Life Parachute Canopy Pole Openings and Discharge Valves
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ultra-lightweight aircrafts face challenges in achieving reliable and rapid deployment of life parachutes, especially at low altitudes, due to structural differences among manufacturers and issues with overload during full opening.
Innovation Solution
The life parachute incorporates pole openings in the canopy, discharge valves in wedge-shaped sections, and a ring slider with netting and local stiffeners to manage air pressure and reduce overload, featuring elastic material strips and an antiflap for enhanced airflow control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the life parachute uses conventional canopy structure without pole openings, then the structural simplicity is maintained, but the opening speed and reliability are insufficient especially at low altitudes
Solution Approach 1:
The canopy is divided into multiple wedge-shaped sections with pole openings, allowing segmented deployment that improves opening speed and reliability without requiring complete structural redesign
Solution Approach 2:
The pole openings are pre-positioned in the canopy structure to facilitate rapid air pressure equalization during deployment, enabling faster opening action before full canopy inflation
2Force
If the life parachute lacks discharge valves in the canopy, then the structural complexity is reduced, but the air pressure impact and overload during full opening increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Discharge valves are extracted and positioned specifically in the upper half of wedge-shaped canopy sections to vent excess air pressure during deployment, reducing the harmful pressure impact on suspension cords and the rescued object
Solution Approach 2:
Discharge valves are strategically placed only in the upper half of certain wedge-shaped sections rather than uniformly throughout the canopy, providing localized pressure relief where it is most effective while minimizing overall structural complexity
3Strength
If the slider lacks local stiffeners and netting structure, then the manufacturing complexity is reduced, but the structural integrity under airflow pressure is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
Local stiffeners are positioned specifically at the peripheral edges of the slider where structural support is most needed to resist airflow pressure, rather than stiffening the entire slider uniformly, thus maintaining strength while simplifying manufacturing
Solution Approach 2:
The slider combines netting material with integrated stiffeners to create a composite structure that provides both flexibility and structural integrity under aerodynamic loads during parachute deployment
4Force
If the parachute material overlapping discharge valves is not open at the bottom end, then the manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but the air pressure relief and overload reduction are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The bottom end of the parachute material overlapping the discharge valves is opened to create an exit path for pressurized air, extracting the pressure relief function from the sealed canopy structure and directing airflow away from the suspension cords to reduce overload
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design ensures fast and reliable opening of the life parachute, minimizing air pressure impact on suspension cords and the rescued object, while maintaining structural integrity and reducing the risk of damage from airflow.
Implementation Method 1
discharge valves for air situated inside of the canopy made at least in some wedge-shaped sections of the canopy and that is in the upper half of its height
Implementation Method 2
a strip of elastic material which clamps the bottom open end of the parachute material to the outer surface of the canopy during pressure drop of air flowing through the discharge valves
Data Source
AI summary
A life parachute for ultra-lightweight aircrafts or for lightweight aircrafts includes a canopy of the parachute fitted with a pole opening and at least some wedge-shaped section of the canopy at the top half of its height is fitted with a discharge valve of air from the inside space of the canopy and a slider is installed at suspension parachute cords. The slider is formed in a ring fitted with a central opening surrounded with netting having, at least in peripheral edges, a local stiffener. Through openings are formed for the suspension parachute cords. The discharge valves are in the width of the single wedge-shaped sections, overlapped with parachute material, with a bottom open end. The discharge valves of the air are formed either with loose vents or at the open end of the parachute material. The slider is, advantageously, in the form of a regular polygon composed of single tetrahedral parts of the netting which are connected to one another through the local stiffeners. The through openings are for the suspension parachute cords.