Release fitting for balloons

Details Release fitting for balloons Release fitting for balloons

1999-05-11

2001-05-22

Jordan, Charles T. (Department: 3644)

Aeronautics and astronautics

Safety lowering devices

Parachutes

C244S137400, C089S001570

Reexamination Certificate

active

06234425

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention is related to: balloons; methods of making balloons; methods of launching balloons; and methods of launching other items from balloons. In one particular aspect, this invention is related to the assisted launch of a satellite into earth orbit by a rocket carried to a launch height by a balloon.
2. Description of Related Art
The prior art discloses a variety of balloons and static heavy lift launch techniques using balloons. Stratospheric ballooning and launch techniques have developed over the years primarily to support scientific experiments for a variety of purposes, e.g. but not limited to, atmospheric observation, earth observation, space physics, and solar astronomy. Payload masses of up to 3700 kg with specialized equipment have been launched with balloons from prepared sites. These techniques include the use of large balloons, made, e.g., from 20 micron polyethylene film.
In a dynamic launch an entire balloon is laid on the ground and lifting gas is introduced into the top of the balloon. Since the lifting gas is at atmospheric pressure, the volume is small when compared to the manufactured volume of the balloon and a small bubble of gas is normally contained by a roller arm. At the time of launch, the roller is quickly removed and the small bubble of gas is permitted to rise, lifting the uninflated portion of the balloon and finally lifting the payload. This can be a very delicate maneuver requiring the payload to be mounted on a vehicle that can chase the balloon, moving in whatever direction the balloon may take as it is erecting itself. In light winds a crane may be used to suspend the payload prior to launch.
Present prior art methods are unable to lift rockets of sufficient size to place relatively large satellites in earth orbit. It is estimated that, in some cases, the mass of rocket motors necessary for such a launch is greater than 5000 kg. Existing balloon launch equipment is not rated for loads of this magnitude.
In certain prior art systems, balloons made of polyethylene film are destroyed by pulling on a button attached to the film. The film remains attached to the button and tears along a tape line.
There has long been a need for an effective and efficient system and method for launching a stratospheric balloon with a relatively heavy payload. There has long been a need for a balloon for use in such systems and methods. There has long been a need for such systems and methods for effectively raising a relatively heavy payload including a rocket and satellite to assist launch of the satellite. There has long been a need for an effective and efficient balloon assisted launch system and method for launching satellites into earth orbit, including a system with a rocket/satellite payload of about 5000 kg or more. There has long been a need for an effective and efficient system for selectively destroying a balloon.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The present invention discloses, in certain embodiments a balloon initially contained in a shipping container. Only that portion of the balloon required to contain the total amount of lifting gas is unpacked from the balloon shipping container. In certain aspects this is less than ten percent of the balloon's total volume. This portion of the balloon is restrained, e.g. by webbing and/or tapes built into the balloon. The lifting gas, which is lighter than the surrounding atmosphere, is injected into the top of the balloon through one or more tubes built into the upper portion of the balloon. The webs or tapes are used for restraining lift and terminate at a release fitting which is attached between a cable or “main stay” and a plurality of main stay radials connected to the balloon. In certain aspects the main stay is controlled in length during the inflation and launch procedure. Lightweight stabilization lines may be used to prevent lateral balloon motion due to ambient wind conditions.
In certain embodiments about ninety percent of the balloon volume is initially uninflated and maintained within the shipping container. Sufficient gas is inserted into the balloon to create a buoyant force capable of lifting the entire balloon and the suspended payload. In one aspect, an additional amount of gas is injected, which creates an additional buoyant force referred to as “free lift”. The length of the main stay is increased to erect the balloon directly over an anchor point in the absence of wind. At this point the entire buoyant force is balanced by the main stay and no forces are yet applied to the payload. The main stay is then lengthened gradually until a lifting force is applied to the payload through the balloon. The force in the main stay is reduced accordingly and the balloon repositions itself over the payload. As the payload is lifted from its resting position, the only force remaining in the main stay is the “free lift”. The release fitting may be opened either mechanically (e.g. with a lanyard) or electrically (e.g. with an explosive bolt cutter such as a guillotine cutter driven by a spring and/or explosive gas) on command to disconnect the main stay and/or stabilization lines freeing the balloon.
In one aspect a release fitting according to the present invention releasably holds the main stay radials to the main stay.
A launch operation according to certain aspects of the present invention may be conveniently accomplished on the ground with appropriate anchors for both the stabilization lines and the main stay and any suitable mechanism or apparatus for controlling the length of the main stay (e.g., but not limited to a motorized winch; such a winch mounted on a truck or trailer; or a cable/pulley system on a truck or trailer). Such a launch may also be conducted on a boat, a platform, a powered semisubmersible platform or a barge, which may be towed downwind with a suitable tug or other type of work boat, to create a zero “relative wind” across the balloon during launch operations permitting better control by eliminating external aerodynamic forces. In addition, by launching on water, e.g. on a lake or at sea, instead of from established land-based launch facilities, range safety requirements may be considerably reduced and an operator may be much more flexible in choice of launch latitude and longitude, permitting greater freedom in the selection of orbit insertion parameters. Both expendable and reusable rocket motors may be recovered over water without regard to population density.
In one aspect, the material used for a balloon according to the present invention includes as one component any suitable light weight, woven fabric, including, but not limited to woven ripstop nylon material used in parachutes for years. It provides a load bearing component of a composite material according to the present invention which includes the fabric and a thin film. Any suitable thin film may be used, including, but not limited to polyester films, polyethylene films, mylar films, and nylon films. The thin film provides appropriate gas barrier properties and the resulting material has the required weight, gas barrier and load bearing properties. In one aspect the new composite material uses light weight parachute fabric built to military specification (i.e. MIL SPEC 7020). Under this specification, the fibers are treated to provide a suitable amount of protection from ultraviolet radiation. The film preferably has an appropriate gas barrier property and thermal compatibility with the fabric. In one aspect the material includes a light weight woven ripstop nylon fabric and thin plastic, e.g. Emblem or Capron nylon film, e.g. 48 gauge, available commercially. To laminate these materials together, an adhesive is used which retains the ability to bond the two materials at the extremely low temperatures encountered in flight through the stratosphere. Preferably, the weight of the adhesive is controlled to maintain a reasonable tear strength of the final material.
The balloon's design shape is, preferably, a “natural shape zero pressure” balloon. The

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