Filling apparatus for high-altitude balloons

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9371124-B2
Application number	US-201514703061-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 4, 2015
Priority date	Apr 10, 2014
Publication date	Jun 21, 2016
Grant date	Jun 21, 2016

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 for filling a high-altitude balloon having an envelope, the system comprising:
a filling apparatus including:
a tubular portion configured to form a conduit for filling the envelope with lift gas;
a first member connected to an end of the tubular portion, the first member being arranged for attachment with the envelope, the first member including a groove arranged around at least a portion of the first member;
a second member attached to the first member, arranged on an interior of the balloon envelope, the second member including a second groove arranged around at least a portion of the second member on the interior of the balloon envelope.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the tubular portion comprises copper.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the tubular portion is braze welded to the first member.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first member is comprised of a material different from the tubular portion.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first member further comprises threading configured to mate with complementary threading on an internal surface of a nut wherein the nut is configured to secure the apparatus to the envelope.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the groove is configured to hold a ring.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the ring is an o-ring comprising fluorosilicone.

8. The system of claim 6 , wherein at least a portion of the ring has a coating of grease.

9. The system of claim 6 , wherein the first member further includes a second groove arranged around at least a portion of the first member and the second groove is configured to hold a second ring.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first member includes internal threading for attaching to complementary threading of the second member.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second member further includes a third groove configured to hold a ring.

12. The system of claim 11 , further comprising the ring, and wherein the ring is configured to form a seal between the second member and the envelope.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the second member further includes a flexible portion arranged between the second groove and the third groove, wherein the flexible portion is arranged to flex and maintain the position of the ring in the second groove.

14. The system of claim 1 , further comprising the balloon.

15. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
the balloon; and
wherein prior to filling the balloon with lift gas and pinching off the tubular portion, the tubular portion, first member, and second member are configured to include a continuous opening from outside of an interior of the envelope, through the envelope, and into the interior of the envelope.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein after filling the balloon with lift gas and pinching off the tubular portion, the tubular portion, first member, and second member are configured to form an air tight seal with the balloon envelope and prevent lift gas from escaping through the tubular portion.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the balloon includes a top cap for mounting tendons and the continuous opening extends through the top cap.

18. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a body configured to attach to the first member such that a ring placed in the groove forms a seal between the body and the first member.

Assignees

• Google Inc

Inventors

• Brookes Kyle

Classifications

• Y10T137/3584

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

• B64B1/58 Primary

  Arrangements or construction of gas-bags; Filling arrangements · 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

• B64B1/40

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