Straight Line Gore Balloon Construction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for constructing atmospheric balloons using constant lobe radius or constant lobe angle gores are labor-intensive and time-consuming due to the need for precise curved cutting patterns, which are difficult to scale, leading to issues like clefting and increased hoop stress, especially at high altitudes.
Innovation Solution
The use of straight line gore construction, where gores have consistent straight line edges from the apexes to the equator, allowing for scalable templates and reduced clefting by minimizing hoop stress, facilitating consistent and predictable inflation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If curved cutting patterns are used to achieve constant lobe radius or constant lobe angle gores, then the balloon shape and stress distribution are improved, but the manufacturing complexity and time consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of cutting curved patterns to achieve the desired balloon shape, the invention inverts the approach by using straight line cuts on a pre-formed curved template. The template itself has the curved geometry needed for constant lobe radius or constant lobe angle construction, while the actual cutting pattern remains simple and linear, thereby simplifying manufacturing while preserving the desired balloon shape.
2Manufacturing precision
If curved cutting patterns are used for each balloon size, then the precision of gore construction is maintained, but the scalability and productivity decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates a universal template that can be used across multiple balloon sizes and configurations. The single curved template serves multiple functions by allowing different straight line cutting patterns to be applied to it, generating gores for various balloon diameters, altitudes, and gore counts without requiring separate curved patterns for each case, thus maintaining precision while enabling scalability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces dynamic adjustability to the manufacturing process by allowing the straight line cutting angle to be varied based on the desired balloon specifications. By changing the cutting angle relative to the fixed curved template, the same template can produce gores for different balloon sizes and configurations, providing a dynamic solution that maintains precision across varying requirements.
3Shape
If curved cutting patterns are used, then the constant lobe angle or radius is achieved, but the risk of clefting and material stress increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention inverts the traditional approach by maintaining the curved geometry in the template rather than in the cutting pattern. This inversion results in straight line cuts that create more favorable stress distribution and reduce the likelihood of clefting, while the template's curved shape ensures the desired constant lobe angle or radius is still achieved in the final balloon construction.
Data Source
AI summary
An atmospheric balloon includes an upper apex and a lower apex and a balloon membrane. The balloon membrane includes a plurality of balloon gores. The balloon gores extend between the upper and lower apexes. One or more of the balloon gores includes upper straight line gore edges and lower straight line gore edges. The upper and lower straight line gore edges are coupled along one or more corresponding upper and lower straight line gore edges of adjacent balloon gores of the plurality of balloon gores. The one or more balloon gores are formed with cutting the gore material along a straight line cutting edge to form the upper and lower straight line gore edges.