Tendon routing at envelope apex
First Claim
1. A method of manufacturing a high-altitude balloon, the method comprising:
- positioning a plate at an apex of an exterior portion of the balloon envelope;
laying a first tendon over and across a portion of the plate, the first tendon being configured to run along and support a first portion of the balloon envelope; and
joining a second tendon and the first tendon by joining a second end of the second tendon to a first end of the first tendon at the plate, the second tendon configured to run along and support a second portion of the balloon envelope.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A top cap assembly is provided for mounting tendon to a balloon that has a balloon envelope. The assembly includes a plate structure having a plurality of junction portions disposed at an apex of the balloon envelope and a plurality of tendon pairs. Each tendon pair includes first and second tendon members attached to the balloon envelope. The first tendon member is arranged to cross over the plate structure. The second tendon member is arranged to engage the first length tendon member at a given one of the junction portions of the doubler plate. A fastener member is attached to each tendon pair of the plurality of tendon pairs. The fastener member is used for securing the first and second tendon members of a given tendon pair together in order to support lift gas carried by the balloon envelope.
28 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of manufacturing a high-altitude balloon, the method comprising:
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positioning a plate at an apex of an exterior portion of the balloon envelope; laying a first tendon over and across a portion of the plate, the first tendon being configured to run along and support a first portion of the balloon envelope; and joining a second tendon and the first tendon by joining a second end of the second tendon to a first end of the first tendon at the plate, the second tendon configured to run along and support a second portion of the balloon envelope. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of manufacturing a high-altitude balloon, the method comprising:
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positioning a plate at an apex of an exterior portion of the balloon envelope; laying a first tendon over and across a portion of the plate, the first tendon running along and supporting a first portion of the balloon envelope; and joining a second tendon to the first tendon at the plate, the second tendon running along and supporting a second portion of the balloon envelope. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification