Valve for airbag decelerator

A valve for an airbag decelerator system, the valve comprising:

• a base having a first annular flange defining an opening;
• a housing comprising:
• a second annular flange,
• a sidewall defining a first plurality of openings, and
• an upper portion extending across an upper end of the sidewall, the upper portion located axially upward from the second annular flange and defining a second plurality of openings,
• wherein the first and second annular flanges are configured to clamp therebetween a portion of an airbag fabric to secure the valve to an airbag;
• a spring configured to axially compress and lengthen;
• a guide coupled with the upper portion of the housing and protruding toward the base;
• and
• a valve body supported inside the housing and biased toward the base by the spring to seal the opening, a portion of the valve body configured to be received by the guide, wherein the spring is configured to compress upon impact between the airbag decelerator system and a ground surface such that the valve body unseals the opening, and
• wherein the first plurality of openings is configured to allow air to exit the housing via the sidewall and the second plurality of openings is configured to allow air to exit the housing via the upper portion upon impact between the airbag decelerator system and the ground surface.

A high altitude platform comprising:

• a lighter than air system configured to lift a payload off a ground to an altitude above 50,000 feet;
• and
• an airbag decelerator system configured to provide cushioning to the payload upon returning to ground, the airbag decelerator system comprising:
• an airbag comprising an envelope defining an interior volume configured to store pressurized air;
• and
• a valve comprising:
• a base having a first annular flange defining an opening;
• a housing comprising:
• a second annular flange,
• a sidewall defining a first plurality of openings, and
• an upper portion extending across an upper end of the sidewall, the upper portion located axially upward from the second annular flange and defining a second plurality of openings,
• wherein the first and second annular flanges clamp therebetween a portion of the envelope to secure the valve to the airbag;
• a spring configured to axially compress and lengthen;
• a guide coupled with the upper portion of the housing and protruding toward the base;
• and
• a valve body supported inside the housing and biased toward the base by the spring to seal the opening and prevent the pressurized air from escaping the interior volume of the airbag to an exterior of the airbag, a portion of the valve body configured to be received by the guide, and wherein the spring is configured to compress upon impact between the airbag and a ground surface such that the valve body unseals the opening to allow the pressurized air to escape the interior volume of the airbag to the exterior of the airbag,
• wherein the first plurality of openings is configured to allow air to exit the housing via the sidewall and the second plurality of openings is configured to allow air to exit the housing via the upper portion upon impact between the airbag and the ground surface.