Apparatus to lift and fill a balloon

• US 9,266,599 B1
• Filed: 11/18/2014
• Issued: 02/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Loon, LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Ratner, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Christopher P
• Application Number:
  US14/546,412
• Time in Patent Office: 462 Days
• Field of Search: 244/98, 244/31, 446220-226
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64B 1/40 Balloons B64B1/58 takes precedence; toy balloons A63H27/10
• CPC Class Codes: B64B 1/58 Arrangements or construction of gas-bags; Filling arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B64B 1/62 Controlling gas pressure, heating, cooling, or discharging gas
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/30 Lighter-than-air aircraft, e.g. aerostatic aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/20 for use as communications relays, e.g. high-altitude platforms

Abstract

Aspects of the disclosure relate to filling and lifting high altitude balloons. For instance, one example system for lifting and filling a balloon having a balloon envelope includes an apparatus for use with the balloon envelope. The apparatus includes a load line, a fill tube having a hollow portion nested within the load line and a termination member attached to the fill tube and load line. The load line is configured to lift the balloon envelope during inflation. The fill tube extends through the load line and is configured to allow lift gas to pass through the hollow portion. The termination member is configured to mate with an opening in the balloon envelope so that lift gas can pass through the hollow portion of the fill tube and into the opening in the balloon envelope.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use with a balloon envelope, the apparatus comprising:

a load line, the load line being configured to lift the balloon envelope during inflation;

a fill tube having a hollow portion nested within the load line, the fill tube extending through the load line and being configured to allow lift gas to pass through the hollow portion; and

a termination member attached to the load line and fill tube, the termination member being configured to mate with an opening in the balloon envelope so that lift gas can pass through the hollow portion of the fill tube and into the opening in the balloon envelope.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising one or more actuators coupled to the termination member, the one or more actuators are configured to temporarily hold the termination member and the opening in the balloon envelope together.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the one or more actuators includes at least one of a magnet, servo, hydraulic and motorized double-CAM lock.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the one or more actuators includes an arm portion configured to pull the termination member onto the opening in the balloon envelope in order to firmly secure the termination member and the opening together.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plugging device attached to the opening in the balloon envelope, the plugging device is configured to regulate a flow of lift gas through the opening.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the plugging device includes a gasket configured to move from a first position to allow lift gas to enter the opening in the balloon envelope and second position to prevent the lift gas from escaping through the opening in the balloon envelope.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the plugging device includes an epoxy injected through the hollow portion of the fill tube.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the epoxy is configured to harden in order to close the opening in the balloon envelope.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a light source disposed through the hollow portion of the fill tube, the light source is configured to activate hardening of the epoxy.

10. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the plugging device includes a plug configured to close the opening in the balloon envelope.

11. A system, comprising:

a balloon having a balloon envelope; and

an apparatus for use with the balloon envelope, the apparatus comprising

a load line, the load line being configured to lift the balloon envelope during inflation;

a fill tube having a hollow portion nested within the load line, the fill tube extending through the load line and being configured to allow lift gas to pass through the hollow portion; and

a termination member attached to the load line and fill tube, the termination member being configured to mate with an opening in the balloon envelope so that lift gas can pass through the hollow portion of the fill tube and into the opening in the balloon envelope.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising one or more actuators coupled to the termination member, the one or more actuators is configured to temporarily hold the termination member and the opening in the balloon envelope together.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the one or more actuators includes at least one of a magnet, servo, hydraulic and motorized double-CAM lock.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the one or more actuators includes an arm portion configured to pull the termination member onto the opening in the balloon envelope in order to firmly secure the termination member and the opening together.

15. The system of claim 11, further comprising a plugging device attached to the opening in the balloon envelope, the plugging device is configured to regulate a flow of lift gas through the opening.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the plugging device includes a gasket configured to move from a first position to allow lift gas to enter the opening in the balloon envelope and second position to prevent the lift gas from escaping through the opening in the balloon envelope.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the plugging device includes an epoxy injected through the hollow portion of the fill tube.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the epoxy is configured to harden in order to close the opening in the balloon envelope.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising a light source disposed through the hollow portion of the fill tube, the light source is configured to activate hardening of the epoxy.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the plugging device includes a plug configured to close the opening in the balloon envelope.