Cutter rail guide, block, armature, and blade
AssigneeGoogle Inc.
InventorsDaniel Ratner, Kyle Brookes
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus including a balloon envelope, a cutting blade secured to a blade block; a cutter guide rail secured above the balloon envelope, and an arm rotatable about a pivot point having an end secured to the blade block, wherein the end of the arm extends past the blade block, wherein the arm is releasably secured by a release member, and wherein release of the arm from the release member allows for a rotation of the arm, wherein the rotation of the end of the arm is guided by the cutter guide rail such that the cutting blade maintains contact with and cuts the balloon envelope during the rotation of the arm.
Claims17
An apparatus comprising:
- a balloon envelope;
- a cutting blade secured to a blade block;
- a cutter guide rail secured above the balloon envelope;
- and
- an arm having a first end and a second end, the arm rotatable about a pivot point, the arm secured to the blade block, wherein the second end of the arm extends past the blade block, wherein the arm is releasably secured by a release member, and wherein release of the arm from the release member allows for a rotation of the arm, wherein the rotation of the second end of the arm is guided by the cutter guide rail such that the cutting blade maintains contact with and cuts the balloon envelope during the rotation of the arm.
A method of cutting a balloon envelope to release lift gas from the envelope, comprising the steps of:
- providing a balloon envelope, a cutting blade secured to a blade block, a cutter guide rail secured above the balloon envelope, and an arm having a first end and a second end, the arm rotatable about a pivot point, the arm secured to the blade block, wherein the second end of the arm extends past the blade block, wherein the arm is releasably secured by a release member;
- receiving a signal to release the arm from the release member;
- releasing the arm from the release member;
- rotating the arm;
- and
- guiding the second end of the arm with the cutter guide rail such that the cutting blade maintains contact with and cuts the balloon envelope during the rotation of the arm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.