Parachute device, flight device, and flying body ejection mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11820522-B2
Application number	US-202017755251-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 26, 2020
Priority date	Oct 29, 2019
Publication date	Nov 21, 2023
Grant date	Nov 21, 2023

Abstract

Provided is a parachute device capable of reliably opening a parachute. A parachute device includes a parachute, a parachute accommodation section formed in a tubular shape including an opening at one end and a bottom at another end, the parachute accommodation section being configured to accommodate the parachute inside the parachute accommodation section, at least one flying body formed in a tubular shape including an opening at one end and a bottom at another end, the flying body being connected to the parachute, a tubular ejection section fixed at the parachute accommodation section, and configured to hold the flying body and eject the held flying body, a gas generating device fixed at the parachute accommodation section, and configured to generate gas, and a gas introduction path configured to introduce the gas generated from the gas generating device to an interior of the ejection section, wherein at the ejection section, one open end portion of the ejection section is inserted into the flying body, and another open end portion of the ejection section communicates with the gas introduction path.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A parachute device comprising:
a parachute;
a parachute accommodation section formed in a tubular shape including an opening at one end and a bottom at another end, the parachute accommodation section being configured to accommodate the parachute inside the parachute accommodation section;
at least one passive flying body formed in a tubular shape including an opening at one end and a bottom at another end, the flying body being connected to the parachute;
a tubular ejection section fixed at the parachute accommodation section, and configured to hold the flying body and eject the held flying body;
a gas generating device fixed at the parachute accommodation section, and configured to generate gas;
a gas introduction path configured to introduce the gas generated from the gas generating device to an interior of the ejection section; and
a cover member disposed between the parachute and the flying body in the parachute accommodation section in a form surrounding the flying body held by the ejection section, wherein
one open end portion of the ejection section is inserted into the flying body, and another open end portion of the ejection section communicates with the gas introduction path, wherein
the bas generating device includes,
a gas generating agent configured to generate the gas, and
a housing fixed at an inner bottom surface of the parachute accommodation section, and configured to non-detachably accommodate the gas generating agent,
a gas discharge chamber is formed by the housing and the inner bottom surface of the parachute accommodation section, the as generated from the gas generating agent being discharged into the gas discharge chamber, and
the gas discharge chamber and the interior of the ejection section communicate with each other via the gas introduction path, wherein
the parachute accommodation section has a side wall portion having a tube shape and a bottom portion formed so as to close an opening at one end side of the side wall portion, wherein
the cover member is formed in a cylindrical shape including an opening portion in a circumferential direction, wherein
a cross-sectional shape of the cover member as viewed from an axial direction of the cover member is U-shaped, wherein
the cover member, in the parachute accommodation section, extends from the opening portion side of the side wall portion toward a bottom surface portion side and is fixed at the side wall portion to close the opening portion in the circumferential direction.

2. The parachute device according to claim 1 , further comprising a lid configured to cover an opening portion of the parachute accommodation section.

3. The parachute device according to claim 1 , comprising a plurality of the flying bodies, wherein
the ejection section and the gas introduction path are provided corresponding to each of the flying bodies,
the parachute accommodation section has a tubular shape,
the gas generating device is disposed at a central portion of the parachute accommodation section when viewed from an opening portion side of the parachute accommodation section, and
a plurality of the ejection sections are disposed at equal intervals in a circumferential direction of a circle centered on the central portion when viewed from the opening portion side of the parachute accommodation section.

4. The parachute device according to claim 1 , wherein
the end portion of the ejection section is formed in a flange shape, wherein
a side surface of the flange-shaped end portion of the ejection section is joined along an inner peripheral surface of the cover member.

5. A flight device comprising:
an aircraft body unit;
a thrust force generation section connected to the aircraft body unit and configured to generate a thrust force;
a flight control section configured to control the thrust force generation section;
an abnormality detection section configured to detect an abnormality during flying;
the parachute device according to claim 1 ; and
a fall control section configured to cause the flying body to be ejected from the ejection section in response to detection of the abnormality by the abnormality detection section.

6. A flying body ejection mechanism comprising:
a passive flying body connectable to a parachute;
a parachute accommodation section formed in a tubular shape including an opening at one end and a bottom at another end, the parachute accommodation section being capable of accommodating the parachute inside the parachute accommodation section;
a tubular ejection section fixed at the parachute accommodation section, and configured to hold the flying body and eject the held flying body;
a gas generating device fixed at the parachute accommodation section, and configured to generate gas;
a gas introduction path configured to introduce the gas generated from the gas generating device to an interior of the ejection section; and
a cover member disposed in the parachute accommodation section in a form surrounding the flying body held by the ejection section, wherein
the flying body is formed in a tubular shape including an opening at one end and a bottom at another end, and

one open end portion of the ejection section is inserted into the flying body, and another open end portion of the ejection section communicates with the gas introduction path, wherein
the gas generating device includes,
a gas generating agent configured to generate the gas, and
a housing fixed at an inner bottom surface of the parachute accommodation section, and configured to non-detachably accommodate the gas generating agent,
a gas discharge chamber is formed by the housing and the inner bottom surface of the parachute accommodation section, the gas generated from the gas generating agent being discharged into the gas discharge chamber, and
the gas discharge chamber and the interior of the ejection section communicate with each other via the gas introduction path, wherein
the parachute accommodation section has a side wall portion having a tube shape and a bottom portion formed so as to close an opening at one end side of the side wall portion, wherein
the cover member is formed in a cylindrical shape including an opening portion in a circumferential direction, wherein
a cross-sectional shape of the cover member as viewed from an axial direction of the cover member is U-shaped, wherein

the cover member, in the parachute accommodation section, extends from the opening portion side of the side wall portion toward a bottom surface portion side and is fixed at the side wall portion to close the opening portion in the circumferential direction.

Assignees

• Minebea Mitsumi Inc

Inventors

• Sakamoto Yuzuru
• Shimohisa Shoji
• Mochida Yoshihiro

Classifications

• B64U2201/10

  autonomous, i.e. by navigating independently from ground or air stations, e.g. by using inertial navigation systems [INS] · CPC title

• B64U50/30

  Supply or distribution of electrical power · CPC title

• B64U50/23

  with each propulsion means having an individual motor · CPC title

• B64U20/77

  the body being formed integrally with wings or rotor supports · CPC title

• B64U10/16

  with five or more distinct rotor axes, e.g. octocopters · CPC title