An automatic inflation tethered balloon system and inflation, recovery method

Abstract

This invention discloses an automatic inflatable tethered balloon system, comprising: a tethered balloon, a balloon body inflating and accumulating device, a cable retraction and deployment device, a rotating platform, a carrier vehicle, and a rotating support. The tethered balloon includes a balloon body, an inflation valve, a deflation valve, a tethering cable, and a tether. The inflation valve is installed at the head of the balloon body, and the deflation valve is installed at the tail of the balloon body. The balloon body inflating and accumulating device includes a housing, a central column within the housing, and a clamping device and an inflation tube within the central column. The clamping device is used to lock or release the inflation valve. When locked, the inflation valve and the inflation tube form a gas channel to inflate the balloon body. This invention enables automatic inflation and deployment of tethered balloons without human intervention and retrieval with minimal human intervention, significantly reducing manpower and operation time, greatly optimizing product operability, and lowering the barrier to entry for use.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of tethered balloon technology, and in particular to an automatic inflation tethered balloon system and an inflation and recovery method. Background Technology

[0002] A tethered balloon is an aerostat filled with a gas lighter than air, which rises by net buoyancy. The balloon is connected to a ground platform or anchorage by cables. It has advantages such as long aloft time, good wind resistance, and high safety, and has broad application prospects in fields such as early warning detection, environmental monitoring, and communication relay.

[0003] The current process of inflating, deploying, and retrieving tethered balloons relies excessively on manual operation. The operation is cumbersome and requires the cooperation of multiple people. This not only consumes a lot of manpower but also results in long deployment and retrieval times. The high barrier to entry makes it difficult to meet the needs of efficient operation. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In order to solve the technical problems existing in the background art, the present invention proposes an automatic inflation tethered balloon system.

[0005] The present invention proposes an automatic inflatable tethered balloon system, comprising: a tethered balloon, a balloon housing and inflation device, a cable release and retraction device, a rotating platform, a carrier vehicle, and a rotating support; A tethered balloon consists of a balloon body, an inflation valve, a deflation valve, a tethering cable, and a rope. The inflation valve is installed at the head of the balloon body, and the deflation valve is installed at the tail of the balloon body. The bladder storage and inflation device includes a box, a central column inside the box, and a clamping device and an inflation tube inside the central column. The clamping device is used to lock or release the inflation valve. When locked, the inflation valve and the inflation tube form a gas channel to inflate the balloon. The cable reel-in / deel-out device is used to reel in or release the cable to control the ascent or descent of the tethered balloon. The cable retraction device and the bladder storage and inflation device are fixedly installed on the slewing platform. The slewing platform is installed on the vehicle via a slewing support and can rotate around the central axis of the slewing support.

[0006] Preferably, one end of the tether cable is fixedly connected to the surface of the balloon body, and the other end is connected to the cable; the inflation valve and the deflation valve are respectively installed at both ends of the balloon body through flange connections.

[0007] Preferably, when the clamping device is locked with the inflation valve, it can withstand the net buoyancy of the tethered balloon and maintain a seal to prevent leakage of the inflated gas.

[0008] Preferably, the inflation valve has the function of controllably opening and closing its gas passage, and its opening and closing method includes, but is not limited to, electric drive, magnetic attraction or spring drive; and the opening and closing of the inflation valve is linked to the locking / releasing of the clamping device: when the clamping device is locked, the inflation valve automatically opens, and when the clamping device is released, the inflation valve automatically closes.

[0009] Preferably, before inflation, the tethered balloon is folded and stored in the balloon body storage inflation device, and the folded state is such that the inflation valve and the clamping device remain locked, the head of the balloon body is at the bottom and the tail is at the top, and the tethering cable and rope are combed out of the balloon body storage inflation device and connected to the rope release device.

[0010] The inflation method for an automatic inflatable tethered balloon system includes the following steps: S1: Turn on the external gas source and let the gas lighter than air pass through the inflation tube, clamping device and inflation valve in sequence to fill the balloon body. The gas first enters the tail of the balloon body, causing the tail to expand and rise. Continue to inflate until the balloon body is fully expanded and formed. S2: Turn off the gas source and the inflation valve, then control the clamping device to release the inflation valve so that the net buoyancy of the tethered balloon is completely transferred to the cable and tethering cable; S3: Control the cable release device to release the cable, and the tethered balloon will rise to the working height under the action of net buoyancy.

[0011] Preferably, during the inflation process in step S1, the cable is wound up or released by the cable winding and releasing device to adjust the posture of the tethered balloon; in step S2, the closing of the inflation valve and the release of the clamping device are automatically completed by remote electric drive or mechanical linkage.

[0012] The method for recovering an automatically inflatable tethered balloon system includes the following steps: T1: The tethered balloon is retrieved to the lowest point by winding up the cable using the cable winding and unwinding device; T2: Open the deflation valve located at the tail of the balloon to begin releasing the gas inside the balloon; T3: Reconnect the inflation valve to the clamping device of the balloon body storage inflation device and lock it. At this time, the tail of the balloon body will be lifted up under the action of the remaining net buoyancy, and the gas will continue to be discharged from the deflation valve. T4: As the gas is released, the balloon gradually falls back to the area around the balloon storage and inflation device, where the operator gathers and folds it into the box, thus achieving the state of recovery and transportation.

[0013] Preferably, in step T2, the deflation valve is opened by manual operation or remote control electric drive; in step T3, after the inflation valve and clamping device are locked, the cable is released to relieve it of force, so as to keep the tethered balloon in an "inverted" state and improve the gas discharge efficiency.

[0014] Preferably, in step T4, the order in which the balloon bladder falls and is stored is from head to tail, which is the opposite of the inflation order.

[0015] This invention proposes an automatic inflatable tethered balloon system and its inflation and recovery method. The advantages are: it overcomes the complex inflation and deflation operations of existing tethered balloons, achieving automatic inflation and deployment without human intervention and retrieval with minimal manpower, significantly reducing labor input and operation time, greatly optimizing product operability, and lowering the barrier to entry. The system integrates storage, inflation, launch, recovery, and mobile transportation functions. All components work together stably, ensuring reliable inflation sealing and convenient and orderly recovery, improving the system's mobility and reusability, and adapting to the needs of various fields. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram showing the automatic inflation of the tethered balloon system of the present invention after inflation is complete; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the components of the tethered balloon of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the bladder-containing inflation device of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view of the bladder-containing inflation device of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the transportation status of the automatic inflatable tethered balloon system of the present invention; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the inflation process of the automatic inflatable tethered balloon system of the present invention; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the automatic inflatable tethered balloon system of the present invention after the inflation valve is unlocked; Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the automatic inflatable tethered balloon system of the present invention with the deflation valve open. Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the inflation valve docking of the automatic inflation tethered balloon system of the present invention; Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the automatic inflatable tethered balloon system of the present invention for retrieval; Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the inflation, deployment, and recovery process of the automatic inflatable tethered balloon system of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0017] refer to Figure 1-11This invention proposes an automatic inflatable tethered balloon system to address the shortcomings of existing tethered balloon systems, such as complex inflation and deflation operations, requiring multiple operators and being time-consuming. It significantly reduces the manpower and time required for tethered balloon inflation, deployment, and retrieval, optimizing the operability of the tethered balloon product. It is suitable for fields such as early warning detection, environmental monitoring, and communication relay. The system specifically includes: a tethered balloon 1, a balloon housing and inflation device 2, a cable deployment and retrieval device 3, a rotating platform 4, a carrier vehicle 5, and a rotating support 6. These components work together to achieve automatic inflation, ascent, hovering, and convenient retrieval of the tethered balloon.

[0018] Components of an automatic inflatable tethered balloon system: The tethered balloon 1, serving as the system's buoyancy carrier, includes a balloon body 101, an inflation valve 102, a deflation valve 103, a tethering cable 104, and a rope 105. The inflation valve 102 is installed at the head of the balloon body 101 to control the inflation channel; the deflation valve 103 is installed at the tail of the balloon body 101 to release gas from within the balloon body 101. The design of the head and tail positions ensures that gas fills the tail first during inflation and that gas is completely discharged during recovery.

[0019] The balloon storage and inflation device 2 has both storage and inflation functions, including a housing 201, a central column 202 located inside the housing 201, and a clamping device 203 and an inflation tube 204 located inside the central column 202. A receiving space is formed between the housing 201 and the central column 202 for folding and storing the tethered balloon 1 when it is not inflated; the central column 202 is used to raise the clamping device 203 and the inflation valve 102 to prevent interference between the balloon 101 and the edge of the housing 201 after inflation; the clamping device 203 provides locking and releasing functions for the inflation valve 102, and the inflation tube 204 is used to connect to an external gas source, providing a channel for inflating the balloon 101.

[0020] The core function of the clamping device 203 is to lock or release with the inflation valve 102. In the locked state, the inflation valve 102 and the inflation tube 204 are precisely connected to form a sealed gas channel to ensure that the inflation process proceeds smoothly. In the released state, the inflation valve 102 is separated from the inflation tube 204, and the tethered balloon 1 can rise freely.

[0021] The core function of the cable winding and unwinding device 3 is to wind up or unwind the cable 105. By controlling the length of the cable 105, the tethered balloon 1 can ascend, descend, and maintain its hovering attitude, ensuring that the tethered balloon 1 can stay stably at the designated working height.

[0022] Both the cable deployment / retraction device 3 and the balloon inflator 2 are fixedly mounted on the rotating platform 4. The rotating platform 4 is mounted on the carrier 5 via the rotating support 6 and can rotate 360° around the central axis of the rotating support 6. This rotation function allows for directional adjustment of the tethered balloon 1 when it is suspended in the air or tethered on the ground, adapting to the wind direction requirements of different operating environments. The carrier 5 can be towed by a tractor unit, enabling the mobile transport of the entire automatic inflatable tethered balloon system and enhancing the system's mobile operation capability.

[0023] One end of the tether cable 104 is fixedly connected to the surface of the balloon body 101, and the other end is gathered and connected to the cable 105. Through the even distribution of multiple tether cables 104, the net buoyancy of the balloon body 101 is evenly transferred to the cable 105, avoiding excessive local stress that could damage components. The inflation valve 102 and the deflation valve 103 are respectively installed at both ends of the balloon body 101 via flange connections. The flange connections ensure the sealing of the connection points, preventing gas leakage from the balloon body 101, and also facilitate the installation and maintenance of the valves.

[0024] When the clamping device 203 is locked with the inflation valve 102, it can not only withstand the net buoyancy of the tethered balloon 1 to ensure stable docking during inflation and attitude adjustment, but also maintain good sealing performance to prevent accidental leakage of gas into the balloon bladder 101, thus ensuring the safety and effectiveness of the inflation process.

[0025] The inflation valve 102 has the function of controllably opening and closing its gas passage. Its opening and closing methods include, but are not limited to, electric drive, magnetic attraction, or spring drive, and the appropriate drive method can be selected according to actual operation requirements. Furthermore, the opening and closing of the inflation valve 102 is linked with the locking / releasing of the clamping device 203. The linkage logic is as follows: when the clamping device 203 is locked and connected with the inflation valve 102, the inflation valve 102 automatically opens, and it can enter the inflation state without additional manual operation; when the clamping device 203 releases the inflation valve 102, the inflation valve 102 automatically closes, ensuring that the balloon bladder 101 maintains airtightness throughout the entire process of ascent, hovering, descent, and ground dwell.

[0026] Before inflation, the tethered balloon 1 is folded and stored in the balloon body storage and inflation device 2, and the folded state must meet specific requirements: the inflation valve 102 and the clamping device 203 are locked and connected, and the head of the balloon body 101 is at the bottom and the tail is at the top. This folded posture can ensure that the gas first enters the tail of the balloon body 101 during inflation, so as to achieve orderly expansion of the balloon body 101 from the tail to the head; at the same time, the tethered cable 104 and the cable 105 need to be neatly arranged and led out of the balloon body storage and inflation device 2, and connected to the cable release and release device 3 in advance to avoid the ropes getting tangled during inflation and ensure smooth inflation and ascent.

[0027] Inflation method for automatic inflatable tethered balloon system: Based on the above-mentioned automatic inflatable tethered balloon system, its inflation method mainly includes the following steps. The entire process can achieve automatic inflation and deployment without human intervention, greatly reducing manpower input: S1: After preparation, turn on the external gas source. The external gas source is a gas lighter than air, generally helium or hydrogen. The gas is connected to the inflation tube 204 through a preset connection structure. Then, the gas is sequentially filled into the balloon body 101 through the inflation tube 204, the clamping device 203, and the inflation valve 102. Since the tail of the balloon body 101 is on top when folded, the gas first enters the tail of the balloon body 101, causing the tail to expand first and rise under the action of net buoyancy. As inflation continues, the balloon body 101 gradually expands from the tail to the head until it is fully unfolded and formed.

[0028] S2: After the balloon bladder 101 is fully deployed, the external gas source is turned off and inflation is stopped. Then the inflation valve 102 is closed to ensure the airtightness of the balloon bladder 101. After that, the clamping device 203 is controlled to release the inflation valve 102, so that the tethered balloon 1 is separated from the bladder storage and inflation device 2. At this time, the net buoyancy of the tethered balloon 1 is completely transferred to the cable 105 and the tethering cable 104, completing the attitude adjustment of the tethered balloon 1 and putting it in a state where it can take off.

[0029] S3: After the attitude adjustment is completed, the cable retraction device 3 slowly releases the cable 105. Under the action of its own net buoyancy, the tethered balloon 1 rises steadily until it reaches the preset working height. The cable retraction device 3 stops releasing the cable 105, maintains the tension of the cable 105, and keeps the tethered balloon 1 in stable position in the air, thus completing the entire inflation and deployment process.

[0030] During the inflation process in step S1, the cable 105 can be wound or released in a timely manner by the cable winding and releasing device 3 to adjust the posture of the tethered balloon 1, preventing the balloon bladder 101 from tilting due to uneven inflation, ensuring that the balloon bladder 101 can expand evenly and fully unfold, and preventing the balloon bladder 101 from colliding with surrounding components. In step S2, the closing of the inflation valve 102 and the release of the clamping device 203 can be automatically completed by remote electric drive or mechanical linkage, without the need for close-range operation by personnel, further improving the convenience of operation and reducing manpower input.

[0031] Recovery method for automatic inflatable tethered balloon systems: After completing its mission at the working altitude, tethered balloon 1 can be easily retrieved using the following steps. The entire process can be completed by no more than two people, significantly reducing operational difficulty and time consumption: T1: First, control the cable winding device 3 to start the winding function, and wind up the cable 105 at a uniform speed. The traction force of the cable 105 will drive the tethered balloon 1 to descend slowly until the tethered balloon 1 is retrieved to the lowest point, ensuring that the tethered balloon 1 is in a stable state near the ground, which is convenient for subsequent operations.

[0032] T2: After the tethered balloon 1 descends to its lowest point, open the deflation valve 103 located at the tail of the balloon body 101 to start releasing the gas inside the balloon body 101. The gas is discharged from the deflation valve 103 at a constant speed, causing the balloon body 101 to gradually lose buoyancy, in preparation for subsequent folding and storage.

[0033] T3: During the gas release process, the operator reconnects the inflation valve 102 to the clamping device 203 of the balloon body storage inflation device 2. The clamping device 203 automatically locks the inflation valve 102. At this time, due to the net buoyancy generated by the remaining gas, the tail of the balloon body 101 will naturally tilt up. This posture can ensure that the gas in the balloon body 101 can be completely discharged along the deflation valve 103 at the tail, avoiding gas residue that may cause storage difficulties.

[0034] T4: As the gas inside the balloon bladder 101 continues to be discharged, the net buoyancy of the balloon bladder 101 gradually disappears, and it begins to gradually fall back to the vicinity of the bladder storage and inflation device 2. Simultaneously, the operator gathers the balloon bladder 101, the tether cable 104, and other balloon accessories, folding them in order from head to tail, and storing them in the box 201. The head of the balloon bladder 101 is recessed under the support of the central column 202 of the box 201 until it is close to the tail of the balloon bladder 101, and the remaining balloon bladders 101 wrap around the central column 202, completing the recovery of the tethered balloon 1 and restoring the entire system to the transport state for subsequent relocation.

[0035] In step T2, the deflation valve 103 can be opened manually or by remote electric drive. The operator can choose the appropriate opening method according to the actual situation on site to improve the flexibility of operation. In step T3, after the inflation valve 102 and the clamping device 203 are locked, the cable 105 can be released appropriately to put it in a stress-free state, so as to better maintain the "inverted" posture of the tethered balloon 1, further improve the gas discharge efficiency and shorten the recovery time.

[0036] In step T4, the balloon bladder 101 descends and is retracted from head to tail, the reverse of the inflation sequence. This sequence ensures the balloon bladder 101 folds neatly, preventing rope tangling or folding, and facilitates rapid unfolding during subsequent re-inflation, improving the system's reusability. The equipment on the balloon can be removed and properly stored, or folded and stored together with the bladder, ensuring equipment safety, depending on actual needs.

[0037] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any equivalent substitutions or modifications made by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in the present invention, based on the technical solution and inventive concept of the present invention, should be covered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. An automatic inflatable tethered balloon system, characterized in that, include: Tethered balloon (1), bag housing and inflation device (2), cable release and release device (3), slewing platform (4), carrier vehicle (5) and slewing support (6); The tethered balloon (1) includes a balloon body (101), an inflation valve (102), an deflation valve (103), a tethering cable (104), and a rope (105). The inflation valve (102) is installed at the head of the balloon body (101), and the deflation valve (103) is installed at the tail of the balloon body (101). The bladder storage and inflation device (2) includes a box (201), a central column (202) disposed in the box (201), and a clamping device (203) and an inflation tube (204) disposed in the central column (202). The clamping device (203) is used to lock or release with the inflation valve (102). When locked, the inflation valve (102) and the inflation tube (204) form a gas passage to inflate the balloon body (101). The cable winding and unwinding device (3) is used to wind up or unwind the cable (105) to control the ascent or descent of the tethered balloon (1); The cable retraction device (3) and the bladder storage and inflation device (2) are fixedly installed on the rotating platform (4). The rotating platform (4) is installed on the vehicle (5) through the rotating support (6) and can rotate around the central axis of the rotating support (6).

2. The automatic inflatable tethered balloon system according to claim 1, characterized in that, One end of the tether cable (104) is fixedly connected to the surface of the balloon body (101), and the other end is connected to the cable (105); the inflation valve (102) and the deflation valve (103) are respectively installed at both ends of the balloon body (101) through flange connection.

3. The automatic inflatable tethered balloon system according to claim 1, characterized in that, When the clamping device (203) is locked with the inflation valve (102), it can withstand the net buoyancy of the tethered balloon (1) and maintain a seal to prevent leakage of the inflated gas.

4. The automatic inflatable tethered balloon system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inflation valve (102) has the function of controllably opening and closing its gas passage. Its opening and closing methods include, but are not limited to, electric drive, magnetic attraction or spring drive; and the opening and closing of the inflation valve (102) is linked with the locking / releasing of the clamping device (203): when the clamping device (203) is locked, the inflation valve (102) automatically opens, and when the clamping device (203) is released, the inflation valve (102) automatically closes.

5. The automatic inflatable tethered balloon system according to claim 1, characterized in that, Before inflation, the tethered balloon (1) is folded and stored in the balloon body storage inflation device (2), and the folded state is as follows: the inflation valve (102) and the clamping device (203) are locked, the head of the balloon body (101) is at the bottom and the tail is at the top, the tethered cable (104) and the cable (105) are combed out of the balloon body storage inflation device (2) and connected to the cable release device (3).

6. An inflation method applicable to the automatic inflatable tethered balloon system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: S1: Turn on the external gas source and let the gas lighter than air pass through the inflation tube (204), clamping device (203), and inflation valve (102) to fill the balloon body (101). The gas first enters the tail of the balloon body (101), causing the tail to expand and rise. Continue to inflate until the balloon body (101) is fully unfolded and formed. S2: Turn off the gas source, close the inflation valve (102), and then control the clamping device (203) to release the inflation valve (102) so that the net buoyancy of the tethered balloon (1) is completely transferred to the cable (105) and the tethering cable (104). S3: Control the cable release device (3) to release the cable (105), and the tethered balloon (1) will rise to the working height under the action of net buoyancy.

7. The inflation method according to claim 6, characterized in that, During the inflation process in step S1, the cable (105) is wound up or released by the cable winding and releasing device (3) to adjust the posture of the tethered balloon (1); in step S2, the closing of the inflation valve (102) and the release of the clamping device (203) are automatically completed by remote electric drive or mechanical linkage.

8. A method for recovering an automatically inflatable tethered balloon system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: T1: The tethered balloon (1) is retrieved to the lowest point by winding up the cable (105) using the cable winding device (3); T2: Open the deflation valve (103) located at the tail of the balloon (101) to start releasing the gas inside the balloon; T3: Reconnect the inflation valve (102) to the clamping device (203) of the balloon body receiving inflation device (2) and lock it. At this time, the tail of the balloon body (101) is lifted up under the action of the remaining net buoyancy, and the gas continues to be discharged from the deflation valve (103). T4: As the gas is discharged, the balloon (101) gradually falls back to the area around the balloon storage and inflation device (2), where the operator gathers and folds it into the box (201) to achieve the state of recycling and transportation.

9. The recycling method according to claim 8, characterized in that, In step T2, the deflation valve (103) is opened by manual operation or remote electric drive; in step T3, after the inflation valve (102) and the clamping device (203) are locked, the cable (105) is released so that it is not under force, so as to keep the tethered balloon (1) in an "inverted" state and improve the gas discharge efficiency.

10. The recycling method according to claim 8, characterized in that, In step T4, the balloon bladder (101) falls and is retracted in the direction from head to tail, which is the opposite of the inflation sequence.

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