Intelligent ballistic parachute system that performs pre-activation and/or post-activation actions

• US 8,100,365 B2
• Filed: 02/10/2009
• Issued: 01/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2009
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Cirrus Design Corporation (Aviation Industry Corporation of China, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hoyt A Fleming
• Inventors: Fleming, Hoyt A. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Eldred, J. Woodrow
• Application Number:
  US12/368,911
• Publication Number:
  US 20100176246A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,078 Days
• Field of Search: 244/139, 244/220, 244/152, 244/149, 244/138.R
• US Class Current: 244/139
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 13/04 actuated personally
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 17/00 Parachutes non canopied parachutes B64D19/00
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 17/34 adapted to control direction or rate of descent
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 17/343 by reefing means
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 17/72 by explosive or inflatable means
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 17/725 by explosive means
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 17/80 in association with aircraft, e.g. for braking thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 25/00 Emergency apparatus or devices, not otherwise provided for parachutes B64D17/00, B64D19/00; jettisoning of fuel tanks or fuel per se B64D37/00; specially adapted for protection against criminal attack, e.g. anti-hijacking systems B64D45/0015 ; safety belts or body harnesses in general A62B35/00; safety belts or body harnesses for land vehicles B60R22/00; jettisonable parts of fuselage facilitating emergency escape B64C
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 37/26 Jettisoning of fuel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/40 Weight reduction

Abstract

An aircraft, the aircraft including a whole-aircraft ballistic parachute that is coupled to the aircraft. The aircraft determines if a pre-activation action needs to be performed before activation of the whole-aircraft ballistic parachute. The aircraft also receives a whole-aircraft ballistic parachute activation request. The aircraft then issues a command to perform the pre-activation action and then activates the deployment of the whole-aircraft ballistic parachute. The aircraft then issues a command to perform a post-activation action.

Claims

1. A method performed by an aircraft, the aircraft including a whole-aircraft ballistic parachute that is coupled to the aircraft, the method comprising:

receiving, from an aircraft occupant, a whole-aircraft ballistic parachute deployment request;

then

based upon the receipt of the ballistic parachute deployment request, both performing an action and also deploying the whole-aircraft ballistic parachute.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the action includes increasing the altitude of the aircraft above the ground.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the action includes decreasing the airspeed of the aircraft.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the action includes controlling the reefing of the whole-aircraft ballistic parachute.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the controlling the reefing includes restraining a reefing control line.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the controlling the reefing includes restraining a reefing control line that is coupled to a reefing device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the action includes changing the heading of the aircraft.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the action includes changing the attitude of the aircraft.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the action includes displaying a visual indication on a display that is coupled to the processor.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising, after deploying the whole-aircraft ballistic parachute, performing a second action.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the second action includes controlling the reefing of the whole-aircraft ballistic parachute.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the controlling the reefing of the whole-aircraft ballistic parachute includes releasing a reefing control line that is coupled to a reefing device.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the controlling the reefing of the whole-aircraft ballistic parachute includes extending a reefing control line, which is coupled to a reefing device, and then releasing the reefing control line.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the aircraft includes a transponder and wherein the action includes commanding the transponder to enter one of Mode A, Mode C, or Mode S.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the second action includes activating an emergency locator transmitter.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the second action includes setting a transmitter frequency of a communication radio to 121.5 MHz.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the second action includes setting a transmitter frequency of a communication radio to 121.5 MHz and then transmitting a message on the transmitter frequency containing the aircraft type, the aircraft N number, the aircraft colors, the aircraft latitude and longitude coordinates, the fact that a whole-aircraft ballistic parachute has been deployed, and at least one phone number.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the second action includes displaying a visual indication on a display that is coupled to the processor.

19. The method of claim 10, wherein the second action includes lowering the landing gear of the aircraft.

20. An aircraft, the aircraft including a whole-aircraft ballistic parachute that is coupled to the aircraft, the aircraft configured to perform a method comprising:

receiving a whole-aircraft ballistic parachute deployment request from an occupant of the aircraft;

then

based upon the receipt of the whole-aircraft ballistic parachute deployment request, both performing an action and also deploying the whole-aircraft ballistic parachute.