Abstract:
This disclosure is directed to apparatuses, systems, and methods associated with the aerial delivery of materials in a manner that is inexpensive, accurate, efficient, and effective. More specifically this disclosure teaches deploying an aerial delivery container holding some material from an aircraft and releasing the material from the aerial delivery container, all in a controlled manner, while the aerial delivery container is airborne. With reference to the exemplary embodiments, the apparatuses, systems and methods of the present disclosure are taught within the context of releasing a firefighting suppressant over a fire.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part and claims the benefit of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/181,139, filed Jul. 28, 2008, assigned to the same assignee as this application, and which is expressly incorporated herein, in its entirety, by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Conventional aerial firefighting includes the use of fixed and rotary wing aircraft, usually outfitted with tanks capable of holding thousands of gallons of water or other fire retardant. These aircraft, airtankers or waterbombers as they are sometimes called, are typically filled with fire retardant payloads and flown over fires where the payloads are dumped onto locations below in the hope of extinguishing, suppressing, or otherwise controlling the fire. 
         [0003]    During an aerial firefighting attempt, airtankers typically fly at altitudes under 300 feet to improve the effectiveness of the material being dumped form the aircraft. Consequently, firefighting missions are frequently flown through thick smoke, shifting winds, and rugged terrain that often include tall trees and power lines. These conditions typically require aerial firefighting efforts to be performed during daylight hours with good visibility. 
         [0004]    Aerial firefighting effectiveness using conventional airtankers is further limited by the problem of the entire payload typically being released over a single target. If only a portion of the payload is needed at a particular target, or if there are multiple targets requiring attention during the same mission the typical airtanker cannot usually adapt by adjusting payload release. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    One embodiment of the present disclosure is an aerial delivery system having a sleeve that holds material; a stay structure positioned at one end of the sleeve; an end cap positioned at another end of the sleeve; a vertical restraint system (VRS) tie securing the stay structure to the sleeve; a VRS tie severing device which is configured to sever the VRS tie; and a deployment strap extending from within the sleeve and attached to the end cap. Alternative and additional embodiments may further include a bladder positioned within the sleeve and attached to the deployment strap, which is configured to rupture the bladder in response to a sufficient force. In addition, there may be included a vertical restraint insert positioned within the sleeve between at least some of the material and the end cap, a VRS tie severing device attached to the end cap, an end cap tie, an end cap tie cutter which is configured to sever the end cap tie, and a deployment strap extending from the stay structure and attached to the end cap. Other embodiments may include combinations of these embodiments, and the like. 
         [0006]    Another embodiment of the present disclosure is an aerial delivery system that includes a base having anchors positioned at a first end cap; a sleeve that contains a bladder which receives material, is engaged to the first end cap and has restraint apertures located at a second end; a second end cap that has end cap apertures, positioned at the second end and engaged to the sleeve; a vertical restraint insert positioned within the sleeve between the bladder and second end cap; a vertical restraint tie that is attached to an anchor, positioned through a restraint aperture, and is attached to another anchor to secure the base to the sleeve; a vertical restraint severing device configured to sever the vertical restraint tie attached to the second end cap; a deployment strap attached to the bladder at one end and attached at an opposite end to the second end cap; a deployment line attached to the top end cap and extending to the deployment strap; an end cap tie securing the second end cap to the base; and an end cap tie cutter configured to sever the end cap tie. Other embodiments may include combinations of these embodiments, and the like. 
         [0007]    Other embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods for the aerial delivery of material. The operations of one method, which are not limited to the following sequence presented here for the purpose of teaching and not limitation, includes transporting in an aircraft an aerial delivery system having a sleeve that holds material, a stay structure positioned at one end of the sleeve, an end cap positioned at another end of the sleeve, a vertical restraint tie releasably securing the stay structure and end cap to the sleeve, a vertical restraint severing device configured to sever the vertical restraint tie, and a deployment strap extending from the sleeve and attached to the end cap; deploying the aerial delivery system from the aircraft while in flight; causing the vertical restraint severing device to sever the vertical restraint tie; causing the end cap to extend from the sleeve and exert a force on the deployment strap; causing the deployment strap to release the material; and causing the material within the sleeve to discharge from the sleeve. 
         [0008]    Still other embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods for constructing an aerial delivery system. The operations of one method, which are not limited to the following sequence presented here for the purpose of teaching and not limitation, include positioning an aerial delivery container that is configured to hold material onto a base that has anchors; positioning at least one deployment strap, which is configured to release material from the aerial delivery container, from the interior of the aerial delivery container to the exterior of the aerial delivery container; securing the aerial delivery container to the base with at least one vertical restraint tie attached to an anchor, secured to the aerial delivery container, connected to a vertical restraint system tie severing device, and attached to a second anchor; placing an end cap on the aerial delivery container; attaching the vertical restrain system tie severing device to the end cap; and, attaching the deployment strap to the end cap. Other embodiments of methods for constructing an aerial delivery system include attaching the end cap to the base using at least one end cap tie, and connecting an end cap tie cutter to the end cap tie. Additional operations include placing material within the aerial delivery container. 
         [0009]    Alternative and additional embodiments of methods may further include transporting an aerial delivery system having an end cap tie that secures the end cap to the sleeve and an end cap tie cutter, and causing the end cap tie cutter to sever the end cap tie. In addition, an embodiment may include the transporting of an aerial delivery system having a bladder located within the sleeve and at least partially filled with material, and causing the deployment strap to rupture the bladder. Further, an embodiment may include transporting an aerial delivery system having a deployment strap attached to the stay structure at one end and attached to the end cap at another end, and causing the deployment strap to withdraw the stay structure from the sleeve. Other embodiments may include combinations of these embodiments, and the like. 
         [0010]    The features, functions, and advantages that have been discussed can be achieved independently in various embodiments of the present disclosure or may be combined in yet other embodiments, further details of which can be seen with reference to the following description and drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  shows the elements of an exemplary aerial delivery container. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2A  illustrates an exemplary aerial delivery container with elements of an exemplary vertical restraint system. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2B  shows a plurality of vertical restraint ties and an exemplary vertical restraint tie severing device. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3A  shows an exemplary aerial delivery system comprising an exemplary aerial delivery container and an exemplary vertical restraint system. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3B  illustrates an exemplary method of attaching an end cap to a deployment strap. 
           [0016]      FIGS. 4A-4D  illustrates an exemplary method of deploying an exemplary aerial delivery system. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  illustrates a flow chart directed to an exemplary method of assembling and deploying an aerial delivery system. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    Turning now to  FIG. 1 , there is illustrated an exemplary aerial delivery container  100  to which material  101  (best shown in  FIG. 4D ) is added for aerial delivery. Here, by way of illustration and not limitation, the material  101  to be added is a firefighting suppressant placed within the aerial delivery container  100  as explained herein. The illustrated aerial delivery container  100  has a base  102  comprising a plate  104 , frame  106 , and vertical restraint system anchors  108 . Positioned adjacent to the base  102  is a first end cap  110  which receives a sleeve  112  comprising a plurality of panels  114 , optional restraint bands  115 , and restraint apertures  116 . Positioned within the sleeve  112  is a restraint insert  118 , having a fitting aperture  120  aligned to receive a bladder fitting. One purpose of the restraint insert  118  is to provide structural support to the vertical restrain system described herein, another purpose is to provide structural support to the sleeve  112 . Adjacent to an end of the sleeve  112  is a second end cap  122  having end cap apertures  124 , shown in the illustrated embodiment as positioned opposite the first end cap  110 . In alternative embodiments the aerial delivery container  100  may have more than two ends, and in still other embodiments the ends may not be opposite each other. 
         [0019]    Regarding the composition and manufacture of the materials used to form or construct the elements of the exemplary aerial delivery container  100 , by way of illustration and not limitation, the plate  104  is a 1″ AC plywood panel, the frame  106  is constructed of 2″×3″ lumber, the VRS anchors  108  are formed of ½″ tubular nylon, the first end cap  110  is formed of triple wall corrugated panel, the sleeve  112  is formed of a triple wall corrugated panel, the restraint bands  115  are formed of plastic, the restraint apertures  116  and end cap apertures  124  may be reinforced with grommets, the vertical restraint insert  118  is formed of triple wall corrugated panel, and the second end cap  122  is substantially formed of 2 triple wall corrugated panels reinforcing each other. The materials used to form or construct the elements described herein may be exchanged or otherwise substituted with each other, metals and metal derivatives, plastics and plastic derivatives, cellulose and cellulose derivatives, fibers and fiber derivatives, recycled or remanufactured products, bio-degradable products, combinations thereof, and the like. 
         [0020]    Further, in alternative embodiments the aerial delivery container  100  itself as well as various elements may take alternative shapes, configurations, and designs. For example, the aerial delivery container  100  itself may be orientated such that one or more end caps are positioned along a horizontal axis rather than the vertical axis as illustrated, or at an acute or obtuse angle, or combinations thereof, and the like. In addition, the base  102  which is shown as square may have more or less sides or be circular, the end cap  110  and sleeve  112  which are shown as octangular may each have more or less sides or be circular, and the end cap  122  which is shown as square may have more or less sides or be circular, combinations thereof, and the like. 
         [0021]    An exemplary method of assembling the illustrated aerial delivery container  100  may begin with positioning the first end cap  110  atop the base  102 , placing a bladder  22  within the first end cap  110 , and outwardly extending the bladder&#39;s deployment straps  12  toward and beyond the short walls or corners of the first end cap  110 . The sleeve  112  is inserted within the first end cap  110  around the bladder  22 . The deployment straps  12  are positioned along the exterior short walls of the sleeve  112  and placed under the restraint bands  115 . The bladder  22  is filled with material  101  and a bladder fitting  24  closed. In the illustrated embodiment the bladder  22  is filled approximately to the level of the restraint apertures  116 , or approximately 230 gallons (US). Bladders that are larger or smaller are contemplated and may be used. The restraint insert  118  is inserted within the sleeve  112  with the bladder fitting  24  extending through the bladder fitting aperture  120 . Alternative embodiments may not include a bladder fitting aperture  120 . The second end cap  122  is then placed over the sleeve  112 . 
         [0022]    To the assembled aerial delivery container  100  may be added a vertical restraint system (VRS)  130 , best shown in  FIG. 3A , to produce an exemplary aerial delivery system  140 , as shown in  FIG. 3A  and  FIGS. 4A-4D . Here, for purposes of the present teaching, the combination of the aerial delivery container  100  and the VRS  130  is referred to as an aerial delivery system  140 . Referring now to  FIGS. 2A and 2B , there are shown many of the components of the VRS  130  applied to the aerial delivery container  100 . An exemplary method of applying the illustrated VRS  130  is to attach one end of a VRS restraint tie  132  to a VRS anchor  108  and thread the opposite end of the restraint tie  132  through the laterally associated restraint aperture  116 , the VRS restraint tie severing device  134 , the diagonally associated restraint aperture  116 , and attach the opposite end of the VRS restraint tie  132  to the laterally associated VRS anchor  108 . The remaining VRS restraint ties  132  are similarly threaded and attached, as illustrated.  FIG. 2A  shows the restraint ties  132  threaded through the VRS restraint tie severing device  134 , here illustrated as a mini-knife having a cutting edge  136 . The severing device  134  may be of any design configured to sever the VRS restraint ties  132 . To the severing device  134  is attached a VRS severing device lanyard  138  with opposite lengths and ends extended toward and beyond the opposite short walls or corners of the aerial delivery container  100 . 
         [0023]    Various knots may be used to connect the various elements of the aerial delivery container  100  and VRS  130 . In one embodiment, a surgeon&#39;s knot with locking knot is used to attach one end of a VRS restraint tie  132  to a VRS anchor  108 . After threading the opposite end of the restraint tie  132  through the laterally associated restraint aperture  116 , the VRS restraint tie severing device  134 , the diagonally associated restraint aperture  116 , the opposite end of the VRS restraint tie  132  is attached to a VRS anchor  108  using a trucker&#39;s hitch. One advantage of a trucker&#39;s hitch, or similar knot, is the ability to exert whatever force is necessary to sufficiently tighten each VRS restraint tie  132  and to hold the position of the VRS restraint tie  132 . To the trucker&#39;s hitch is added an overhand knot in a double line, three half-hitch knots, and an overhand knot in the running end. A double girth knot may be used to tie the VRS severing device lanyard  138  to the VRS restraint tie severing device  134 . 
         [0024]    Regarding the composition and manufacture of the materials used to form or construct the elements of the exemplary VRS  130 , by way of illustration and not limitation, the VRS restraint ties  132  are formed of ½″ tubular nylon, the VRS restraint tie severing device  134  and cutting edge  136  is formed of steel, and the VRS severing device lanyard  138  is formed of ½″ tubular nylon. The materials used to form or construct the various types of anchors, bands, ties, lanyards, lines, straps, and the like described herein may be exchanged or otherwise substituted with each other, with synthetic materials such as polypropylene and polyester, with natural materials such as manila, sisal, hemp and cotton, with combinations thereof, and the like. Regarding construction, these elements may be woven, laid, twisted, braided, cable, plaited, combinations thereof, and the like. 
         [0025]    Turning now to  FIGS. 3A and 3B , and continuing with an exemplary method of assembling the illustrated VRS  130 , after the VRS restraint ties  132  are attached the second end cap  122  is positioned over the sleeve  112  with an orientation similar to the base  102 . The opposite ends of the severing device lanyard  138  are threaded through the laterally associated end cap apertures  124 , and the lengths are drawn together and attached such that the severing device lanyard  138  forms a loop connecting the severing device  134  to the second end cap  122 . In one embodiment a surgeon&#39;s knot is used to tie together the ends of the VRS severing device lanyard  138 , with a knot placed in the running end. 
         [0026]    Four end cap deployment lines  142  are provided, with each deployment line  142  having an opposite end, and attached or crossed mid-span to each other to form a substantially symmetric “X” of four lengths. With the centers of the deployment lines  142  placed on top of and positioned approximately in the center of the second end cap  122 , the ends of each deployment line  142  are threaded through a respective end cap aperture  124 , and attached to the laterally associated deployment strap  12  through the respective strap loop  14 , as best illustrated in  FIG. 3A . In one embodiment a surgeon&#39;s knot is used to tie together the end of each deployment line  142  to each strap loop  14 , with a knot placed in the running end. After each end of each deployment line  142  is attached to its laterally associated deployment strap  12 , the slack of each length of deployment line  142  is folded and the folded section removably attached to the second end cap  122 . 
         [0027]    Similar to the end cap deployment lines  142  described above, two end cap ties  144  are provided, with each end cap tie  144  having an opposite end and attached or crossed mid-span to each other to form a substantially symmetric “X”. The center of the two end cap ties  144 , that is, the “X” section, is positioned approximately at the center of the second end cap  122  and the opposite ends of each end cap tie  144  are each attached to a VRS anchor  108  located at opposite sides of the base  102  such that the end cap  122  is secured along each outer edge. In one embodiment the end cap tie is an 80 pound line and each end is attached to a respective anchor using a surgeon&#39;s knot. An end cap tie cutter  146 , which may be similar to the VRS restraint tie severing device  134 , is provided and positioned at the crossed mid-span of the end cap ties  144  with each end cap tie  144  threaded so that each can be severed by the end cap tie cutter  146 . 
         [0028]    The illustrated end cap tie cutter  146  is a mini-knife. The end cap tie cutter  146  may be of any design configured to sever the end cap tie  144 . Alternatively, a friction cutter, or a delay cutter such as a pyro-cutter activated by removing only a safety pin, or a pyro-cutter having a timer initiating pin, or combinations thereof, and the like, may be substituted for either or both of the illustrated VRS restraint tie severing device  134  and/or end cap tie cutter  146 . Alternative cutters and delay cutters and methods of initiating the delay device may be used, such as but not limited to cutters that are remote controlled; cutters initiated by sensors that are activated in response to altitude or ambient pressure; cutters initiated by chemical releases or electric circuitry; cutters initiated by differential spacing during deployment; combinations thereof and the like. 
         [0029]    An aerial delivery system  140 , or a group of aerial delivery systems  140 , can be loaded, secured, and deployed in different configurations based on the aircraft, tactics, and desired number of units for an air drop. Embodiments of the aerial delivery systems and methods taught herein can withstand at least a 2 g vertical force, at least a 3 g forward force, at least a 1.5 g aft force, at least a 1.5 g lateral force, and deploy approximately 230 gallons (US) or more of material  101  per aerial delivery container. Other embodiments of the aerial delivery systems and methods taught herein can withstand lesser forces, and some embodiments can withstand greater forces. An exemplary method of deploying the illustrated aerial delivery system  140  is now shown with reference to  FIGS. 4A-4D , and in the context of airdropping a single column of eight aerial delivery systems  140  from the cargo hold of a C-130 or C-17 at an altitude of 1000 ft. Alternative aircraft and altitudes are contemplated, such as and not limited to other fixed wing aircraft, rotary wing aircraft, and altitudes both above and below 1000 ft. 
         [0030]    In preparation for staging and loading onto the aircraft, dunnage may be added fore and aft of each aerial delivery container  100  to fill voids between adjacent aerial delivery containers  100 , in order to reduce movement and possible surge during flight. The individual aerial delivery systems  140  are loaded onto the aircraft and, following standard container tie down and restraint procedures applicable to that aircraft, secured in the cargo hold. Here, for the purposes of illustration and teaching, the end cap tie cutter  146  of each aerial delivery system  140  is a pyro-cutter having a timer and timer initiating pin, which timer will be initiated by removing the timer initiating pin. The inclusion of a timer in an embodiment, and the type and nature of the timer, may depend on delivery and tactical factors, such as flight altitude. Accordingly, one method of activating the group of pyro-cutters is to secure one end of a pin line (not shown) to an adjacent ADS  140  and attach a pin line to the initiating pin of the lead or aft end cap tie cutter  146  (the end cap tie cutter  146  on the first aerial delivery system  140  to be deployed from the cargo hold). Continue in that manner until the pin lines are sequentially attached to each timer initiating pin of each aerial delivery system  140 . In this regard the cutters are initiated by differential spacing during deployment. Alternative delay cutters and methods of initiating the delay device may be used, such as but not limited to cutters that are remote controlled; cutters initiated by sensors that are activated in response to altitude or ambient pressure; cutters initiated by chemical releases or electric circuitry; combinations thereof and the like. The eight aerial delivery containers are now ready to be deployed. 
         [0031]    With the aircraft in flight, the cargo hold door open, and the cargo readied for airdrop, the aerial delivery systems  140  are deployed, as best shown in  FIG. 4A . Here, as each aerial delivery system  140  is deployed the end cap tie pyro-cutter is activated because the timer initiating pin has been removed by the pin line, and the pyro-cutter will sever the end cap ties  144  according to the length of delay provided by the timer. In alternative embodiments where end cap ties  144  may not be included, such as but not limited to an airdrop at an altitude of less than 500 ft., the end cap tie cutter  146  may be eliminated. With the end cap ties  144  absent or severed, as an aerial delivery system  140  free-falls the second end cap  122  catches air between its overhanging edges and the aerial delivery container  100 . As best shown in  FIG. 4B , the pressure of this air resistance separates the second end cap  122  from the aerial delivery container  100  for a distance, at least momentarily, of the extended length of the loop formed by the VRS severing device lanyard  138 . 
         [0032]    With the upward pressure of air resistance still applied to the bottom surface of the second end cap  122  of a free-falling aerial delivery system  140 , the VRS restraint tie severing device  134  is pulled upwardly with sufficient force to sever the VRS restraint ties  132 . (In the context of the present disclosure the words “upward”, “downward”, “outward”, and the like, and any of their derivatives are merely for the purpose of teaching a direction in relation to the trajectory of the free-falling aerial delivery system  140 . Similarly, those words and other words used herein that simply reference direction or orientation, such as “bottom”, “top”, “fore”, “aft”, and the like, are used merely for the present purposes of teaching and description, and none are used in any sense that limits or restricts.) In an alternative embodiment, the VRS restraint tie severing device  134  is a pyro-cutter with its initiating pin removed by the loop formed by the VRS severing device lanyard  138 . As best shown in  FIG. 4C , with the VRS restraint ties  132  severed and the upward pressure of air resistance still applied to the bottom surface of second end cap  122  the end cap deployment lines  142  are fully extended but, briefly, have not yet exerted sufficient force to draw or pull the deployment straps  12 . 
         [0033]    As the second end cap  122  continues to pull away from the free-falling aerial delivery container  100  the tension in the deployment lines  142  increases sufficiently to generate a force great enough to draw or pull the deployment straps  12 . A sufficient drawing or pulling of the deployment straps  12  causes at least two actions. One is that the deployment straps  12  are pulled outwardly and tear the bladder  12 . The other is that the first end cap  110  separates from the aerial delivery container  100 . By about this time, in the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the base  102  has separated from the aerial delivery container  100 . The tearing of the bladder  12  releases the contents of the bladder  12 , as best shown in  FIG. 4D . The apparatuses, systems, and methods taught herein provide, among other advantages, a controlled aerial delivery of material  101 , such as a firefighting suppressant to a fire. 
         [0034]    The subject matter described herein is provided by way of illustration for the purposes of teaching, suggesting, and describing, and not limiting. Alternatives to the illustrated embodiment are contemplated, described herein, and set forth in the claims. For example, in addition to the alternative embodiments described above, for another alternative embodiment the base  102  is eliminated and the anchors  108  are secured directly to the first end cap  110 . For a third alternative embodiment the first end cap  110  is substituted with a second vertical restraint insert  118 , positioned near the end of the aerial delivery container  100  from which the material  101  will exit, which stays the material  101  within the aerial delivery container  100 . In this third alternative embodiment VRS restraint ties  132  are positioned to stay the second vertical restraint insert  118  and may include a second VRS restraint tie severing device  134 . In a fourth alternative embodiment VRS restraint ties  132  only are positioned near the end of the aerial delivery container  100  from which the material  101  will exit, to stay the material  101 . In all the embodiments the material  101  within the aerial delivery container  100  is stayed by a stay structure positioned near the end of the aerial delivery container  100  from which the material  101  will exit. Here the term “stay structure” includes and is not limited to one or more of the base  102 , first end cap  110 , second vertical restraint insert  118 , VRS restraint ties  132 , combinations thereof, and the like. In a fifth alternative embodiment at least one deployment strap  12  is attached to a stay structure. In this fifth embodiment a sufficient drawing or pulling of the deployment straps  12  attached to a stay structure will separate the stay structure from the aerial delivery container  100  in order to release the material  101 . Additional alternative embodiments include combinations of the embodiments taught herein. 
         [0035]    Turning now to  FIG. 5 , an illustrative routine  200  for the aerial delivery of material  101  will now be described. It should be appreciated that more or fewer operations may be performed than shown in  FIG. 5  and described herein. Moreover, these operations may also be performed in a different order than the order described herein. 
         [0036]    The routine  200  begins at operation  202  with the assembly of the aerial delivery container  100 . One method of assembling the aerial delivery container  100  includes positioning the first end cap  110  atop the base  102 , placing the bladder  22  within the first end cap  110 , and outwardly extending the bladder&#39;s deployment straps  12  toward and beyond the short walls or corners of the first end cap  110 . The sleeve  112  is inserted within the first end cap  110  around the bladder  22  and over the extended deployment straps  12 . The deployment straps  12  are positioned along the exterior short walls of the sleeve  112  and placed under the restraint bands  115 . 
         [0037]    The routine  200  continues from operation  202  to operation  204 , where the bladder  22  is filled with material  101  and the bladder fitting  24  capped or otherwise closed. The restraint insert  118  is inserted within the sleeve  112  with the bladder fitting  24  extending through the bladder fitting aperture  120 . 
         [0038]    The routine  200  continues from operation  204  to operation  206 , where the vertical restraint system (VRS)  130  is attached to the aerial delivery container  100 . One method of attaching the VRS  130  is to attach one end of each VRS restraint tie  132  to a VRS anchor  108  and thread the opposite end of each restraint tie  132  through the laterally associated restraint aperture  116 , the VRS restraint tie severing device  134 , the diagonally associated restraint aperture  116 , and attach the opposite end of the VRS restraint tie  132  to the laterally associated VRS anchor  108 . To the severing device  134  is attached a VRS severing device lanyard  138  with opposite lengths and ends extended toward and beyond the opposite short walls or corners of the aerial delivery container  100 . 
         [0039]    After the VRS restraint ties  132  are attached the second end cap  122  is positioned over the sleeve  112  with an orientation similar to the base  102 . The opposite ends of the severing device lanyard  138  are threaded through the laterally associated end cap apertures  124 , and the lengths are drawn together and attached such that the severing device lanyard  138  forms a loop connecting the severing device  134  to the second end cap  122 . Four end cap deployment lines  142  are provided; the ends of each deployment line  142  are threaded through a respective end cap aperture  124 , and attached to the laterally associated deployment strap  12  through the respective strap loop  14 . Two end cap ties  144  are provided and each are attached to a VRS anchor  108  located at opposite sides of the base  102  such that the end cap  122  is secured along each outer edge to construct the illustrated aerial delivery system  140 . 
         [0040]    The routine  200  continues from operation  206  to operation  208 , where one or more aerial delivery systems  140  are loaded onto an aircraft and, following the container tie down and restraint procedures applicable to that aircraft, are secured in the cargo hold. An end cap tie cutter  146  which is a gyro-cutter with timer and timer initiating pin may be attached to one or more of the aerial delivery systems  140 . This operation may include preparing for the activation of the timer on one or more aerial delivery systems  140 . 
         [0041]    The routine  200  continues from operation  208  to operation  210 , where the aerial delivery system  140  is deployed from the aircraft. With the aircraft in flight, as each aerial delivery system  140  is deployed the end cap tie gyro-cutters are activated. With the end cap ties  144  absent or severed, as an aerial delivery system  140  free-falls the second end cap  122  catches air between its overhanging edges and the aerial delivery container  100 . With the upward pressure of air resistance applied to the bottom surface of the second end cap  122  the VRS restraint tie severing device  134  is pulled upwardly with sufficient force to sever the VRS restraint ties  132 . As the second end cap  122  continues to pull away from the free-falling aerial delivery container  100  the tension in the deployment lines  142  increases sufficiently to generate a force great enough to draw or pull the deployment straps  12 . A sufficient drawing or pulling of the deployment straps  12  causes the deployment straps  12  to be pulled outwardly and tear the bladder  12 , which results in the aerial delivery of the contents of the bladder  12 . After aerial delivery of the material  101  at operation  210  the routine  200  ends at  212 . 
         [0042]    The subject matter described above is provided by way of illustration only and should not be construed as limiting. Various modifications and changes may be made to the subject matter described herein without following the exemplary embodiments and applications illustrated and described, and without departing from the true spirit and scope of the present disclosure, which is set forth in the following claims.