Parachute tow and release system with canopy extraction controlled by drag surface

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10099792-B1
Application number	US-201815951987-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Apr 12, 2018
Priority date	Oct 13, 2017
Publication date	Oct 16, 2018
Grant date	Oct 16, 2018

Abstract

In an embodiment, a parachute deployment system includes a parachute coupled to a release via a first load path. The first path includes crown lines. The release is adapted to attach the parachute to a rocket via the crown lines, and disengage the parachute from the rocket if a load shifts from the first path to a second path. The system also includes a line constrainer between the release and the parachute. The crown lines pass through the line constrainer, and the line constrainer is adapted to restrict an extent to which the crown lines are able to extend away from a longitudinal axis. An example release includes a back plate configured to couple a tow line to crown lines and a soft pin. The pin is adapted to separate from the back plate in response to tensioning of the release line, causing the parachute to disengage.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A parachute deployment system comprising:
a parachute coupled to a release via a first load path, wherein the first load path includes upper parachute lines attached to a canopy of the parachute;
the release adapted to:
attach the parachute to a rocket via the upper parachute lines; and
disengage the parachute from the rocket in response to a load shifting from the first load path to a second load path; and

a line constrainer between the release and the parachute, wherein the upper parachute lines pass through the line constrainer, and the line constrainer is adapted to restrict an extent to which the upper parachute lines are able to extend away from a longitudinal axis of the parachute.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the line constrainer includes a flexible piece of material having at least one opening through which the upper parachute lines pass.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the line constrainer includes a flexible piece of material having at least one opening within a threshold distance from a perimeter of the piece of material through which the upper parachute lines pass.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the line constrainer includes a cutout permitting airflow through the line constrainer.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the line constrainer includes an annular ring having a plurality of openings corresponding to respective ones of the upper parachute lines through which the upper parachute lines extend.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the line constrainer is provided closer to the parachute than the release.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the line constrainer is provided closer to the release than the parachute.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the upper parachute lines are connected directly to the release.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein in response to a malfunction of at least one of the release and the rocket, the upper parachute lines extend without interfering with full inflation of the canopy.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the parachute is packed symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis such that, on extraction, loading is substantially even and air flows through a center channel of the canopy.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first load path includes at least one lower parachute line, and the second load path extends from the release to a common point with the at least one lower parachute line.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the at least one lower parachute line extends from a rim of the parachute to a lower parachute line restrainer.

13. The system of claim 11 , further comprising a lower parachute line restrainer coupled to the parachute via the at least one lower parachute line, wherein, when released, the lower parachute line restrainer permits the at least one lower parachute line to extend in length.

14. The system of claim 11 , further comprising a lower parachute line restrainer coupled to the parachute via the at least one lower parachute line, and adapted to release in response to meeting a threshold force such that the load shifts from the first load path to the second load path.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein before release of a lower parachute line restrainer, the first load path is shorter than the second load path.

16. The system of claim 1 , wherein after release of a lower parachute line restrainer, the first load path is longer than the second load path.

17. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first load path includes a tow line and the rocket is adapted to tow the parachute via the tow line.

18. A method of producing a parachute deployment system, the method comprising:
coupling a parachute to a release via a first load path, wherein:
the first load path includes upper parachute lines attached to a canopy of the parachute; and
the release is adapted to attach the parachute to a rocket via the upper parachute lines, and disengage the parachute from the rocket in response to a load shifting from the first load path to a second load path; and

coupling a line constrainer between the release and the parachute through which the upper parachute lines extend, wherein the line constrainer is adapted to restrict an extent to which the upper parachute lines are able to extend away from a longitudinal axis of the parachute.

Assignees

• Kitty Hawk Corp

Inventors

• Swan Peter A
• Western Craig
• Vander Lind Damon
• Qian Amy
• Mattson Timothy
• Miller Eric

Classifications

• B64D17/38 Primary

  Releasable fastening devices between parachute and load or pack · CPC title

• B64D17/725 Primary

  by explosive means · CPC title

• B64D17/80

  in association with aircraft, e.g. for braking thereof · CPC title