for determining the position of said pair of steering lines;

control means for adjusting the position of one or more of said steering lines dependent on input received from one or more of said joysticks.

9. The personnel guided aerial delivery device of claim 8, wherein said means for determining is a first feedback potentiometer in communication with the first steering line and a second feedback potentiometer in connection with the second steering line.

10. The personnel guided aerial delivery device of claim 9, wherein said control means compares information received from one or more of said feedback potentiometers with information received from one or more of said joysticks and adjusts one or more of the steering lines in accordance with the received information.

11. The personnel guided aerial delivery device of claim 10, further including amplifying means which communicates with one or more of the motor assemblies dependent on information received from said control means to cause one or more of the motor assemblies to adjust the steering line associated with the motor assembly.

12. The personnel guided aerial delivery device of claim 8 wherein each of said motor assemblies includes a motor member, gearbox and spool member;

wherein the steering line associated with the motor assembly is attached to said spool member;

wherein the motor member causes said spool member to turn in either a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction which in turns moves the attached steering line to guide said crew module in flight.

14. The personnel guided aerial delivery device of claim 1 wherein said crew module including a four point restraint system for each occupant.

7. A personnel guided aerial delivery device, said aerial delivery device capable of delivering one or more occupants and/or cargo to a designated landing area, comprising:

a crew module;

a parachute member attached to said crew module;

means for stabilizing said crew module during initial freefall of said crew module;

a landing impact attenuation member disposed at the bottom of said crew module; and

means for steering said parachute member;

wherein said landing impact attenuation member comprises;

a pair of movable skid members, a first of said movable skid members disposed at a first side of said crew module and a second of said movable skid members disposed at a second side of said crew module;

a first pair of shock members associated with said first movable skid member and a second pair of shock members associated with said second movable skid member;

means for moving said first movable skid member in a vertical direction; and

means for moving said second movable skid member in a vertical direction;

wherein said means for moving said first movable skid member and said means for moving said second movable skid member each include;

an airhose member in communication with a respective shock member; and

a valve member attached to said airhose member;

wherein air is either supplied to or withdrawn from said shock members through said airhose member dependent on a desired vertical movement of said skid member.

13. A personnel guided aerial delivery device, said aerial delivery device capable of delivering one or more occupants and/or cargo to a designated landing area, comprising:

a crew module;

a parachute member attached to said crew module;

means for stabilizing said crew module during initial freefall of said crew module;

a landing impact attenuation member disposed at the bottom of said crew module; and

means for steering said parachute member, said means for steering comprises;

a pair of joysticks;

a pair of steering lines associated with said parachute member;

a first motor assembly associated with a first of said pair of steering lines;

a second motor assembly associated with a second of said pair of steering lines;

means for determining the position of said pair of steering lines;

control means for adjusting the position of one or more of said steering lines dependent on input received from one or more of said joysticks;

wherein each of said motor assemblies includes a motor member, gearbox and spool member;

wherein the steering line associated with the motor assembly is attached to said spool member;

wherein the motor member causes said spool member to turn in either a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction which in turns moves the attached steering line to guide said crew module in flight;

wherein said means for steering further including a first belt member attached to a first spool member and said first feedback potentiometer and a second belt member attached to a second spool member and said second feedback potentiometer.

15. A personnel guided aerial delivery device, said aerial delivery device capable of delivering one or more occupants and/or cargo to a designated landing area, comprising:

an encapsulated crew module, said crew module including a four point restraint system for each occupant;

a gliding parachute member attached to said crew module;

a drogue parachute for stabilizing said encapsulated crew module during initial freefall of said crew module;

means for steering said parachute member; and

a landing impact attenuation means disposed at the bottom of said crew module, said impact attenuation means including;

a pair of movable skid members, a first of said movable skid members disposed at a first side of said crew module and a second of said movable skid members disposed at a second side of said crew module,

a first pair of shock members associated with said first movable skid member and a second pair of shock members associated with said second movable skid member,

means for moving said first movable skid member in a vertical direction, and

means for moving said second movable skid member in a vertical direction;

wherein said movable skid members act as inner skid members and a bottom area of said crew module acts as fixed outer skid members.

16. The personnel guided aerial delivery device of claim 15 wherein said means for moving said first movable skid member and said means for moving said second movable skid member each include:

an airhose member in communication with a respective shock member; and

a valve member attached to said airhose member;

wherein air is either supplied to or withdrawn from said shock members through said airhose member dependent on a desired vertical movement of said skid member.

17. The personnel guided aerial delivery device of claim 15 wherein said means for steering comprises:

a pair of joysticks;

a pair of steering lines associated with said parachute member;

a first motor assembly associated with a first of said pair of steering lines;

a second motor assembly associated with a second of said pair of steering lines;

means for determining the position of said pair of steering lines;

control means for adjusting the position of one or more of said steering lines dependent on input received from one or more of said joysticks.

18. The personnel guided aerial delivery device of claim 17, wherein said means for determining is a first feedback potentiometer in communication with the first steering line and a second feedback potentiometer in connection with the second steering line;

wherein said control means compares information received from one or more of said feedback potentiometers with information received from one or more of said joysticks and adjusts one or more of the steering lines in accordance with the received information.

19. The personnel guided aerial delivery device of claim 17, further including amplifying means which communicates with one or more of the motor assemblies dependent on information received from said control means to cause one or more of the motor assemblies to adjust the steering line associated with the motor assembly.

20. The personnel guided aerial delivery device of claim 17 wherein each of said motor assemblies includes a motor member, gearbox and spool member;

wherein the steering line associated with the motor assembly is attached to said spool member;

wherein the motor member causes said spool member to turn in either a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction which in turns moves the attached steering line to guide said crew module in flight.

21. The personnel guided aerial delivery device of claim 20 wherein said means for steering further including a first belt member attached to a first spool member and said first feedback potentiometer and a second belt member attached to a second spool member and said second feedback potentiometer.

22. A personnel guided aerial delivery device, said aerial delivery device capable of delivering one or more occupants and/or cargo to a designated landing area, comprising:

an encapsulated crew module, said crew module including a four point restraint system for each occupant;

a gliding parachute member attached to said crew module;

a drogue parachute for stabilizing said encapsulated crew module during initial freefall of said crew module, said drogue parachute is activated by dropping said device out of an in flight aircraft;

means for steering said parachute member, said steering means including;

a pair of joysticks,

a pair of steering lines associated with said parachute member,

a first motor assembly associated with a first of said pair of steering lines,

a second motor assembly associated with a second of said pair of steering lines,

means for determining the position of said pair of steering lines,

control means for adjusting the position of one or more of said steering lines dependent on input received from one or more of said joysticks; and

a landing impact attenuation means disposed at the bottom of said crew module, said impact attenuation means including;

a pair of movable skid members, a first of said movable skid members disposed at a first side of said crew module and a second of said movable skid members disposed at a second side of said crew module,

a first pair of shock members associated with said first movable skid member and a second pair of shock members associated with said second movable skid member,

means for moving said first movable skid member in a vertical direction, and

means for moving said second movable skid member in a vertical direction;

wherein said movable skid members act as inner skid members and a bottom area of said crew module acts as fixed outer skid members.

23. The personnel guided aerial delivery device of claim 22 wherein said means for moving said first movable skid member and said means for moving said second movable skid member each include:

an airhose member in communication with a respective shock member; and

a valve member attached to said airhose member;

wherein air is either supplied to or withdrawn from said shock members through said airhose member dependent on a desired vertical movement of said skid member.

24. The personnel guided aerial delivery device of claim 22, wherein said means for determining is a first feedback potentiometer in communication with the first steering line and a second feedback potentiometer in connection with the second steering line;

wherein said control means compares information received from one or more of said feedback potentiometers with information received from one or more of said joysticks and adjusts one or more of the steering lines in accordance with the received information.

25. The personnel guided aerial delivery device of claim 22, further including amplifying means which communicates with one or more of the motor assemblies dependent on information received from said control means to cause one or more of the motor assemblies to adjust the steering line associated with the motor assembly.

26. The personnel guided aerial delivery device of claim 22 wherein each of said motor assemblies includes a motor member, gearbox and spool member;

wherein the steering line associated with the motor assembly is attached to said spool member;

wherein the motor member causes said spool member to turn in either a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction which in turns moves the attached steering line to guide said crew module in flight.

27. The personnel guided aerial delivery device of claim 26 wherein said means for steering further including a first belt member attached to a first spool member and said first feedback potentiometer and a second belt member attached to a second spool member and said second feedback potentiometer.

28. The personnel guided aerial delivery device of claim 22 wherein said drogue parachute is utilized to extract said crew module from an aircraft.

29. The personnel guided aerial delivery device of claim 22 wherein said means for steering is interfaced with a global positioning system for autonomous navigation of said crew module.