Importance

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Abstract

For use with a parachute used after ejection from an aircraft, a discard assembly for disconnecting a parachute deployment mechanism from the parachute in response to the opening of the parachute by a preselected amount. The discard assembly includes a pair of releasably interconnected rods enclosed in a slidable housing. An actuator assembly is coupled to the housing and to the parachute and slides the housing away from one of the rods, thereby allowing them to disconnect, upon opening of the parachute by the preselected amount. The actuator assembly comprises a pair of rings coupled to the parachute on opposite sides of the parachute vent, and a pair of lanyards coupled to the housing and to the parachute, with each lanyard passing through one of the rings. The force generated by the transverse expansion of the opening parachute is transmitted via these rings and lanyards to actuate the discard assembly. The deployment mechanism can include a drogue parachute and a rocket, and four rings and lanyards can be used to add redundancy.

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First Claim