Patent GB-493958-A (GB)
Title: Parachutes, parachute harness and the release mechanism relating thereto
IPC: B64D17/52
Filed: 1937-05-05
Abstract: 493,958. Parachute equipment. TAYLOR, E. H. May 5, 1937, No. 12806. [Class 4] Detachable pack parachute equipment comprises means whereby the act of connecting the pack to the airman's harness or equivalent simultaneously effects connection between the pack locking means and release control means on to harness or equivalent. As applied to harness 1 provided with a seat cushion 5 adapted to rest on a pack 6, lift webs 2 extending from the wearer's shoulders terminate in the region of the hips and are secured to snaphooks 4 which are located by spring clips 12 mounted on metal plates 11 fastened to the harness. Mounted on plate 11 is a bracket 13 between the walls of which is mounted a pawl 14 urged outwardly by a spring 15. The parachute load lines are divided into two groups and are united directly or through the intermediary of a webbing strip 20 to D-rings adapted for engagement with the snap-hooks 4 disposed on each side of the wearer. One rip cord 7 is provided and is enclosed in a tube 8 located at the upper end in a lug formed in a fitting 16, Fig. 4, in which is also located D-ring 10, Fig. 3, by engagement of its sides in grooves 17 formed in the fitting. The rip cord passes through a cross-bar 9 of ring 10 and is provided with a nipple at its end. In order to secure the parachute to the harness, fitting 16 is moved to cause the D-ring 10 to engage the snap-hook 4 and the D-ring on the other side to engage the corresponding snap-hook. Simultaneously, an inwardly projecting cross-bar 18, formed on fitting 16 is guided by slots 19 in bracket 13 into engagement with pawl 14. Since fitting 16 is now held fast to the harness, manual disengagement of snap-hook 4 from clip 12 will cause D-ring 10 to be drawn out of fitting 16 thereby causing actuation of the rip cord 7 to release the parachute. A rip cord may be associated with snap-hook 4 terminating in a rip ring mounted on the harness. In a modification, Figs. 5 and 7, a snap-hook 25 is formed or provided with a slipper 24 adapted to engage in a slot 23 formed in a harness fitting 22 which is also provided with a slot 26 in which is located a spring-pressed pawl 33. Slipper 24 is formed with a notch 35 adapted to be engaged by a detent 36 carried by a spring blade 38. A fitting 28 which takes the place of the fitting 16 of Fig. 1 similarly carries a D-ring 42 connected to the shroud lines and to the rip cord and is formed with a catch 27 adapted to engage pawl 33 and with a bracket for the attachment of the rip cord sheath. Slipper 24 is longitudinally slotted to receive a rip cord 39 connected to a rip ring 40 at one end and carrying a nipple 41 at the other. Upward movement of the nipple on pulling of the rip ring first displaces spring blade 38 to free the detent 36 and next by engaging the bottom surface of the slipper draws the slipper and snap-hook clear of slot 26 and at the same time D-ring 42 out of fitting 28. According to a modification, the rip ring and cord and detent 36 may be omitted, release being effected by a direct pull on the snap-hook.