US2349833A - Parachute - Google Patents

Description

y 1944- 'J. H. ROBINSON 2,349,833

PARACHUTE Filed May 15, 1941 INVENTOR ATT RNEYS Patented May 30, 1944 PARACHUTE James H. Robinson, Dover, N. J. Application May 15, 1941, Serial No. 393,559

(Granted under the act of March a, 1883, as amended April so, 192s; 370 o. G. 157) 8 Claims.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for me of any royalty thereon.

This invention pertains to parachutes and has particular reference to relatively small parachute canopies for use in military pyrotechnics.

Heretofore parachutes have been constructed of tapered sectors of material which were assembled and stitched together to form a multisection canopy. These stitched ribs reinforced the canopy and their ends served as convenient points to attach the shrouds. This method or construction involved many steps, was slow and expensive and the shroud attachment portions were not sufficiently sturdy.

Objects of the invention are to produce a canopy which can be manufactured more economically and provide strong means for anchoring the shroud lines thereto.

A complete understanding of the invention may be had by reference to the following detailed description and the accompanying draw-' ing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a partly opened canopy, stays, and the suspension cord.

- Fig.' 2 is an enlarged, detailed view showing one manner of anchoring a shroud to the canopy.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2'.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of another canopy construction.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a canopy pattern employing radial reinforcement.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of a modified assembly of the canopy edge and shroud attachment.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line 1-1 of Fig. 6, and

Fig. 8 is a further modification of a canopy reinforcement and shroud attachment.

In the drawing, a partially opened canopy iii of paper or other light material has a plurality of shrouds Il depending therefrom. These shrouds II are collected a convenient distance below the center of the canopy I 0 and tied to a suspension cord l2 by a square or other non-slipping knot 13. Pyrotechnic or other devices (not shown) may be suspended by a suitable length of the cord l2 below the canopy Hi.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, a unitary piece of paper or other material of circular or polygonal shape is folded in such a manner as to produce a number of radial pleats H. (Figs. 1 and 5.) The rows of pleats I! are then stitched longitudinally as at 15. These pleats H may be composed of single governmental purposes, without the payment to I ill or multifolds according to the degree of reinforcement which is desired to beattained. The number of pleats selected for a particular canopy is governed by the shape and size of the canopy. a

The peripheral portions l6 of the canopy Ill at the zone of reinforcement are then shaped by gathering and crumpling as at I I and attenuated to form a cord-like tail [8. The tail I8 is bent to form a bight l9 and a shroud line it may be tied by a suitable, non-slipping knot. Fig. 2 illustrates the use of a sheet bend knot.

Rows of non-radial, arcuate stitched pleats 2U may be employed as an alternative construction.

A plan view of such a canopy p ttern is shown in. Fig. 4. This design likewise provides adequate reinforcement for the shroud connections.

In another modification (Figures 6 and 7), shroud lines I l in the form of loops are employed. The cor s are looped diametrically over the onepiece canopy I0 and are stitchedthereto along the lines of contact. The two depending ends of each loop cord H are brought together at a predetermined distance below the canopy and tied to the suspension cord I! in the usual manner. This construction eliminates the necessity of a knotted connection between the individual shrouds I l and the canopy l0, thus saving considerable time which would ordinarily be employed in gathering and shaping at the points of attachment l 5 on the canopy skirt.

The shroud loops H are enclosed within pleats it by stitching 23 on opposite sides of the loops. Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate one manner of fastening the loops 2i within the folds of the single piece sail ID. This assembly provides adequate reinforcement for the canopy and a sturdy means for retaining the shroud loops in their proper positions. In Fig. 6 one end of a shroudloop 2| is shown projecting beyond the edge of the canopy. This cord preferably extends toa point below the center of the canopy II) 'where it is tied to the suspension cord I! by a knot l3. However, it may project beyond the edge of the canopy Hi just far enough to be tied to a lighter shroud line H by anoverhand knot as illustrated in Fig. 6.

A slight variation permits the shroud loops to be attached along non-radial arcs to a canopy having the pattern illustrated in Fig. 4.

In a simpler form of construction shown in Figure 8, a single piece canopy is reinforced with several rows of radial or arcuate stitching 23.

2 isle-ass Pleating is unnecessary as the reinforcingstitching is generally sufficient. The peripheral portions 24 of the canopy near thestitching 23 are then gathered and shaped to create a shroud anchorage 25. Shrouds or stays ll then may be tied to this anchorage 25. 'Thls modification has the advantage in that it is the quickest and cheapest to manufacture and yet is capable of reinforcing the canopy. to withstand the tension applied to it by the forces exerted by the shrouds.

It will be understood that the embodiments herein described are merely illustrative of the invention and that the invention is limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A paper parachute canopy comprising rows of stitched reinforcement at the edges thereof, said edges being gathered at the reinforcement at spaced intervals to form shroud attaching portions.

2. A one-piece parachute canopy comprising rows of stitched reinforcement terminating at the edges thereof and substantially perpendicua crumpled. attenuated margin section including said reinforcements conforming to a single bigdht for interlocking engagementwith a shroud en 4. A onc-piecepaper parachute canopy comprising. rows of stitched reinforcing folds atspaced intervals around the edge of said canopy to anchor shroud lines. I

5. A single piece paper canopy comprising in- 10 tersecting rows of stitched reinforcing pleats is one-piece paper sail,- and rows of stitched reinforcing folds having shroud loops sewed within. 7. A parachute for military pyrotechnics com .prising a one-piece paper canopy. intersecting rows of stitched reinforcing pleats on said can- 20 opy. and an unbroken shroud line passing longi- 25 pleats on said canopy, and a shroud passing longitudinally through each pleat and projecting beyond the edge of said canopy.

JAMES H. ROBINSON.

Images