Abstract:
The invention concerns a releasing mechanism for a parachute which is stowed in a container held closed by a safety string against the pulling force of a preloaded spring. This safety string is fixed to a container and can be released by action of an energy storage, e.g. a detonator or a preloaded spring. The energy set free by controlled ignition or triggering can either destroy or release the safety string.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation-in-part application of application Ser. No. 07/164,152, filed Mar. 4, 1988, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,858,856. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention concerns a releasing device for a parachute which is, in the state for use, folded or disposed in a receptacle and held together by a securing member against the force of an unholding preloaded spring, said releasing device having means for actuating said disconnecting means under predetermined conditions. 
     2. Background Information 
     According to the U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/164,152, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,858,856 filed, Mar. 4, 1988, the retaining means consists of a securing string controlled by a disconnecting device which contains an energy store discharged by an electrical trigger signal. The disconnecting device is positioned in a container with holes for passage of the securing string, the holes being closed by the disconnecting device after having severed the securing string through discharge of the energy storage. The energy storage might be, e.g., a preloaded spring or a detonator acting on a cutting blade. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The objective of the invention is to provide a disconnecting device for the safety string which is not acting via a cutting device but by means of a direct separation. 
     The solution of this task is that the retaining means consists of a safety string positioned in a container together with the energy storage, where the safety string can be disconnected by the effect of the energy discharged. 
     One of the possible configurations is that the retaining means consists of a detonator which holds or contains or surrounds the safety string and sets free the safety string after ignition. 
     A further configuration possible is the construction of the safety string in a way that a part of it consists of a combustible material such as gun cotton, so that the energy storage is provided by the material itself which is destroyed after ignition and releases the securing string. Another configuration is that the retaining means of the safety string is a bolt and the energy storage a pre-loaded spring or a detonator which moves the bolt and thereby releases the safety string after having been triggered. 
     The triggering of the energy conversion in the energy storage is preferably achieved by an electric signal, but a mechanical release or percussion priming are further possibilities. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view which shows a parachute rig with a partially opened reserve canopy container. 
     FIG. 2 is an elevational view which shows a first configuration of a detonator controlled retaining device, enlarged and shown in a partial cross-section. 
     FIG. 3 is an elevational view, partly in cross-section which shows another configuration with a detonator controlled retaining device. 
     FIG. 4 shows a configuration with a spring controlled, bolt-acted retaining device in cross-section. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1 shows a parachute rig with a partially opened reserve canopy container. The upper container (2) contains the reserve canopy which is used in emergency situations. This reserve canopy (3A) is attached to a pilot chute (3B) while a spring (4) in the pilot chute (3B) serves for the deployment. Closing the system, the flaps are compressed against the spring (4) and the equipment is held together when the pins (24,25) can be removed by the skydiver pulling the handle (27), in case he is conscious. The new release device is located inside the reserve container (2) and it cuts the safety rope (21) underneath the grommets. This creates an independant mechanism for the opening. A cable connected to a display and push-button control unit (60) can be located inside or outside the container (2). 
     The disconnecting device (1) is located in a container (5) where the safety string enters and where it is attached. 
     The lower container (10) contains the main canopy which is not affected by the invention 
     The safety string (21&#39;), instead of being positioned on both sides, can also be placed in a central position, being connected to a rest (1) with a holder (5&#39;) and having a loop held by a pin on its other side. 
     FIG. 2 shows a first configuration of a disconnecting means consisting of a hollow cylindrical container (5) and a detonator. One part of the container is shown open. The container (5) is closed on one end and provided with a flange, its other side contains one end of the safety string (21) with a squeeze connector (53). An electric ignition cable (61) which is passing through a nipple (62) leads to the detonator (51). When igniting the detonator (51), the container (5) is enlarged in such a way that the squeeze connector (53) is loosened and the safety string (21) set free. 
     FIG. 3 shows another configuration of the disconnecting means in a semiopened view. It consists of a hollow cylindrical container (5) which is closed on one end and has a flange (52) for connection. The terminal section of the safety string (21) is fashioned as a loop and is made from a combustible material, e.g., gun cotton; it leads into a container (5) where it is fixed with a pin (56). The looped terminal section (210) is attached to the safety string (21) by a squeeze connector. The combustible material is surrounded by an electrical ignition coil (67) which is connected with an ignition cable (61) passing through a nipple (62) where it enters the container (5). 
     FIG. 4 shows a vertical cross-section of a further holding and disconnecting device in the container (50). The safety string (21) has a stopping at its end, with a boring or a notch (71) checked by a holding pin (72). The stopping (70) is located in a receptacle (73) of the container which has a cylindrical space (74) with a mobile piston (75). At one end of the piston there is a holding pin (72) and on the other end there is a supporting pin (76) in the axial direction of the piston. Around the holding pin (75), a preloaded spring (77) is placed as energy storage, attached to the piston (75) at one end and supported by the frontal part of the receptacle (73) at the other end. The supporting pin (76) bears a ball (78) at its end which rests on a support (81) closing a boring (82) where the supporting pin (76) can enter, the support being connected to the keeper of an electric magnet (80). The electric magnet (80) can be activated via the cable (61) and then retracts the support (81). Then the supporting pin (76) can enter the boring (82) while the spring (77) unloads and pushes back the piston (75) with the holding pin (72) which sets free the stopping (70) and the safety string (21). The container (50) has flanges for attachment (83). Instead of the stopping with a boring or a notch at the end of the safety string, a loop secured by a holding pin could be added to the safety spring. 
     A configuration with a safety string on both sides of the parachute container allows the joining of both string ends in a holding device where they can be held and released. Furthermore, the configurations according to FIG. 2 and 3 could hold and release two strings instead of one.