Reusable balloon system

{
  "publication_number": "US10953975B1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B1",
  "title": "Reusable balloon system",
  "abstract": "An example reusable high-altitude balloon system includes a control system configured to initiate a termination sequence by separating a payload from an Earth-facing end of the balloon body. Separation of the payload from the balloon body generates a torque that causes the balloon body to invert and release lift gas through a vent duct, initiating a flight termination sequence that facilitates landing of the reusable balloon system without destroying the balloon body.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A reusable balloon system comprising: a balloon with a first end attached to a mass; and a control system configured to initiate a termination sequence by separating the mass from the first end of the balloon, the separation causing the balloon to invert and release gas without destroying the balloon; an apex fitting forming a seal with a second end of the balloon opposite the first end, the apex fitting including control circuitry that controllably releases the apex fitting from the second end of the balloon, the seal between the apex fitting and the second end of the balloon including: a plurality of pleated folds formed in the second end of the balloon around the apex fitting; and a clamp seal that applies a pressure to the pleated folds around the apex fitting to form an air-tight seal.",
    "2. The reusable balloon system of claim 1, wherein the balloon includes at least one vent duct at the first end that releases gas during ascension of the balloon, the inversion of the balloon causing the at least one vent duct to become a release duct and to release the gas during descension of the balloon.",
    "3. The reusable balloon system of claim 1, further comprising: a tether extending between the mass and a second end of the balloon opposite the first end, the separation of the mass from the first end of the balloon tensioning the tether so as to initiate the inversion of the balloon.",
    "4. The reusable balloon system of claim 1, wherein the apex fitting and the control circuitry operate as a secondary flight termination mechanism, the secondary flight termination mechanism being redundant to a primary flight termination mechanism provided by a vent duct that rotates from a downward-facing position to an upward-facing position responsive to the separation of the mass.",
    "5. The reusable balloon system of claim 1, wherein the balloon system includes a secondary flight termination mechanism configured to automatically deploy when the balloon system crosses a defined geofence boundary, the secondary flight termination mechanism being redundant to a primary flight termination mechanism configured to deploy responsive to receipt of an RF command.",
    "6. The reusable balloon system of claim 1, wherein the separation of the mass from the first end of the balloon deploys a parachute.",
    "7. The reusable balloon system of claim 6, wherein the mass, the balloon, and the parachute remain attached to one another until the balloon system has landed.",
    "8. A method of initiating a termination sequence for a reusable balloon system comprising: receiving, at control electronics on the reusable balloon system, a first command to initiate a primary termination mechanism for a reusable balloon that is in-flight, the first command being executable to controllably separating a mass from a first end of the reusable balloon responsive to receipt of the first command, the separation causing the balloon to invert and release gas without destroying the balloon; and receiving, at the control electronics, a second command to initiate a secondary termination sequence, the second command being executable by circuitry included within an apex fitting forming a seal with a second end of the reusable balloon opposite the first end, the seal being formed by a plurality of pleated folds formed in the second end of the reusable balloon that wrap around the apex fitting, the pleated folds being clamped against the apex fitting by a clamp seal, the secondary termination mechanism being executable to release the clamp seal to free the apex fitting from the second end of the reusable balloon.",
    "9. The method of claim 8, wherein the reusable balloon includes at least one vent duct at a first end that releases gas during ascension of the balloon and wherein the inversion of the balloon causes the at least one vent duct to become a release duct that releases the gas during descension of the reusable balloon.",
    "10. The method of claim 8, wherein the reusable balloon includes a secondary flight termination mechanism configured to automatically deploy when the balloon system crosses a defined geofence boundary, the secondary flight termination mechanism being redundant to a primary flight termination mechanism configured to deploy responsive to receipt of an RF command.",
    "11. The method of claim 8, wherein the mass remains coupled to a second end of the balloon via a tether after separation of the mass, the second end of the reusable balloon being opposite the first end and tensioned by the tether so as to initiate the inversion of the reusable balloon.",
    "12. The method of claim 11, further comprising: deploying a parachute from the first end of the reusable balloon responsive to separation of the mass.",
    "13. The method of claim 12, wherein the mass, the reusable balloon, and the parachute remain attached to one another until the balloon system has landed.",
    "14. A balloon system comprising: a reusable balloon attached to a payload at a first end, the reusable balloon including a vent duct that releases gas during ascension; and a control system configured to initiate a primary termination sequence by separating the payload from the first end of the balloon; and a tether that extends between the payload and a second end of the reusable balloon, the tether tensioning the second end of the reusable balloon following payload separation and causing the reusable balloon to invert such that the vent duct is inverted and acts as a release duct during descension; an apex fitting forming a seal with a second end of the balloon opposite the first end, the apex fitting including control circuitry configured to initiate a secondary termination sequence that that controllably releases the apex fitting from the second end of the balloon, the seal between the apex fitting and the second end of the balloon including: a plurality of pleated folds formed in the second end of the balloon around the apex fitting; and a clamp seal that applies a pressure to the pleated folds around the apex fitting to form an air-tight seal.",
    "15. The balloon system of claim 14, wherein the separation of the payload from the first end of the balloon deploys a parachute.",
    "16. The balloon system of claim 15, wherein the payload, the reusable balloon, and the parachute remain attached to one another until the balloon system has landed."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "High-altitude balloons are typically filled with helium, hydrogen, methane, or any mixture of those gasses or other gasses where the resulting mixture is lighter than air. High-altitude balloons may be outfitted to carry electronics equipment such as transmitters, navigation systems, GPS receivers, and cameras, and are often used in industries such as weather modeling, aerial imaging, and data collection for various types of scientific experimentation. Although earth-orbiting satellites may be adapted to provide the same science as high-altitude balloon systems, the comparatively low cost of balloon system equipment, ease of balloon launch, reduced stringency of flight regulations, and temporary nature of balloon flights make ballooning an appealing alternative.\n\nFor safety and environmental protection, some governmental bodies such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) provide regulations imposing requirements for reliable termination. To comply with such regulations, high-altitude balloons are typically equipped with primary and secondary (e.g., fail-safe) flight termination mechanisms. Current flight termination mechanisms are designed to initiate descent by damaging the balloon, such as by tearing a large hole in the body of the balloon. Consequently, most all high-altitude balloons are used a single time and destroyed during descent. In addition, it is often the case that a balloon carcass may separate from a payload during a flight termination sequence and land in a different location.",
  "cpc": [
    "B64B 1/62",
    "B64B 1/40",
    "B64B 1/46",
    "B64B 1/48",
    "B64B 1/64",
    "B64D 17/80",
    "G05D 1/105",
    "G05D 1/461"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B64B 1/40",
    "B64B 1/62",
    "B64B 1/64",
    "B64D 17/80",
    "G05D 1/10"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Urban Sky"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Jared Leidich",
    "Andrew F. Antonio",
    "Mitch Sweeney",
    "Daniel W. McFatter",
    "Maxmillion James West McLaughlin"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2020-09-08",
  "publication_date": "2021-03-23",
  "grant_date": "2021-03-23",
  "priority_date": "2019-09-06",
  "application_number": "US-202017014851-A",
  "family_id": "74882682",
  "cited_by_count": 7,
  "citations": [
    "US3614031A",
    "US20170057607A1",
    "FR2970940A1",
    "US20160167761A1",
    "US20150266560A1",
    "US20160059951A1",
    "US20160207605A1",
    "US9745040B1"
  ]
}