US 2004OO16851A1

(19) United States

(76) Inventor: Daniel Preston, Kew Gardens, NY (51) Int. Cl." ..................................................... B64D 17/00
(US) (52) U.S. Cl. .............................................................. 244/146
Correspondence Address:
MINTZ, LEVIN, COHN, FERRIS,
GLOWSKY and POPEO, PC. (57) ABSTRACT
One Financial Center
Boston, MA 02111 (US)
A ram air parachute of the present invention includes
(21) Appl. No.: 10/315,486 Specific croSS porting of the ribs between certain cells to
(22) Filed: Dec. 9, 2002 create a two-stage or multi-stage deployments. CroSS ports
between certain Sets of cells have reduced or no conduc
Related U.S. Application Data tance. In this manner, the center cells of the canopy open
first, Slowing decent, before the Outer cells. The Staged
(60) Provisional application No. 60/340,910, filed on Dec. deployment reduces the opening forces on the pilot particu
7, 2001. larly in high Speed flights.
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US 2004/OO16851 A1 Jan. 29, 2004

RAM AIR PARACHUTE WITH MULTISTAGE profile of the airfoil is far more important aerodynamicly
DEPLOYMENT than the bottom profile. U.S. Pat. No. 4,930,927 illustrates
Such a design. Cross-braced designs Suffers from a number
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION of drawbacks. Cross-bracing results in very complicated
construction, high manufacturing costs, and increased pack
0001) 1. Field of the Invention ing Volume. The Standard croSS braced design is a tri cell
0002 The invention relates to generally to parachutes and construction with a packing Volume approximately 25%
more particularly to ram air parachutes having an improved larger than an equivalent non-croSS braced design. Further
canopy design providing reduced opening forces. more, the increased rigidneSS induced by the croSS-bracing
creates higher opening forces for the pilot. Typically, large
0003 2. Discussion of Related Art croSS porting is used on all of the cells to reduce pack
0004 Parachutes have evolved over the years into highly Volume which does nothing to slow the canopy’s inflation on
Sophisticated Systems, and often include features that deployment. The opening forces can be So Severe that they
improve the Safety, maneuverability, and overall reliability can jar the jumper's body causing discomfort and even
of the parachutes. Initially, parachutes included a round Serious injuries. Although designers have implemented
canopy. A skydiver was connected to the canopy via a “formed” noses, larger Sliders, moved bridal attachment
harneSS/container to Suspension lines disposed around the points and modified line trims to try to Soften the openings
periphery of the canopy. Such parachutes Severely lacked of Such cross-braced canopies, it has generally yielded only
control. The user was driven about by winds with little limited improvement. Prior art canopies use croSS porting in
mechanism for altering direction. Furthermore, Such para their ribs. Upon deployment of the canopy air enters the
chutes had a single descent rate based upon the size of the center cell inlet first and then rapidly inflates the canopy
canopy and the weight of the parachutist. They could not through the crossports and presenting inlets. Slow motion
generate lift and slowed descent only by providing drag. video will show that canopies substantially fully inflate
0005. In the mid-1960's the parasol canopy was invented. before the slider is pushed "/3 to /2 of the way down the
Since then, variations of the parasol canopy have replaced suspension lines. As the lines are restricted routing
round canopies for most applications, particularly for aero through the slider grommets the inflating canopy can’t
nautics and the Sport industry. The parasol canopy, also maintain a straight leading edge. Instead it violently
known as a ram air canopy, is formed of two layers of Snakes until the slider is pushed down far enough. This
Snaking is undesirable causing off heading deployments
material-a top skin and a bottom skin. The skins may have and in higher performance elliptical planforms frequent
different shapes but are commonly rectangular or elliptical. line twists or spinning malfunctions.
The two layers are separated by vertical ribs to form cells.
The top and bottom skins are separated at the lower front of 0008. This method in which a ram air canopy inflates
the canopy to form inlets. During descent, air enters the cells once deployed in freefall has remained basically unchanged
of the canopy through the inlets. The vertical ribs are shaped for 30 years since the invention of slider reefing. At that time
to maintain the canopy in the form of an airfoil when filled the terminal Velocity of a jumper or maX Speed a jumper
with air. Suspension lines are attached along at least Some of would reach before deploying their parachute was typically
the ribs to maintain the Structure and the orientation of the 120 mph. In the last 10 years new flying disciplines has led
canopy relative to the pilot. The canopy of the ram air to significantly higher terminal Velocities. In the early days
parachute functions as a wing to provide lift and forward the only style of body flight in freefall was a belly to earth
motion. Guidelines operated by the user allow deformation position that limited terminal velocity to about 120 mph,
of the canopy to control direction and Speed. Ram air now a days freeflyers fall with their body positioned
parachutes have a high degree of maneuverability. Vertically typically head down and fall at average speeds of
140-180 mph, and speed divers fly in vertical positions
0006 Canopies are flexible and stretchable membrane with arms and legs tucked in Streamlined and can reach
Structures, they distort based upon mechanical and aerody speeds of over 300 mph. At speeds over 120 with prior art
namic tensions, Stresses, airflows and pressure distribution. canopies a jumper runs the Serious risk of injury and even
Although a cell is modeled as having a basically rectangular death from the increased opening Shock. Prior art canopies
croSS Section, when inflated the shape distorts towards round open faster as your speed at deployment increases. Jumpers
with complex distortions. Typically, in a ram air parachute, who fly at higher Speeds endeavor to Slow down during
Suspension lines not attached to every rib, thus creating freefall before deploying the parachute by transitioning to a
loaded ribs (i.e., ribs to which Suspension lines are attached) belly to earth position and waiting, but they often do not
and non-loaded ribs (i.e., ribs which do not have Suspension Slow Sufficiently to achieve acceptable opening forces. Addi
lines attached thereto). Non loaded ribs will float higher than tionally there is always the common possibility of a prema
the loaded ribs creating an additional certain amount of ture deployment where your canopy is deployed uninten
Span-wise aerodynamic distortion on the top skin of the tionally early in the dive. Therefore, a need exists for a safer
airfoil. This distortion is aerodynamically undesirable and parachute providing reduced opening force at the higher
reduces the efficiency and performance of the canopy. decent rates being practiced.
0007. In order to keep the loaded and non-loaded ribs SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
level and to improve upon the aerodynamics of the canopy,
cross-bracing between ribs has been added to Some canopy 0009. The present invention Substantially overcomes the
designs. CroSS bracing is the use of diagonal ribs in addition deficiencies of the prior art through a canopy having mul
to vertical ribs to create more loaded rib-top skin junctions tistage deployment. According to one aspect of the present
without adding more lines which would increase drag and invention, the conductance of croSS porting in the ribs of the
possible deployment malfunctions. Perfection of the top canopy is restricted at certain locations to control the infla
US 2004/OO16851 A1 Jan. 29, 2004

tion of the canopy. In particular, a canopy of the present BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
invention has a first Set of ribs with a first croSS porting 0012 FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a ram air parachute.
Structure and a Second Set of ribs with a Second croSS porting
Structure. The first croSS porting Structure allows greater 0013 FIG. 2 is a side view of a rib of a ram air parachute
flow of air from one cell to an adjacent cell. The Second according to the prior art.
croSS porting Structure limits airflow. Thus, upon deploy 0014 FIGS. 3A and 3B are side view of ribs of a ram air
ment, cells connected with the Second croSS porting structure parachute according to an embodiment of the present inven
are inflated more Slowly. The pilot experiences lower open tion.
ing forces at Several different times until the canopy is fully
deployed. Furthermore, the partial opening of the canopy 0.015 FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate staged inflation of a
Slows decent before the Subsequent Stages occur. According ram air parachute according to an embodiment of the
to another aspect of the invention, a nine cell canopy opens invention.
in two stages consisting of the center three cells in a first 0016 FIGS. 5A-5H illustrate inflation over time of a ram
Stage and the outer Six cells in a Second Stage. air canopy according to an embodiment of the present
0010. According to another aspect of the invention, a invention.
canopy of the present invention includes croSS porting in ribs 0017 FIGS. 6A and 6B are side views illustrating trim
which varies over the entire Span of the canopy. The con of a ram air parachute according to embodiments of the
ductance of the cross-ports are reduced from the center cell present invention.
towards the end cells by reducing the croSS-port area in
Subsequent ribs. Deployment of a canopy with Such croSS SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
porting results in a slowed and more ordered opening. The
inner cells open first, which slows decent, followed by 0018 FIG. 1 illustrates a canopy of a ram air parachute
adjacent cells till the end cells. The pilot experiences lower 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The
opening force over the time period of the delayed opening. ram air parachute 10 includes a top skin 21 and bottom skin
According to another aspect of the invention, a canopy of the 22. A plurality of vertical ribs 31, 32, 33 are formed between
present invention can maintain a Straight leading edge the top skin 21 and the bottom skin 22 forming a plurality
through deployment. The center cell will inflate first and as of cells 41, 42, 43. Typically, ram air parachutes to which the
the remaining cells inflate in Sequence the leading edge present invention applies have Seven or nine cells. However,
unrolls from the center towards the end cells. According to any number of cells can be used in connection with the
another aspect of the invention, a canopy of the present present invention. Suspension lines 51, 52, 53, 54 are
invention allows Safer higher Speed deployments. By attached to at least some of the plurality of ribs. Not all of
restricting inlet air from the center cells a canopy is created the suspension lines are shown in FIG. 1. Generally, Sus
that has far leSS spreading force to push the Slider down. pension lines are attached to every other rib in the ram air
Therefore at higher Speeds the aerodynamic force holding parachute. The Suspension lines are connected together to
the Slider up is greater than the slider force pushing it down. provide proper Suspension of the user below the canopy and
The slider is effectively prevented from coming down the maintain the Structure and the orientation of the canopy with
lines until the center inflated cells decelerate the Speed as respect to the pilot. FIG. 1 illustrates and elliptical canopy,
opposed to prior art canopies that will open faster at higher but any shape canopy could be used. During operation of the
Speeds, the inventive canopy can open slower with increas ram air parachute 10, the cells 41, 42, 43 of the canopy fill
ing Speed over a particular design range. With the inventive with air and create an airfoil shape for the canopy. The airfoil
canopy peak opening forces have been measured in the 6-8 shape of the canopy induces forward motion, illustrated as
grange at Speeds up to 256 mph. Where as prior art canopies 60, to the canopy and the user. Canopies may or may not
have been recorded at over 50 g at speeds of only 150 mph. have croSS braces for controlling the deployed shape of the
A 6 g opening is Soft and almost unnoticeable, 10 g’s is canopy. The present invention is applicable to either type of
painful, over 13 g’s you begin to See injuries, i.e. spinal canopy.
fractures in the neck. 0019 Upon deployment, air enters the inlets at the front
0.011 Prior art canopies almost exclusively use the same edge of the cells. The air inflates the canopy to form the
airfoil. With this airfoil it is desirable to suspend the jumper airfoil shape. In order to control the Speed of deployment, a
towards the nose of the canopy. According to another aspect Slider (not shown) is attached to the Suspension lines below
of the invention, the chosen airfoil, planform and trim is the canopy. Slider are generally known in the art as illus
Such to allow the to jumper to be Suspended back from the trated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,005,785. A slider is a rectangular
leading edge of the Wing. The parachute with trim according piece of material with grommets at the four corners. The
Suspension lines are grouped through the grommets. During
to this embodiment of the invention when the parachute deployment, the Slider is forced downward by the Spreading
deploys exhibits a pronounced un-folding of the leading force of the inflating canopy. The relative wind provides
edge from the center cells outward as the Slider decends resistance to slow the slider from traveling down the lines.
unrestricting the lines. AS Such upon deployment, the inlets In addition to air entering a cell through its corresponding
to the outer cells are not exposed to airflow until the slider inlet, air can pass through croSS ports, or openings, in the ribs
has move at least part of the way down the Suspension lines. from one cell to another.
According to this aspect of the invention, croSS porting to the
outer cells is limited. Thus, the outer cells inflate less rapidly 0020 Typically, the cross ports in the ribs are substan
than the interior cells of the canopy Since the inlets and croSS tially the same for all of the ribs of the canopy. As illustrated
porting are reduced. Deployment of the canopy is slowed in FIG. 2, the ribs of a typical canopy have a substantial
and opening forces are reduced. number of croSS ports. According to an embodiment of the
US 2004/OO16851 A1 Jan. 29, 2004

present invention, the croSS ports on ribs is varied. For a typical configuration. FIG. 5B illustrates the placement of
example, according to a first embodiment, the ribs between the pilot in the present invention. The pilot is moved away
the third and fourth cells and the sixth and seventh cells of from the front edge of the canopy. This results in slightly
a nine cell canopy have no croSS porting or Substantially longer Suspension lines connected to the front edge of the
reduced cross ports. FIG. 3A illustrates cross ports for these canopy in the present invention. When the parachute is
ribs according to an embodiment of the present invention. packed, the line trim and planform of the present invention
The remaining ribs have greater cross porting. FIG. 3B causes the front edge of the canopy at the Outer Sides to be
illustrates croSS ports on the remaining ribs according to an folded or compliressed under. With the configuration of the
embodiment of the invention. With limited cross ports, air present invention, the inlets to the center cells are exposed
cannot easily pass from the innermost three cells to the outer to the inrush of air before the outer cells. Since the inlets
cells. The outer cells do not have as much air entering from need to be exposed to inflate the canopy, the center cells
the inlets as the inner cells, due to the position they are put inflate before the outer cells. The line-trim Set and packing
in with the slider in the up position. Therefore, without cross further Slows down deployment of the canopy and reduces
porting, the inner cells will fully inflate before the outer opening forces. The slowed deployment of the canopy of the
cells. This results in a two stage deployment. At an inter present invention limits heat generated by the Slider on the
mediate stage, as illustrated in FIG. 4A, the inner three cells Suspension lines. This reduces Stretching and breaking of
are inflated while the outer six cells are still compressed. The lines and extends their useful life.
partially open canopy Slows the decent of the parachute, and 0024. While the present inventions have been described
pilot. When the decent slows, the forces holding up the slider with a certain degree of particularity, it is obvious from the
drop. Thus, the reduced spreading force becomes Sufficient foregoing detailed description that one skilled in the art may
to push the slider down the lines allowing the remaining make one or more modifications which are Suggested by the
cells to inflate, as illustrated in FIG. 4B. The opening forces above descriptions of the novel embodiments.
on the pilot are reduced by dividing them into the two stages
and over a longer period of time. 1. A ram air parachute comprising:
0021. In the first embodiment, the conductance of the a top skin;
croSS ports between certain cells is eliminated or Substan
tially reduced. Reduction of croSS port conductance can be a bottom skin opposite the top skin;
accomplished in various ways. The present invention is not a plurality of ribs between the top skin and bottom skin to
limited to the type or extent of croSS ports in any particular form a plurality of cells, wherein at least one rib has
rib. Through Selection of a desired level of cross porting and cross porting of lower conductance from the cross
the dimension of the slider and the cells, the decent rate at porting of at least one other rib,
which the Second Stage of deployment occurs can be
adjusted. Additionally, the present invention is not limited to a plurality of Suspension lines attached to the bottom skin;
two deployment Stages. CroSS porting between any number and
of cells may be eliminated or reduced to create Several a slider movably connected to the plurality of Suspension
different Stages. Furthermore, the croSS porting can decrease lines to slow deployment of the parachute.
in each of the ribs going from the center of the canopy to the 2. The ram air parachute according to claim 1, wherein the
outside. Such croSS porting allows each Set of cells, from the plurality of ribs includes:
center outwards, to open in Succession. This results in a
controlled deployment at a slower rate than without the a first plurality of ribs having a first level of croSS porting
present invention. FIGS. 5A-5H illustrate deployment with conductance;
time codes of a canopy according to the present invention. a Second plurality of ribs having a Second level of croSS
0022 Prior art canopies open faster with increased force porting conductance; a stage rib between the first
at increased speeds. However, with the design according to plurality of ribs and the second plurality of ribs having
the present invention, increased Speeds causes the delay a level of croSS porting conductance which is less than
between the first Stage one and the Second Stage to increase. the first level and the second level.
While the opening forces can be higher at faster Speeds, the 3. The ram air parachute according to claim 1, wherein
two Stages Significantly reduces the peak opening forces each of the ribs in the plurality of ribs includes a level or
experienced by delaying how much of the canopy is pre croSS porting conductance Such that the conductance of croSS
Sented at high Speed until the Speed is reduced by the partial porting for ribs towards the center of the canopy is higher
deployment of the canopy. Tests have shown more than a ten than the level for ribs towards the outside of the canopy.
times reduction in the opening force at high Speeds with the 4. A method of deploying a ram air parachute having a
present invention over prior art canopies. This is important plurality of cells in Stages by controlling the conductance of
as parachute deployment at “free-fly style” Speeds can and its inflation air from the center cells to Subsequent outer
has resulted in Serious injuries and deaths. cells.
7. The method of clam 4 further comprising the step of:
0023. In another embodiment of the present invention,
design techniques, including plan-form and line-trim Set, creating a line trim, planform geometry which causes
provide additional control of the parachute deployment. In presentation of the cell inlets in order from the center
this embodiment of the invention, the Suspension line trim is towards end cells as a slider moves down Suspension
adjusted to prevent the nose of the outer cells from being lines on the ram air parachute.
presented during the first stage of deployment. FIG. 5A
illustrates the placement of a pilot relative to the canopy in