High altitude parafoils
A parafoil for operation at high altitudes, in low density air, or at low airspeeds, and methods for opening same. Some versions of the parafoil comprise members connected to the parafoil canopy. When the parafoil canopy is in a stowed configuration, the members are constrained. When the canopy is released from its stowed configuration, the members open or assist with opening the canopy. The members may also be attached to a base structure, which is attached to the payload. The members may comprise rods or hollow tubes and use a fulcrum near the base structure, or a spacer plate. The ends connected to the canopy may be restrained by a parachute bag containing the stowed or packed canopy. The parachute bag can be opened prior to or during detachment of the parafoil from the flight vehicle.
1 . A system comprising:
a base structure configured to be coupled with a payload and configured to be detached from a high altitude balloon during flight;
a parafoil canopy for a high altitude parafoil stored in a deployment bag prior to deployment, the deployment bag having an elongate shape; and
a plurality of suspension lines configured to couple the parafoil canopy to the base structure at a spaced vertical distance from the base structure during ascent of the high altitude balloon and prior to deployment of the parafoil canopy, wherein a structural load path during ascent extends through the plurality of suspension lines.
2 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a tether configured to couple the system to the high altitude balloon.
3 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a ring coupled with an upper end of one or more of the plurality of suspension lines, the ring configured to couple with a connection device, the connection device configured to connect the system to the high altitude balloon.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of suspension lines are configured to be taut prior to deployment.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of suspension lines are configured to be maintained in a stored configuration during ascent.
6 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first elongated wing tip support hingedly connected with the base structure, and
a second elongated wing tip support hingedly connected with the base structure.
7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the first and second wing tip supports are configured to flex in a stowed configuration and to be released from the stowed configuration to spring open into a deployed flight configuration.
8 . A system comprising:
a base structure configured to be coupled with a payload and configured to be detached from a high altitude balloon during flight;
a parafoil canopy for a high altitude parafoil stored in a deployment bag prior to deployment;
a plurality of suspension lines configured to couple the parafoil canopy to the base structure at a spaced vertical distance from the base structure during ascent of the high altitude balloon and prior to deployment of the parafoil canopy; and
a ring coupled with one or more of the plurality of suspension lines, the ring configured to couple the system to the high altitude balloon.
9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of suspension lines is configured to transfer a load due to the payload to the high altitude balloon.
10 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of suspension lines are configured to be taut prior to deployment.
11 . The system of claim 8 , further comprising a tether configured to couple the system to the high altitude balloon.
12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the tether is coupled with the base structure.
13 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the tether is configured to release from the system.
14 . The system of claim 8 , further comprising:
a first elongated wing tip support hingedly connected with the base structure, and
a second elongated wing tip support hingedly connected with the base structure.
15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the first and second wing tip supports are configured to flex in a stowed configuration and to be released from the stowed configuration to spring open into a deployed flight configuration.
16 . A system comprising:
a base structure configured to be attached with a payload;
a parafoil canopy for a high altitude parafoil stored in a deployment bag prior to deployment, the deployment bag having an elongate shape;
a plurality of suspension lines configured to couple the parafoil canopy to the base structure at a spaced vertical distance from the base structure during ascent of a flight vehicle and prior to deployment of the parafoil canopy, wherein the deployment bag and the plurality of suspension lines are configured to be positioned in a linear configuration during ascent; and
a tether configured to couple the system to the flight vehicle.
17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein one or more of the plurality of suspension lines are configured to support a weight of the payload during ascent.
18 . The system of claim 16 , wherein at least one of the plurality of suspension lines is non-rigidized.
19 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of suspension lines are configured to be taut prior to deployment.