Patent · US Expired

Parachute release apparatus and method

US6056242A · kind A · utility

19Cited by
9References
48Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateSep 24, 1998
Grant dateMay 2, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 24, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB64D17/38
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A parachute releasing apparatus is operable with a reserve static line for automatically releasing one riser after failure of a second riser, thus avoiding entanglement of the main parachute with the reserve parachute. First and second risers of the main parachute are releasably attached to a harness through quick releases devices for each riser. The reserve static line is connected between the first riser of the main parachute and a deployment pin of the reserve parachute. A connection is made between the first riser of the main parachute and the quick release device of the second riser for automatically releasing the second riser from the harness prior to the reserve static line deploying the reserve parachute. Thus, the main parachute is released from the harness before the reserve parachute deploys and avoids entanglement of the failed main parachute with the reserve parachute.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.