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US 2016/0096612 A1Published application
Super-pressure balloon
AssigneeAether Industries, LLC.
InventorsBenjamin Longmier, John Mark Guthery, John Patrick Sheehan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A payload delivery and recovery system, having a payload including a data collection device arranged to collect data, and a controllable ascent vehicle comprising a controllable lighter than air (LTA) mechanism detachably coupled to the payload and used during an ascent phase to deliver the payload to a pre-determined altitude. The LTA mechanism includes low cost super-pressure balloons.
Claims20
A high altitude super-pressure balloon system, comprising:
- a plastic film tube having a film tube length, wherein a super-pressure balloon float altitude is selectable in accordance with the film tube length and a given payload mass, wherein the ability to drift at a known and fixed altitude to take advantage of known or unknown wind patterns in order to pass over a desired location or plurality of locations on the ground;
- and
- a payload coupled to the tube of plastic film.
A method of manufacturing a super-pressure balloon, comprising:
- acquiring a tubular material capable of being formed in a collapsed and expanded configuration having a length longer than an intended length of the super-pressure balloon;
- removing a desired length of tubular material to create the super-pressure balloon;
- and
- sealing the terminal ends of the tubular material to form the super-pressure balloon.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.