System and method for altitude control
First Claim
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1. A differential expansion system for balloon altitude control, said system comprising:
- a volume flexible, zero pressure envelope substantially absent fluid communication with ambient conditions, and a single substantially volume constant envelope, and a lift gas in said envelopes; and
a gas transfer device in fluid communication with said envelopes, for change of sum envelope volume to control balloon ascent and descent.
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Abstract
An differential expansion system and method for balloon buoyancy control which includes a zero-pressure envelope and a superpressure envelope. A gas transfer device is positioned between the envelopes to facilitate the transfer of lift gases that are lighter than air between the envelopes. The superpressure envelope and the gas transfer device can be located inside the zero-pressure envelope. Alternatively, the zero-pressure envelope, the superpressure envelope, and the gas transfer device can be located inside a zero-pressure envelope.
88 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A differential expansion system for balloon altitude control, said system comprising:
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a volume flexible, zero pressure envelope substantially absent fluid communication with ambient conditions, and a single substantially volume constant envelope, and a lift gas in said envelopes; and a gas transfer device in fluid communication with said envelopes, for change of sum envelope volume to control balloon ascent and descent. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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- 7. An atmospheric balloon apparatus comprising first and second envelopes, said first envelope volume flexible and said second envelope consisting essentially of a single volume substantially volume constant envelope within said first envelope, and a gas transfer device in fluid communication with said envelopes, for vertical ascent and descent of said balloon apparatus.
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16. A differential expansion balloon system, said system comprising:
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a balloon comprising a volume flexible, zero pressure envelope substantially absent fluid communication with ambient conditions, a single substantially volume constant envelope, a lift gas in said envelopes, and at least one data sensor selected from balloon superpressure, balloon temperature, ambient pressure/altitude, ascent/descent rate and ambient temperature data sensors; a gas transfer device in fluid communication with said envelopes, for change of sum envelope volume to control balloon ascent and descent; and a microcontroller interfaced with each said data sensor and said gas transfer device, said gas transfer device and said sum envelope volume operatively controlled by said microcontroller, responsive to at least one of said data sensors. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification