Altitude control via rotation of balloon to adjust balloon density

• US 8,733,697 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2012
• Issued: 05/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aerostar International
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: DeVaul, Richard Wayne, Teller, Eric, Weaver, Josh, Biffle, Clifford L
• Primary Examiner(s): Bonzell, Philip J
• Application Number:
  US13/346,620
• Publication Number:
  US 20130175387A1
• Time in Patent Office: 869 Days
• Field of Search: 244 96- 99, 244/24, 244/30, 244/31, 244/125, 244/126
• US Class Current: 244/97
• CPC Class Codes: B64B 1/60 Gas-bags surrounded by separate containers of inert gas
• CPC Class Codes: B64B 1/62 Controlling gas pressure, heating, cooling, or discharging gas
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/042 specially adapted for aircraft

Abstract

A balloon that includes an envelope with a gas contained within the envelope, as well as a payload connected to the envelope wherein the envelope has a first portion that has a first absorptive or reflective property with respect to allowing solar energy to be transferred to the gas within the envelope, and a second portion that has a second absorptive or reflective property with respect to allowing solar energy to be transferred to the gas within the envelope where the second absorptive or reflective property is different than the first absorptive or reflective property, and wherein the envelope is rotatable to allow a preferred ratio of the first and second portions of the envelope to be positioned facing the sun.

Claims

1. A balloon, comprising:

an envelope;

a gas contained within the envelope;

a payload connected to the envelope;

wherein the envelope has a first portion that has a first absorptive or reflective property with respect to allowing solar energy to be transferred to the gas within the envelope, and a second portion that has a second absorptive or reflective property with respect to allowing solar energy to be transferred to the gas within the envelope where the second absorptive or reflective property is different than the first absorptive or reflective property such that the first portion is provided with a lightly colored surface and the second portion is provided with a darkly colored surface that allows more solar energy to be transferred through the envelope to the gas within the envelope than the first portion; and

wherein the envelope is rotatable to allow a preferred ratio of the first and second portions of the envelope to be positioned facing the sun.

2. The balloon of claim 1, wherein more energy is transferred into the balloon envelope when the second portion is facing the sun than when the first portion is facing the sun.

3. The balloon of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the envelope is provided with a color that is lighter than the color of the second portion of the envelope.

4. The balloon of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the envelope is colored white.

5. The balloon of claim 1, wherein the second portion of the envelope is colored black.

6. The balloon of claim 1, wherein the second portion of the envelope is transmissive to allow sunlight to pass through the envelope.

7. The balloon of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the envelope is opaque or reflective.

8. The balloon of claim 1, wherein there is a distinct dividing line between the first and second portions of the envelope.

9. The balloon of claim 1, wherein a transition from the first portion of the envelope to the second portion of the envelope is gradual.

10. The balloon of claim 1, including means for rotating the envelope to position the first or second portions of the envelope facing the sun.

11. The balloon of claim 1, further including a directional spigot connected to the balloon or payload for releasing compressed air to rotate the envelope.

12. The balloon of claim 1, wherein compressed air may be released against a thrust plate connected to the balloon to rotate the envelope.

13. The balloon of claim 1, further including means for positioning a preferred ratio of the first or second portion of the envelope facing the sun.

14. The balloon of claim 1, further including a bladder within the envelope into which air may be admitted or released that serves as a ballast.

15. The balloon of claim 1, wherein the envelope further includes a third portion that has a third absorptive or reflective property with respect to allowing solar energy to be transferred to the gas within the envelope, that is different than the first or second absorptive or reflective property.

16. The balloon of claim 15, wherein the third portion of the envelope allows more solar energy to pass through to the gas within the envelope than the first portion of the envelope and the third portion of the envelope allows less solar energy to pass through to the gas within the envelope than the second portion of the envelope.

17. The balloon of claim 1, further including one or more fans connected to the balloon or payload to rotate the envelope.

18. The balloon of claim 17, wherein the one or more fans are offset from a centerline of the balloon.

19. The balloon of claim 1, further including a controller configured to position a preferred ratio of the first or second portion of the envelope facing the sun.

20. The balloon of claim 19, further comprising a global positioning system configured to acquire global positioning system data, wherein the controller is configured to determine the positioning of the balloon with respect to the sun.

21. A method of controlling the altitude of a balloon, comprising:

determining a location of a balloon with respect to the sun;

wherein the balloon has an envelope with a gas contained within the envelope and a payload connected to the envelope; and

wherein the envelope has a first portion that has a first absorptive or reflective property with respect to allowing solar energy to be transferred to the gas within the envelope, and a second portion that has a second absorptive or reflective property with respect to allowing solar energy to be transferred to the gas within the envelope where the second absorptive or reflective property is different than the first absorptive or reflective property such that the first portion is provided with a lightly colored surface and the second portion is provided with a darkly colored surface that allows more solar energy to be transferred through the envelope to the gas within the envelope than the first portion;

rotating the envelope of the balloon to position a preferred ratio of the first portion or second portion of the envelope facing the sun.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the rotating step includes operating a directional spigot connected to the balloon or payload for releasing compressed air to rotate the envelope.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the rotating step includes releasing compressed air against a thrust plate connected to the balloon to rotate the envelope.

24. The method of claim 21, further including the step of admitting or releasing air into a bladder positioned within the envelope to raise or lower the altitude of the balloon.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the rotating step includes operating one or more fans connected to the balloon or payload to rotate the envelope.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the one or more fans are offset from a centerline of the balloon.

27. A balloon, comprising:

an envelope;

a gas contained within the envelope;

a payload connected to the envelope;

a heat sink that is thermally coupled to the gas within the envelope that is retractable and extendable; and

wherein the envelope has a first portion that has a first absorptive or reflective property with respect to allowing solar energy to be transferred to the gas within the envelope, and a second portion that has a second absorptive or reflective property with respect to allowing solar energy to be transferred to the gas within the envelope where the second absorptive or reflective property is different than the first absorptive or reflective property such that the first portion is provided with a lightly colored surface and the second portion is provided with a darkly colored surface that allows more solar energy to be transferred through the envelope to the gas within the envelope than the first portion.

28. The balloon of claim 27, wherein the heat sink is thermally coupled to the gas within the envelope via a rod.

29. The balloon of claim 27, wherein the heat sink comprises one or more metal fins.

30. The balloon of claim 29, wherein at least one of the metal fins comprises a highly thermally conductive material.

31. The balloon of claim 30, wherein the at least one metal fin comprises Beryllium Copper.

32. The balloon of claim 27, wherein the heat sink is comprised of a highly thermally conductive material.

33. The balloon of claim 32, wherein the heat sink is comprised of a highly thermally conductive material.

34. The balloon of claim 33, wherein the heat sink is comprised of Beryllium Copper.