SYSTEM FOR CONSTRUCTING BALLOON ENVELOPES
First Claim
1. An assembly for manufacturing a balloon envelope, the assembly comprising:
- a table component having first and second levels and an indicator disposed on the first level, the first level being arranged to receive a first sheet portion of material, the indicator being arranged along a lengthwise axis of the table component to indicate a position for attaching a tendon to the first sheet portion, and the second level being arranged to receive assembled gore portions of the balloon envelope comprising at least the first sheet portion, the tendon and a second sheet portion of material; and
a sealing component, the sealing component being configured to move along the table component and to apply a heat seal to bond the first sheet portion to the second sheet portion of the material disposed thereon in order to form at least part of a gore portion of the balloon envelope, such that the tendon is arranged proximate to a centerline of the gore portion.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An assembly for use during manufacture of a balloon envelope that includes a table having first and second levels, an indicator disposed on the first level and a sealing component. The first level is arranged to receive a first sheet portion of material. The indicator is arranged along a lengthwise axis of the table to indicate a position for attaching a tendon to the first sheet portion. The second level is arranged to receive assembled gore portions of the envelope comprising the first sheet portion, the tendon and a second sheet portion material. The sealing component is configured to move along the table and to apply a heat seal to bond together the first and second sheet portions disposed. thereon in order to form at least part of a gore portion of the envelope, such that the tendon is arranged proximate to a centerline of the gore.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An assembly for manufacturing a balloon envelope, the assembly comprising:
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a table component having first and second levels and an indicator disposed on the first level, the first level being arranged to receive a first sheet portion of material, the indicator being arranged along a lengthwise axis of the table component to indicate a position for attaching a tendon to the first sheet portion, and the second level being arranged to receive assembled gore portions of the balloon envelope comprising at least the first sheet portion, the tendon and a second sheet portion of material; and a sealing component, the sealing component being configured to move along the table component and to apply a heat seal to bond the first sheet portion to the second sheet portion of the material disposed thereon in order to form at least part of a gore portion of the balloon envelope, such that the tendon is arranged proximate to a centerline of the gore portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system, comprising:
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a balloon having a balloon envelope; and an assembly for use during manufacture of the balloon envelope, the assembly comprising; a table component having first and second levels and an indicator disposed on the first level, the first level being arranged to receive a first sheet portion of material, the indicator being arranged along a lengthwise axis of the table component to indicate a position for attaching a tendon to the first sheet portion, and the second level being arranged to receive assembled gore portions of the balloon envelope comprising at least the first sheet portion, the tendon and a second sheet portion of material; and a sealing component, the sealing component being configured to move along the table component and to apply a heat seal to bond the first sheet portion to the second sheet portion of the material disposed thereon in order to form at least part of a gore portion of the balloon envelope, such that the tendon is arranged proximate to a centerline of the gore portion. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of manufacturing a balloon envelope, the method comprising:
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arranging a first sheet portion of material across a table having first and second levels and an indicator disposed on the first level, the first level being arranged to receive a first sheet portion of material, the indicator being arranged along a lengthwise axis of the table to indicate a position for attaching a tendon to the first sheet portion, and the second level being arranged to receive assembled gore portions of the balloon envelope comprising at least the first sheet portion, the tendon and a second. sheet. portion of material; securing the first sheet portion to the first level of the table; adhering a tube portion having the tendon disposed therein to the first sheet portion such that the tube portion is aligned with the indicator; positioning the second sheet portion of the material over the first sheet and tube portions arranged on the table; and joining the first and second sheet portions together, using a heat sealing device, the joined first and second sheet portions forming at least part of the gore portion of the balloon envelope such that the tendon in the tube portion is arranged proximate to a centerline of the gore portion. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. The method of claim 20, wherein the covering material is configured to allow airflow from the airflow unit to reach the first sheet portion disposed on the first level of the table.
Specification