Reefing Parachute Research
9/15/2024
Goals:
Develop a reefing parachute that successfully deploys and efficiently controls rocket flight/descent.
Purpose:
Condensing two parachutes (drogue + main) into a singular parachute that can perform the actions of both.
Skirt Reefing:
- controls canopy shape by routing a reefing line through reefing rings attached to the skirt of the canopy
Suspension-line reefing:
- controls the canopy shape by tying all the suspension lines together at some point between the canopy and the payload
Canopy reefing:
🦑: Not a fan of reefing the suspension lines as it seems there can be issues of it sliding down which could make the parachute expand slowly before the proper time. I would be more interested in looking at skirt reefing primarily and then canopy reefing. Canopy reefing could (negligibly) experience the same issues as suspension line reefing but the effects seem to be minimized by the parachute itself.
Line cutters:
https://www.apogeerockets.com/Electronics_Payloads/Dual-Deployment
https://www.tinderrocketry.com/the-mako-para-cord-cutter
https://www.tinderrocketry.com/the-piranha-cutter
Line Material:
Open ended, nothing specific is used from what it seems. Obviously needs to be cut-able by the line cutter used.
9/15/2024
Lines Diagram:
Assumes separation point is between the MPT and nosecone. Also assumes a skirt-reefing method where the line cutter is attached with lines/avionics wiring to the MPT. The reefing line remains attached to the parachute after the line is cut, so no components should fully separate from the rocket at any point.
