Claims
- 1. A parachute cluster assembly comprising:
a first round parachute having a first canopy of radially extending first gores; a second round parachute having a second canopy of radially extending second gores; adjacent ones of the first gores being joined along a line to adjacent ones of the second gores to fix the first canopy to the second canopy along the line; the first canopy defining a first slot spaced from but neighboring the first gores joined along the line; and the second canopy defining a second slot spaced from but neighboring the second gores joined along the line; the first and second slots being disposed on a same side of the cluster assembly.
- 2. The assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said adjacent ones of the first gores and second gores joined along the line comprise ¼ to ⅙ of the gores of the first and second parachutes, respectively.
- 3. The assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first and second parachutes are each provided with a group of side-by-side pull down gores, and a pull-down and release mechanism connected to each of said groups of pull down gores by suspension lines, and said groups of pull down gores are adapted to be pulled and released by said mechanisms.
- 4. The assembly in accordance with claim 3 wherein the first and second slots are disposed opposite from the groups of pull down gores, respectively.
- 5. The assembly in accordance with claim 3 wherein said mechanisms are operable independently of each other to effect turns of the assembly.
- 6. The assembly in accordance with claim 5 wherein said mechanisms are adapted to pull the groups of pull down gores a distance of about 10% of a diameter of the canopy from which the mechanism is suspended.
- 7. The assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of the slots defines an area of about 2-3% of the area of the canopy in which the slot is disposed.
- 8. A parachute cluster assembly comprising:
a first round parachute having a first canopy of radially extending first gores; a second round parachute having a second canopy of radially extending second gores; adjacent ones of the first gores being joined along a line to adjacent ones of the second gores to fix the first canopy to the second canopy along the line; the first canopy defining a first slot extending substantially widthwise through a first group of adjacent gores neighboring the first gores joined along the line, the first slot being substantially concentric with a hem portion of the first canopy; and the second canopy defining a second slot extending substantially widthwise through a second group of adjacent gores neighboring the second gores joined along the line, the second slot being substantially concentric with a hem portion of the second canopy; the first and second slots being disposed on a same side of the cluster assembly.
STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT INTEREST
[0001] The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by and for the Government of the United States of America for Governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon.