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Envelope film suspenders for high-altitude balloons

Active Publication Date: 2019-05-02
AEROSTAR INT LLC
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This patent describes a system for controlling the movement of a balloon envelope during inflation. The system includes a balloon envelope with a film and tendon, as well as a suspender that stretches to control the movement of the envelope film. The suspender is attached to a base plate system or a top plate system, and a point on the tendon is fixed relative to the envelope film or the envelope film has a sleeve over it. The system allows for the inflating portion of the envelope film to move towards the equator during inflation. The technical effect of this system is that it enables better control and management of the balloon inflation process, leading to more reliable and safe inflation of the balloon.

Problems solved by technology

However, there are many areas of the world where data connectivity is still unavailable, or if available, is unreliable and / or costly.

Method used

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  • Envelope film suspenders for high-altitude balloons
  • Envelope film suspenders for high-altitude balloons
  • Envelope film suspenders for high-altitude balloons

Examples

Experimental program
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example balloon

[0027]FIG. 2 is an example stratospheric balloon 200, which may represent any of the balloons of balloon network 100. As shown, the balloon 200 includes a balloon envelope 210, a payload 220 and a plurality of tendons 230, 240 and 250 attached to the balloon envelope 210. In this example, balloon envelope 210 may be inflated to a desired level, but not yet pressurized.

[0028]The balloon envelope 210 may take various forms. In one instance, the balloon envelope 210 may be constructed from materials such as polyethylene that do not hold much load while the balloon 200 is floating in the air during flight. Further, the volume of the balloon envelope may be on the order of 2000 cubic meters. However, the shape and size of the balloon envelope 210 may vary depending upon the particular implementation. Additionally, the balloon envelope 210 may be filled with various gases or mixtures thereof, such as helium, hydrogen or any other lighter-than-air gas. The balloon envelope 210 is thus arra...

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PUM

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Abstract

A high altitude or stratospheric balloon system may include a balloon envelope including envelope film, at least one tendon, and a suspender. The suspender may have a first end attached to the envelope film. The suspender is arranged to stretch such that the first end moves towards an equator of the balloon envelope as the balloon envelope pressurizes in order to control movement of the envelope film relative to the tendon and towards the equator as the balloon pressurizes.

Description

BACKGROUND[0001]Computing devices such as personal computers, laptop computers, tablet computers, cellular phones, and countless types of Internet-capable devices are increasingly prevalent in numerous aspects of modem life. As such, the demand for data connectivity via the Internet, cellular data networks, and other such networks, is growing. However, there are many areas of the world where data connectivity is still unavailable, or if available, is unreliable and / or costly. Accordingly, additional network infrastructure is desirable.BRIEF SUMMARY[0002]One aspect of the disclosure provides a system. The system includes a balloon envelope including envelope film, at least one tendon, and a suspender having a first end attached to the envelope film, the suspender being configured to stretch such that the first end moves towards an equator of the balloon envelope as the balloon envelope pressurizes in order to control movement of the envelope film relative to the tendon and towards th...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): B64B1/58
CPCB64B1/58
Inventor BROOKES, KYLEROACH, KEVIN
Owner AEROSTAR INT LLC