Patent GB-443872-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to parachute packs
IPC: B64D17/52
Filed: 1935-06-18
Abstract: 443,872. Pack parachutes. IRVING AIR CHUTE OF GREAT BRITAIN, Ltd., Icknield Way, Letchworth, Hertfordshire. June 18, 1935, No. 17555. Convention date, April 8. [Class 4] Relates to pack para chutes of the kind adaptec for manual or static cord release and wherein the static cord is adapted to be automatically disconnected from the pack upon release of the parachute retaining flaps. The invention is shown applied to a seat type pack of conventional design Figs. 1 and 2, embodying main side flaps 14, 15, and end flaps 16, 17 which are secured in the closed position by studs 22 on flap 15 which pass through eyelets 23 on flap 14, and through apertures formed in metal tongues 24 25 secured to flaps 16, 17 respectively, the eyelets and tongues being retained by rip-cord pins 31, 33 passing through openings in the studs. Pins 31, 33 are secured to a short length of flexible wire cable 30, Fig. 10, which passes through an aperture 56 in the closed end 55, Fig. 8, of a guide member 45 mounted on tongue 25 and is soldered at the end remote from pin 31 to a block 36 which is a sliding fit in guide 45. A stop 57 is secured to cable 30 to prevent accidental detachment of the rip-cord pin assembly from guide 45. Guide block 36 is grooved at either side to receive the ends of manual rip cord 40 and of static rip cord 41, respectively. In the closed state of the pack these cords are retained by the side walls of guide 45 and are prevented from endwise movement by stops 61, 81 respectively. Actuation of either cord serves to withdraw the securing pins 31, 33 from studs 22, the cords being automatically detached from member 36 when the latter reaches the fully withdrawn position shown in Fig. 10. Rip cord assembly 40 comprises a flexible cable 60 provided at its upper end with a handle 63 which includes a cross bar 65 adapted to be inserted in a pocket on the wearer's harness. Cable 60 is threaded through an aperture 66 in cross-bar 65 and is prevented from disconnection therefrom by an enlargement 67 at its end. This arrangement permits of the shortening of the effective length of cable 60 without pushing the handle 63 from its retaining pocket. Cable 60 is guided in a flexible metal housing 70 stitched to flap 17 and at intermediate points to parts of the wearer's harness as shown in Fig. 6. The static rip cord assembly 41 comprises a cable 80 adapted to be attached to some part of the aircraft by means of a snaphook 85 and normally housed in spaced pockets 90, 91 stitched to flap 17 as shown in Fig. 2. Pocket 90 is of greater length than pocket 91 in order to prevent fouling of cable 80 by the manual rip cord assembly. A direct pull of cord 80 on member 36 is ensured by the provision of a guide ring 100, Fig. 1. Accidental release of the rip cord cables is guarded against by the provision of a fabric retaining piece 115, Fig. 1, which is stitched at one end over guide member 45 and is secured by snap fasteners 118 at the other in a position where it entirely covers the exposed length of the manual rip cord and almost entirely that of the static cord. Additional safety means may comprise a break cord or a taut elastic cord secured to and stretched between the fastening means and some point on the container.