Intelligent ballistic parachute system with fuel discharge
First Claim
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1. A method performed by an aircraft, the aircraft including a wing, aircraft fuel, and a whole-aircraft parachute that is coupled to the aircraft, the method comprising:
- receiving a single request from an aircraft occupant;
based upon the receipt of the single request, both deploying the whole-aircraft parachute while the aircraft is in flight and also discharging at least a portion of the aircraft fuel from the wing of the aircraft.
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Abstract
A method performed by an aircraft, the aircraft including a wing, aircraft fuel, and a whole-aircraft parachute that is coupled to the aircraft. The method comprises: deploying the whole-aircraft parachute while the aircraft is in flight; and after deploying the parachute, but before the aircraft contacts the earth or any object coupled to the earth, discharging at least a portion of the aircraft fuel from the wing of the aircraft.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method performed by an aircraft, the aircraft including a wing, aircraft fuel, and a whole-aircraft parachute that is coupled to the aircraft, the method comprising:
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receiving a single request from an aircraft occupant; based upon the receipt of the single request, both deploying the whole-aircraft parachute while the aircraft is in flight and also discharging at least a portion of the aircraft fuel from the wing of the aircraft. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10)
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5. A method performed by an aircraft, the aircraft including a wing, aircraft fuel, and a whole-aircraft parachute that is coupled to the aircraft, the method comprising:
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deploying the whole-aircraft parachute while the aircraft is in flight; and
after deploying the parachute, but before the aircraft contacts the earth or any object coupled to the earth, discharging at least a portion of the aircraft fuel from the wing of the aircraft;wherein the aircraft includes a lower wing skin and a panel coupled to the lower wing skin and wherein the method further includes; during the deployment of the whole-aircraft parachute, tensioning a strap that couples the aircraft to the parachute, and tensioning a cable, which is coupled to the strap and the panel.
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6. A method performed by an aircraft, the aircraft including a wing, aircraft fuel, and a whole-aircraft parachute that is coupled to the aircraft, the method comprising:
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deploying the whole-aircraft parachute while the aircraft is in flight; and
after deploying the parachute, but before the aircraft contacts the earth or any object coupled to the earth, discharging at least a portion of the aircraft fuel from the wing of the aircraft;wherein the aircraft includes a lower wing skin and a panel coupled to the lower wing skin and wherein the method further includes; during the deployment of the whole-aircraft parachute, tensioning a strap that couples the aircraft to the parachute and tensioning a cable, which is coupled to the strap and the panel; and then creating a fuel discharge passageway for discharging the at least a portion of the aircraft fuel from the wing of the aircraft.
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9. A method performed by an aircraft, the aircraft including a wing, aircraft fuel, and a whole-aircraft parachute that is coupled to the aircraft, the method comprising:
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deploying the whole-aircraft parachute while the aircraft is in flight; and
after deploying the parachute, but before the aircraft contacts the earth or any object coupled to the earth, discharging at least a portion of the aircraft fuel from the wing of the aircraft;wherein the aircraft includes a lower wing skin and a panel coupled to the lower wing skin by a joint that includes epoxy and wherein the method further includes; during the deployment of the whole-aircraft parachute, breaking at least a portion of the epoxy joint between the panel and the lower wing skin.
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11. An aircraft including:
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a whole-aircraft parachute; a harness containing a plurality of straps that couple the whole-aircraft parachute to a plurality of locations on the aircraft; aircraft fuel; and a fuel discharge system; wherein the aircraft is operative to receive a single request from an occupant of the aircraft, and both deploy the whole-aircraft parachute and also discharge at least a portion of the aircraft fuel based upon the receipt of the single request. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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12. An aircraft including:
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a parachute; a harness containing a plurality of straps that couple the parachute to a plurality of locations on the aircraft aircraft fuel; and a fuel discharge system operative to discharge at least a portion of the aircraft fuel, after deployment of the parachute while the aircraft is in flight, but before the aircraft contacts the earth or any object coupled to the earth; wherein the fuel discharge system includes; a wing that contains a fuel tank that stores the aircraft fuel, a first portion of the fuel tank being formed by a lower wing skin, a second portion of the fuel tank being formed by a panel that is coupled to the lower wing skin and separately coupled to at least one of the plurality of straps. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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21. An aircraft including:
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a whole-aircraft parachute; a harness containing a plurality of straps that couple the whole-aircraft parachute to a plurality of locations on the aircraft; and retractable landing gear; wherein the aircraft is operative to receive a single request from an occupant of the aircraft, and based upon the receipt of the single request, both deploy the whole-aircraft parachute and also extend the landing gear.
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22. A method performed by an aircraft, the aircraft including a wing, retractable landing gear, and a whole-aircraft parachute that is coupled to the aircraft, the method comprising:
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receiving a single request from an occupant of the aircraft; and based upon the receipt of the single request, both deploying the whole-aircraft parachute and also extending the landing gear.
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23. An aircraft including:
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a whole-aircraft parachute; a harness containing a plurality of straps that couple the whole-aircraft parachute to a plurality of locations on the aircraft; and anti-icing fluid; wherein the aircraft is operative to receive a single request from an occupant of the aircraft, and based upon the receipt of the single request, both deploy the whole-aircraft parachute and also discharge at least a portion of the anti-icing fluid from the aircraft.
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24. A method performed by an aircraft, the aircraft including a wing, anti-icing fluid, and a whole-aircraft parachute that is coupled to the aircraft, the method comprising:
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receiving a single request from an occupant of the aircraft; and based upon the receipt of the single request, both deploying the whole-aircraft parachute and also discharging at least a portion of the anti-icing fluid from the aircraft.
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Specification