Subsea deployment of aerial payloads utilizing long-term storage of lighter than air gases
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorsJeffrey M. Lloyd, Carol A. Becker, Brandon J. Wiedemeier, Jack Y. Dea, Rosteslaw M. Husar
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Abstract
A lighter than air (LTA) balloon and payload for the LTA balloon are stored on or in an underwater launcher. The launcher provides a source for a supply of a lighter than air gas, which is operatively connected to the LTA balloon until release. On deployment, the lighter than air gas is generated. The LTA balloon is deployed by activating the launcher to fill the LTA balloon and then releases the LTA balloon.
Claims17
A method for deploying a lighter than air (LTA) balloon, the method comprising:
- storing the LTA balloon and payload for the LTA balloon in an underwater storage and launch container;
- providing a source for a supply of a lighter than air gas, and operatively connecting the source to the LTA balloon;
- positioning the underwater storage and launch container in an underwater location;
- and
- deploying the LTA balloon by filling the LTA balloon with the lighter than air gas and releasing the LTA balloon from the storage and launch container such that the LTA balloon ascends through the water to the water surface, and then to an untethered altitude of at least 10,000 meters above the water surface such that the LTA balloon is difficult to detect.
An underwater balloon launch assembly comprising:
- a submergible container;
- a hydrogen generator capable of providing hydrogen gas;
- a balloon stored in the submergible container and having a connection for receiving hydrogen gas, whereby supply of the hydrogen gas to the balloon results in the balloon launching underwater from the submergible container to an untethered high-altitude location of at least 10,000 meters;
- and
- an expendable communications relay device, provided as payload for the balloon.
A method for deploying a high-altitude communications relay comprising:
- storing a container on a sea floor for a period of time, wherein the container comprises a wide band communications relay tethered to a deflated lighter-than-air (LTA) balloon, which is operatively coupled to a hydrogen generator;
- launching the relay by initiating generation of hydrogen by the hydrogen generator;
- and
- inflating the LTA balloon with the hydrogen such that the LTA balloon lifts the relay off of the sea floor, through the water to the water surface, and then to an untethered altitude of at least 10,000 meters above the water surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.