Balloon Tethering System with Dual Winch Angle Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tethered balloons experience changes in the angle between the retrieval towing cable and the horizon line during ascent and descent, affecting dynamic performance and causing unwanted movements and momentums.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising two cars and two winches, each connected to a cable attached to the balloon, allows for controlled movement and rotation of the winches to maintain a constant angle between the cable and the horizon line during ascent and descent.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single retrieval towing cable is used to tether the balloon, then the structure is simple, but the angle between the cable and horizon line changes during ascent and descent, causing unwanted movements and momentums
Solution Approach 1:
The single cable system is segmented into multiple cables (first cable and second cable) attached at different locations on the balloon. Each cable is independently controlled by its own car and winch system, allowing individual adjustment to maintain constant angles during balloon ascent and descent.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs movable cars that can travel along rails and winches that can rotate to dynamically adjust cable lengths. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the system to maintain constant cable angles relative to the horizon line as the balloon changes altitude, resolving the angle instability problem.
2Stability of the object's composition
If multiple cables and cars are used to maintain constant angle, then the cable angle stability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each car assembly integrates multiple functions: it serves as a support structure, contains a winch for cable length adjustment, and can move along the rail. The winch provides both cable length control and angular positioning capability. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components and simplifies the overall system architecture despite the multiple cables required.
Solution Approach 2:
The cars act as intermediary elements between the fixed ground infrastructure (rails) and the moving balloon. They provide a stable platform for the winches and enable controlled cable deployment and retrieval, mediating the complex interactions between multiple cables to achieve angle stability.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for ascending and descending a balloon. The system includes a first car, a first winch, a first cable, a second car, a second winch, a second cable, a memory, and one or more processors. The one or more processors are configured to perform a method, the method comprising ascending and descending the balloon by control movements of the first car, the first winch, the first cable, the second car, and the second winch.