GB1240323A - Improvements in or relating to parachutes - Google Patents

Abstract

1,240,323. Parachutes. G. Q. PARACHUTE CO. Ltd. 5 June, 1969 [10 July, 1968], No. 32793/68. Heading B7G. When a load 15, Fig. 2, is dropped, a stabilizing canopy 11 connected thereto by a webbing strop 14 deploys and the main canopy 17, tightly reefed around the strop 14, is dragged from the pack 13. Dereefing of the canopy 17 is effected by unlocking parts 24, 25, Fig. 5, of a strop coupling which are dragged apart by the pull of the canopy 11, the consequent movement of strop 14 relative to canopy 17 being sufficient to allow pins 28 to be pulled from dereefers 27, whereupon reefing cords 30 are released and canopy 17 deploys. If the crown of the main canopy has been held in a depressed position 22, Fig. 2, this is maintained until the main canopy has inflated sufficiently for ties 21, Fig. 3, connecting a crown vent ring 18 to strop 14, to be broken, when the main canopy 17 becomes free to inflate fully. Dereefing of the canopy 17 can be initiated manually or by mechanical means in specified locations operated by time-controlled or barometrically operated mechanisms or by mechanisms operated by radio or light signals. The vent ring 18 may be provided with a sleeve 19 for protection of the vent ring tapes, and equipment can be provided to dereef the main canopy in stages, to give more than two rates of descent.