Time-controlled triggering apparatus responsive to the tautening of a flexible member

Claim 1

IN A TIME-CONTROLLED PARACHUTE RELEASING DEVICE, A COMBINATION INCLUDING: A CYLINDER; A FIRST PISTON AXIALLY MOVABLE WITHIN SAID CYLINDER FROM A REST POSITION TO A DISCHARGING POSITION AND HAVING (A) AN AXIAL CAVITY THEREIN EXTENDING INWARDLY FROM ONE END OF THE PISTON FOR NESTING THE BUTT END OF A GAS CARTRIDGE HAVING A SEALED NECK, AND (B) AN ANNULAR PERIPHERAL RECESS FOR NESTING A SEALING ORING; A SECOND PISTON AXIALLY MOVABLE WITHIN SAID CYLINDER AND HAVING (A) A PIN EXTENDING AXIALLY THEREFROM TOWARD SAID FIRST PISTON, AND (B) AN ANNULAR PERIPHERAL RECESS AROUND ITS PERIPHERY FOR NESTING A SEALING O-RING; O-RINGS NESTING IN SAID PERIPHERAL RECESSES, AND ENGAGING THE INNER WALLS OF SAID CYLINDER; SAID CYLINDER HAVING A PAIR OF SUBSTANTIALLY DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED OPENINGS THEREIN LOCATED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID FIRST PISTON BETWEEN THE PISTON''S TWO ENDS AS THAY ARE DISPOSED WHEN SID FIRST PISTON IS IN SAID REST POSITION, ONE OF SAID OPENINGS PERMITTING A CORD TO ENTER THE CYLINDER THERETHROUGH AND TO EXTEND AROUND THE CLOSED END OF THE FIRST PISTON AND THENCE THROUGH THE OTHER OPENING WHEREBY TENSION ON THE CORD WILL EXERT A FORCE ON SAID END OF SAID FIRST PISTON TO MOVE IT FROM SAID REST POSITION TO SAID DISCHARGING POSITION IN WHICH THE SEALED NECK OF SUCH CARTRIDGE AS MAY BE NESTING IN SAID FIRST PISTON WILL BE PIERCED BY SAID PIN, THEREBY RELEASING THE GAS FROM SAID CARTRIDGE INTO THE REGION BETWEEN SAID O-RINGS, THE PRESSURE OF THE GAS IN SAID REGION ACTING TO MOVE SAID SECOND PISTON.