US Government As Represented by the Secretary of the Army

Todd M Grenga

Richard John Benney

Marc N Tardiff

George N Moorachian, Jr

William S Ricci

Apparatuses for controlling payload descent are described herein. For example, in one embodiment, a puck is provided that includes a top planar surface, a bottom planar surface opposite the top planar surface and an inner peripheral surface that is substantially perpendicular to the top planar surface and the bottom planar surface. The inner peripheral surface, the top planar surface and the bottom planar surface define a centrally located bore that is substantially perpendicular to the top planar surface and the bottom planar surface. Puck teeth are located on the inner peripheral surface. An outer peripheral surface bounds the top planar surface and the bottom planar surface. An exit port surface is substantially perpendicular to the top planar surface and the bottom planar surface. The exit port surface is between the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface and couples the top planar surface to the bottom planar surface.

Adjustable helical capstan rope brake

An apparatus for rigging and derigging lashings of an airdrop platform with one action includes a rapid release interface assembly. A loop member replaces the D-ring at the one end of a lashing. The rapid release interface system is installed in the space between the platform side rail and panel end members. Pins will slide through the lashing loop members to secure the end of the lashing to the rapid release interface system. With all of the pins on a common drive, the pins are all opened and closed together, or at the same time. In this manner, the one end of the lashing can be secured or released with one action making it faster and easier to derig a payload from an airdrop platform.

Rapid release interface for airdrop lashings

An airdrop platform is provided that includes a pallet. Under the pallet are a first outrigger main body and a second outrigger main body. The first outrigger main body and second main body each include at least one outrigger finger. When airdropped, the outrigger main bodies and outrigger fingers are configured to move from under the pallet.

AIRDROP PLATFORM INTEGRATED OUTRIGGER

Airdrop platform integrated outrigger

A parachute canopy release assembly includes a frame assembly with first and second upstanding members. A latching member has a pivot end and a latch end, the pivot end pivotally coupled to a bottom portion of the first upstanding member. A riser bar has a pivot end and latch engaging end, the pivot end of the riser bar pivotally coupled to a top portion of the second upstanding member, the latch engaging end retained by the latch end of the latching member in the locked state. A release linkage assembly includes a lock member configured to transition from a first state to a second state, retain the latching member in a first position in the first, locked state and retain the latching member in a second position in the second, unlocked state.

4-bar side canopy release

A canopy release assembly includes a base plate member and a pin assembly movably coupled to the base plate member. The pin assembly is configured to move to and from a locked state and an unlocked state. A cover is pivotally coupled to the base plate member and is configured to move to and from a closed state to an open state. A first release member has a first end coupled to the pin assembly and is configured to move the pin assembly to the unlocked state in the open state of the cover. A second release member is coupled to the cover and configured to engage the pin assembly in the closed state of the cover to move the pin assembly to the unlocked state.

Multi-ring mechanical release with side activation

A multiple bundle sling load system including a sling for attachment to an aircraft, a support system suspended from the sling for carrying a plurality of bundles, a load release mechanism interconnecting each bundle with the support structure, a parachute associated with at least one of the bundles, a parachute release mechanism interconnecting each parachute with the support structure. And an actuator for remotely operating each release mechanism for selectively releasing each load release mechanism and not releasing the associated parachute release mechanism for an air drop operation and selectively releasing each load release mechanism and each associated parachute release mechanism for a land drop operation.

Multiple bundle sling load system

A tool-less chain coupling link has first and second body members releasably joined together. A first hinge pin is movably positioned within corresponding openings in the first and second body members. A first hinge pin keeper member is pivotally attached to the first body member and movably attached to the first hinge pin. A second hinge pin is movably positioned within other corresponding openings in the first and second body members. A second hinge pin keeper member is pivotally attached to the second body member and movably attached to the second hinge pin. The first and second hinge pin keeper members can be pivoted in a first direction to withdraw the first and second hinge pins, respectively, a sufficient distance to allow the first and second body members to be released from each other. The first and second hinge pin keeper members can be pivoted in an opposite, second direction so as to position the first and second hinge pins within their corresponding openings in the first and second body members so that the first and second body members are releasably joined together.

Growing community of inventors

Cumberland, RI, United States of America

Todd M Grenga