Three-point automatically released suspension and jettisoning system operates independently of lander's power system and releases parachute on touchdown. The system is based on a ball-lock device operated by the shock of the parachute's opening and by the subsequent decay in the load on the main cord

Lonborg, J. O.

Mack, T. H.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

Ball-Pin 
Slide La 
Bridle 
Ball-F 
Slide
k Device 
ar Wire 
i Cord 
September 1970	 Brief 70-10398 
NASA TECH BRIEF 
NASA Tech Briefs announce new technology derived from the U .S. space program. They are issued to encourage commercial 
application. Tech-Briefs are available on a subscription basis from the Clearinghouse for Federal Scientific and Technical 
Information, Springfield, Virginia 22151. Requests for individual copies or questions relating to the Tech Brief program may 
be directed to the Technology Utilization Division, NASA, Code UT, Washington, D.C. 20546. 
Jettisoning System for a Parachute's Canister 
Bridle Cords Parachute Canister 
A- ../ Ball- Lock Device 
Figure 1. Canister-Ejection System between Launching and Opening of the Parachute 
The problem: 
Design of a system to jettison a parachute's canister 
(launched at supersonic speeds) between opening of 
the parachute and touchdown, so that the canister 
could not damage the lander on touchdown or subse-
quently interfere with its antenna. The system had to 
be independent of the lander's power system. The 
parachute had to release itself on touchdown, so that 
it would not drag or foul the lander.
The solution: 
A three-point automatically released suspension 
and jettisoning system based primarily on a ball-lock 
device (BLD) operated by the shock of the parachute's 
opening and by the subsequent decay in the load on the 
main cord. 
How it's done: 
The parachute's main cord terminates in a three-
cord bridle (Fig. 1); one bridle cord is attached to the 
(continued overleal) 
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. Neither the United States 
Government nor any person acting on behalf of the United -States
Government assumes any liability resulting from the use of the 
information contained in this document, or warrants that such use 
will be free from privately owned-rights.
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19700000384 2020-03-17T00:43:19+00:00Z
BLD; each of the other two, to a ball-pin slide lock 
(BPSL). The BLD and the BPSL's join canister and 
lander, being peripherally spaced around the joint. 
One end of a relatively slack canister-ejection cord is 
affixed to the BLD; the other end, passed under the 
canister, is attached to the lander. 
The shock on the main cord, of the parachute's 
opening, actuates the BLD; and, when the cord's load 
decays sufficiently, locking balls in the BLD are re-
leased. Thus its bridle cord can pull the BLD free, 
so that canister and lander are no longer joined at that 
point. At the same time, the canister-ejection cord, 
pulled taut, tips the canister sideways. Thus the two 
slide locks of the BPSL's are caused to part, freeing 
the ball pins so that the canister can be jettisOned. 
r.Main Cord 
Bridle Cord 
Jettisoned Canis Ball- Lock Device 
Bridle Canister-Ejection 
Cords	 __Cord 
Lander 
Figure 2. Final Mode of Descent 
The lander continues its descent, now attached to 
the parachute by the canister-ejection cord in series 
with the parachute-to-BLD cord (Fig. 2). Upon im-
pact the suspension cord is severed so that the lander 
is not dragged or fouled by the parachute.
Note: 
Requests for further information may be directed to: 
Technology Utilization Officer 
NASA Pasadena Office 
4800 Oak Grove Drive 
Pasadena, California 91103 
Reference: TSP70-10398 
Patent status: 
Inquiries about obtaining rights for the commer-
cial use of this invention may be made to NASA, 
Code GP, Washington, D.C. 20546. 
Source: T.H. Mack and J.O. Lonborg of

Caltech/JPL
under contract to

NASA Pasadena Office

(NPO-1 1236) 
Brief 70-10398	 Category 06
	
.


Jettisoning system for a parachute's canister

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

NASA Technical Reports Server