Multi-staged suspension line length parachutes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10053221-B2
Application number	US-201615153473-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 12, 2016
Priority date	May 12, 2016
Publication date	Aug 21, 2018
Grant date	Aug 21, 2018

Abstract

A multi-staged suspension line length parachute is provided. The parachute may comprise a canopy, a suspension line, a bundle, a bundling confluence, a traditional confluence, and a riser. The parachute may also comprise a cutter and a cutter pin puller configured to activate the cutter. The bundle may comprise a bundling line configured to secure secondary length from the suspension line. The parachute may deploy to a first length. In response to tension on the cutter pin puller, the cutter may activate to sever the bundling line in the bundle, causing the secondary length of the suspension line to release. The parachute may then deploy to a second length.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A multi-staged suspension line length parachute, comprising:
a suspension line comprising a primary length and a secondary length;
a bundle coupled to the suspension line, wherein the bundle comprises a bundling line configured to secure the secondary length;
a cutter coupled to the bundling line, wherein the cutter is configured to sever the bundling line to release the secondary length;
a bundling confluence coupled to the bundle, wherein the bundling confluence comprises the cutter; and
a traditional confluence coupled to the bundling confluence opposite the bundle.

2. The multi-staged suspension line length parachute of claim 1 , further comprising a canopy coupled to the suspension line.

3. The multi-staged suspension line length parachute of claim 1 , further comprising
a riser coupled to the traditional confluence opposite the bundling confluence.

4. The multi-staged suspension line length parachute of claim 2 , wherein the secondary length is tacked onto at least one of the canopy or the primary length.

5. The multi-staged suspension line length parachute of claim 1 , further comprising a sleeve coupled to the suspension line, wherein the sleeve is configured to stow the secondary length.

6. The multi-staged suspension line length parachute of claim 2 , further comprising an anti-squid control line having a first end coupled to at least one of the bundle or the bundling confluence, and a second end coupled to the canopy.

7. The multi-staged suspension line length parachute of claim 1 , further comprising a cutter pin puller coupled to the cutter and configured to activate the cutter to sever the bundling line.

8. A method, comprising:
deploying a multi-staged suspension line length parachute to a first length, wherein the multi-staged suspension line length parachute comprises a suspension line having a primary length and a secondary length;
activating a cutter to sever a bundling line in a bundle coupled to the suspension line to release the secondary length; and
deploying the multi-staged suspension line length parachute to a second length,
wherein the cutter is coupled to a bundling confluence, wherein the bundling confluence is coupled to the bundle, and wherein a traditional confluence couples a riser to the bundling confluence.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising tacking the secondary length to at least one of a canopy or the primary length, wherein the canopy is coupled to the suspension line.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising stowing the secondary length in a sleeve coupled to the primary length of the suspension line.

11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising stabilizing, by an anti-squid control line having a first end coupled to at least one of the bundle or the bundling confluence, and a second end coupled to a canopy.

12. The method of claim 8 , further comprising delaying the activating the cutter in response to the cutter having a time delay.

13. A parachute arrangement, comprising:
a plurality of suspension lines attachable to a canopy;
a first portion of each of the plurality of suspension lines having a primary length being deployable upon a first deployment of the parachute arrangement;
a second portion of each of the plurality of suspension lines having a secondary length being prevented from deployment until the first portion have fully deployed and a tension load provided through the plurality of suspensions lines has exceeded a defined tension load;
a bundle coupled to the plurality of suspension lines, wherein the bundle comprises a bundling line configured to secure the secondary length;
a bundling confluence coupled to the bundle and comprises a cutter, wherein the cutter is coupled to the bundling line and configured to sever the bundling line to release the secondary length; and
a traditional confluence coupled to the bundling confluence opposite the bundle.

14. The parachute arrangement of claim 13 , further comprising a cutter pin puller coupled to the cutter and configured to activate the cutter in response to the load provided through the plurality of suspension lines exceeding the defined tension load.

15. The parachute arrangement of claim 13 , further comprising an anti-squid control line having a first end coupled to the bundle, and a second end coupled to the canopy.

16. The parachute arrangement of claim 13 , wherein the secondary length is tacked onto at least one of the canopy or the primary length.

17. The parachute arrangement of claim 13 , further comprising a sleeve coupled to the plurality of suspension lines, wherein the sleeve is configured to stow the secondary length.

Assignees

• Goodrich Corp
• Ami Ind Inc

Inventors

• Mastrolia Bradley
• Carson Kassidy L

Classifications

• B64D17/343

  by reefing means · CPC title

• B64D17/346

  by anti-squid lines · CPC title

• B64D17/386 Primary

  Devices adapted to cut lines or straps · CPC title

• B64D17/58

  responsive to time-delay mechanism · CPC title

• B64D17/52

  Opening, e.g. manual · CPC title