Parachute ripcord pins

• US 7,387,278 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2005
• Issued: 06/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airborne Systems Limited (Transdigm Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Airborne Systems Limited (Transdigm Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Jones, Adrian, Hirst, David Richard Jordan
• Primary Examiner(s): DINH, TIEN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US11/185,727
• Publication Number:
  US 20060038078A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,062 Days
• Field of Search: 244/152, 244/151.B, 244/149, 244/148, 244/147, 244/142
• US Class Current: 244/148
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 17/46 Closing means
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 17/52 Opening, e.g. manual

Abstract

Ripcord pins secure a parachute pack and, on removal, allow the parachute to be deployed from the pack. Such pins are provided with indicating means that provide an indication, such as a visual indication, that the pin has been bent. This avoids the re-use of straightened pins that may break in use.

Claims

1. A parachute ripcord pin for holding a parachute pack closed, removal of the ripcord pin allowing the pack to open for deployment of a parachute in said pack, the pin having a ceramic rod mounted thereto to provide a visual indication when the pin has been deformed, said ceramic rod being unfractured in a first state when the pin is undeformed and being fractured in a second state when the pin has been deformed.

2. The ripcord pin according to claim 1 wherein the ceramic rod is bonded to the pin.

3. The ripcord pin according to claim 1 wherein the pin includes an elongate groove extending along the length of the pin, the ceramic rod being located in said groove.

4. The ripcord pin according to claim 1 wherein the pin is formed by a body for connection to a ripcord and a blade extending away from the body, the ceramic rod being associated with the blade.

5. A parachute pack for containing a parachute, the parachute pack being closed by a ripcord pin or pins according to claim 1.

6. A parachute pack according to claim 5 and containing a packed parachute.

7. A parachute ripcord pin for holding a parachute pack closed, removal of the ripcord pin allowing the pack to open for deployment of a parachute in said pack, the pin comprising a body and a blade having an elongate groove extending along the length thereof and an indication element located in said groove for providing an indication when the pin has been deformed.

8. The parachute ripcord pin according to claim 7, wherein the indication element is an elongate member that fractures when the pin has been deformed.

9. The parachute ripcord pin according to claim 8, wherein the indication element is a ceramic rod.

10. A parachute ripcord pin for holding a parachute pack closed, removal of the ripcord pin allowing the pack to open for deployment of a parachute in said pack, the pin comprising a body for connection to a ripcord and a blade extending away from the body, said pin including an indication element substantially mounted within said blade for providing an indication when the pin has been deformed.

11. The ripcord pin according to claim 10 wherein said indication element is an elongate member of brittle material.

12. The ripcord pin according to claim 11 wherein the elongate member of brittle material is a ceramic rod.

13. The ripcord pin according to claim 12 wherein the ceramic rod is bonded to the pin.

14. The ripcord pin according to claim 10 wherein the blade includes an elongate groove, said indication element being located in said groove.

15. The ripcord pin according to claim 10 wherein the indication element is inserted within a bore of said blade.

16. The ripcord pin according to claim 15 wherein the indication element includes a glass tube with a dye contained therein that is released when the pin is deformed.

17. A parachute ripcord pin for holding a parachute pack closed, removal of the ripcord pin allowing the pack to open for deployment of a parachute in said pack, the pin having a separate elongate member of brittle material substantially mounted within said pin that provides a visual indication when the pin has been deformed, said elongate member being unfractured in a first state when the pin is undeformed and being fractured in a second state when the pin has been deformed.

18. The ripcord pin according to claim 17 wherein the elongate member includes a glass tube with a dye contained within said pin, the dye being released when the pin is deformed.

19. A parachute ripcord pin for holding a parachute pack closed, removal of the ripcord pin allowing the pack to open for deployment of a parachute in said pack, the pin including a glass tube with a dye contained in the tube that is released to provide a visual indication when the pin has been deformed, said elongate member being unfractured in a first state when the pin is undeformed and being fractured in a second state when the pin has been deformed.