Importance

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Abstract

A large parachute having an inlet control parachute operable to positively expand the inlet area of a large parachute detachably secured thereto to facilitate deployment of the large parachute including a main canopy which is reefed to the outer portion of the inlet control parachute. The inlet control parachute includes an inlet control canopy with an upper vent and a plurality of longitudinally extending inlet control gore panels which are attached with respect to one another longitudinally therealong and define an inlet control skirt along the lowermost edge thereof. The inlet control parachute is designed to expand in a generally circular form and thereby positively expand and circularize the inlet area of the large parachute to minimize folding and uneven distribution of the canopy of the large parachute during deployment thereof. Once the main inlet area of the main parachute is expanded and circularized a gore panel release device is operative to dismember the gore panel attachment device thereby detaching the individual inlet control gore panels which form the inlet control parachute. As such, the canopy of the inlet control parachute will lose its integrity and the reefing of the skirt of the main parachute will be terminated allowing the main parachute to fully deploy in a rapid and yet controlled manner.

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First Claim