Balloon

BACKGROUND

The requirements for improved methods to measure “ and record physical phenomena at extreme altitude have been growing significantly as man reaches further and further into space. The present invention provides the capability of floating for hours at altitudes well above „θ 150,000 feet. These advanced design balloons provide a ^ΰplatform with several inherent advantages over a rocket probe for scientific research.

Balloons made in accordance with this invention have the potential of outstanding extreme altitude performance. A 3.0x10^s ft.³ balloon can be flown to 175,000 ³feet with a 200 lb. payload, or to 150,000 ft. with any payload up to 500 pounds.

My invention broadly involves the idea of constructing balloons so that they will become full at an altitude 40 where the atmospheric temperature and material capabilities will allow the balloon to stretch without rupturing and upon continued ascent will desirably enter even more favorable temperature regimes for the stretch capabilities of the balloon film, or at least portions thereof. 45 Provisions should also be made for bleeding out gas at certain atmospheric levels so that the balloon will either ascend less rapidly or stay within a desired altitude range.

The construction of my balloons will be clearer by reference to the attached drawings wherein: go

FIGURE 1 is a plot of altitude vs. temperature;

FIGURES 2, 3 and 4 are sequential views showing the inflation configurations of an ordinary balloon as it ascends;

FIGURES 5, 6 and 7 are sequential views showing the 55 inflation configurations of one embodiment of a balloon in accordance with this invention as it ascends;

FIGURES 8, 9 and 10 are sequential views showing the inflation configurations of a second embodiment of a balloon in accordance with this invention, as it ascends; no FIGURES 11, 12 and 13 are sequential views showing the inflation configurations of a third embodiment of a balloon in accordance with this invention;

FIGURES 14, 15 and 16 are sequential views showing the inflation configurations of a fourth embodiment of a 50 balloon in accordance with this invention; and

FIGURES 17, 18 and 19 are sequential views showing the inflation configurations of a fifth embodiment of a balloon in accordance with this invention.

FIGURE 20 is a view of the preferred balloon show- 70 ing the venting valve located near the bottom.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, FIGURE is an altitude versus temperature profile that can be considered as average or characteristic. Essentially this plot shows that the atmospheric temperature drops steadily (to about —70° F.) but when an altitude of about 65,000 feet is reached the temperature starts to rise and continues to rise until an altitude in the neighborhood of about 150,000 feet is reached. Above about 150,000 feet the temperature remains fairly constant for awhile and then begins dropping at altitudes above about 170,000 feet.

In general, I have developed balloons that possess the proper combination of strength and lift characteristics to successfully carry the balloons to heights of 150,000200,000 feet or more.

FIGURES 2, 3 and 4 show how the configuration of a balloon made entirely of an extensible material might change from launch (FIG. 2) to an altitude of 100,000120,000 feet (FIG. 3) and to an altitude of 175,000 feet (FIG. 3). A preferred extensible film is polyurethane alone or polyurethane reinforced with polyurethane fibers.

FIGURES 5, 6 and 7 show the change in configuration of a first embodiment of a balloon in accordance with this invention, the balloon consisting of a non-extensible portion 10 and an extensible portion 8.

FIGURES 8, 9 and 10 show the change in configuration of a second embodiment of a balloon in accordance with the invention, the balloon consisting of a non-extensible portion 12 and an extensible portion 14.

FIGURES 11-13 show a similar sequence relative to a third balloon embodiment of my invention wherein the extensible portion is designated as 18 and the non-extensible portion is designated as 16. Strength load members 20 may be attached to the cap 16 (either within or without the film 18) and may be made of wire, nylon, Dacron, polyurethane fibers, or the like. Bungees 20 directly connecting the cap 16 and the payload 6 may also be used.

FIGURES 14—16 show a similar sequence relative to a fourth balloon embodiment wherein 22 and 24 are the non-extensible portions and 26 is the extensible portion.

FIGURES 17-19 show a similar sequence relative to a fifth balloon embodiment wherein 24 and 28 are the non-extensible portions and 26 is the extensible portion.

In FIGURES 2-20, the numeral 6 is intended to designate the payload; usually of instruments.

The non-extensible material in FIGURES 5-19 is very strong film material that will not stretch to any significant degree and which is designed to (a) take care of the loads and pressures of launching and (b) to take care of the loads and stresses that the balloon encounters in ascending through temperature ranges that would be unfavorable to the operation of readily extensible balloon fabric material, particularly if such extensible material was under a super-pressure load.

The non-extensible portions of my balloon (i.e. 10, 12, 16, 22, 24 and 28 in FIGURES 5-19) are preferably made of plastic materials (e.g. 0.1-2.0 mils thick) such as Mylar, polypropylene, nylon, coated woven nylon, polyethylene, an ionomer, etc. Such material are either inherently non-extensible or may be made non-extensible by using reinforcing threads or wires, or a network of threads and wires. Dacron fibers or polyurethane fibers are preferred reinforcing materials.

The extensible portions of my ballons (e.g. 2, 8, 14, 18 and 26 of FIGURES 2-20) may be made of polyurethane film, neoprene, silicone rubber or the like which may range in thickness from 0.1 mil to 2.0 mils, or from other materials known to those skilled in this art.

It should also be noted here that I have discovered that a balloon made entirely of polyurethane film (having a thickness between .1 and 2.0 mils) is eminently satisfactory for high altitude ascensions.

3,484,058

It can be further noted that I contemplate a balloon envelope that is substantially entirely composed of a single type of plastic material, but the thickness of the film is greater near the top of the balloon than the bottom (and preferably progressively decreases from the top to _ the bottom—i.e. within the range from 2.0 mils or less down to as low as 0.1 mil).

Because my preferred balloon involves a super-pressure design, I have usually found it desirable to locate a venting valve near the bottom of the balloon. Such a venting valve is indicated at 30 in FIGURE 20 and it is contemplated that this type of valve could be used with any of the balloon constructions shown in FIGURES 2-19. More particularly it is desired that an electrically actuated vent valve be located adjacent the bottom neck 15 of a balloon integral with the top of the payload system. In association, the ballast hopper would be displayed at the bottom of the payload control box. The float altitude can thus be controlled by manipulation of the ballast and superpressure venting valve.

The following physical specification would be appropriate for a balloon constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention:

Item: Value _

Volume at full inflation------------- 3.0x10^s ~^:J

Area_________________________ft.²__ 110,871

Ellipsoid radius----------------lb—848

Circumferential circumference____ft—64.2

Vi axial length-----------------ft—403.2

Meridional circumference---------ft—137.4

Cylinder design function---------ft—696

Gauge of film_________________mil—1

Volume at 150,000 ft./500 lb. PL_ft.³__ 14.1 X 10^s

Stretch ratio___-------------⁰ F— 2.1 at 19

Volume at 175,000 ft./200 lb. PL_ft.³__ 28.5 x10^{s 35}

Stretch ratio__________________°F— 2.6 at 24 . 4 /3 /:, (d) in its combination of a non-extensible scrim top and an expandable envelope.