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Parachute steering systemRelated Patent Categories: Aeronautics And Astronautics, Safety Lowering Devices, Parachutes, Control DevicesParachute steering system description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070018051, Parachute steering system. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a parachute steering system which has been specially conceived for its installation in unmanned parachutes, that is, those intended for dropping guided loads. [0003] 2. Description of the Related Art [0004] The current systems of parachute guidance usually employ radio-control or satellite localization (GPS) devices as the system header, as well as a number of electric actuators to pull on the control lines by winding the same onto their corresponding spool. [0005] The problem with that type of system is that if a control line is wound over itself on the spool of the actuator, a problem automatically arises of the impossibility of releasing the control, which can cause loss of the load. [0006] In addition, in that case, and even with recovery of the device, the preparation for the following drop is complicated by having to dismantle the spool. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007] It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a parachute steering system, which overcomes the hereinafore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices of this general type and which has a robust structure, is substantially simpler than the guidance systems existing up to now and is much more reliable in operation. [0008] With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a parachute steering system, of the type utilized to carry out the dropping of loads, to land them on a predetermined target. The parachute steering system comprises upper and lower platforms articulatingly joined to each other. The upper platform has a device for fastening a parachute, and the lower platform has a device for anchoring the load. An actuator system interconnects the platforms and allows parallelism, inclination and relative positioning in general between the platforms to be regulated, displacing a center of gravity of a combination of the load and the parachute. [0009] In accordance with a concomitant feature of the invention, there is provided a system allowing a variation of relative positions of the platforms, such as an articulated coupling between the platforms. [0010] The parachute steering system which the invention discloses resolves the problem outlined above in a fully satisfactory manner, by providing a mechanism which does not act on the length of the lines, but rather displaces the center of gravity of the load with respect to the parachute, avoiding the use of the aforesaid spools and employing actuators of more reduced dimensions. [0011] To this end, and in specific terms, the steering system which is disclosed is constituted on the basis of an upper platform, to which the parachute is fastened, and a lower platform, equipped with measures for securing the load, so that both platforms are connected to each other through the use of an articulated coupling, or of any type which allows the variation of their relative position. [0012] The articulated coupling permits, through the use of any kind of actuator system connected to both platforms and with a configuration significantly smaller than that of the conventional guidance devices, the possibility to control the relative angular position between the two platforms, both in their transversal and their longitudinal plane. [0013] In this way, through the use of the relative angular displacement between the platforms, with respect to an imaginary axis of rotation parallel to the trajectory of the load-parachute combination, on one hand it is possible to displace the center of gravity of the combination, toward one side or another, producing such asymmetries in the parachute that as a consequence a turn is produced in the trajectory of the same, it being possible to control the radius of curvature of the turn as a function of the relative inclination between the two platforms. [0014] On the other hand, when carrying out a relative angular displacement between the upper platform and the lower platform with respect to an imaginary axis transverse to the forward trajectory of the parachute, the displacements of the center of gravity of the aforementioned combination cause displacements in the relative position of the parachute with respect to the load which signify an increase or decrease in the forward speed of the combination, in terms of the angular displacement being positive or negative. [0015] It is pointed out that the transversal axis of rotation between the two platforms need not be centered, since an off-centered position of the same reduces the necessary force of the actuator to move the plaftforms. [0016] Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims. [0017] Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a parachute steering system, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. [0018] The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of the specific embodiment when read in connection with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING [0019] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic, front-elevational view of a parachute steering system implemented in accordance with the object of the present invention; [0020] FIG. 2 is a front-elevational view of the steering system of FIG. 1 mounted in a parachute, and coupled to its corresponding load; [0021] FIG. 3 is a similar view to that of FIG. 2, in which one can observe how through the use of the relative angular displacement between platforms with respect to a longitudinal tilting axis, it is possible to displace the center of gravity of the combination and to make the load turn; Continue reading about Parachute steering system... Full patent description for Parachute steering system Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Parachute steering system patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Parachute steering system or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Load patch for airships Next Patent Application: A system and method for in-flight control of an aerial vehicle Industry Class: Aeronautics ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Parachute steering system patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.28785 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Software: Finance , AI , Databases , Development , Document , Navigation , Error 174 |
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