A parachute airlock (simply airlock in context) is a safety mechanism built into some
parachute
A parachute is a device used to slow the motion of an object through an atmosphere by creating drag or, in a ram-air parachute, aerodynamic lift. A major application is to support people, for recreation or as a safety device for aviators, who ...
models which help them resist losing their shape while open. It uses a
ram air structure to stiffen each section of the outer edge.
The design was pioneered by parachute inventor Brian Germain following a near-fatal ram-air wing collapse in 1994. Germain made a full recovery and went on to personally test many of the airlock
prototype
A prototype is an early sample, model, or release of a product built to test a concept or process. It is a term used in a variety of contexts, including semantics, design, electronics, and Software prototyping, software programming. A prototyp ...
parachutes, often in extreme conditions. Specific parachute designs utilizing the
Airlock technology include the following: Jedei, Sweptwing, Genesis, Warlock, (AirTimeDesigns.com) Vengeance, (PerformanceDesigns.com) Samurai, Lotus, Sensei R1 (BigAirSportz.com).
While the airlock approach to
canopy design has generated an enthusiastic user base, the design also has its problems. For example, a
ram-air parachute designed with airlocks will not deflate quickly upon landing on a windy day. This may result in dragging a
parachutist
Parachuting, including also skydiving, is a method of transiting from a high point in the atmosphere to the surface of Earth with the aid of gravity, involving the control of speed during the descent using a parachute or parachutes.
For ...
across the ground. Parachute packers have also noted that these
canopies take longer to pack due to the extra time it takes to squeeze the air out. However, proponents prefer the safety advantages of a stable canopy in flight over inconveniences on the ground.
Patent abstract
Valve
A valve is a device or natural object that regulates, directs or controls the flow of a fluid (gases, liquids, fluidized solids, or slurries) by opening, closing, or partially obstructing various passageways. Valves are technically fittings ...
apparatus for ram-air wings
This invention describes a
ram-air
A ram-air intake is any intake design which uses the dynamic air pressure created by vehicle motion, or ram pressure, to increase the static air pressure inside of the intake manifold on an internal combustion engine, thus allowing a greater massf ...
type inflatable wing that is resistant to deflation. The inflatable air wing includes a plurality of cells disposed between the top and bottom skins of the wing, with at least one valve positioned within each of a plurality of cells. Each valve generally inhibits deflation of the cells when the air pressure inside the cells is greater than the
air pressure
Atmospheric pressure, also known as barometric pressure (after the barometer), is the pressure within the atmosphere of Earth. The Standard atmosphere (unit), standard atmosphere (symbol: atm) is a unit of pressure defined as , which is equival ...
outside the cells and permits the cells to inflate when the air pressure outside the cell is greater than the air pressure inside the cells.
Inventors: Germain; Brian S. (
Kensington, Maryland)
Appl. No.: 08/617,471
Filed: March 15, 1996
External links
Airlocks: A discussion of the empirical and theoretical issues relating to valve parachutes. (illustrated)Turbulence: The Invisible Hazard
References
Parachuting
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