Parachute Ejection Mechanism Using Gas Propulsion

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing parachute systems for multi-rotor rotary wing aircraft may fail to open quickly and reliably when airflow is not immediately available, such as during a stationary fall, posing safety risks.

Innovation Solution

A parachute device equipped with a flying body ejection mechanism that uses a gas generating device to rapidly deploy the parachute, ensuring immediate opening even without airflow, by employing a gas generating device integrated within the ejection section to generate thrust and pull the parachute open.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a parachute is designed to open using airflow during flight, then the parachute can open during normal flight conditions, but the parachute may not open quickly when airflow is not immediately available (e.g., stationary fall)

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparachute deployment reliabilityVSAvoidparachute opening speed
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The parachute is preliminarily prepared in a deployed state within the accommodation section, with the ejection mechanism ready to launch the flying body immediately upon activation. This preliminary preparation eliminates the delay associated with airflow-dependent opening, ensuring the parachute opens quickly regardless of flight conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

A flying body equipped with a gas generating device serves as an intermediary to transfer the opening force to the parachute. The gas generating device propels the flying body, which then contacts and pulls the parachute to open it, providing a reliable opening mechanism that does not depend on airflow.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a parachute system uses only airflow for deployment, then the system remains simple, but the parachute cannot open reliably in stationary fall conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparachute opening reliabilityVSAvoidparachute system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The parachute system is segmented into distinct functional components: the parachute itself, the flying body, the gas generating device, and the ejection mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function reliably while maintaining overall system manageability and modularity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A gas generating device is introduced to provide pneumatic propulsion for the flying body. This pneumatic mechanism ensures reliable parachute opening in stationary fall conditions by generating thrust independently of airflow, while the gas generation process remains contained and controlled within the ejection mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Volume of moving object

If the parachute is stored in a compact accommodation section, then the device size is reduced, but the parachute may not deploy quickly without additional ejection mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparachute device volumeVSAvoidparachute deployment speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The flying body is nested within the ejection mechanism, and the gas generating device is nested within the flying body. This nested arrangement minimizes the overall volume of the parachute device while maintaining the functionality of each component, allowing compact storage without compromising deployment speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The traditional mechanical ejection system is replaced with a gas generating device that provides rapid propulsion. This substitution enables quick parachute deployment from a compact accommodation section by using controlled gas expansion to launch the flying body and trigger parachute opening.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

The solution enables quick and reliable parachute deployment, enhancing safety by ensuring the parachute opens promptly, even in conditions without immediate airflow, thereby reducing the risk of accidents during abnormal aircraft states.

Implementation Method 1

a gas generating device (45) disposed in an internal space (440) defined by the ejection section (41) and the flying body main body section (44), and configured to generate gas

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGas generation: Chemical Bonding

Data Source

PatentEP3929079B1Parachute device, flight device, and flying body ejection mechanism
Publication Date: 2024.06.26 MINEBEAMITSUMI INC
  • EP3929079B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3929079B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3929079B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is a parachute device which can quickly and reliably deploy a parachute even when an air stream effect cannot be immediately achieved during flight or descent of a flight device. A parachute device (4) is characterized by being provided with: a parachute (400); a parachute accommodation section (40) which accommodates the parachute; at least one flying body (43) linked to the parachute; and an ejection part (41) for holding the flying body and ejecting the held flying body. The flying body has: a flying body main body section (44) which is engaged to the ejection part; and a gas generation device (45) which is disposed in an internal space (440) defined by the ejection part and the flying body main body section, and which generates gas.