Mechanical assembly for lifting a balloon

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9650123-B2
Application number	US-201615084633-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 30, 2016
Priority date	Feb 11, 2014
Publication date	May 16, 2017
Grant date	May 16, 2017

Abstract

A lift assembly for use during inflation of a balloon envelope is provided. The lift assembly includes a plate structure that has a set of cavities. Each cavity includes one or more openings passing through the plate. One or more pistons are coupled to the plate through at least one of the openings of each cavity in the set of cavities. Each piston has a hollow tube portion projecting lengthwise from the at least one opening, a flange attached to the hollow tube portion and a grabber portion in communication with the flange. The grabber portion includes a plurality of bearings for grabbing a stud attached to an apex of the balloon envelope. A handle portion is coupled to the plate. The handle is arranged to lift the balloon envelope when the bearings have grabbed a given stud.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for lifting a balloon envelope, the method comprising:
arranging a lift assembly over a cap portion attached to a balloon envelope of a balloon, the lift assembly including a plate structure having an opening passing through the plate structure and an actuating member attached to the plate structure through the opening, the actuating member having a body portion projecting from the opening, a projection attached to a tube portion and an attachment portion in communication with the projection, the attachment portion being configured for attachment to a portion of the balloon envelope;
forcing air into the tube portion in order to actuate the actuating member and cause the projection to project away from the tube portion;
using the projected projection to grab and hold a stud attached to the top plate; and
when the projection is holding the stud, lifting the lift assembly to lift the balloon envelope.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising after lifting the lift assembly, releasing the stud from the projection.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the cap portion is located at an apex of the balloon envelope such that the balloon envelope is lifted from the apex of the balloon envelope when the lift assembly is lifted.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising using an airflow unit coupled to the actuating member to force the air into the tube.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising moving the actuating member within the opening to align the actuating member with the stud prior to using the projected projection.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein once the actuating member is aligned with the stud, the method further comprising sliding the actuating member over the stud so that the stud is inserted into an opening of the actuating member.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the projection includes a plurality of ball bearings such that the plurality of ball bearings are used to grab and hold the stud within the opening of the actuating member.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising actuating the actuating member to a first position in order to open the plurality of bearings wide enough to attach the attachment portion to the stud in order to grab the stud.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising actuating the actuating member to a second position in order to clamp the plurality of bearings around the stud.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising, releasing the stud from the ball bearings in order to release the stud from the lift assembly.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the projection includes a plurality of ball bearings such that the plurality of ball bearings are used to grab and hold the stud.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein lifting the lift assembly includes using a cable attached to the lift assembly to lift the lift assembly.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein lifting the lift assembly includes lifting a handle portion of the lift assembly coupled to the plate structure, and the cable is attached to the handle portion.

14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising using a second actuating member of the lift assembly to grab and hold a second stud attached to the top plate assembly prior to lifting the lift assembly.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tube portion is configured to be filled with air in order to actuate the actuating member.

16. The method of claim 1 , further comprising using a remote control unit to initiate the forcing of air into the tube portion by turning on an airflow device that provides air to the tube portion.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the projection includes a plurality of ball bearings, and the method further comprises pushing the stud through an opening in the tube portion to force the plurality of ball bearings apart from one another.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising, after forcing the plurality of ball bearings apart from one another, closing the plurality of ball bearings towards one another around a neck of the stud to hold the stud.

Assignees

• X Dev Llc

Inventors

• Ratner Daniel
• Gartner Keegan

Classifications

• B66C1/42

  Gripping members engaging only the external or internal surfaces of the articles (for handling or stripping castings or ingots during manufacture B22D29/00) · CPC title

• B64B1/005

  Arrangements for landing or taking-off, e.g. alighting gear · CPC title

• B64B1/40

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

• B64B1/58 Primary

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

• B64B1/66 Primary

  Mooring attachments · CPC title