Abstract:
A device and method of use for opening a container during descent so that objects within the container may be dispersed over a controlled ground area. The device includes a housing with a parachute canopy contained within. A sling is attached to the canopy within the housing and extends external to the housing. A cap is selectively engageable with the housing to close the housing. A spring within the housing exerts outward force on the cap. An actuation device is mounted to the cap to selectively disengage the cap from the housing. When the cap is disengaged from the housing the cap is ejected by the force of the spring. A lanyard connecting the cap to the canopy draws the canopy out of the housing for deployment. Deployment of the canopy transfers tension force through the slings to the container. The tension force imposed on the container by the slings opens the container, releasing objects held therein. The objects are released at a predetermined height. The dispersion of the objects over the ground is limited by their separation at the predetermined height.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to the air delivery of material. It is more particularly concerned with a new and improved apparatus and method for the air delivery of material for dispersion over a large but controlled ground area. 
     The dropping of supplies from an aircraft in flight to the ground below is well known. Generally, the supplies are either dropped individually and allowed to free fall to the ground or packed in a a container for controlled delivery of the container to the ground via a parachute. Both of these methods present problems. Materials and supplies which are air dropped individually will be spread over a large and almost impossible to control ground area. Thus, there is little likelihood that the majority of supplies or materials will arrive where needed. Materials and supplies packed in containers and dropped for controlled descent by a parachute have a somewhat better chance of being placed in a desired location. However, in a military situation, the centralized location of the materials within the container puts personnel at risk when they attempt to retrieve those materials. Further, in hilly or mountainous terrain the packaging of all of the materials within a single container may make placement of the container at any desired location an all or nothing situation. Naturally, for materials delivered by either method, the greater the altitude of the aircraft dropping the materials, the less certain will be the final ground location of the materials. This is of special concern in military operations where aircraft must fly at high altitudes to avoid enemy ground fire. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention in a preferred form is a free fall distribution device for incorporation into a container or similar device which holds a plurality of individual materials. The free fall distribution device comprises a tubular housing having spaced first and second end portions with respective first and second ends. A radially inwardly projecting circumferential channel or shoulder is formed in the housing adjacent the first end portion. A plurality of slots longitudinally extend from the first end toward the second end of the housing. 
     A flange is mounted to the first end portion substantially perpendicular to the length of the housing. Preferably, the flange is permanently fixed to the housing. The flange includes a plurality of radially (with respect to the housing) extending slots, which are interrelated with respective slots on the housing. Each interrelated housing and respective flange slot forms a single passage. A base plate is mounted to the second end portion. 
     A plurality of flexible or semi-flexible slings have a first end disposed within the housing toward the second end portion and an opposing second end extending radially from the housing. A parachute canopy is attached by shroud lines to the sling first ends. The parachute canopy is foldable to fit within the housing. 
     A cap is engageable substantially within the housing first end portion. When engaged, an actuation end of the cap faces outwardly of the housing first end portion and a locking end is located within the housing between the shoulder and housing second end. The cap locking end includes a plurality of pawls movable between radially extended and retracted positions. An actuation device is mounted to the cap and is accessible for manual manipulation from the actuation end. The actuation device cooperates with the pawls to selectively maintain the pawls in either the radially projected or radially retracted positions. A backing plate defining an aperture is positionable over the folded parachute canopy within the housing and a spring is compressible within the housing between the engaged actuation device and backing plate. A lanyard attaches the actuation device to the spring, backing plate and parachute canopy. 
     When assembled, the sling first ends are positioned adjacent the housing second end and the slings extend along the housing inner wall into the housing slots and flange slots, with the sling second ends extending radially therefrom. The parachute canopy is folded so that it is nested within the housing, above the base plate and between the slings. The free end of the parachute canopy is located toward the housing first end. The backing plate is located over the canopy free end. The cap is engaged with the housing so that the locking end is within the housing first end portion. A shoulder on the cap prevents the actuation end from movement into the housing. When the cap is engaged within the housing the pawls at the locking end project radially outwardly to engage the housing shoulder. Engagement of the pawls with the housing shoulder prevents movement of the locking end out of the housing. The cap shoulder and pawls combine to selectively fix the cap to the housing. The spring is compressed between the cap locking end and the backing plate. The lanyard is attached to the cap locking end, preferably extends through the interior of the spring and backing plate aperture and is attached at its opposing end to the parachute canopy. 
     The assembled free fall distribution device is incorporated within a container holding a material such as, for instance, a plurality of meal packets. For a cardboard container, a circular hole may be cut in the container and the free fall distribution device second end inserted therein. The flange functions to prevent the free fall distribution device from falling within the container. The radially extending slings are attached to lines. The lines may be laced throughout the container or may be connected to container attachment devices. 
     After assembly of the free fall distribution device and incorporation into a container, the actuation device is set. If the actuation device is a timer, it may be set for a predetermined time delay after actuation. The assembly is loaded into an aircraft and flown to a desired location. The container is ejected from the aircraft in-flight which activates the actuation device and initiates timer countdown. As the timer counts down, the container is in free fall toward the ground. At the predetermined time, which is related to a desired height, the timer times out; the pawls move to the radially retracted position and out of engagement with the housing shoulder; and the cap is ejected from the housing by the force of the compressed spring. Due to the free length of the spring, most of the spring also exits the housing. The momentum of the cap and spring and the force of the slip stream on the cap and spring exerts a tension force on the parachute canopy via the lanyard, which draws the canopy from the housing. As the canopy enters the slip stream, it will deploy. 
     Deployment of the parachute canopy functions to impose sudden tension force through the shrouds and slings to the cords attached to the slings. If the cords are laced to the container, the force imposed will be sufficient to destroy the container. If the cords are attached to container holding devices, the force imposed will be sufficient to open the container. In either situation, the individual materials enclosed within the opened container are freed at a predetermined height and free fall to the ground. Control of the canopy deployment height and thereby control of individual material separation, by way of actuation device setting, allows control of the ground dispersion of the individual materials. 
     An object of the invention is to provide a new and improved method and apparatus for controlled ground dispersion of materials dropped from an aircraft. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus for controlled ground dispersion of materials dropped from an aircraft which is more controllable in adverse terrain than conventional methods. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Other objects and advantages of the invention will be evident to one of ordinary skill in the art from the following detailed description made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the assembled free fall distribution device; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the free fall distribution device of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a housing portion of the free fall distribution device of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of the housing portion of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view, partly in phantom, of a free fall distribution device incorporated with a container; 
     FIG. 6 is a side view, partly in phantom, of a cap with the times retracted; 
     FIG. 7 is an end view, partly in phantom, of the actuation end of the cap of FIG. 6; 
     FIG. 8 is a side view, partly in phantom, of the cap of FIG. 6 with the times extended; and 
     FIG. 9 is an end view, partly in phantom, of the actuation end of the cap of FIG.  8 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference to the drawings, wherein like numerals represent like parts, a free fall distribution device is generally designated by the numeral  10 . As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the free fall distribution device comprises generally a tubular housing  12  with first  14  and second  16  end portions having respective first and second ends  18 ,  20 . A plurality of slots  26  are defined within the housing  12 . Each slot  26  extends longitudinally from the first end  18  toward the opposing second end  20  of the housing. A circumferential channel  22 , segmented by the slots  26 , is formed in the material of the housing adjacent the first end  18 . The channel  22  extends radially inwardly of the general inside diameter of the housing to create a segmented shoulder  24  within the inside of the housing  12  adjacent the first end portion  14 . While the housing  12  may be manufactured from a variety of materials, it is preferably manufactured from steel. 
     As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a flange  30  is mounted adjacent the first end  18  and extends substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the housing  12 . Preferably, the flange  30  is permanently mounted to the housing  12 . While the flange  30  is shown as having a square shape, it should be realized that flanges of other shapes and sizes will serve a similar purpose as later described and are fully encompassed by the invention. The flange  30  includes a plurality of slots extending from the housing  12  radially outwardly. The flange  30  is mounted so that the flange slots  32  and housing slots  26  are radially aligned and interrelated so that each housing slot and respective flange slot form a single uninterrupted sling passage  34 . A base plate  38  is mounted to the second end portion  16 . 
     A plurality of slings  40  are disposed within the housing  12 . The slings  40  are flexible and preferable a webbed textile material such as nylon. Preferably, as shown in FIG. 2, the plurality of slings form a loop or eye  42 . When disposed within the housing  12  each sling  40  will longitudinally extend from the base plate  38  along the interior wall of the housing  12  into a sling passage  34  and radially extend therefrom. 
     A parachute canopy  46  is attached to canopy shrouds  48 . The shrouds  48  are connected to the sling eye  42  by, a clevis  49 . The parachute canopy  46  is foldable so that it will fit within the housing  12 , above the base plate  38  and between the plurality of slings  40 , when the slings  40  are located within the housing  12 . The free end  50  of the folded parachute  46  will be adjacent or within the housing first end portion  14 . 
     A generally cylindrical cap  54  is engageable substantially within the housing first end portion  14 . When engaged, an actuation end  56  of the cap  54  faces outwardly of the housing first end portion  14  and a locking end  58  is located within the housing  12  between the shoulder  24  and housing second end  20 . As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the cap actuation end  56  may include a shoulder  64  to limit insertion of the locking end  58  within the housing  12 . The cap includes a plurality of pawls  60  which are selectively radially projectable (see FIG. 9) and retractable (see FIG.  7 ). 
     An actuation device  62  is mounted to the cap  54  and is accessible for manual manipulation from the actuation end  56 . The actuation device  62  incorporates well known mechanisms such as timing or barometric pressure devices. The actuation device  62  is connected for rotation of a locking pin  57  having a hemispherical cross-sectional shape. Each pawl  60  is pivotally mounted to a locking plate  59 . The locking plate  59  is mounted to the cap  54  for limited rotation between a free position shown in FIG. 7 and a lock position shown in FIG.  9 . The locking plate  59  is biased toward the free position by a spring  61 . A locking tab  63  is mounted to the locking plate  59  for limited pivotal movement against a bias. 
     Engagement of the locking tab  63  with the rounded portion of locking pin  57  functions to maintain the locking plate  59  in the lock position, thereby placing the pawls  61  in the projected position. At a predetermined time or height, the actuation device  62  rotates the locking pin  57  so that the flat portion aligns with the locking tab  63 , freeing the locking tab  63  from engagement with the locking pin  57 . Once freed, the locking plate  59  is biased into the free position, thereby placing the pawls  60  in the retracted position. A cap such as an aerial flare timer assembly available from M. H. Rhodes of Avon, Connecticut is suitable for use in the invention. In actuation devices using timing mechanisms, the timing delay is preferably longer than the normal seventy second delay used in aerial flares and more preferably two minutes. The pawls  60  may also be manually actuated to the projected or retracted positions in well known fashion. 
     A backing plate  66  with an aperture  68  is positionable within the housing  12  over the folded parachute canopy  46 . A spring  72 , when compressed, is also positionable within the housing  12 . Preferably, the spring  72  is a coil spring defining an internal cavity  74 . A lanyard or cord  78  connects the cap  54  to the parachute canopy  46  and preferably the lanyard is laced through the spring cavity  74  and backing plate aperture  68 . 
     A free fall distribution device  10  is assembled by positioning the slings  40  within the housing  12  with the loop  42  toward the second end  20 . The slings extend substantially longitudinally from the housing second end  20  along the interior housing wall into the sling passages  34  and extend radially therefrom. The parachute canopy  46  is folded so that it is nested within the housing  12 , above the base plate  38  and between the slings  40 . The free end  50  of the canopy  46  faces the housing first end  18 . The backing plate  66  is placed over the canopy free end  50 . The spring  72  is placed over the backing plate  66  and compressed by insertion of the cap locking end  58  within the housing first end portion  14 . The cap actuation end  56  preferably fits substantially flush with the flange  30 . The lanyard  78  is disposed within the housing  12 , attached at opposing ends to the cap locking end  58  and parachute canopy  46 , and preferably is laced through the spring cavity  74  and backing plate aperture  68 . Manual manipulation of the actuation device  62  in well known manner moves the pawls  60  to the projected position, releasably fixing the components within the housing  12 . 
     It should be noted that the slots  26 ,  32  allow the slings  40  to extend from the housing  12  while also allowing the cap  54  to be fixed to the housing  12  via cooperation of the pawls  60  and circumferential shoulder  24 . Preferably, the cap  54  contains a number of pawls  60  which is not equal to or a multiple of the number of slots  26 , so that the cap  54  can not be freed by rotation of the cap  54  so that the pawls  60  enter the slots  26 . Alternatively, the housing slots  26  may not extend past the circumferential shoulder  24  so that the pawls  60  are incapable of traveling along the slots  26  and freeing the cap  54 . In the alternative embodiment, clearance between the cap  54  and housing inner wall must be sufficient to allow the slings  40  to extend between the cap  54  and the housing inner wall. Less preferably, the pawls  60  may engage apertures (not shown) defined within the housing wall. 
     In use, a container  82  (shown in FIG. 5) containing a plurality of material or individual supplies  84 , such as, for instance, meal packets, is provided. Typically, the container would hold dozens to hundreds of individual supplies. The container  82  may have cords  86  incorporated within the container structure. When sufficient tension force is imposed on the cords  86 , the structure of the container  82  is destroyed. Less preferably, the container  82  may be constructed of materials such as cardboard, wood, polymer or metal and temporarily held together by removable retaining devices, such as, for example, pins  90  within yokes  92 . The pins  90  are attached to the cords  86 . In a different alternative, the container  82  could be comprised of fabric or netting sections which are held together by cords  86 . In any case, as used in this specification, a container  82  means any receptacle for holding material which includes cords  86  for releasing the material therein when sufficient tension force is imposed on the cords  86 . 
     The assembled free fall distribution device  10  is placed partially within a container  82 . This is readily accomplished by the insertion of the housing second end portion  16  within a preexisting circular hole slightly larger than the housing  12  exterior diameter. The flange  30  functions to prevent the free fall distribution device  10  from falling completely within the container  82 . If necessary, the free fall distribution device  10  may be temporarily secured to the containers  82  by use of adhesive tape over the container and flange and/or radially extending slings (not shown). The container cords  86  are attached to the slings  40  by, for example, devises or shackles. The actuation device  62  is set for a predetermined time delay or actuation height. The container  82 , with assembled free fall distribution device  10  is loaded into an aircraft. It should be noted that placement of the assembled free fall distribution device  10  substantially within the container  82  allows multiple containers to be stacked without interference from the incorporated free fall distribution device  10 . 
     At a desired location and predetermined altitude, for example 35,000 feet, the container  82  is ejected from the aircraft and descends in free fall toward the ground. The actuation device  62  is activated upon ejection from the aircraft and is triggered at a predetermined height over the ground. While the trigger height is variable, 2,000 feet would be a typical trigger height. Triggering of the actuation device  62  retracts the pawls  60  allowing the compressed spring  72  to eject the cap  54  from the housing  12 . Preferably, the extended length of the spring  72  is great enough so that a significant portion of the spring  72  is also ejected from the housing  12 . Placement of the spring  72  between the backing plate  66  and the cap  54  is preferred. In this placement the spring  72  must only eject the cap  54  and therefore the spring  72  force required will be less than if the spring was placed between the base plate  38  and folded parachute canopy  46  and required to eject both the canopy  46  and cap  54 . The use of a spring  72  with a lower spring force is also beneficial in that the force exerted by the spring  72  on the cap  54 , and thereby through the pawls  60  to the shoulder  24  is minimized. The lower force allows the use of lighter actuation mechanisms and more positive retraction of the pawls  60 . Momentum of the components  54 ,  72  and entry of the cap  54  and/or spring  72  into the slip stream of the falling container  82  imposes a force on those components which is transmitted via the lanyard  78  to the parachute canopy  46 . The force pulls the parachute canopy  46  from the housing  12  into the slip stream, allowing the parachute canopy  46  to deploy. It should be noted that connection of the cap  54  and spring  72  by the lanyard  78  allows the components to diverge in the slipstream of the falling container, increasing the drag force available to pull the canopy  46  from the housing. The deploying parachute canopy  46  rapidly decelerates, imposing a substantial and sudden tension force through the canopy shrouds  48  to the slings  40  and thereby to the cords  86  and container  82 . The tension force imposed by the deploying parachute canopy  46  onto the shrouds  48  and cords  86  functions to either rip apart or disassemble the container  82 . Once the container  82  is destroyed and/or disassembled, the material enclosed within will free fall to the ground. The aerodynamic forces acting on the individual supplies will cause each of the containers to fall at a slightly different rate and therefore, have a slightly different final location on the ground. However, since the materials are released at a controlled height, for example, 2,000 feet, the spreading of materials during free fall is limited and therefore, their dispersion on the ground will be similarly limited in a controlled fashion. 
     While the preferred embodiment of the foregoing invention has been set forth for purposes of illustration, the foregoing description should not be deemed a limitation the invention herein. Accordingly, various modifications, adaptations and alternatives may occur to one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and the scope of the present invention.