Bimodal parachute deployment system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11225330-B2
Application number	US-202016744602-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 16, 2020
Priority date	Oct 28, 2016
Publication date	Jan 18, 2022
Grant date	Jan 18, 2022

Abstract

A parachute deployment system is disclosed. In various embodiments, the system includes an interface configured to receive sensor information; a parachute load limiting device; and a parachute load limiting device state controller. The parachute load limiting device state controller sets a state of the parachute load limiting device to a state associated with a corresponding amount of load based at least in part on the sensor information.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A parachute load limiting device comprising:
a tether configured to be coupled to a parachute line at an end and to be coupled to an aircraft at an opposite end, wherein in an initial state the tether is folded to decrease a length of the tether;
a fastener configured to:
hold folds of the tether in place in the initial state, and open to permit the tether to extend in length and decrease a load delivered to a parachute; and

a reefing device configured to be situated around a mid-section of a canopy of the parachute to constrain a size of the parachute in the initial state, wherein the reefing device is configured to slide down the canopy to a bottom of the parachute to hold one or more tethers of the parachute together.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the parachute load limiting device is configured to be inserted between sections of the parachute line to decrease load to the parachute.

3. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a severing tool configured to break the fastener to permit the tether to extend in length.

4. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a blade configured to break the fastener to permit the tether to extend in length.

5. The device of claim 1 , comprising one or more additional parachute load limiting devices or one or more additional fasteners.

6. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a state controller that engages the parachute load limiting device prior to deployment of the parachute.

7. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a state controller that disengages the parachute load limiting device prior to deployment of the parachute.

8. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a state controller that engages the parachute load limiting device after deployment of the parachute.

9. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a state controller that disengages the parachute load limiting device after deployment of the parachute.

10. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a state controller that operates the fastener based on a timer.

11. The device of claim 1 , wherein the force is below the threshold when a vehicle in which the parachute load limiting device is provided does not exceed a threshold altitude or a threshold speed.

12. The device of claim 1 , wherein the force meets the threshold when a vehicle in which the parachute load limiting device is provided exceeds a threshold altitude or a threshold speed.

13. The device of claim 1 , wherein the parachute load limiting device state controller severs a component of the parachute load limiting device in the event the parachute load limiting device state controller sets the parachute load limiting device to a disengaged state.

14. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a state controller configured to instruct the fastener to permit the tether to extend in length in response to sensor information including at least one of: environmental factors, obstacles, wind speed, altitude, or velocity.

15. The device of claim 14 , wherein the state controller is controlled automatically based on the sensor information.

16. The device of claim 1 , wherein the parachute load limiting device has an engaged state in which the fastener is operated and a disengaged state in which the fastener is not operated.

17. The device of claim 16 , wherein the parachute load limiting device is engaged as a default state.

18. A method, comprising:
providing a tether that couples to a parachute line at an end and couples to an aircraft at an opposite end, wherein in an initial state the tether is folded to decrease a length of the tether;
providing a fastener that:
holds folds of the tether in place in the initial state, and
opens to permit the tether to extend in length and decrease a load delivered to a parachute; and

providing a reefing device that is situated around a mid-section of a canopy of the parachute to constrain a size of the parachute in an initial state, wherein the reefing device slides down the canopy to a bottom of the parachute to hold one or more tethers of the parachute together.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising: providing a severing tool that breaks the fastener to permit the tether to extend in length.

20. The method of claim 18 , further comprising: providing a state controller that instructs the fastener to permit the tether to extend in length in response to sensor information including at least one of: environmental factors, obstacles, wind speed, altitude, or velocity.

Assignees

• Kitty Hawk Corp

Inventors

• Vander Lind Damon
• Robertson Cameron

Classifications

• B64D17/343

  by reefing means · CPC title

• B64D17/54 Primary

  automatic · CPC title

• B64D17/386

  Devices adapted to cut lines or straps · CPC title

• B64D17/62

  Deployment · CPC title

• B64D17/80

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