Floating unit for lifting a bendable connection element and supply system for a floating unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12415595-B2
Application number	US-202318185144-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 16, 2023
Priority date	Apr 13, 2022
Publication date	Sep 16, 2025
Grant date	Sep 16, 2025

Abstract

A floating unit and a supply system for a floating unit having a bendable connection element and a platform. The platform includes at least one connection point for storing the at least one floating unit. The at least one connection point includes an additional interface for connecting a first interface of the at least one floating unit wherein the bendable connection element is threaded through the clamping unit of the at least one floating unit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A supply system for a floating unit comprising:
a bendable connection element;
a winch for winding up the bendable connection element;
at least one floating unit for lifting the bendable connection element, comprising:
a clamping unit switchable between a fixed state for attaching the floating unit to the bendable connection element and a released state for detaching the floating unit from the bendable connection element, the clamping unit comprising a first interface; and
an envelope for enclosing a gas volume; and

a platform comprising:
at least one connection point for the at least one floating unit, the at least one connection point comprising an additional interface for connecting the first interface of the at least one floating unit when the clamping unit of the at least one floating unit is aligned with the at least one connection point; and
a strain relief in contact with the bendable connection element the strain relief switchable between a reliefing state and a tensioned state,

wherein the bendable connection element is threaded through the clamping unit of the at least one floating unit, and
wherein the strain relief switches into the reliefing state when the at least one floating unit is positioned at the at least one connection point and the clamping unit of the at least one floating unit is attached to the bendable connection element wound up by the winch.

2. The supply system of claim 1 , wherein
the additional interface comprises an additional fluidic interface; and
the at least one additional fluidic interface comprises a bore and a sealing moveable along the bore between a retracted position and a sealing position.

3. The supply system of claim 2 , wherein the sealing is moved in the sealing position when the bore is pressurized with a fluid.

4. The supply system of claim 2 , wherein
the at least one floating unit is placed at the at least one connection point; and
the sealing moved in the sealing position is protruding into the first fluidic interface of the floating unit.

5. The supply system of claim 1 , the additional interface comprising at least one additional electrical interface for connecting the first interface of the at least one floating unit.

6. The supply system of claim 5 , wherein the at least one additional electrical interface is energized with electrical energy when the first electrical interface of the at least one floating unit is connected with the at least one additional electrical interface.

7. The supply system of claim 1 , comprising a rail for guiding the clamping unit of the at least one floating unit towards the at least one connection point.

8. The supply system of claim 1 , comprising a guidance for guiding the bendable connection element in alignment with the at least one connection point.

9. The supply system of claim 1 , comprising more than one connection point; wherein a distance between two connection points is adapted for a gapless positioning of the clamping units at the connection points next to each other.

10. The supply system of claim 1 , comprising a base body wherein the platform is rotatably connected to the base body.

11. The floating unit of claim 1 , comprising
a conduit;
wherein the first interface comprises a first fluidic interface; and
the conduit is connected with the first fluidic interface and the envelope for supplying the gas volume with a fluid.

12. The floating unit of claim 11 , wherein the first fluidic interface comprises
a check valve comprising a seat and a closing member moveable towards the seat for sealing the seat.

13. The floating unit of claim 12 , the check valve comprising a valve spring for biasing the closing member towards the seat.

14. The floating unit of claim 1 , wherein the first interface comprises a first electrical interface; and
the clamping unit comprises an actuator connected with first electrical interface for supplying the actuator with electrical energy.

15. The floating unit of claim 14 , wherein the actuator is configured to switch the clamping unit into the released state when the actuator is energized with electrical energy and to switch the clamping unit into the fixed state when the actuator is deenergized.

Assignees

• Agco Int Gmbh

Inventors

• Opitsch Bernd

Classifications

• B64B1/50

  Captive balloons · CPC title

• A01B76/00

  Parts, details or accessories of agricultural machines or implements, not provided for in groups A01B51/00 - A01B75/00 · CPC title

• B64U10/00

  Type of UAV · CPC title

• B64U2101/00

  UAVs specially adapted for particular uses or applications · CPC title

• B64U2101/45

  for releasing liquids or powders in-flight, e.g. crop-dusting · CPC title