GB262798A - Improvements in parachutes - Google Patents

Abstract

262,798. Hurlburt, D. Dec. 9, 1925. [Convention date]. No Patent granted (Sealing fee not paid). Parachutes.-Means for producing a glide or slide-slip during the descent of a parachute comprises a longitudinally tiltable fabric strip disposed beneath the umbrella part and secured to the latter at diametrically opposite portions of its edge. The strip may also be warped. or twisted to turn the parachute about its vertical axis and so control the direction of the glide. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 1, the strip 12 is attached by a seam to the edge of the umbrella portion 10 at one of its ends, the other end being attached to a rod 13 which is sufficiently rigid to hold the edge substantially straight,'but is resilient enough to permit packing. The rod 13 is attached at its centre point to the edge of the umbrella portion 10. The shrouds 14 extend to a ring 15 from which six ropes descend to a smaller ring 17, which is attached to the aviator's harness at two opposite points only, so that by rocking, the ring the aviator can lower the front or rear part of the umbrella portion 10 and thus tilt the strip 12. Control ropes 19 extend from the ends of the rod 13 to a bar 20 which may be manipulated bv the aviator to warp the strip 12 for steering. Ropes 21 may extend from the strip 12 to the umbrella part 10 to limit the warping effect to the end of the strip 12. In the modification shown in Fig. 4, the strip 12 is sewed along both edges and ropes 18 extend from it to suitable shrouds to keep it substantially flat; these ropes 18 may also be provided in the first modification. The shrouds 14 from the half of the umbrella portion with the forward edge of the strip 12 attached to its mid-portion are led to a front grommet 26, Fig. 5, through which is passed a strap 28 which may be shortened or lengthened to tilt the strip 12, by means of a clamp or buckle 30. The other half of the shrouds is divided between two rear grommets 22 attached to the barness by straps 27. Warping of the strip 12 is effected by pulling on the shrouds 23 extending from the rear corners of the strip, this conveniently being done by means of a cord 25 threaded through an eye on the harness and having its ends attached to these shrouds 23: the ends of the cord 25 may be extended to the edge of the umbrella portion. According to a further modification, the shrouds from each quadrant are connected respectively to four grommets, the forward end of the strip being symmetrically attached to one of the forward quadrants, which may be pulled down to tilt the strip by means of an adjustable strap connecting the corresponding grommet to the harness.