SYSTEM FOR CONSTRUCTING BALLOON ENVELOPES
First Claim
1. A system for manufacturing a balloon envelope, the system comprising:
- a table component having a curved heat sealing surface defining the shape of a gore of the balloon envelope;
an overhead track system arranged above the table component, the overhead track system including a curved track;
a sealing component, the sealing component being configured to move along the curved track in order to apply a heat seal to bond first and second sheet portions of balloon envelope material to form a seam between a first gore of the balloon envelope and a second gore of the balloon envelope.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
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 of 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.
20 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for manufacturing a balloon envelope, the system comprising:
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a table component having a curved heat sealing surface defining the shape of a gore of the balloon envelope; an overhead track system arranged above the table component, the overhead track system including a curved track; a sealing component, the sealing component being configured to move along the curved track in order to apply a heat seal to bond first and second sheet portions of balloon envelope material to form a seam between a first gore of the balloon envelope and a second gore of the balloon envelope. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification