US3730099A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Controlled descent system
Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
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Filing: 1970-12-17
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Granted: 1973-05-01
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Expires: 1990-12-17
Abstract
Abstract A descent retarding system for an airdropped store is provided by a multistage canister allowing timed, sequential deployment of a parachute and parawing. Following ejection of the store, split half rings and a cover are removed from one end for deployment of a deceleration parachute. After a delay provided by a mechanical or pyrotechnic timer, a retaining member is removed from a parawing compartment allowing resilient, longitudinal finger-like sections of the compartment housing to spring outwardly allowing rapid deployment of an accordion-folded parawing. The parachute is jettisoned once the parawing has inflated.
Inventors
- 👤 L Schopp
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 22:45
CPC Classifications
F; F42; F42B; F42B10/00; F42B10/32; F42B10/48; F42B10/56
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
407 words
A relatively small deployment canister for a descent retarding system and capable of being carried in numbers by high speed aircraft, comprising; a payload compartment; a first aerodynamic decelerator means storage tube joined at one end to said payload compartment having a radially expandably urged opening at the other end; removable retaining means for radially constraining the other end of said tube to maintain said opening at approximately the same width as the one end of said tube, said retaining means including a plate having a rim portion and a body portion with an elongated slot, said rim portion engaging the constrained ends of said sections, said retaining means plate body portion having a bore formed therein under the path of said key member, extractable pin means received in said retaining means plate bore for blocking said key member, said pin means being adapted to be operatively connected to a second aerodynamic decelerator means storable in said removable storage compartment, said removable storage compartment including a split ring mounted on top of said retaining means to form a cylindrical enclosure axially aligned with said housing and a removable cover plate closing the open end of said removable storage compartment, said tube being formed by a plurality of finger-like sections tubularly arranged in parallel about an axis and radially outwardly urged in relation thereto, said sections being attached at one end to said payload compartment, said retaining means constraining the other ends of said sections, the constrained ends of said finger-like sections having an inwardly bent portion such that the corresponding end of said tube is narrowed, said canister comprising; delay means connected to said retaining means for preventing removal thereof during a predetermined time period, said delay means including a timer body disposed in the narrowed end of said tube and retained thereby, means in said timer body for producing rotation in a plane perpendicular to said axis, and a rotatable shaft connected to said rotation producing means and extending out of said timer body and through said slot in said retaining means plate, said shaft having a transverse key member registrable with said slot and normally holding said retaining means plate in fixed relation to said timer body, said timer body having an outer contour conforming with the inner contour of the other ends of said finger-like sections; and said canister further comprising; a removable second aerodynamic decelerator means storage compartment connected to said retaining means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
407 words
A relatively small deployment canister for a descent retarding system and capable of being carried in numbers by high speed aircraft, comprising; a payload compartment; a first aerodynamic decelerator means storage tube joined at one end to said payload compartment having a radially expandably urged opening at the other end; removable retaining means for radially constraining the other end of said tube to maintain said opening at approximately the same width as the one end of said tube, said retaining means including a plate having a rim portion and a body portion with an elongated slot, said rim portion engaging the constrained ends of said sections, said retaining means plate body portion having a bore formed therein under the path of said key member, extractable pin means received in said retaining means plate bore for blocking said key member, said pin means being adapted to be operatively connected to a second aerodynamic decelerator means storable in said removable storage compartment, said removable storage compartment including a split ring mounted on top of said retaining means to form a cylindrical enclosure axially aligned with said housing and a removable cover plate closing the open end of said removable storage compartment, said tube being formed by a plurality of finger-like sections tubularly arranged in parallel about an axis and radially outwardly urged in relation thereto, said sections being attached at one end to said payload compartment, said retaining means constraining the other ends of said sections, the constrained ends of said finger-like sections having an inwardly bent portion such that the corresponding end of said tube is narrowed, said canister comprising; delay means connected to said retaining means for preventing removal thereof during a predetermined time period, said delay means including a timer body disposed in the narrowed end of said tube and retained thereby, means in said timer body for producing rotation in a plane perpendicular to said axis, and a rotatable shaft connected to said rotation producing means and extending out of said timer body and through said slot in said retaining means plate, said shaft having a transverse key member registrable with said slot and normally holding said retaining means plate in fixed relation to said timer body, said timer body having an outer contour conforming with the inner contour of the other ends of said finger-like sections; and said canister further comprising; a removable second aerodynamic decelerator means storage compartment connected to said retaining means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
70 words
A deployment canister according to claim 1 further comprising: said retaining means including transverse loops attached to the constrained ends of said finger-like sections and extending inwardly, a first section of pyrotechnic fuse connected to said loops for joining said lOops together thereby constraining said sections; and said delay means including a second section of pyrotechnic fuse connected to said first fuse section and terminating in an external ignition point.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
308 words
A relatively small air dropped deployment canister for a progressively deployed multi-storage aerodynamic decelerator system, said canister capable of being carried in numbers by high speed aircraft and comprising: a payload compartment; a plurality of elongated fingers adjacently arranged in parallel about an axis to form a first decelerator means storage tube when constrained and a flared opening when relaxed; plate means for connecting respective one ends of said fingers; removable retaining means for selectively constraining and securing the other ends of said fingers to said payload compartment; a pair of half rings mounted on said plate means to form a cylindrical second decelerator means storage compartment axially aligned with said tube; a removable cover plate enclosing the open end of said storage compartment; delay means connected to said retaining means for preventing removal thereof during a predetermined time period; an ignition pad located on said cover plate; a first sheath containing a pyrotechnic fuse extending outwardly from said pad and longitudinally along one of said half rings and one of said fingers and terminating at the other end of said one finger, said first sheath being bonded along its length to said one half ring and said one finger; a second sheath containing a pyrotechnic fuse extending outwardly along the other said half ring, said second sheath being bonded along its length to said other half ring; a cord circled about the other ends of said fingers, at least a portion of said cord being a pyrotechnic fuse positioned to be ignited by said first sheath fuse; the other end of each said second finger having a U-shaped profile forming on the outside a groove receiving said cord and on the inside a rim; and the end of said payload compartment adjacent to said fingers having a groove encircling the periphery thereof and engaging said finger rims.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
308 words
A relatively small air dropped deployment canister for a progressively deployed multi-storage aerodynamic decelerator system, said canister capable of being carried in numbers by high speed aircraft and comprising: a payload compartment; a plurality of elongated fingers adjacently arranged in parallel about an axis to form a first decelerator means storage tube when constrained and a flared opening when relaxed; plate means for connecting respective one ends of said fingers; removable retaining means for selectively constraining and securing the other ends of said fingers to said payload compartment; a pair of half rings mounted on said plate means to form a cylindrical second decelerator means storage compartment axially aligned with said tube; a removable cover plate enclosing the open end of said storage compartment; delay means connected to said retaining means for preventing removal thereof during a predetermined time period; an ignition pad located on said cover plate; a first sheath containing a pyrotechnic fuse extending outwardly from said pad and longitudinally along one of said half rings and one of said fingers and terminating at the other end of said one finger, said first sheath being bonded along its length to said one half ring and said one finger; a second sheath containing a pyrotechnic fuse extending outwardly along the other said half ring, said second sheath being bonded along its length to said other half ring; a cord circled about the other ends of said fingers, at least a portion of said cord being a pyrotechnic fuse positioned to be ignited by said first sheath fuse; the other end of each said second finger having a U-shaped profile forming on the outside a groove receiving said cord and on the inside a rim; and the end of said payload compartment adjacent to said fingers having a groove encircling the periphery thereof and engaging said finger rims.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
170 words
A relatively small controlled descent system canister unit for an air dropped store, said unit being capable of being carried in numbers by a high speed aircraft and comprising: a cylindrical housing having a payload compartment at one end, a first decelerator means compartment at the other end and a second decelerator means compartment between said payload and first compartment, the portion of said housing enclosing said second compartment being formed by a plurality of outwardly urged longitudinal fingers adjacently arranged about an axis parallel to said fingers and attached at one end to a fist adjacent portion of said housing so as to enclose said second compartment, and removable retaining means for securing the other ends of said fingers to a second adjacent portion of said housing to form said second compartment; an initial aerodynamic decelerator means packed in said first compartment having lines operatively connected to said second compartment; and a final aerodynamic decelerator means stored in said second compartment having lines operatively connected to said payload compartment.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
170 words
A relatively small controlled descent system canister unit for an air dropped store, said unit being capable of being carried in numbers by a high speed aircraft and comprising: a cylindrical housing having a payload compartment at one end, a first decelerator means compartment at the other end and a second decelerator means compartment between said payload and first compartment, the portion of said housing enclosing said second compartment being formed by a plurality of outwardly urged longitudinal fingers adjacently arranged about an axis parallel to said fingers and attached at one end to a fist adjacent portion of said housing so as to enclose said second compartment, and removable retaining means for securing the other ends of said fingers to a second adjacent portion of said housing to form said second compartment; an initial aerodynamic decelerator means packed in said first compartment having lines operatively connected to said second compartment; and a final aerodynamic decelerator means stored in said second compartment having lines operatively connected to said payload compartment.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
80 words
A descent system unit according to claim 4 in which: said final decelerator means comprises a parawing accordion-folded in the longitudinal direction with respect to the parawing axis and accordion-folded in the transverse direction, said parawing having a projection on the forward end thereof; and said unit further comprising; extraction means operatively connected to said parachute including a retraction tab having a means for removably engaging said projection and a line connected to said retraction tab interfolded with said parawing.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-04-30 | 1976-10-30 | 1977-05-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-04-30 | 1980-10-30 | 1981-05-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-04-30 | 1984-10-30 | 1985-05-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |