Parachute Reefing Slider with Breakable Fasteners
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing parachute reefing systems fail to adequately delay canopy opening and manage suspension lines effectively, especially under heavy payloads, leading to sudden shock and complexity in deployment.
Innovation Solution
A rectangular slider type reefing device is physically secured to the parachute canopy with multiple grommets and breakable fastening elements, allowing for controlled descent and inflation delay by varying the strength of fastening elements along the canopy, ensuring even release and line management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a slider is not physically connected to the canopy, then the system is simpler, but the slider cannot withstand heavy loading forces and descends too rapidly
Solution Approach 1:
The connection system is segmented into multiple independent breakable fastening elements distributed at different grommet locations along the slider. Each fastening element can fail independently based on local force conditions, allowing the system to handle heavy loads through distributed retention points rather than a single connection point.
Solution Approach 2:
Different grommet locations along the slider have different retention strengths tailored to the local force distribution on the canopy. The breakable fastening elements are configured with varying strengths to match the aerodynamic and gravitational forces at each position, ensuring optimal retention and release characteristics under heavy loading conditions.
2Reliability
If pyrotechnic connections are used to release canopy sections, then heavy payload deployment is achieved, but the system becomes highly complex and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive pyrotechnic connections with simple, inexpensive breakable fastening elements made of conventional materials. These fastening elements are designed to fail at predetermined force levels, providing reliable heavy payload deployment control without the complexity and cost of pyrotechnic systems. The fastening elements are disposable in the sense that they are designed to fail once and are replaced rather than reused.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the slider is retained against the canopy, then canopy opening is delayed and shock is reduced, but the system requires complex retaining mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the retention function from complex mechanical retaining mechanisms and implements it through simple breakable fastening elements that rely on material failure rather than mechanical locking or actuation. This reduces the retaining mechanism complexity while maintaining the shock reduction benefit of delayed canopy opening.
4Ease of operation
If multiple grommets are used for line management, then suspension line segregation is improved, but the slider structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The grommets on the slider serve multiple functions: they provide structural attachment points for the slider, act as retention points for breakable fastening elements, and serve as suspension line management points for segregating and organizing lines. This multi-functionality improves line management without requiring separate dedicated structures for each function, thereby limiting the increase in slider structure complexity.
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 provides a reliable, simple, and cost-effective means to regulate parachute inflation and opening, reducing shock and improving line management, suitable for large payloads and conventional parachute designs.
Implementation Method 1
the strength of the breakable fastening elements can vary at each grommet location according to distance from the wing tip so as to preferably obtain a uniformly timed release of the fastening elements and the subsequent even release of the slider retaining loops from their corresponding canopy retaining loops
Data Source
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AI summary
A reefing slider (24) for providing improved line management and canopy deployment characteristics of a ram air inflated airfoil type canopy (12). During initial descent of the parachute the slider, secured by fastening elements (80), is held against the canopy (12) in the upper reefing position where it mechanically restricts canopy (12) deployment while giving the canopy (12) time to achieve proper orientation following the drop from the launching aircraft. Upon sufficient air flow into the canopy cells (30), the fastening elements (80) retaining the slider (24) are broken, releasing the slider and enabling full opening of the canopy (12).