U.S. patent application number 13/166805 was filed with the patent office on 2012-12-27 for airdrop delivery system for water and fire making supplies.
This patent application is currently assigned to ERUDITE INC.. Invention is credited to Dale C. Hedrick, Robert Mooney.
Application Number | 20120325693 13/166805 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47360816 |
Filed Date | 2012-12-27 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20120325693 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mooney; Robert ; et
al. |
December 27, 2012 |
AIRDROP DELIVERY SYSTEM FOR WATER AND FIRE MAKING SUPPLIES
Abstract
An airdrop package for fuel and water is disclosed. A plurality
of hollow cylinders are made of combustible firelog material.
Closed water container nested within at least some of the plurality
of hollow cylinders. The airdrop package for the plurality of
hollow cylinders has a plurality of interconnected flexible walls.
The interconnected flexible walls are atop an energy absorbing
base. The flexible walls define an array of compartments. The
compartments are dimensioned to snugly contain at least one of the
hollow cylinders. The base and flexible walls absorb energy upon
ground impact of the airdrop package.
Inventors: |
Mooney; Robert; (Boca Raton,
FL) ; Hedrick; Dale C.; (Kittery, ME) |
Assignee: |
ERUDITE INC.
Tacoma
WA
|
Family ID: |
47360816 |
Appl. No.: |
13/166805 |
Filed: |
June 22, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/216 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B64D 1/10 20130101; B64D
1/02 20130101; B64D 1/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/216 |
International
Class: |
B65D 77/00 20060101
B65D077/00 |
Claims
1. An airdrop-energy absorption package for water delivery
comprising: a plurality of hollow cylinders; closed water
containers nested within at least some of the plurality of hollow
cylinders; and an airdrop packaging for the plurality of hollow
cylinders comprising; a plurality of interconnected airdrop-energy
absorbing flexible walls absorbing energy upon ground impact of the
airdrop package; and an airdrop-energy absorbing base.
2. (canceled)
3. (canceled)
4. (canceled)
5. (canceled)
6. (canceled)
7. (canceled)
8. (canceled)
9. The airdrop-energy absorption package of claim 1, wherein the
interconnected flexible walls are made of corrugated cardboard.
10. The airdrop-energy absorption package of claim 1, wherein the
interconnected flexible walls are made of waxed cardboard.
11. The airdrop-energy absorption package of claim 1; wherein the
interconnected flexible walls form a lattice with regularly spaced
compartments.
12. The airdrop-energy absorption package of claim 1; wherein one
or more water containers are disposed within each of one or more of
the compartments.
13. (canceled)
14. An airdrop-energy absorption package for water delivery
comprising: a matrix of semi-rigid material comprising at least one
of honeycomb-like interstice; each said interstice configured to
absorb an impact energy; and a plurality of hollow cylinders nested
within the interstices, the cylinders closable on opposed ends and
having a water container nested therein.
15. The airdrop-energy absorption package of claim 14; wherein the
hollow cylinders are round in cross-section in order to roll to
absorb energy if released from the matrix of semi-rigid material
upon a ground impact.
16. (canceled)
17. (canceled)
18. The airdrop airdrop-energy absorption package of claim 14
further comprising a banding on the outside of the box that at
least partially retains the hollow cylinders upon a ground
impact.
19. (canceled)
20. (canceled)
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The technical field of the invention relates generally to
special receptacles or packages and more specifically to systems
for airdrop delivery of supplies.
BACKGROUND
[0002] During disasters of natural or man-made origins, or wartime,
emergency supplies are often dropped by parachute from an airplane
in an airdrop delivery. Emergency supplies can include water, food,
cooking materials, shelter or tools.
[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 3,342,439 discloses an aerial drop assembly
for emergency supplies. Emergency supplies are lowered to the
ground from an aircraft by an aerial drop, in a drop assembly. A
protective container made of double-faced corrugated stock (i.e.
cardboard) is attached to a parachute. A cushion may be inserted in
the base of the container for additional cushioning. The cushion
may be a pad reinforced with sheets of paper, sheet plastic or
corrugated paper bonded to opposed faces of the pad.
[0004] Delivery of water for drinking or cooking poses particular
difficulties in airdrops. Water delivered in large containers
typically cannot be hand carried out by soldiers or relief workers,
as water is heavy. Bottled water is often lost as a result of
bursting of plastic water bottles upon ground impact from the
airdrop.
[0005] There is thus a need for an improved airdrop delivery system
for delivering water to soldiers, relief or other emergency workers
or survivors in an emergency. It is a goal of the present invention
to provide such an improved airdrop delivery system.
SUMMARY
[0006] Water for drinking or cooking, and fuel for fire making can
be dropped by parachute from an airplane in an airdrop package.
Water-filled containers delivered therewith can survive a ground
impact. The packaging serves as fuel for fires, e.g. for cooking or
warmth.
[0007] The airdrop package has a plurality of hollow cylinders made
of combustible firelog material. Within at least some of the hollow
cylinders, closed water containers are nested. The airdrop package
has a plurality of interconnected flexible walls atop an energy
absorbing base. The flexible walls define an array of compartments.
The compartments are dimensioned to snugly contain at least one of
the hollow cylinders. Upon ground impact of the airdrop package,
the base and flexible walls absorb energy.
[0008] The airdrop package may have a matrix of semi-rigid material
defining honeycomb-like interstices. The hollow cylinders, made of
combustible firelog material, may be closable on opposed ends.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view of an airdrop delivery
system for water and fire making supplies in accordance with the
present invention.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a drop unit, including a
packed parachute and an assembled airdrop delivery system that is a
variation of the airdrop delivery system of FIG. 1. The drop unit
is shown exiting through the jump door of an airplane.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a drop pallet, including a
parachute system and a plurality of airdrop delivery systems such
as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The drop pallet is shown exiting the
airdrop platform of a military transport.
[0012] FIG. 4 is an elevated front view of the airdrop delivery
system of FIG. 2, showing effects of impact.
[0013] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a soldier carrying canisters
holding water bottles, the canisters having been delivered by and
recovered from the airdrop delivery system of FIG. 1, 2 or 3.
[0014] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of one of the canisters of FIG.
5.
[0015] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the canister of FIG. 6 with
the top half removed and showing water bottles inside the
canister.
[0016] FIG. 8 is an elevated end view of the canister of FIG.
6.
[0017] FIG. 9 is a perspective end view of canisters such as the
canister of FIG. 5 or 6 loaded in the airdrop delivery system of
FIG. 1, the canisters having an alternative closure device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] With reference to FIG. 1, the airdrop delivery system 100
provides a system for getting water and combustible materials with
which to build a fire to soldiers in a war zone, to disaster relief
workers or to survivors in an emergency situation. The airdrop
delivery system 100 for water and fire making materials and
variations and various subassemblies thereof have improvements over
known airdrop containers and airdrop delivery systems as will be
described.
[0019] Typically, a first package or set of packages in an airdrop
delivers water, and a separate second package or set of packages in
the airdrop or a subsequent airdrop delivers bundles of firewood,
synthetic fire logs or other fire making materials. The airdrop
delivery system 100 combines delivery of water and fire making
materials in a single package or set of similar packages, and
increases the recovery rate of intact water bottles as compared to
previously available airdrop delivery methods or packages.
Subassemblies of the airdrop delivery system 100 absorb impact as
the package hits the ground at the end of the parachute-controlled
descent, thus decreasing the tendency of plastic water bottles to
burst upon ground impact of the package. Further, the packaging
subassemblies provide fire making materials.
[0020] In the version shown in FIG. 1, the airdrop delivery system
100 has an outside box 102 made of corrugated cardboard with front
wall 104, rear wall 106, side walls 108 and 110, a top cap 112 and
a bottom cap 114. Variations of the airdrop delivery system 100
have no outside box, or an outside box of differing shapes or made
of other materials e.g. waxed cardboard, wood or wood products, or
composite, and/or are banded or covered in plastic shrinkwrap.
[0021] A load matrix core 130 with an array of horizontally
oriented compartments 120 sits atop an energy absorbing base 132.
The energy absorbing base 132 has in one embodiment an upper energy
absorbing base 122 and a lower energy absorbing base 124, each of
which is made of multiple sheets of corrugated cardboard,
accordion-folded corrugated cardboard, molded and dried wood pulp
or paper pulp, other wood products, or other energy absorbing
material.
[0022] The load matrix core 130 is a matrix of semi-rigid
collapsible material defining honeycomb-like interstices. In the
example shown in FIG. 1, horizontally oriented corrugated cardboard
sheets 118 and vertically oriented corrugated cardboard sheets 116
are matrix walls defining an orthogonal array of the horizontally
oriented compartments 120. Variations can have a lattice with
vertically, horizontally and/or diagonally oriented matrix walls,
vertical arrays, horizontal arrays, hexagonal arrays, triangular
arrays, diagonally oriented arrays and arrays of other geometric
arrangements of the compartments 120. Arrays can have orthogonal
walls or walls at other angles with respect to each other, and
compartments with regular spacing in one direction e.g.
horizontally, vertically or diagonally, regular spacing in two
directions e.g. horizontally and vertically, orthogonal diagonal
directions, or non-orthogonal diagonal directions, regular spacing
in three directions e.g. an hexagonal or triangular array,
irregular spacings, regular spacings in one direction and irregular
spacings in another direction and so on. Variations can be made of
other materials as discussed above with regard to the outside box
102 and/or as discussed above with regard to the energy absorbing
base 124.
[0023] With reference to FIG. 2, a drop unit 200 that includes a
variation of the airdrop delivery system 100 is exiting through the
jump door 232 of an airplane 230. The jump hatch 234 is shown
partially open, and is about to be opened further so that the drop
unit 200 can proceed unimpeded.
[0024] In the drop unit 200, a load matrix core 202 with
orthogonally intersecting diagonally oriented matrix walls 204 and
206 sits atop an energy absorbing base 218. A bottom cap 220
contains the lower portions of the drop unit 200. Vertical banding
212 and horizontal banding 214 retain the subassemblies of the drop
unit 200. A packed parachute 210 is attached at the top of the drop
unit 200. Inserted into compartments defined by the matrix walls
204, 206 of the load matrix core 202 are cylindrical articles 208
for delivery. The cylindrical articles 208 herein depicted are
hollow cylinders or canisters made of wood or wood product
containing plastic water bottles, about which more will be
described with reference to FIGS. 5-8.
[0025] With reference to FIG. 3, multiples of the airdrop delivery
system 100 can be bundled together and assembled onto a drop pallet
300 for delivery of larger amounts of water and fire making
materials using a larger airplane, such as a C-17 military
transport. The drop pallet 300 has a wood pallet for a base. The
drop pallet 300 is shown exiting the airdrop platform 316 of an
airplane 322 so-equipped. The airplane 322 is further equipped with
a short aft anchor cable support 302, and anchor cable stop 304 and
an anchor cable 312. A deployment parachute 306 atop the drop
pallet 300 has a release-away static-line 308 clipped to the anchor
cable 312. One or more strapping bars 326 and one or more straps
328 secure the multiples of the airdrop delivery system 100 on the
drop pallet 300. When the drop pallet 300 clears the airdrop
platform 316 and begins freefall, the static-line 308 initiates the
opening of the deployment parachute 306. The drop pallet 300 then
descends to the ground, slowed by the parachute.
[0026] With reference to FIG. 4, effects of a ground impact on an
airdrop delivery system 400 are shown, as are aspects of structure
working to dissipate impact energy. Prior to impact, the load
matrix 402 is intact and undistorted as shown, and has cylindrical
articles 408 such as canisters containing water or water bottles
stowed in compartments 410 formed by the intersecting matrix walls
404 and 406. The energy absorbing base 412 is likewise intact and
undistorted. Banding 420, shown distorted after impact, is
initially undistorted and surrounds the perimeter of the load
matrix or surrounds the perimeter of the load matrix 402 and the
energy absorbing base 412. Upon impact of the airdrop delivery
system 400 with the ground e.g. as the drop unit 200 or the drop
pallet 300 completes the descent, the energy absorbing base 412
compresses. Depending on severity of impact, the load matrix 402
may arrive relatively intact.
[0027] However, the load matrix 402 has features designed to absorb
impact energy so that fewer of the plastic water bottles burst in a
less gentle landing of the airdrop delivery system 400. The matrix
walls 404 and 406 of the load matrix 402, which may be made of
cardboard, waxed cardboard or corrugated cardboard etc., are
perforated to tear and absorb energy on impact.
[0028] Water and fuel storage cylinders or canisters, or other
cylindrical articles 408, are loaded horizontally to better enable
the package to absorb impact energy with dissipation over a larger
surface area as compared to vertically loaded water containers or
other cylindrical articles 408. Further, the cylindrical articles
408 can roll if released from the load matrix 402 upon impact.
Vertically loaded cylindrical articles would be less likely to
dissipate impact energy and more likely to break or otherwise be
damaged than horizontally loaded cylindrical articles.
[0029] Reinforcement wedges 414 provide support and alignment at
the bottom portion of the load matrix 402, and have an additional
function. The reinforcement wedges 414 provide an impact focus at a
joining location for the matrix walls 404 and 406, and promote
splitting and tearing of the load matrix 402 to absorb and
dissipate impact energy. Perforations as discussed above may be
placed at such locations and elsewhere in the load matrix. The
number and locations of the perforations can be varied according to
material strength, desired control of splitting and tearing, mass
of the cylindrical articles 408 and other factors.
[0030] Upon a ground impact sufficient to tear portions of the load
matrix 402, the cylindrical articles 408 will move in a downward
direction 416 and an outward direction 418, and will either
disburse out of the airdrop delivery system 400 or be retained by
the banding 420. The banding 420 can bow outward as shown in FIG. 4
to retain some or all of the cylindrical articles 408.
[0031] With reference to FIG. 5, a soldier 502 is shown carrying
several canisters 500 that have been recovered from the airdrop
delivery system 400 or variation thereof. Each canister 500 is one
of the cylindrical articles 408 carried in the airdrop delivery
system 400. The canisters 500 are strapped to the frame or other
portion of the rucksack 504 the soldier 502 carries. A canister 500
can also be carried by grasping the closure device 506 which then
functions as a handle. A canister overall length of 251/2 inches
allows passage through standard doorways. Other dimensions may be
devised, such as a maximum length of thirty inches.
[0032] With reference to FIG. 6, a canister 600 such as carried in
the airdrop delivery system 400 is a synthetic wood fuel log tube
602 made of combustible firelog material and holding water bottles
inside (not visible in FIG. 6, and see FIG. 7). Each canister 600
is a package of drinking or cooking water and fire making fuel. The
tube 602 has two opposed half-pipe sections 604 and 606 that are
essentially identical. Having essentially identical half-pipe
sections allows manufacture from a single mold. The essentially
identical opposed half-pipe sections 604 and 606 may differ in
fastener fittings such as apertures, notches or fastener mating
hardware, or have differences resulting from manufacturing
processes and tolerances or other minor considerations.
[0033] Materials suitable for the combustible firelog material
include cellulose fibers, pressed particles in a combustible
binder, mixtures of resins and wax, compressed sawdust, compressed
wood chips, wood pulp, paper, cardboard, corrugated cardboard and
other wood products. Where drinking water is an intended use, the
firelog material must house a compatible container, such as a
plastic bottle or bag.
[0034] A closure device 608 keeps the water bottles inside the tube
602, thus closing the respective end of the tube 602. The closure
device 608 further holds the upper half-pipe section 604 and lower
half-pipe section 606 together. In variations, both ends of the
tube 602 have a respective closure device 608, or one end of the
tube 602 has a closure device 608 and the other end of the tube 602
is closed off, or a bolt, screw or other fastener 610, 612 secures
the closure device 608 to the tube 602. As discussed above, the
closure device 608 can act as a handle. In further variations, the
canister 600 has a closure device and a separate handle, a fastener
and a separate handle, an extraction device for removing the
canister from a compartment in the airdrop delivery system, or
various combinations thereof. In still further variations, the
canister has a unitary tube, complementary sections, unevenly
divided sections, or more than two sections.
[0035] With reference to FIG. 7, removal of one of the half-pipe
sections of the canister 600 reveals the water bottles 702 held
inside the tube 602. Upon removal of the closure device 608, one or
more of the water bottles 702 can be removed from the tube 602 by
sliding the water bottle 702 out the end of the tube 602 or by
separating the two halves of the tube 602 and lifting the water
bottle 702 out of the remaining half-pipe section 606 of the tube
602. Variations of the canister 600 and variations of the water
bottle 702 have the canister 600 containing various numbers of
water bottles e.g. 1-10 water bottles, water in other types of
containers such as water bags, bladders or cans, or water mixed
with vitamins, flavors or nutrients. Still further variations of
the canister 600 deliver water and food, e.g. water in some of the
bottles and food in others of the bottles or other containers.
[0036] With reference to FIG. 8, further details of the canister
800 are shown. The upper half-pipe section 804 and lower half-pipe
section 806 have mating alignment surfaces 822 that fit the two
halves of the tube together. Further variations with or without
mating alignment surfaces and variations of the mating alignment
surfaces may be devised. The water bottle 820 fits snugly inside of
the tube formed by the half-pipe sections 804 and 806. The wood or
wood product of which the two half-pipe sections 804 806 are made
provides high heat output when a fire is built using one or more
such sections, and provides thermal insulation in cold weather to
reduce, delay or prevent freezing of the water in the water bottles
while in the canister 800.
[0037] With reference to FIG. 9, a close-up view of the airdrop
delivery system shows details in construction and materials of the
matrix walls 902 and 904, and a variation in the canister 906.
Multi-layered corrugated cardboard is used in making the matrix
walls 902 and 904, which are deeply notched e.g. to one half of the
depth of the compartment 908. A cotton lanyard 910 can be pulled in
order to extract the canister 906 from the compartment 908 defined
by the matrix walls 902 and 904. The cotton lanyard 910 can also be
used as a fire wick, to start a fire using one or more of the wood
fuel log tubes or the halves thereof.
[0038] Various assumptions can be used to guide dimensioning of the
airdrop delivery system and subassemblies, although further
assumptions and further dimensions can be applied. A 10 by 10 array
of compartments of a load matrix core has 100 compartments. Each
compartment holds one canister with three water bottles of 16.9
fluid ounces each, for a total of 300 such water bottles or 39.6
gallons per drop module. A 96 inch by 88 inch drop skid holds six
drop modules for a total of 237 gallons of water. At one gallon per
soldier or relief worker per day, a 12 person team is sustained by
one drop platform with water rations for 19.8 days, or 18 days with
10% loss on impact. Total weight of each canister, including water,
is 4.7 pounds. Dividing 100 canisters, including water, among 12
people in a team results in each person carrying 42 pounds.
[0039] Fire and fuel can be calculated using the above assumptions.
100 pressed wood canister units results in 200 halves. Each half
unit burns for about three quarters of an hour. The total number of
canisters thus provides 150 burn hours, or 37.5 burn hours with
four halves per fire. This is equal to a four hour burn for each of
9.375 days.
[0040] Dimensions of a further embodiment of the airdrop delivery
system are as follows. An airdrop delivery system of 48 inches in
length, 25.5 inches in width and 60 inches in height, including the
energy absorbing base, holds 252 water bottles at a total weight of
300 pounds. The load matrix is made of 0.30 inch thick waxed
cardboard.
[0041] In versions made of cardboard, cardboard-related materials,
wood and/or wood products, the entire contents of the airdrop
delivery system except for the plastic water bottles will burn when
ignited. The resultant fire provides soldiers, relief workers or
survivors with heat and cooking capabilities. The unit contains
plastic water bottles on the inside, which soldiers or other
personnel use for drinking water while stationed at a post where
neither fire nor water would otherwise be available. The airdrop
delivery system combines the two survival requirements of fire
building materials and water into one package, relieving the need
for separate airdrops of firewood. The airdrop delivery system
provides a solution to the problem of water delivery that can
survive a ground impact, provides packaging that serves as fuel for
fires, and provides packaging that supports all delivery modes. The
airdrop delivery system enables transfer and carry of water and
fire making supplies by each soldier or other personnel. In
disaster, humanitarian or military situations, the airdrop delivery
system described herein can be safely dropped by a helicopter from
a height of 20 feet to 30 feet without a parachute and with impact
survival.
* * * * *