Patent GB-816590-A (GB)
Abstract: 816,590. Parachute harness. PIONEER PARACHUTE CO. Inc. May 28, 1957 [June 19, 19561, No. 16934/57. Class 141 [Also in Group XXV] A parachute harness of the type having releasable connectors 10, 12, 20 and 22 for holding the harness in place on a wearer and a handle 56 for simultaneously actuating all the connectors is characterized in that the handle 56 is telescopically contractible to a first position in which it is locked so that the connectors cannot be released and expandable to a second position in which it is operable to release the connectors. As shown in Fig. 2 each connector has a body 36 in which a pair of latching elements 38 are pivotally mounted the latching elements being held in engagement with a tongue of a link 4 or 24 by a spring 44. The link is released by movement of a slide 40 which is operated by means of a cable 42 from the handle 56, the slide being connected to the latching elements by pivoted arms 43. The slide is urged to the latching position by a spring 46. The cables 42 are connected to a drum 52 which is rotated by the handle 56 the drum being enclosed within a housing 48 mounted on a base 50 of a chest piece 18 carrying the bodies 36 of the connectors. The handle 56 is connected to a flattened end 58 of a rotatable stud 54 on which the drum is mounted and the handle is movable in an arc to rotate the drum. The handle extends through a slot 60 formed in a flange 62 integral with the housing 48, the slot having enlarged openings 66, 68 at its ends joined by two offset portions 70, 72 to a central transverse channel 74; thus movement of the handle from the enlarged opening 66 of the slot towards the enlarged opening 68 requires three successive movements. The handle comprises a telescoping sleeve 76 surrounding an inner tubular portion 78 and a rod 80 extends through the portion 78 and is surrounded by a spring 82 which urges the sleeve 76 outwardly. When the sleeve is pressed inwards against the action of the spring it can enter either the opening 66 or the opening 68 so that the handle is held in one or other opening. The sleeve 76 is provided with a collar 84 surrounding the rod 80 and this is movable axially of the rod into and out of engagement with a stop 86 on the end of the rod. Locking balls 88 are located in radial bores 90 near the outer end of the collar and move beneath the stop 86 when the sleeve 78 is depressed against the action of spring 82. A cap 92 slidably fitted over the end of the collar holds the balls in their locking position. The cap is formed with an annular recess 96 so that when the cap is depressed against the action of a spring 94 the balls can move into the recess from beneath the stop 86 and the collar and sleeve 76 are then moved by the spring to the extended position of the handle. Movement of the cap 92 is limited by a member 98 and the cap is enclosed within a flexible rubber cover 100. When the handle sleeve 76 is in the enlarged opening 66 release of the connectors is prevented; movement of the handle to the transverse channel 74 pulls the cables 42 sufficiently to move the slide 40 of each connector to an intermediate position in which the links 4 and 24 can be inserted into openings in the body 36 of each connector the tongues on the links snapping into engagement with the latching elements. When the handle is moved to the position of the enlarged opening 68 the cables 42 are pulled sufficiently to withdraw the latching elements from engagement with the tongues of the links so that the connectors are then released; the handle may be held in this position by depressing the sleeve 76. Movement of the handle through the transverse channel 74 is permitted by the fact that the handle is a sliding fit on the flattened end 58 of the stud 54 the movement taking place against the pressure of a spring 71 which is held in place by a plate 73.