Reusable balloon system
AssigneeUrban Sky
InventorsJared Leidich, Andrew F. Antonio, Mitch Sweeney, Daniel W. McFatter, Maxmillion James West McLaughlin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An example reusable high-altitude balloon system includes a balloon with a first end supporting a payload and a second end with an aperture and an apex fitting that is positioned within the aperture. A clamp applies a pressure to a plurality of pleated folds formed in the perimeter of the aperture around the apex fitting to form an air-tight seal against the balloon at the perimeter of the aperture. The reusable high-altitude balloon system further includes control circuitry that controllably releases the apex fitting from the balloon to initiate a descent sequence.
Claims20
A reusable balloon system comprising:
- a balloon with a first end supporting a payload and a second end opposite the first end, the second end including an aperture;
- an apex fitting positioned within the aperture of the second end of the balloon, the apex fitting configured to form an air-tight seal against the balloon;
- and
- control circuitry that controllably initiates a descent sequence by releasing the apex fitting from the second end of the balloon without damaging the balloon.
A method for launch and recovery of a reusable balloon system, the method comprising:
- receiving a lift gas within a balloon envelope, the balloon envelope having a first end attached to a payload and a plug seal formed in an aperture of a second end of the balloon envelope opposite the first end, the plug seal including an apex fitting that forms an air-tight seal between the balloon envelope and the apex fitting;
- and
- initiating a descent sequence of the reusable balloon system by controllably releasing the apex fitting from the second end of the balloon envelope without damaging the balloon envelope.
A method for constructing a plug seal in a reusable balloon system comprising:
- positioning an apex fitting within an aperture formed in one end of a balloon envelope;
- positioning a portion of the balloon envelope around the aperture;
- and
- applying a pressure through the balloon envelope to the apex fitting and to form an air-tight seal between the balloon envelope and the apex fitting, the apex fitting including control circuitry configured to controllably release the apex fitting without damaging the balloon envelope while the reusable balloon system is in flight to initiate a descent sequence.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.