US1327932A - Parachute - Google Patents

Description

C. L. WELSH.

PARACHUTE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 11, 1919.

Patented J an. 13, 19.20.

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CLYDE L. WELSH, OF PITTSBURGH, PENN SYLITANIA.

PARACHUTE.

Speeieation of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 13, 1920.

Application led April 17, 1919. Serial No. 290,855.

To all whom t concern.'

Be it known that I, CLYDE' L. WELSH, citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Parachutes, of

which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in parachutes and particularly Ito that type of parachute adapted for being attached and carried upon the back'of the aviator.

The primary objects of this invention are to provide a. device of the character described, which may be worn by an aviator without impeding 4his movements in the operation of the aeroplane, and which is positive in its operation by eliminating the' danger of entanglement of the lines to which the case ori dome of the parachgte is attached.

Other objects of this invention are to provide a parachute of the type setj forth which is' simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable and efficient in its use and inexpensive to manufacture.

To the accomplishment of these and such other objects as may hereinaftenappear the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts herein specifically described and illustrated in .the accompanying drawing, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention.

In the drawing forming a portion of this specification and wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts lthroughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved parachute in the open or expanded position.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of the hinged portion of the rim and brace.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the device in its collapsed state as worn by the aviator during alllights.

It is a well known fact, corroborated by statistics, that most of the aviation casualties are due to the fall after the aeroplane has become inoperable from any reason whatsoever, and it is my intention to reduce these casualties to a minimum by providing a compact parachute which is designed to be worn at all times, during a flight, upon the back of the aviator. It is only necessary for the aviator to vleap clear of'his aeroplane when damaged or unmanageable, when the expansion of my improved parachute will 6, and the other ,.end, passing'through the The circular rim 4 carries a plurality o f vspring reels 5 equally'spaced thereon, each of which engages one of the-flexible members 2. The'rim 4 is pivotally connected, by means ofthe hinge 6, to the brace 7, which 1s shaped to conform to the contour of the body of the aviator. Theheavy strap 8, secured'to the brace 7 and adapted to pass under the arms and be buckled across the breast of the aviator, is provided for attachingmy improved parachute to the body of the aviator.

To pallate the inconvenience to the aviator using my improved device, the outer surface of the brace 7 is provided with the cushion' 9. For the purpose of holding the device 4in its collapsed state upon `the back ofthe aviator, I provide a flexible member or guy 10, one end of which is attached to the rim 4 at a point diametrically opposite the hinge aperture 1l in the brace 7 is provided with the ring 12 adapted to engage in the hook 13 which is secured to the s trap 8.

The spring 14, attachedl to the rim 4 and to the brace 7, is of vsufficient strength'to force the rim 4 to a position almost at right angles with respect to the brace 7 when the guy 10 is released by removingv the ring 12 from the hook 13. f f

In practice the operation of my device is as follows: The parachute, in its collapsed state as shown in Fig. v3 of the drawing,- s'strapped upon the back of the aviator' 'by means of the strap 8 which passes under his arms and is securely buckled over his breast. The guy 10 passes between his legs and the ring 12 Aplaced-on the hook 13. The dome 1 will be held in its collapsed position by the tabs 15 which are clamped between the rim 4 and the brace 7. When desiringl 1 0 to make a descent the aviator Will leap clear of his aeroplane and remove the ring 1,2

from the hook '13, which will allow the spring 14 to force the rim el out at right angles oruntil the ring l2 on the guy 10 strikes `the aperture 1l in the brace 7.

The tabsl now being released, the dome l, -now held only by the cords or wires 16 running crosswise in the rim 4:, will be expanded by the currents of air against the under side thereof caused by the rapidity af the descent. The reels 5 will let out their respective lines 2, which are of equal length, until all lines are drawn taut. With the parachute in this position the descent may be safely made. When it is desired to fold the device the spring reels 5 will rewind the lines 2, and the, dome 1 held in collapsed state as heretofore described. The guy line 10 acts as a substantial brace while making `a descent and a plurality of them may used if so desired.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the advantages of the construction and the method of operation will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to `Which the invention appertains, and while describing the principle of operation of the inven-l tion together with the device which is now considered to be the best embodiment thereof it is to be understood that the device shown is merely illustrative and that various changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A parachute` comprising a flexible dome, a rim, a plurality of reels mounted thereon, and flexible members connecting thesaid dome to the reels.

2. A parachute comprising a flexible dome, a rim, a plurality of reels mounted thereon, flexible members connecting the saiddome to the reels and means for securing the said device to the body of an aviator.

A paracute comprising a flexible dome, a circular rim, flexible members connecting the said dome lto the rim, and means for automatically releasing the said flexible members for expanding the dome, substantially as described.

4.- A parachute comprising a flexible dome, a circular rim, flexible members connecting the.. dome to the rim, and means carried on the said rim permitting the release of the flexible members for the purpose l of expanding the said dome.

5. A parachute comprising a flexible dome, a circular rim carrying a plurality of reels, flexible members connecting the dome to the rim, and means hingedly connected necting the dome to the rim, and a plurality" of spring reels carried by the said rim for members for collapsing the said dome, substantially as described and for the purpose Vset forth.

8. A parachute comprising a flexible dome, a circular rim, a plurality of reels mounted thereon, flexible members connecting the dome to the rim, and a brace hingedly connected to the rim for securing the device to the vbody of an aviator.

. 9. A parachute comprising a flexible dome, aL rim carrying a plurality of reels, flexible members connecting the dome to the rim, a brace hingedly attached to the rim, and means for holding the said device in a collapsed position, substantially as described.

' 10. In a parachute the combination comprising a flexible dome, a rim having a plurality of reels mounted thereon, flexible members connecting the dome to the rim, a brace hingedly connected to the rim, and

means for automatically positioning the said rim at right angles with respect to the said brace for expanding the said dome, substantially as described andy for the purpose set forth.

11. In a parachute the combination comprising a flexible dome, a rim having a plurality of reels mounted thereon, flexible membersconnecting the dome to the rim, a brace hingedly connected to the rim, and tabs attached t0,y the dome adapted for being clamped between the rim and the brace for securing the device in a collapsed position, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

12. In a parachute the combination comprising a flexible dome, a circular rim having a plurality of reels mounted thereon,

flexible members connecting the dome to the automatically withdrawing the said flexible dome adapted for being clamped between Y the rimy and the brace for holding tbe device I stantially as described and for the purpose in collapsed position, 'a spring for forcing set/forth. f y 1 10 the rim to a position at right `angles Wlth In `testimony whereof Iaix my 4sigmature respect tto the brace for expandln the dein the presence of a witness.

' vice, straps'attached to the brace or securing the device to .the body of al1-aviator, and OLYDE L" WELSH' a guy line for limiting the action of the said Witness: 'p v spring and supporting the' saidl brace, suby JENNm JoNEs.

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