Improvements relating to Parachutes.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Aug., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 7th Oct., 1896-Accepted, 7th Nov.. 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Parachutes.
I WILLIAM COWELL SLY of 21 Tressillian Crescent, Brockley in the County
of Kent, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide a parachute which will be open from
the very commencement of the descent from a balloon or a building, thus ensuring
a safe and certain support during the descent.
The parachute may be made in the usual manner, and I attach preferably all
round the edge an air-tight tube of suitable dimensions and of light material.
This tube, when blown out, will form a pneumatic ring all round the edge of the
parachute, and will give rigidity, and serve to keep the parachute extended without
adding any appreciable weight.
I may also provide what I may term pneumatic ribs, which will also serve to
stretch the cover perfectly tight.
1 also prefer to have a small hole at the top of the cover, which I may surround
with a pneumatic ring.
These pneumatic rings and ribs may be divided into independent sections, if
desired, so that, if, by accident, one section becomes punctured or otherwise rendered
unserviceable, the others will serve for the desired purpose.
It will be obvious that I may employ any number of these rings at any part of
the cover, and with or without the ribs.
I may also employ radial pneumatic stays to the ring or rings, if found
necessary.
The rings &c. will be filled in any convenient manner with some suitable gaseous
fluid, or the filling may be effected automatically when a wind is blowing, by means
of a wind sail, or equivalent arrangement conducting the wind to the interior of the
tubes.
L: 18th dro of A noust 1898
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements relating to Parachutes.
I WILLIAM COWELL SLY of 21 Tressillian Crescent, Brockley in the County
of Kent, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
The present invention has reference to means whereby parachutes, and similar
aerial conveyances, may be mechanically opened, and held open, so as to prevent
them from collapsing in an improper or untimely manner.

page_text: Hitherto the means suggested to this end have comprised a more or less rigid
framework of metal or wood, which is inconvenient for transport and manipulation,
besides adding considerably to the weight of the parachute.
According to this invention, I employ, in connection with a parachute, balloon,
or similar aerial conveyance, one or more airtight tubes attached to the material
of the parachute, which tubes are capable of inflation by means of a bellows, air
pump, or similar appliance. When sufficiently inflated, the tubes assume a rigidity
which will cause the parachute to assume and retain the degree of expansion
predetermined and required.
In the accompanying drawings, I have shown various arrangements of tubes by
way of illustrating my invention.
Fig. 1 shows, in side view, a distended parachute ;
Fig. 2 is a plan thereof;
Fig. 3 shows, in side view, a balloon provided with a single inflated ring
'or rib;
Fig. 4 shows a plan thereof;
Fig. 5 shows, in side view, a cigar-shaped air-ship strengthened with a series of
inflated tubes;
Fig. 6 is an end view of the same; and
Figs. 7 and 8 show, in detached front view and section, a mode of attaching the
air tube to the edge of a parachute.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, A, B, C are three air-tight or pneumatic rings of
varnished or oiled silk, india rubber, or other suitable material, connected together
by air-tight ribs or stays D. These rings and stays, secured inside the skin of the
parachute H, are inflated to a convenient pressure, through air-inlet tube E, by
any suitable means. On being fully inflated, these pneumatic rings and ribs will
expand the parachute H, and render it fully open, also giving it rigidity and
strength (without adding appreciably to its weight) to support the parachutist
without collapsing. A hole can be left at h for the convenience of working and
releasing the parachute from the balloon or roof of building. F F are ropes
passing over the top of the parachute, and depending to support the parachutist.
The pneumatic rings A, B, C, and ribs D, can be inflated simultaneously from one
inlet E, or they can, if preferred, be divided into compartments, to be separately
inflated.
Referring to Figs. 3, A is an inflated ring encircling the balloon H¹, and forming
part of the cover thereof. Should the gas escape from the balloon, from any
accidental cause, the latter will be prevented from entirely collapsing by the ring A,
which will hold the fabric distended, thus forming a parachute, and retarding the
velocity of its descent.
För elongated balloons or cigar-shaped aerial vessels, I use a series of rings and
ribs filled with air sufficiently to give them the necessary rigidity, as shown in
Figs. 5 and 6, thus transforming them into parachutes in case of bursting, as well
as giving rigidity to the structure, and preventing collapse.
may remark that I have found that an inflated ring having a section of
12 inches, or thereabouts, will hold distended a parachute of 20 feet diameter. It
is obvious, however, that the dimensions and capacity of the inflated framework
must depend upon circumstances. The rings may be placed either inside or outside
the balloons and aerial vessels, and each ring may be inflated separately, or the
whole framework of rings and ribs may be inflated simultaneously.
For attaching a ring to the edge of a parachute, tabs G may be employed
(see Figs. 7 and 8), terminating in hooks g, to engage with eyes or button-holes
in the fabric. By this means, a ready mode of attachment and detachment is
provided.
It will be understood that the employment of inflatable stays or ribs does not
interfere with the portability of the parachute or balloon, as they are readily
deflated, and do not augment the weight in any material degree.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
The combination with aerial conveyances, of a framework of air-tight tubes
arranged to give, when inflated, mechanical expansion to such conveyances, as and
for the purpose above set forth.
3000
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.