APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING THE TEMPERATURE OF BALLOON-BORNE EQUIPMENT

• US 3,807,384 A
• Filed: 08/14/1972
• Issued: 04/30/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jack J. Triolo, Milton Schach
• Original Assignee: Jack J. Triolo, Milton Schach
• Inventors: Schach, Milton, Triolo, Jack J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dority, Jr., Carroll B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ferguson, Peter D.
• Application Number:
  US05/280,305
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 126/270,271 237/1A 244/30,31,127
• US Class Current: 126/680
• CPC Class Codes: B64B 1/58 Arrangements or construction of gas-bags; Filling arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F24V 50/00 Use of heat from natural sources, e.g. from the sea
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 126/908 Particular chemical

Abstract

A novel apparatus for controlling the temperature of balloonborne equipment is disclosed, the apparatus serving to utilize the radiant energy emitted by the earth and its atmosphere so as to control the temperature of equipment such as batteries and electronic instrumentation packages. In the preferred inventive embodiment, the apparatus comprises a housing adapted to be carried aloft by a balloon and defining an enclosure for an instrumentation package that is placed therein. The enclosure includes an upper shield portion as well as a bottom window portion at the base thereof, the bottom window portion facing the earth below during flight. The upper shield portion is constructed of a material such as aluminized Mylar, which serves to reflect direct sunlight. The bottom window portion is preferably constructed of a material such as polyethylene which allows heat and long wave radiation emitted by the earth and its atmosphere to pass into the enclosure. The shape of the enclosure is such that the long wave radiation passed through the bottom window is reflected by the inside wall of the upper shield portion towards the instrumentation package. The heat radiated by the instrumentation package itself is likewise reflected and returned towards the package. The enclosure itself defines a means whereby heat loss by convection is reduced. In the preferred inventive embodiment, the enclosure will be seen to have the shape of a cone. The utilization of the apparatus of the instant invention effects stable temperature control of an electronic instrumentation package placed therein, both during nighttime and daylight operation, without the necessity of providing any internal heat source.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling the temperature of balloon-borne equipment such as batteries and electronic instrumentation packages, said apparatus comprising a housing means adapted to be carried aloft by a balloon and defining an enclosure for an instrumentation package placed therein at a central region thereof, said enclosure including an upper shield portion and a bottom window portion at the base thereof, means for coupling said housing means to a balloon such that said bottom window portion faces the earth below during flight, said bottom window portion defining means substantially transparent to heat and long wave radiation emitted by the earth and its atmosphere, whereby said radiation passes into said enclosure to effect heating of the instrumentation package therein;

said upper shield portion haviNg a coating on the external side thereof defining means for substantially reflecting incident external heat radiation from the sun, whereby the day-time temperature of the instrumentation package therein is reduced; and

a coating on the internal side of said upper shield portion deinfing means for substantially reflecting incident heat radiation;

said shield portion of said enclosure being shaped so that long wave radiation passing through said bottom window portion at the enclosure base into the interior of said enclosure is reflected by said internal coating toward the central region and so that heat radiation emitted from the interior of said shield portion is reflected back toward the central region thereof.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said enclosure is constructed of material substantially reducing convection heat loss from the interior thereof.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said bottom window portion further defines means substantially impervious to visible radiation.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said upper shield portion of said enclosure is shaped substantially as a cone.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said bottom window portion is constructed of polyethylene of approximately one mil thickness, and wherein said upper shield portion is constructed of Mylar having a thickness substantially within the range of 1 to 5 mils and having an aluminized coating on both sides thereof.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said bottom window portion is constructed of a plastic of approximately 1 mil thickness, and wherein said upper shield portion is constructed of a plastic having a thickness substantially within the range of 1 to 5 mils and having a metallized coating on both sides thereof.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said bottom window portion is constructed of a germanium material, and wherein said upper shield portion is constructed of plastic having a thickness substantially within the range of 1 to 5 mils and having a metallized coating on both sides thereof.