Patent ID: 6199799
Filing Date: 2001-03-13
Classification: B64C,B64D

Abstract:
A parachute device for a helicopter having a tubular rotor drive shaft, said parachute device comprising:an elongate hollow mounting member having top and bottom ends, and a hole that extends longitudinally through said top and bottom ends, said bottom end of said mounting member being adapted to be mounted securely to the helicopter, said mounting member being adapted to be extended rotatably inside the rotor drive shaft such that said top end of said mounting member projects upwardly and outwardly of the rotor drive shaft;a canopy confining case having a stationary casing part mounted securely on said top end of said mounting member, and a removable casing part mounted removably on said stationary casing part, said stationary and removable casing parts cooperatively forming a compartment;a parachute canopy received inside said compartment of said canopy confining case, said parachute canopy having a release cord connected to said removable casing part, and a suspension line unit;an anchoring line extending through said hole in said mounting member and having a first end that is adapted to be fixed to the helicopter and a second end that extends into said canopy confining case and that is coupled to said suspension line unit of said parachute canopy;a rocket member including a launch tube mounted on said stationary casing part externally of said compartment, and a rocket disposed in said launch tube and connected to said removable casing part, said rocket being capable of propelling from said launch tube when ignited; andan ignition control line extending through said hole in said mounting member and having a first end connected to said rocket member and a second end provided with an ignition unit that is operable so as to ignite said rocket;whereby, when said rocket propels from said launch tube, said removable casing part will be removed from said stationary casing part, thereby allowing said removable casing part to pull said release cord and open said parachute canopy, said parachute canopy being adapted to support weight of the helicopter when opened via said anchoring line that interconnects said suspension line unit of said parachute canopy and the helicopter.