US2468130A - Parachute and container - Google Patents

Description

April 26, 1949. H. D. s'rALLwoRTH PARACHUTE AND CONTAINER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I Filed June 17, 1946 INVENTOR. HENRY D. STAL/.WORTH ATTORNEY April 26, 1949. H. D, STALLWORTH 2,468,130

PARACHUTE AND CONTAINER Filed June 17, 1946. 4 sheets-sheet 5 INVENTOR. N/PY D. SML/.WORTH ATTORNEY l `April 25, 1949- H'. D. sTALLwoRTH 2,468,130

PARACHUTE AND CONTAINER Filed June 17, .194e 4 sheets-sheet 4 INVENTOR. E HENRY D. STALLWOHTH it BY l Patented Apr. 26, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PARACHUTE AND CONTAINER Henry D. stauworth, United states Navy,

Houston, Tex.

Application June 1'7, 1946, Serial No. 677,143

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a parachute and container therefor.

Parachutes presently known in the art have an undesirable tendency to sway, or oscillate, while descending, thereby not only interfering with descent control by the parachutist but also increasing the landing hazard. Furthermore, known parachutes have an undesirably high descent rate and an undesirably long opening time, which are not only disadvantageous at times, but may be actually dangerous where short descents are to be made. Certain other operative features on known parachutes are not optimum and improvement thereof is highly desirable.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved parachute which has high stability, whereby a substantially vertical attitude is maintained during descent.

It is another object of this invention to provide a parachute which will open rapidly upon being released from its container. Y

It is another object to provide a parachute which, after opening, will descend at a lower rate than that achieved by presently known parachutes, at the same time maintaining itself subg5 stantially vertical.

It is another object to provide a parachute adapted to be easily and positively controlled in its rate of descent, during descent.

It is another object to provide a container especially suited to hold the parachute of the present invention.-

It is a further object to provide a parachute and container of improved design and safety.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the present invention. I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is avperspective view of a parachute 40 embodying the features of the present linvention in opened, or operating, position taken from a point at the side and slightly below the parachute; f

Fig. 2 is a view, similar to Fig. 1, taken from 45 a point at the side and slightly above the parachute;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the lower end of the centrally depending parachute member constituting a feature of this invention;

Y Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of one of the vent members constructed in the top portion of the parachute canopy; Fig. 5 illustrates the container of this invention adapted to receive the parachute; v

Fig. 6 shows a wire frame member forming the supporting structure for the fiat members of the container shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 illustrates one method of forming the hinge members for the frame of Fig. 6;

Figs. 8, 9, and 10 illustrate progressively the opening action of the parachute as it is ejected from the container when a parachutist pulls the rip cord;

Fig. 11 illustrates certain features of the parachute and will be used in explaining the operation and advantages of this invention;

Fig. 12 illustrates a conventional parachute, and is used to point out certain disadvantages therein; and

Fig. 13 shows the parachute of this invention with its centrally depending member pulled downward to increase the rate of descent.

The parachute of this invention is characterized by an air resistance member depending from the inside center of the open canopy of the parachute.

In a preferred embodiment of this invention, this member is fabricated in conjunction with an'opening formed in the top of the canopy where the member joins the canopy. The canopy and the depending member, which is substantially tubular in shape, are preferably formed continuously, so that the general configuration of the parachute (neglecting shroud lines, harness, and accessories) is approximately that of a rotate gamopetalous corolla ower. During descent, the stem portion of the parachute, formed by the depending tubular member, tends to greatly minimize oscillation of the parachute, thereby permitting improved control by the parachutist.

The container of the present invention is characterized by a flat packing member interposed between the packed shroud lines of the parachute and the folded canopy thereof, which member is biased outwardly against the canopy to rapidly eject the same upon opening of the container.

Understanding of the details of the present invention may best be had by reference to the drawings as follows:

Parachute In Figs. 1 and 2, two views of a descending parachute constructed according to my invention are shown, the rst being taken from below the parachute, the second from above it. In these views, 20 represents a parachute canopy, the outer portion of which resembles closely a conventional device. In the center of the canopy Adensity near cone apex 23.

and substantially around the axis thereof is an opening 2i'. From the peripheral edge of the opening 2i there descends down the center of the parachute a tubular member or sleeve 22, shown in the preferred embodiment as an inverted cone having the base thereof at the edge of said opening 2l with its apex 23 pointing downward. The axis of cone 22 will, during use of the parachute, maintain a substantially vertical attitude. It is preferred to construct cone 22 and canopy 28 in one continuous piece, as shown, thereby rendering the general configuration of the device thus far described similar to a rotate garnopetalous corolla flower, with cone 22 corresponding to the stem of the flower, and canopy 28 corresponding to the petals extending downward around the stem for an appreciable portion of height of the stem.

Conventional shroud lines 24 depend from the outer edge of canopy 29 and are attached to a conventional harness 25 through straps 26 and rings 21. Apex 23, shown more particularly in Fig. 3, is attached to each of the four rings 21 by anchoring lines 28, the latter serving to prevent apex 23 from being pulled upwardly under the canopy. In addition to anchoring lines 28, there is attached to a ring 29 at apex 23 a control line 38 having means, such as knots 3|, by which a parachutist may draw apex 23 toward harness 25 for the purpose of speeding descent. Tack lines 32 serve to keep the lower end of control line 39 within convenient reach of the parachutist in harness 25.

As mentioned hereinbefore, canopy 29 and cone 22 are preferably formed continuously, and to this end the canopy shroud lines 33 are continued from the outer edge of thefcanopy around the top and down the sides of cone 22 until-they reach a circular seam 34. Seam 34 is of reinforced fabric to provide a terminus for the inner ends of the canopy shroud lines 33. Every other canopy shroud line 33 terminates at the seam 34, with the odd lines continuing as cone shroud lines 35. The reason for the division of shroud lines -at this point is the desirability of lessening lshroud line At apex 23, cone shroud lines 35 continue into a flat sewed end 31. The end of cone 22 at apex 23 is sewednat, as shown at 33 to provide area for securing the suspension ring 29.

'Io provide release for excessive air pressure developed under canopy 22 immediately upon opening thereof, a plurality of vents are provided as shown by the numeral 39. Vents 39 are positioned preferably immediately over canopy shroud lines 33, as shown particularly in Fig. 4. Each vent 39 comprises a collar 48' of partially folded material having an elastic band 4l in the inner edge thereof. It will be noted that canopy shroud line 33 continues across the face of vent 39 to maintain canopy strength. f

Container I'o provide improved container means for the above described parachute forming one of the features of this invention, there has been devised the parachutercontainer shown in Figs. 5 and 6. In Fig. 5, a parachute container 42 having flaps 43, 44, 45 and 46 is shown. To container 42 is attached a substantially rectangular frame 41 (Fig. 6). Frame 41 includes a number of rods or heavy wires secured together to form a substantially hat, base frame 48. On one longitudinal edge 49 of frame 48, a co-extensive rod or wire 59 is secured by angle supporting pieces 4 5l. Hinged on rod 50 by members 52, is a flat, flap frame 53. Frame 53 is adapted to be pivoted relative to frame 48 by the hinging action of members 52, but is normally biased to an unfolded or opened position by suitable springs 54. A flat, flap frame 55 is hinged at 56 to longitudinal edge 51 of base frame 48 opposite edge 49 in a manner similar to ap frame 53. It is noted that frame 58 is of less length than base frame 48 and is spring-pressed outwardly thereof.

Hinge members 52 may be conveniently formed by bending the right angle member, shown in Fig. v'7. One o'f the tabs 58 of member 52 may be bent over tightly against the wire of frame 53, while the other tab 59 may be bent with clearance around upright frame member 59. Hinge members 56 are formed in a similar manner. As shown in Fig. 5, frame 4.1 is covered with material, such as canvas, and sewed to form v'container 42, with base member 48 disposed generally in the center of container 42. Top frames 53 and 55 are covered with material to form internal container flaps 69 and 6I, respectively'. At-the longitudinal margins of container base'62 are sewed parallel rows of loops 63 and 64, known in the art as hesitators. In the embodiment shown, the rst four of the loops 65 in rows 63 and 64 are conventional, while the last three hesitators 66 in the rows are made larger than normal to accommodate the bulk of the bottom part of cone 22.

Packingv The method of packing the parachute in the container will now be described with reference to Figs. 5 and 6 and also with reference to Figs. 9 and 10. Theends ofshroud linesf24 are tucked into rows 63 and 64 of the hesitators in the conventional manner of packing a parachute. When the hesitators 65 have been filled with shroud lines, apex 23 of cone 22 has been reached, for which are provided the progressively larger hesitators 66. When the hesitators are lled, internal naps BI and 68 are folded over the packed shroud lines in the order named. With ap 69 held down against the outwardly biasing action of the springs, canopy 28 is folded on top of the exterior of flap 6U; and the flaps 43, 44, 45, and 46 are then folded over the outside of the canopy and secured in the conventional manner, ready to be released by pulling of the rip cord. It will be noted (Fig. 9) that sufficient slack is left at 61 between the packed shroud lines and the folded canopy to permit naps and 6l to cast oif canopy 28 and clear shroud lines 24 for emergence from container 42. The biasing 'action of springs 54 causes flap 60 to throw canopy -28 toward the parachutists feet.

' Operation The operation of the parachute and container of this invention, immediately following pulling of the rip cord, will bestv beseen by reference to Figs. 8, 9, and 10..- In Fig'. 8, the parachutist is about to pull rip cord 68 to release the parachute from container42within which it has been secured at 69 by conventional quick-release means.

In Fig. 9, rip oord 68 has opened container 42, and flaps 60 and 6| are beginning to unfold, expelling folded canopy 28ztoward the feet of the parachutist. `It'wll be noted thatslack portion gli allows unimpeded movement of flaps 68 and In Fig. 10, the parachute iszbeginning to open even while the remainder of the cone 'and shroud lines are still tucked'in'the last of the hesitators.

The quick opening canopy is believed to be attributable to the combined action of expelling 'flaps 60 and 6I and the action of cone 22 across opening 2l, which is believed to provide a vacuum action tending to reduce the descent rate of the parachute.

The advantages of the operation of the parachute of this invention over that of a conventional parachute are easily seen by reference to Fig. 12 illustrating a conventional parachute in descent. Wind current and irregularities in air cause a conventional parachute to tilt as shown in Fig. l2, expelling air from under the parachute, as shown by arrow 10, which renders difficult control of the parachute and tends to increase the descent rate. With the parachute of this invention, the descent is not only stabilized vertically, but is slowed by the combined action of the retention of air and by the vacuum action at the mouth of opening 2l.

The particular construction of this invention permits convenient and even control of its descent rate, as will be explained in connection with Fig. 13. In this view, apex 23 of cone 22 has been pulled down, as by having the parachutist pull on control line 3U. With this new configuration, the parachute drops more quickly than with the configuration shown in Fig. 11; and in the extreme case the parachutist may permit himself to drop almost in a free fall. In this manner, the descent rate may be varied from the minimum shown in Fig. 11 to the substantially free fall maximum shown in Fig. 13. Changes in rate of descent, during the drop, may be made smoothly and quickly by varying the pull` exerted on control line 30.

It is to be understood that stabilizing member 22, which also serves in conjunction with opening 2| to decrease descent rate, need not necessarily be in the form of a cone; but may consist of any member of general tubular configuration. Figs. l1 and 13, showing the parachute in its two extreme congurations of slowest and fastest descent, respectively, serve to explain the use in the specication and claims of the term rotate gamopetalous corolla flower to describe the configuration of the parachute.

While the container described herein is especially suited for use with the parachute of this invention, it will be understood that it may be used with a conventional parachute, if desired.

There has thus been described a parachute and container therefor combining to form a quick acting unit upon pulling of a rip cord, with novel features additionally in both the parachute and the container considered as separate units.

While I have shown but one embodiment of my invention, it is susceptible to modication without departing from the spirit of the invention. I do not wish, therefore, to be limited by the disclosures set forth, but only by the scope of the appended claims.

facturedand used `by or for the Government of l.the United States' of America for governmental 'purposes without the .payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

I claimz 1. A parachute and container comprising a base, parallel rows of hesitators on said base, the size of said hesitators. being graduated along theroW to accommodate `the varying bulk of the packed parachute, a parachute having a canopy 'and shroud lines, said shroud lines being held 'by said hesitators, internal iaps opposedly attachedto said base and folded over said shroud jlines, said canopy being folded adjacent the ex- `terior of one of said internal flaps, an external flap-f attached to said base and folded over said -canopy, and spring means effective to bias said int'ernal'ap to anunfolded position.

2. A parachute and container comprisingy a base, holding means mounted on said base, a parachute having a canopy and shroud lines, said shroud lines being held by said holding means, an internal iiap attached to said base and folded over said shroud lines, said canopy being folded adjacent the outside of said internal flap, an external ap folded over said canopy, and spring means effective to bias said internal flap to an unfolded position.

3. A parachute and container comprising a base, a row of hesitators on said base, the size of said hesitators being graduated along the row to accommodate the varying bulk of the packed parachute, a parachute having a canopy and shroud lines, said shroud lines being held by said hesitators, a substantially at, internal member placed over said shroud lines, said canopy being folded adjacent the outside of said internal member, an external flap folded over said canopy, and spring means eifective to bias said internal member outwardly.

4. A parachute and container comprising a base, a parachute having a canopy and shroud lines, said shroud lines being received by said lbase, Ia substantially iiat, internal member .placed over said shroud lines, said canopy being folded ladjacent the outside of said internal member, and spring means effective to bias said internal member outwardly.

5. In a parachute container having Ka base and an ex-ternal iiap attached thereto and adapted to be folded thereover, the combination vof two parallel rows of hesitators on said base adapted to receive shroud lines of a parachute, lthe size of said hesitators being graduated -along the rows to accommodate the varying bulk of the packed parachute, two internal flaps opposedly attached to said base and adapted to be folded over parachute shroud lines received in said rows of hesitators, one of said flaps being adapted to receive on the outside thereof a folded parachute canopy, and spring means effective to bias said internal flaps to an unfolded position.

6. In a parachute container having a base and an external flap attached thereto and adapted to be folded thereover, the combination of a row of hesitators on said base adapted to receive shroud lines of a parachute, the size of said hesitators being graduated along the row to accommodate the varying bulk of the packed parachute, a substantially flat, interna-l member adapted to -be placed over parachute shroud lines received in said row of hesitators, and to receive on the outside thereof a folded parachute, and

spring means effective to bias said internal mem- The invention described herein may be manuber outwardly.

.7.. a paafachute container 'having aa base, an external flap .adapted `to be :folded thereover, :and means .on .said ibase adapted to Treceive shrewd lines of a parachute, the combination of an 1nlcernal ap attached yto said base and 4adapfed to be folded over parachute shroud ylines received hy said means, 1and to receive on 'fthe :outside thereof la. :folded eparachu-te .canopm and :spring means effective to bias said miema-l nap yto unfolded position.

8, :a parachute `ccmtairner 4having a adapted to receive parachute shroud Rines, and an external flap adapted Lto be folded thereoyer, the combinacion ,of .a ,substantialiy .ii-at., internal member 4adapted tobe placed @ver parachute shroud lines received by :said :base and to receime on the outside thereof .a fcded parachute canopy, and spring lmeans eectiye me fbias :said

member outwardly.

.DAVID sTA-mWQRTH.

REFERENCES cuan y Thcfvollowing yreferences are of record in the me, .of :this patent:

n UNITED STATES PATENTS lfbunbea' `Name Date 1,353,131 Ruff Sept. 14, 1920 2,133.6895 lSmith Api'. 20, 1943 2,33%153 Snlth DBC. 21, 1943 2,365,230 VQlf DBC. 19, 1944:

FOREIGN PATENTS lNumber Country Date 250;;330 Italy Sep-6. .28, 1926 1712;382 vFrmzwe July 2D, 1931

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