Survival kit air deployable apparatus and method
US4639229A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 20, 1985 |
| Grant date | Jan 27, 1987 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 20, 2005 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB64D1/02
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus and method for airplane deployment over water of survival kit apparatus is provided. A pair of deflated, inflatable rafts are contained in a rigid container shell having a removable tail cone. A stabilizer drogue may be used to longitudinally stabilize the container prior to tail cone release and assist with the tail cone removal after release. The tail cone is mechanically released and removed from the container shell at a predetermined time after deployment from an aircraft, thereby pemitting the container shell contents to be removed. The life rafts are contained in the container shell so that one life raft having associated with it an aerodynamic brake is released after the tail cone has been removed, with the container and second life raft continuing their trajectory downwards. The rope joining the two life rafts is continuously payed out as the first left raft falls to the water and the container with the second life raft therein continues its trajectory. The second life raft is removed from the container shell mechanically after the container shell contacts the surface of the water. The apparatus and method of the invention results in the pair of inflated rope-j…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.