US2196947A

US2196947A - Parachute

Info

Publication number: US2196947A
Application number: US229173A
Authority: US
Inventors: Peter J Swofford
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1938-09-09
Filing date: 1938-09-09
Publication date: 1940-04-09
Anticipated expiration: 1957-04-09

Description

April 9, l P. J. swoFFoRD A 2.196.947

PARACHUTE Filed Sept. 9, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l APT 9, l940- P. J. swoFFoRD 2,196,947

y PARAGHUTE y Filed sept. s, 1958 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Apr. 9, 1940 UNITED lSTATES PATENT; oi-FICE Pete/r Svlvflftlr'llllnzton, Tex.

5A Claims.

This invention relates to parachutes, and has for one of its objects the production of a simple and eilicient means for facilitating the stabilizing 'of the parachute and preventing the same from oscillating and drifting to a great extent.

A further object of this invention is' the production of a simple and efllcient parachute whereby the circumference of the canopy may 4be reduced to a minimum and at the same time efficiently support. the body of the person using the chute.

A still further o ject of this invention is the production of\a simple and eillcient air controlled valve means carried by the outer upper end of the body of the chute, the valve means being chute;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevational/view showing the air controlled exit valves in an open position;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view through Y the body of the chute taken on line 4-4 of Flgure 1;

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the body of the chute and showing a portion of the canopy; J

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 6 6 of Figure 5, the air controlled valves being shown in a closed position;

Figure 7 is a horizontal sectional view similar to Figure 6, the valves being shown in an open position.

By referring to the drawings, it will be seen that I Il designates the canopy which is of the umbrella type, the outer edges of which are secured by suitable shroud lines II to the harness I2. A body portion I3 is provided and arranged centrally of the canopy I0, the body portion I3 being formed lof fabric having circumferential reinforcing bands I4 which pass around the tubular-like body I3. The body I3 is open at its lower end I5, as shown'in Figure 5, and this body I3 preferably extends about one-thirdabove the` canopy I0,- and about two-thirds of its length Figure l isa side elevational view of the paracords I1 which are secured'to the inner'face of 10' the body I3 as at I8, at a point approximately the junction of the canopy I0 with the body I3, as shown in Figure 5.

The body I3 is provided with an upper rounded nose portion I9 having an air outlet opening 20 15 -of reduced size at its upper extremity, the edges of which opening are reinforced by means of a suitable vband 2|. The rounded nose portion providedrwith a plurality of longitudinally extending slots 22 which are cut on the bias and 20 which yare reinforced along their longitudinal edges by means of vbands 23 which are stitched ysecurely in the manner as shown in Figures 6 and f 7 to reinforce the edges of the slots 22. These slots 22 preferably extend throughout the entire g5 length of the rounded portion of the nose I3, that is, from a point approximately the parallel side walls ofthe body I3 to the outer open end 20.

It should be understood that the slots 22 constitute expansion ports for letting out shock air 3g while the parachute is irst opening.

A pilot chute 24 is connected to the upper end of the rounded nose I9 through the medium of the cords 25, vwhich cords are secured around the edge of the opening 20, and to the cord 2| to 55 provide a secure anchoring means.

The operation of the device is as follows:

Asthe chute is released, the canopy I0 will expand in the conventional manner, and the cylindrical or tubular body I3 will expand to its 40 normal shape and air will pass into the interior of the body I3 through the intake ports'or openings I6 in the direction of the arrows, as well as up through the bottom or open end I5 of the body I3. The air will then pass up into the re- 45 stricted rounded nose I9 and the confined pressure of the air will cause the slots 22 to be spread apart as shown in Figure 7, allowing additional air escape areas to relieve the strain on the rounded nose I9, and at the same time permit the parachute to gradually adjust itself to air lcurrents and graduallydescend the person supported by the chute without injury to him. These port openings or slots 22 on the top of the body I3 in the rounded nose VI9 will split up the Il air confined within the body I8, causing an even suction which will stabilize the chute. The lower air inlet openings IB which are just below the canopy i0, allow the air to pass up through these .openings into the upper end of the body it and out through the slots or ports 22 as well as through the restricted outer end 2B. The particular construction provided not only constitutes a stabilizer but also provides an efficient means for admitting the air into the body and providing an exit for the air. This construction prevents oscillating and drifting to a great extent and the particular structure as stated above will permit the circumference of the chute to be reduced to a minimum. The body cords or lines ii and il firmly hold the chute down in the center and there has been found by experience that a twenty foot chute with the particular body structure illustrated has as much lifting resistance as a conventional twenty-four foot standard chute.

It should be understood that certain detail changes in the mechanical construction and arrangement of parts may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention, so long as such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

s., Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A parachute of the class described comprising a canopy, a tubular body portion extending centrally of the canopy and projecting through the canopy, the body portion extending approximately one-third above and two-thirds below the canopy, `said body portion having a lower open end,I means connecting the canopy and body portion to a harness, and expansible -air controlled valves carried by the upper end of said body for releasing excess air pressure from the uppery end of the body.

2. A parachute of the class described comprising a canopy, a tubular body portion extending centrally oi' the canopy and projecting through the canopy, the body portion extending approximately one-third above and two-thirds below the canopy, said body portion having a lower open end, means connecting the canopyand body portion to a harness, expansible air controlled valves carried by the upper end of said body for releasing excess air pressure from the upper end of the body, said body having longitudinally extending air inlet openings arranged around thel circumference thereof for admitting air from the outside t0 the inside of the body.

3.l A parachute of the class described comprising a canopy, a tubular body portion extending centrally ofthe canopyand vertically thereof and projecting through the canopy, the body portion extending approximately one-third above and two-thirdsv below the canopy, and a harness carried by theparachute.

4. A parachute of the class described comprising a` canopy,.a tubular body portion extending centrally oi the canopy and having a portion thereof projecting for a material distance above the canopy and a greater portion thereof extending for a material Adistance below the canopy;

whereby the tubular body portion will constitute a stabilizing means for the canopy, and a harness carried by and suspended from the parachute.

5. A parachute of the class described comprising a canopy, a tubular body portion extending centrally of the canopy and projecting through the canopy, the body portion extendingapproximately one-third above and two-thirds below the canopy, said body portion having a lower open end, means connecting the canopy and body portion to a harness, 4and means for automatically releasing excss air pressure from the upper4 end of the body.

PETER J. SWOFFORD