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Title:
PARACHUTE WITH INFLATABLE ENCLOSURE
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2001/070571
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
A flying device comprises a wing parachute (101), having a double layer canopy (102), shroud lines (103) and a double pontoon float (104) with a seat (105) for an aviator A, engine (106) with a propeller (107). Shroud points (108) are provided on lateral shroud frames (109). Certain (110) of the cells (111) between the upper skin (112) the lower skin (113) and side walls (114) are closed not only as is conventional at the rear (115), but also at the front (116). They are inflated via valved inlets (117) with helium, to hold the entire wing aloft prior to use. Thus the float can be launched and the parachute deployed without risk of it collapsing on the water.

Inventors:
TOWLEY CARL K (US)
BALENA GORDON (US)
OLSON GREG (US)
Application Number:
PCT/US2001/008391
Publication Date:
September 27, 2001
Filing Date:
March 16, 2001
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
TOWLEY CARL K (US)
BALENA GORDON (US)
OLSON GREG (US)
International Classes:
B64C25/54; B64C31/036; B64C31/06; B64C35/00; B64D17/02; B64D17/34; B64D17/72; (IPC1-7): B64D17/02; B64D17/72; B64D17/34
Foreign References:
US5620153A1997-04-15
EP0411222A11991-02-06
US4105173A1978-08-08
FR2685284A11993-06-25
US1777685A1930-10-07
Other References:
None
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Fressola, Alfred A. (Fressola Van Der Sluys & Adolphson LLP Bradford Gree, Building Five 755 Main Street P.O. Box 224 Monroe CT, US)
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Claims:
CLAIMS:
1. A flying device comprises: * a parachute, including a canopy and shroud lines, * a support for the user connected to the shroud lines and an enclosure for buoyant gas associated with the canopy for holding it up prior to flying with the user on water or the ground.
2. A flying device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support includes a towing point.
3. A flying device as claimed in claim 2, including a tow line attachable to the towing point.
4. A flying device as claimed in claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the support includes a harness for the user.
5. A flying device as claimed in any preceding claim, including a propulsion motor and propeller mounted on a frame, the user's support being a seat on the frame.
6. A flying device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the frame is provided with wheels and/or one or more floats for take off and landing.
7. A flying device as claimed in any preceding claim, including means for spilling air from the canopy prior to its full deployment for lifting for control of premature lifting of the canopy.
8. A flying device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the canopy is generally circular and the means for spilling air is a line for pulling down the edge of the canopy, normally on the windward edge, to spill air from its leeward edge, whereby the canopy collapses.
9. A flying device as claimed in claim 8, including a line held up by a pulley attached to the buoyant gas enclosure for lifting the windward edge again for re deployment.
10. A flying device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the canopy is generally circular and the means for spilling air is a line passing over a pulley on the buoyant gas enclosure and arranged to draw at least some of the shroud lines are drawn radially inwards.
11. A flying device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the canopy is a wing parachute canopy and the means for spilling air comprises a pulley arrangement for drawing the two sides of the wing together until they are so configured as to no longer be able to provide aerodynamic lift from incident wind.
12. A flying device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the canopy is provided with a central hinge to assist the wing in deforming by drawing together of its two sides.
13. A flying device as claimed in claim 12, including an anchor stay to the central hinge, to steady its redeployment for flight.
14. A flying device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the canopy is generally circular and the buoyant gas enclosure is a toroidal bag arranged within the canopy towards its top.
15. A flying device as claimed in claim 14 as appendant to claim 7, wherein the means for spilling air includes means for drawing down the buoyant toroid, whereby tension in the shroud lines is released and the canopy edge is loosened for air spillage.
16. A flying device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the toroidal bag is positioned immediately on top of the canopy.
17. A flying device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the toroidal bag is arranged above the canopy, attached to it by lines.
18. A flying device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the buoyant gas enclosure is a spherical or dirigible shaped bag above the canopy.
19. A flying device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 or any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the canopy is a wing parachute canopy and the buoyant gas enclosure is one or more of its cells which is closed to hold buoyant gas.
20. A flying device as claimed in claim 19, wherein all the cells are closed to hold buoyant gas.
21. A wing parachute canopy comprising a plurality of cells, each cell having: an upper wall forming part of an upper surface of the wing of the parachute; * a lower wall forming part of a lower surface of the wing of the parachute; a pair of side walls between the upper wall and the lower wall, each dividing one cell from the next; the cells being closed at the trailing edge of the canopy; the canopy being characterised in that: 'at least some of the cells are fully closed including at the front for inflation with gas and have can inflation gas inlet with a valve for retention and release of the inflation gas.
22. A wing parachute as claimed in claim 21, wherein each closed cell has its own inflation gas inlet.
23. A wing parachute as claimed in claim 21, wherein a plurality of closed cells are interconnected with a common inflation gas inlet.
24. A generally circular parachute canopy in combination with an inflatable enclosure arranged within the canopy when in use.
25. A generally circular parachute as claimed in claim 24, wherein the enclosure is a toroidal bag arranged within the canopy towards its top.
26. A generally circular parachute in combination with an inflatable enclosure arranged above the canopy when in use.
Description:
PARACHUTE WITH INFLATABLE ENCLOSURE The present invention relates to a flying device incorporating a parachute.

Parachutes have developed from their origins in enabling airmen to descend from an aircraft in flight. Originally they employed symmetrical canopies and could not be directed in forwards flight. Next, by omitting certain panels in the canopy they could be steered during descent, to a considerable extent.

Another significant development was the invention of wing parachutes, that is to say double canopy parachutes with fore and aft cells between the canopies, which are filled with air to inflate the parachute into an aerofoil. Forward motion increases the lift from the canopy, so that this type of parachute has a slow rate of descent and can indeed be used as a hang glider. Such a parachute is herein called a"wing parachute".

With these improvements have come other uses of parachutes, in particular sports uses where the user is towed, pulling the parachute through the air and thus he is lifted, as in so called parascending and parasailing.

A difficulty with towing of a parachute is the initial lift off the ground, or indeed water. Dragging the canopy can damage it. Pulling it through the water wets it and worse, it can act as a drogue, possibly be damaged and be difficult to inflate with air.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved flying device incorporating a parachute.

In a first aspect of the invention, we envisage that it will be embodied as a flying device as such, namely a device ready for a user to fly with.

In the first aspect, a flying device according to the invention comprises: a parachute, including a canopy and shroud *

* a support for the user connected to the shroud lines and * a enclosure for buoyant gas associated with the canopy for holding it up prior to flying with the user on water or the ground.

With the canopy help up, the user can be towed and lifted-once the canopy has fully deployed-without it dragging on the ground or in the water.

The device may be adapted for towing behind a vehicle such as a car or a boat, in which case, the support has a towing point and the complete apparatus includes a tow line. The support can be a harness for the user.

Particularly where the parachute is a wing parachute, the device can include a propulsion motor and propeller mounted on a frame. The user's support is then a seat on the frame, with the frame being normally provided with wheels and/or one or more floats for take off and landing.

Normally the enclosure will be of a size such that its buoyancy is inadequate to lift the device and the user, without forward air speed to create extra lift for take off.

Nevertheless, with the canopy held aloft, it is liable to fill with the action of the wind, could lift the support and/or the support and user prematurely. To control this, the canopy is preferably provided with means for spilling air from the canopy prior to its full deployment for lifting.

In a generally circular canopy, the means for spilling air can be a line for pulling down the edge of the canopy, normally on the windward edge, to spill air from its leeward edge, whereby the canopy collapses. Via a line held up by a pulley attached to the buoyancy, the windward edge can be lifted again for re-deployment.

In another air spillage arrangement, the or at least some of the shroud lines are drawn radially inwards by a line passing over a pulley on the buoyancy.

Also in a generally circular canopy, the buoyant gas enclosure can be a toroidal bag arranged within the canopy towards its top. In this arrangement, air can be spilled from the edge of the canopy by drawing down the buoyant toroid, which releases tension in the shroud lines loosening the canopy edge for air spillage.

The bag could be positioned immediately on top of the canopy. Alternatively, the bag could be arranged above the canopy, attached to it by lines. It is envisaged that the enclosure will take other forms, such as a spherical bag above the canopy, or indeed a dirigible shape above the canopy.

In a wing parachute, the buoyant gas enclosure can be one or more of its cells which is closed to hold the gas. It is envisaged that all the cells could be closed to hold buoyant gas.

Also in a wing parachute, the means for spilling air from the parachute can comprises a pulley arrangement for drawing the two sides of the wing together until they are so configured as to no longer be able to provide aerodynamic lift from incident wind. To assist the wing in deforming in this way, it way be provided with a central hinge. Also to steady its redeployment for flight, it may have an anchor stay to the central hinge additional to the normal shroud lines.

We envisage that the invention may be embodied in simple form as a parachute canopy to be incorporated by a third party with the existing equipment, such as a frame and propulsion motor.

Thus according to a second aspect of the invention, we provide a wing parachute canopy comprising a plurality of cells, each cell having: an upper wall forming part of an upper surface of the wing of the parachute; a lower wall forming part of a lower surface of the wing of the parachute; * a pair of side walls between the upper wall and the lower wall, each dividing one cell from the next; the cells being closed at the trailing edge of the canopy; the canopy being characterised in that:

* at least some of the cells are fully closed including at the front for inflation with gas and have can inflation gas inlet with a valve for retention and release of the inflation gas.

Each closed cell can have its own inflation gas inlet. Alternatively, a plurality of closed cells can be inter-connected with a common inflation gas inlet.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a generally circular parachute canopy in combination with an inflatable enclosure arranged within the canopy when in use. The enclosure can be a toroidal bag arranged within the canopy towards its top.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a generally circular parachute in combination with an inflatable enclosure arranged above the canopy when in use.

To help understanding of the invention, two specific embodiments thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is side view of a flying device of the invention in use; Figure 2 is a similar view of the flying device of the invention moored prior to use; Figure 3 is a side view of a second flying device of the invention in use; Figure 4 is a front view of the second flying device of the invention in use; Figure 5 is a similar front view of the second flying device moored for use; Figure 6 is a similar view to Figure 5 of a variant of the second flying device adapted for spillage of the air from its canopy; Figure 7 is another front view of the Figure 6 variant showing canopy in a collapsed state; Figure 8 is a side view of a third flying device of the invention, shown with air being spilled from its canopy; Figure 9 is a similar view to Figure 8 shown with the canopy being deployed; Figure 10 is a similar view to Figure 8 of a variant.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the flying device thereshown comprises a parachute generally designated 1 and adapted as now described to be towed for lifting an aviator A. The parachute has-as conventionally-a canopy 2, shroud lines 3 and harness 4. The shroud lines are brought together at an upper part 5 of the harness, whilst a lower part 6 has a webbing seat 7 for supporting the weight of the aviator. A tow point 8 is provided on the upper part of the harness, for a tow line 9 towing the device to give lift to the canopy for flying the aviator.

In accordance with the invention, the canopy has a toroidal bag 11 attached midway up inside it. Its diameter is that of the canopy at the bag's position in the canopy. In use, the bag is filled via a valved inlet 12 such as a tyre valve with helium, rendering it buoyant. Thus, the canopy is held up even when not fully deployed by pressure of air through which it is travelling. This enables the aviator to step into the harness with the canopy off the ground and be launched without the canopy dragging on the ground. The bag is sized such that its buoyancy is insufficient to lift the aviator.

Should the canopy be used in windy conditions, it is possible that the canopy may fill with air to such extent to cause the aviator to take off prematurely. To control this, additional shroud lines 21 are provided from the canopy at the points 22 of its attachment to the buoyant bag. These are brought down to an anchor point 23 in the form of a ring. It is connected to the harness by stays 24 to the regular shroud line connection points 25, two of these being provided one to either side of the towing point 8. When the anchor point is tethered, as by a releasable anchor line or hook 26, the stays are no longer in tension. Should the wind fill the canopy, the shroud lines 3 are not in tension and the peripheral regions 27 of the canopy-outwards of the points 22-are able to rise, spilling wind. The anchor point 23 is held by the anchor line close to the ground, so that the rising of the peripheral regions does not lift the aviator.

When the aviator is ready, the anchor point is released. The canopy rises as a whole, including the buoyant tube, and the aviator takes off once he is being towed through the air sufficiently fast. Although the aviator can reach the stays 24 to keep the peripheral regions from deploying before take-off, when the stays are slack with the anchor point held down but possibly released; the aviator is unlikely during normal

flight to be able to reach and pull down on the stays 24 sufficiently to cause the peripheral regions to spill air and the device as a whole to lose buoyancy accidentally.

Turning now to Figures 3,4 & 5, the flying device there shown comprises a wing parachute 101, having a double layer canopy 102, shroud lines 103 and a double pontoon float 104. This latter has a seat 105 for an aviator A, engine 106 with a propeller 107. Shroud points 108 are provided on lateral shroud frames 109. In use, the propeller drives the device forwards and the wing parachute lifts the float into the air. This is a known device.

In accordance with the invention, certain 110 of the cells 111 between the upper skin 112, the lower skin 113 and side walls 114 are closed not only as is conventional at the rear 115, but also at the front 116. They are inflated via valved inlets 117 with helium, to hold the entire wing aloft prior to use. For retention of the gas, the cell walls can be of polyurethane coated nylon fabric with taped joints. Thus the float can be launched and the parachute deployed without risk of it collapsing on the water. The buoyancy of the wing provides flexibility in take-off and landing, in that this can be done to make most advantageous use of the wind as is normal with seaplanes. However, the aviator is not constrained in manoeuvring to avoid collapse of the wing onto the water. If for instance he is travelling down wind at the speed of the wind, the air speed will not keep the wing deployed. However, its buoyant cells will. As shown in Figure 5, the float can be moored by line 118, with the wing aloft.

Referring now to Figure 6, the wing parachute 201 attached to a float 204 has all its cells 211 closed for containing buoyant gas. The canopy is divided into two sections 221,222. Each is provided with an inflation valve 217. Within each section, the cells are internally interconnected by apertures (not shown) in the cell side walls 214. Midway across the canopy, it has a discontinuity 220 in the cell structure, whereby the two sections 221,222 of the wing to either side can be hinged together.

This is achieved by tightening an"air spillage"line 223 which leads up from the float to one edge of the wing. Here it passes over a pulley 224 and across to the other side of the wing. The line 223 and pulley 224 is reproduced at the opposite side of the device in mirror image. Figure 7 shows the line 223 fully tightened and the wing sections hinged against each other so that they can provide no aerodynamic lift. Most

of the buoyancy of the wing is carried reacted in the line 223. In practice, several similarly rigged lines will be provided, to spread the reaction evenly between the wing sections and fore & aft within the wing. Some of the reaction will be taken by additional anchor line (s) 224 passing from the float to the hinge. The additional anchor lines control the overall rise of the canopy as the spillage line (s) are released for the next flight. With the hinge restrained, the wing sections spread evenly. Once the wing is deployed, the spillage and anchor lines are fully released to allow the shrouds to connect the float and the canopy in the normal way.

Figure 8 shows an alternative arrangement of a generally circular canopy parachute 301 similar to that of Figures 1 & 2, except that the toroidal buoyant bag 11 is replaced big a dirigible shaped bag 311 arranged above the canopy. The canopy has the usual shroud lines 303, including a main buoyancy line 331, which is attached to the centre of the canopy. The relative length of the shroud lines and the point of attachment 332 of the centre of the canopy is such as to give it the usual depressed dome. The main buoyancy line continues up to the bag 311. An air spill line 333 is connected to a point 334 on the edge of the canopy, which is upwind when the device is not in use. One end of the air spill line 333 extends down to the harness, where it is in effect an additional shroud line in flight. The other passes up outside the canopy around a pulley 335, fastened immediately below the buoyancy bag, and down 336 to the harness. It performs no function in flight.

On landing, the aviator, or a helper on the ground grasps the air spill line and carries it upwind. Normally the connection point 334 will be on the front edge of the canopy and the aviator will have landed into the wind. However, if not, hauling H the air spill line upwind W will turn the canopy. As the connection point is hauled down D, the canopy will collapse, with the wind on its outer surface. The rest of the canopy will be in the lee. Air will spill S from it and it will also collapse C. With the top of the canopy still held aloft, the canopy will remain collapsed, at least in the strength of wind for which the device is designed. The harness may be anchored A.

To take off again, see Figure 9, the deployment line 336 is pulled to lift L the upwind edge of the canopy. This then fills in the wind and the aviator can again take off.

Turning on to Figure 10, this variant of the Figure 8 embodiment has a different arrangement for spilling air from the canopy on landing. A set of rings 440 is a attached by a set radial cords 441 to an air spill line 433, which passes up over pulley 435 at the buoyant bag 411 and down to another pulley 437 at the harness. The other end 436 is also taken down to the pulley 437. The rings 440 are loose on selected ones of the shroud lines 403.

On landing, the aviator pulls on the air spill line 433. This lifts the rings 440.

Since the radial cords 441 are of limited length, the shroud lines having the rings on them are drawn in. This effectively causes collapse C of the canopy, or at least substantial restriction of its developed area. The canopy is kept collapsed, though supported by the buoyant bag, by anchoring of the air spill line. For the next take off, air spill line is released and the deployment line 436 is pulled down. This, and the weight of the rings, releases the gathering together of shroud lines. The canopy is now able to deploy in the wind and/or the towing movement through the air.

Apart from the obvious advantage in holding the canopy aloft, but collapsed, in that it is not wetted nor damaged, the shroud lines also are held up-albeit not taut -and hence not prone to entanglement.

After final use for the day, the canopy of any of the above embodiments can be hauled done by hand with the shroud lines, bearing in mind that the buoyancy of the inflated cells is insufficient to lift the user. The valves 12,117,217 are released and the helium allowed to escape. The canopy can then be stowed.

The invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above described embodiments. For instance, in the second embodiment, the float may be a land vehicle with wheels. Indeed the float itself may be equipped with wheels to make it amphibious. In the first embodiment, for take off from water, a small float tube may be provided. The aviator sits in this until lifted from it by the parachute. So that the float is not lost, it can be secured. by a line to the main tow line or to the aviator's harness. It hangs down in flight. In variations, it is envisaged that several Figure 1 devices, possibly with the floats just described, can be coupled together for

flying one behind the other, so that several people can fly together, one below each parachute. Again in the second embodiment, to allow two or more people to be carried, one or more additional parachutes may be rigged above the first, in a bi-or tri-plane configuration.