Filling apparatus for high-altitude balloons

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10322789-B2
Application number	US-201715797273-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 30, 2017
Priority date	Apr 10, 2014
Publication date	Jun 18, 2019
Grant date	Jun 18, 2019

Abstract

High-altitude balloons and apparatuses for filling such high-altitude balloons are provided. As an example, an apparatus for filling a high-altitude balloon includes a tube extending through envelope material of the balloon is provided. The apparatus also includes a flange connected to a first end of the tube. The flange is connected to an interior surface of the balloon. A fitting is connected to a second end of the tube. The fitting is configured for attachment with an apparatus for filling the balloon with lift gas. In addition, methods of filling high-altitude balloons with lift gas and methods of manufacturing balloons are also provided.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
a filling apparatus for filling a balloon, the apparatus comprising:
a tube having a first end and a second end; and
a plug member connected to the second end such that the tube extends through at least a portion of the plug member to provide a conduit for gas between the first end and a second end and through the plug, the plug member having a flange portion arranged around the tube, and the plug member further having at least one groove arranged around an external surface of the plug member; and
an o-ring arranged in the at least one groove.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the flange portion corresponds to a disc with a lip that extends outwardly relative to a surface of the plug member in which the at least one groove is arranged.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the tube is comprised of a first metal and the plug member is comprised of a second metal.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the tube is comprised of copper.

5. The system of claim 3 , wherein the plug member is comprised of stainless steel.

6. The system of claim 3 , wherein the first metal is different from the second metal.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the materials of the o-ring and plug member are selected to compensate for changing dimensions of the materials at predetermined temperatures.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the tube is configured for cold welding to seal lift gas in the balloon.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plug member includes a second groove arranged between the first groove and the flange.

10. The system of claim 8 , further comprising a second O-ring arranged in the second groove.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein high vacuum grease is arranged on the O-ring and the second O-ring.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein each of the O-ring and the second O-ring includes flourosilicone in order to reduce shrinkage of the each of the O-rings at a predetermined altitude.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the at least one groove and the second groove extends around a complete circumference of the plug member.

14. The system of claim 10 , wherein the at least one groove and the second groove are arranged parallel to one another on the plug member.

15. The system of claim 10 , wherein the at least one groove and the second groove are arranged below a first side of the flange and the tube extends above a second side of the flange, the first side is opposite of the second side.

16. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a fitting attached to the first end, the fitting is configured for attachment to a filling apparatus.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the fitting is braze welded to the first end.

18. The system of claim 1 , wherein the filling apparatus is configured for attachment to a top plate of a balloon envelope such that the first end extends away from the balloon envelope.

19. The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the O-ring includes flourosilicone in order to reduce shrinkage of the each of the O-rings at a predetermined altitude.

20. The system of claim 10 , wherein high vacuum grease is arranged on the O-ring.

Assignees

• Loon Llc

Inventors

• Brookes Kyle

Classifications

• Y10T137/3584

  Inflatable article [e.g., tire filling chuck and/or stem] · CPC title

• B64B1/40

  Balloons (B64B1/58 takes precedence; toy balloons A63H27/10) · CPC title

• B64F5/00

  Designing, manufacturing, assembling, cleaning, maintaining or repairing aircraft, not otherwise provided for; Handling, transporting, testing or inspecting aircraft components, not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B64B1/58 Primary

  Arrangements or construction of gas-bags; Filling arrangements · CPC title