A main cable guide device for a tethered balloon anchoring facility and a tethered balloon

Abstract

The embodiment of the present invention provides a main cable guide device of a tethered balloon anchoring facility and a tethered balloon, which relates to the field of aircraft equipment. The main cable guide device includes: a support and a main cable guide mechanism. The main cable guide mechanism includes: a bracket, a main cable clamping device and a main guide wheel. The bracket is rotatably connected to the support, and the main guide wheel is rotatably connected to the bracket through a first rotating shaft. The main cable is wound in the guide groove of the main guide wheel. The main cable clamping device applies pressure to the main cable along the radial inward direction of the main guide wheel to make the main cable fit the main guide wheel. The main cable guide device provided by the embodiment of the present invention is rotatably connected to the support through the bracket, so that the bracket can swing at full angles along with the main cable connected to the tethered balloon end, while the angle of the support and the main cable connected to the main cable retracting device end remains unchanged; during the movement of the main cable, the main guide wheel rotates along with it, and will not slide relative to the main cable, thereby avoiding damage to the main cable.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the field of aircraft equipment, and in particular to a main cable guide device for a tethered balloon anchoring facility and a tethered balloon. Background Art

[0002] A tethered balloon is a lighter-than-air, unpowered aerostat with an air bag filled with lighter-than-air gas, which generates an upward buoyancy. The tethered balloon system includes a tethered balloon sphere, a tethered cable assembly, mooring facilities, and ground integrated support facilities. The tethered balloon relies on buoyancy to suspend in the air. The sphere is connected to the ground mooring facilities through a tether. The height of the sphere is adjusted by adjusting the length of the tether, thereby providing a quasi-static aerial platform for other equipment. A typical tethered balloon launch platform is centered on the tethered balloon, including a sphere, mooring facilities, tethered cables, payloads, and ground control systems. The tethers are divided into main cables, nose tethers, and side tethers. When the tethered balloon is anchored on the ground, the tethered balloon is fixed to the mooring facilities through the nose tether and the side tether; when the tethered balloon is in the air, the height of the tethered balloon is adjusted by adjusting the length of the main cable, and the tethered balloon's onboard equipment is powered or signals are transmitted through the main cable. Therefore, the main cable of the tethered balloon is very important to the entire tethered balloon system. It not only bears the load, but also transmits power and signals.

[0003] When the tethered balloon is in the air, it will swing around, and the corresponding main cable will also be at various angles to the ground. The main cable retraction and deployment device requires the main cable to be retracted and deployed at a stable angle. Therefore, the main cable guide device needs to be compatible with two requirements. That is, the main cable guide device needs to solve the following problems: 1) The main cable can be guided into the main cable retraction and deployment device at a stable angle; 2) The main cable connected to the tethered balloon end can swing at full angles; 3) The main cable guide device cannot cause any damage to the main cable; 4) The main cable guide device has sufficient strength. Summary of the invention

[0004] An embodiment of the present invention provides a main cable guide device for a tethered balloon mooring facility and a tethered balloon, so as to solve the problems that the main cable winding device end of the existing main cable guide device has poor stability, the main cable guide device cannot adapt to the swing of the tethered balloon, and the main cable guide device may cause damage to the main cable.

[0005] An embodiment of the present invention provides a main cable guide device for a tethered balloon mooring facility, the main cable guide device comprising:

[0006] Support;

[0007] A main cable guiding mechanism, the main cable guiding mechanism comprises: a bracket, a main cable clamping device and a main guide wheel, the bracket is rotatably connected to the support, the main guide wheel is rotatably connected to the bracket through a first rotating shaft, the main cable is wound in the guide groove of the main guide wheel, and the main cable clamping device applies pressure to the main cable in the radial inward direction of the main guide wheel to make the main cable fit against the main guide wheel.

[0008] According to the main cable guide device of a tethered balloon mooring facility according to one embodiment of the present invention, the bracket is rotatably connected to the support via a turntable bearing, the bracket is connected to the moving plate of the turntable bearing, and the support is connected to the fixed plate of the turntable bearing.

[0009] According to a main cable guide device of a tethered balloon mooring facility according to one embodiment of the present invention, the main cable clamping device includes: an upper guide wheel, a connecting rod and a reset mechanism, the middle portion of the connecting rod is rotatably connected to one end of the first rotating shaft, the upper guide wheel is rotatably connected to one end of the connecting rod, the upper guide wheel is used to apply pressure to the main cable from above to make the main cable fit against the main guide wheel, and the reset mechanism is connected to the other end of the connecting rod.

[0010] According to the main cable guide device of the tethered balloon mooring facility according to one embodiment of the present invention, the reset mechanism is a first counterweight block or a spring.

[0011] According to the main cable guide device of a tethered balloon mooring facility according to one embodiment of the present invention, the main cable clamping device also includes: a lower guide wheel, the lower guide wheel is rotatably connected to the bracket through a second rotating shaft, the lower guide wheel is located below the main guide wheel, and the lower guide wheel is used to apply pressure to the main cable from below to make the main cable fit against the main guide wheel.

[0012] According to a main cable guide device of a tethered balloon mooring facility according to an embodiment of the present invention, the support and the bracket are both made of stainless steel; the bracket includes two parallel and spaced support plates, and reinforcing ribs are provided on the sides of the two support plates facing away from each other.

[0013] According to the main cable guide device of the tethered balloon mooring facility according to one embodiment of the present invention, the main cable guide device also includes: a second counterweight block, wherein the second counterweight block is arranged between the two support plates and below the main guide wheel.

[0014] According to the main cable guide device of a tethered balloon mooring facility according to one embodiment of the present invention, a strip hole is respectively provided on the two support plates, and the two ends of the second rotating shaft are installed in the two strip holes in a one-to-one correspondence.

[0015] According to the main cable guide device of a tethered balloon mooring facility according to one embodiment of the present invention, a flexible coating is provided in the guide groove of the main guide wheel.

[0016] An embodiment of the present invention further provides a tethered balloon, which includes the tethered balloon mooring facility main cable guide device as described above.

[0017] The main cable guide device of the tethered balloon mooring facility provided in the embodiment of the present invention is rotatably connected to the support through a bracket, so that the bracket can swing at full angles along with the end of the tethered balloon connected to the main cable, while the angle of the end of the main cable retracting and releasing device connected to the main cable by the support remains unchanged; during the movement of the main cable, the main guide wheel rotates along with it and will not slide relative to the main cable, thereby avoiding damage to the main cable. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying creative work.

[0019] Figure 1 It is a structural schematic diagram of a main cable guide device for a tethered balloon mooring facility provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 2 It is a schematic cross-sectional structure diagram of a main cable guide device of a tethered balloon mooring facility provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Reference numerals:

[0022] 1. Main cable; 2. Support; 3. Turntable bearing; 4. Support plate; 5. Second counterweight; 6. Lower guide wheel; 7. Main guide wheel; 8. First counterweight; 9. Connecting rod; 10. Upper guide wheel. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] In order to make the purpose, technical solution and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solution in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0024] Combine the following Figure 1-Figure 2 The main cable guide device of the tethered balloon mooring facility and the tethered balloon according to the embodiments of the present invention are described.

[0025] Figure 1 The structural schematic diagram of a main cable guide device for a tethered balloon mooring facility is shown as an example. Figure 1 As shown, the main cable guide device of the mooring facility of the tethered balloon includes: a support 2 and a main cable guide mechanism, wherein the support 2 is fixed on the mooring facility to provide support and installation foundation for the overall main cable guide device. For easy installation, bolt holes are provided on the support 2, and bolts are used to fix the support 2 on the mooring facility during installation.

[0026] Figure 2 The following is a schematic cross-sectional structure diagram of a main cable guide device for a tethered balloon anchoring facility. Figure 2 As shown, the main cable 1 guiding mechanism includes: a bracket, a main cable clamping device and a main guide wheel 7. The support 2 and the bracket are welded with stainless steel plates to improve the structural strength of the main cable guiding device. The bracket includes two parallel and spaced support plates 4, and the two support plates 4 are provided with reinforcing ribs on the side away from each other. The bracket is rotatably connected to the support 2 through a turntable bearing 3. During installation, the two support plates 4 are connected to the moving plate of the turntable bearing 3, and the support 2 is connected to the fixed plate of the turntable bearing 3. The specific connection method is preferably bolted to facilitate installation and disassembly. The bracket is rotatably connected to the support 2 through the turntable bearing 3, so that the bracket can rotate axially with the X axis as the axis, while the support 2 is relatively stationary with the main cable 1. The main guide wheel 7 is rotatably connected to the bracket through the first rotating shaft, and the main guide wheel 7 is installed on the upper part of the two support plates 4. Since the outer diameter of the main guide wheel 7 is large, the turning radius of the main cable 1 is large, so that the main cable 1 can be freely retracted and released, and the main cable 1 will not be damaged due to the small turning radius of the main cable 1. The main cable 1 is wound in the guide groove of the main guide wheel 7. One end of the main cable 1 (i.e. Figure 1 The A end in the figure) is connected to the tethered balloon body, and the other end (i.e. Figure 1 The bracket is connected to the support 2 by rotation, so that the bracket can swing at full angles along with the end of the main cable 1 connected to the tethered balloon, while the angle between the support 2 and the end of the main cable 1 connected to the main cable retracting device remains unchanged. During the movement of the main cable 1, the main guide wheel 7 rotates along with it, and will not slide relative to the main cable 1, thereby avoiding damage to the main cable 1.

[0027] It should be noted that the rotational connection method between the bracket and the support 2 is not limited to the connection through the turntable bearing 3. A through hole can also be set on the support 2, and a rotating shaft connected to the bracket can be set in the through hole. The rotational connection between the bracket and the support 2 is achieved by rotating the through hole and the rotating shaft.

[0028] The main cable clamping device applies pressure to the main cable 1 along the radial inward direction of the main guide wheel 7 so that the main cable 1 fits with the main guide wheel 7. The main cable clamping device includes: an upper guide wheel 10, a connecting rod 9 and a reset mechanism. The middle part of the connecting rod 9 is rotatably connected to one end of the first rotating shaft. The connecting rod 9 is coaxial with the main guide wheel 7 but rotates non-synchronously. The upper guide wheel 10 is rotatably connected to one end of the connecting rod 9, and the reset mechanism is connected to the other end of the connecting rod 9. The upper guide wheel 10 is used to apply pressure to the main cable 1 along the radial inward direction of the main guide wheel 7 from above so that the main cable 1 fits with the main guide wheel 7 and prevents the main cable 1 from escaping from the guide groove of the main guide wheel 7, thereby protecting and guiding the main cable 1.

[0029] The reset mechanism is used to generate torque to the other end of the connecting rod 9 so that the upper guide wheel 10 and the main cable 1 are in real time contact. In this embodiment, the reset mechanism is a first counterweight 8, which is connected to the other end of the connecting rod 9 by a screw. The first counterweight 8 makes the upper guide wheel 10 and the main cable 1 in real time contact under the action of gravity. Of course, the reset mechanism can also be a spring, one end of which is connected to the other end of the connecting rod 9, and the other end of the spring is connected to one of the support plates 4, so that the upper guide wheel 10 and the main cable 1 are in real time contact through the elastic force of the spring.

[0030] When the tethered balloon body swings in the z-axis direction, the main cable 1 drives the bracket to rotate axially around the x-axis. Since the bracket is rotatably connected to the support 2 through the turntable bearing 3, even if the bracket rotates axially around the x-axis, the support 2 remains relatively stationary with the main cable 1, making the tethered balloon body more flexible. When the tethered balloon body swings axially in the x-axis direction, the main guide wheel 7 rotates around the z-axis, and the support 2 is also fixed, so that the main cable 1 and the main guide wheel 7 are relatively stationary, and the main cable 1 will not be damaged.

[0031] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the main cable clamping device in this embodiment further includes: a lower guide wheel 6, which is rotatably connected to the two support plates 4 through a second rotating shaft, and is located below the main guide wheel 7. The lower guide wheel 6 is used to apply pressure to the main cable 1 from below so that the main cable 1 fits with the main guide wheel 7. Through the cooperation between the lower guide wheel 6 and the upper guide wheel 10, the main cable 1 can be placed in the guide groove of the main guide wheel 7 to prevent the main cable 1 from falling out of the guide groove of the main guide wheel 7, thereby protecting and guiding the main cable 1.

[0032] Furthermore, a strip hole is respectively provided on the two support plates 4, and the two ends of the second rotating shaft are installed in the two strip holes in a one-to-one correspondence, and the two ends of the second rotating shaft are fastened by nuts. The provision of the strip hole allows the position of the lower guide wheel 6 to be adjusted, and the gap between the lower guide wheel 6 and the main guide wheel 7 is changed, thereby ensuring the position of the main cable 1. In this embodiment, the main cable guide device also includes: a second counterweight block 5, and the second counterweight block 5 is arranged between the two support plates 4 and below the main guide wheel 7. Regardless of whether the main cable 1 is in a tensioned or relaxed state, the counterweight effect of the second counterweight block 5 can make the main guide wheel 7 always be above the second counterweight block 5, so as to ensure that the moored balloon end of the main cable 1 always points to the upper end, and prevent the main cable 1 from escaping from the guide groove of the main guide wheel 7.

[0033] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a flexible coating is provided in the guide groove of the main guide wheel 7 in this embodiment. The material of the flexible coating is rubber or silicone. The flexible coating can further reduce the wear of the main guide wheel 7 on the main cable 1 and extend the service life of the main cable 1.

[0034] Furthermore, in order to improve the stability of the tethered balloon, a damping plate may be provided between the moving plate of the turntable bearing 3 and the fixed plate of the turntable bearing 3. When the tethered balloon swings, the moving plate of the turntable bearing 3 rotates. During the rotation of the moving plate of the turntable bearing 3, the damping plate may gradually consume the energy of the tethered balloon, so that the tethered balloon reaches a stable state as soon as possible.

[0035] The present invention also provides a tethered balloon, which includes the main cable guide device of the tethered balloon mooring facility described in the above embodiment.

[0036] It should be noted that the terms used herein are only for describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the exemplary embodiments according to the present application. As used herein, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular form is also intended to include the plural form. In addition, it should be understood that when the terms "comprise" and / or "include" are used in this specification, it indicates the presence of features, steps, operations, devices, components and / or combinations thereof.

[0037] Unless otherwise specifically stated, the relative arrangement of the parts and steps described in these embodiments, numerical expressions and numerical values ​​do not limit the scope of the present invention. At the same time, it should be understood that, for ease of description, the sizes of the various parts shown in the accompanying drawings are not drawn according to the actual proportional relationship. The technology, method and equipment known to ordinary technicians in the relevant field may not be discussed in detail, but in appropriate cases, the technology, method and equipment should be regarded as a part of the authorization specification. In all examples shown and discussed here, any specific value should be interpreted as being merely exemplary, rather than as a limitation. Therefore, other examples of exemplary embodiments may have different values. It should be noted that similar reference numerals and letters represent similar items in the following drawings, so once a certain item is defined in an accompanying drawing, it does not need to be further discussed in subsequent drawings.

[0038] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, rather than to limit it. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the aforementioned embodiments, or make equivalent replacements for some of the technical features therein. However, these modifications or replacements do not deviate the essence of the corresponding technical solutions from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A main cable guide device for a mooring facility for a tethered balloon, characterized in that: The main cable guiding device comprises: Support; A main cable guiding mechanism, the main cable guiding mechanism comprising: a bracket, a main cable pressing device and a main guide wheel, the bracket is rotatably connected to the support, the main guide wheel is rotatably connected to the bracket through a first rotating shaft, the main cable is wound in a guide groove of the main guide wheel, and the main cable pressing device applies pressure to the main cable in a radially inward direction of the main guide wheel to make the main cable fit the main guide wheel; The bracket is rotatably connected to the support via a turntable bearing, the bracket is connected to the moving plate of the turntable bearing, and the support is connected to the fixed plate of the turntable bearing; The main cable clamping device comprises: an upper guide wheel, a connecting rod and a reset mechanism, the middle portion of the connecting rod is rotatably connected to one end of the first rotating shaft, the upper guide wheel is rotatably connected to one end of the connecting rod, the upper guide wheel is used to apply pressure to the main cable from above so that the main cable fits the main guide wheel, and the reset mechanism is connected to the other end of the connecting rod; The reset mechanism is a first counterweight or a spring; The main cable pressing device further includes: a lower guide wheel, the lower guide wheel is rotatably connected to the bracket through a second rotating shaft, the lower guide wheel is located below the main guide wheel, and the lower guide wheel is used to apply pressure to the main cable from below so that the main cable fits with the main guide wheel; The support and the bracket are both made of stainless steel; the bracket comprises two parallel and spaced support plates, and reinforcing ribs are provided on the sides of the two support plates facing away from each other; The main cable guiding device further comprises: a second counterweight block, the second counterweight block being arranged between the two support plates and below the main guide wheel; The two support plates are respectively provided with a strip-shaped hole, and the two ends of the second rotating shaft are installed in the two strip-shaped holes in a one-to-one correspondence.

2. The main cable guide device for the mooring facility of a tethered balloon according to claim 1, characterized in that: A flexible coating is arranged in the guide groove of the main guide wheel.

3. A tethered balloon, characterized in that: The tethered balloon includes the main cable guide device of the tethered balloon mooring facility according to claim 1 or 2.

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