U.S. patent application number 15/013177 was filed with the patent office on 2016-08-04 for tendon sleeve for high-altitude balloon and system for making the same.
The applicant listed for this patent is Derek Lee Bohannon, Mary Jane Palmer, Michael William Zimmerman. Invention is credited to Derek Lee Bohannon, Mary Jane Palmer, Michael William Zimmerman.
Application Number | 20160221661 15/013177 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 56552815 |
Filed Date | 2016-08-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160221661 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bohannon; Derek Lee ; et
al. |
August 4, 2016 |
TENDON SLEEVE FOR HIGH-ALTITUDE BALLOON AND SYSTEM FOR MAKING THE
SAME
Abstract
A system for forming a tendon sleeve on an atmospheric balloon
is described herein, the system comprising a coupling assembly
including a seam coupling mechanism that forms a seam joint between
a first gore panel and a second gore panel, the seam joint is
spaced from respective first and second lateral edges of the first
and second gore panels to form first and second edge flanges, and
an edge coupling mechanism that forms an edge joint between the
first and second edge flanges and closes a tendon sleeve, the edge
joint spaced from the seam joint, the tendon sleeve includes a
tendon sleeve passage between the seam joint and the edge joint and
between the first and second edge flanges. The system also includes
a tendon positioning mechanism that positions a tendon within the
tendon sleeve passage. A tendon sleeve formed by this system is
also described herein.
Inventors: |
Bohannon; Derek Lee;
(Sulphur Springs, TX) ; Palmer; Mary Jane;
(Sulphur Springs, TX) ; Zimmerman; Michael William;
(Greenville, TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Bohannon; Derek Lee
Palmer; Mary Jane
Zimmerman; Michael William |
Sulphur Springs
Sulphur Springs
Greenville |
TX
TX
TX |
US
US
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
56552815 |
Appl. No.: |
15/013177 |
Filed: |
February 2, 2016 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62110780 |
Feb 2, 2015 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B29C 66/4326 20130101;
B29C 66/71 20130101; B29L 2022/022 20130101; B29K 2023/06 20130101;
B29C 66/137 20130101; B29K 2023/086 20130101; B29C 66/433 20130101;
B29C 66/83423 20130101; B29C 66/1122 20130101; B29C 66/723
20130101; B29C 66/71 20130101; B29C 65/7433 20130101; B29C 66/73921
20130101; B29C 66/71 20130101; B64B 1/40 20130101; B29C 66/133
20130101; B29C 65/7439 20130101; B29C 65/7894 20130101; B64B 1/58
20130101 |
International
Class: |
B64B 1/58 20060101
B64B001/58; B29C 65/00 20060101 B29C065/00; B64B 1/40 20060101
B64B001/40 |
Claims
1. An atmospheric balloon system comprising: a balloon comprising a
balloon membrane having a plurality of gore panels; a plurality of
tendons extending from near an upper apex of the balloon to near a
lower apex of the balloon; and a plurality of tendon sleeves each
located at an intersection between adjacent gore panels, each of
the plurality of tendon sleeves including: first and second edge
flanges of respective adjacent gore panels, a seam joint coupling
the first and second edge flanges, and an edge joint coupling the
first and second edge flanges, the edge joint spaced from the seam
joint to form a tendon sleeve passage between the seam joint and
the edge joint and between the first and second edge flanges,
wherein one of the plurality of tendons is received within the
tendon sleeve passage.
2. The atmospheric balloon system of claim 1, wherein the edge
joint is near to respective lateral edges of the first and second
edge flanges, and the seam joint is spaced from the respective
lateral edges, relatively.
3. The atmospheric balloon system of claim 1, wherein the seam
joint includes a seam seal at the intersection between respective
adjacent gore panels.
4. The atmospheric balloon system of claim 1, the edge joint
includes an edge seal between the first and second edge
flanges.
5. A system for securing a tendon on an atmospheric balloon, the
system comprising: a coupling assembly comprising: a seam coupling
mechanism that forms a seam joint between a first gore panel and a
second gore panel, the seam joint is spaced from respective first
and second lateral edges of the first gore panel and the second
gore panel to form first and second edge flanges; and an edge
coupling mechanism that forms an edge joint between the first and
second edge flanges and closes a tendon sleeve, the edge joint
spaced from the seam joint, the tendon sleeve including a tendon
sleeve passage between the seam joint and the edge joint and
between the first and second edge flanges; and a tendon positioning
mechanism that positions the tendon within the tendon sleeve
passage.
6. The system of claim 5, wherein the coupling assembly forms the
seam joint and the edge joint substantially simultaneously with the
tendon positioning mechanism positioning the tendon in the tendon
sleeve passage.
7. The system of claim 5, wherein the seam coupling mechanism
comprises a seam sealing mechanism that forms a seam seal between
the first gore panel and the second gore panel.
8. The system of claim 7, wherein the edge coupling mechanism
comprises an edge sealing mechanism to form an edge seal between
the first and second edge flanges.
9. The system of claim 5, wherein the tendon positioning mechanism
comprises a tendon positioning guide, wherein the tendon
positioning guide guides the tendon into position between the first
and second edge flanges and between the seam joint and the edge
joint to secure the tendon within the tendon sleeve.
10. The system of claim 9, wherein the seam coupling mechanism is
adjacent to the edge coupling mechanism and at least a portion of
the tendon positioning guide is between the seam coupling mechanism
and the edge coupling mechanism.
11. The system of claim 5, further comprising a cutting station,
the cutting station cuts an excess portion of each of the first and
second edge flanges.
12. The system of claim 5, wherein the edge coupling mechanism cuts
excess portions of the first and second edge flanges while coupling
the first and second edge flanges together at the edge joint.
13. The system of claim. 5, wherein the coupling assembly comprises
a gore panel divider that separates a portion of the first gore
panel and a corresponding portion of the second gore panel adjacent
to the seam coupling mechanism.
14. The system of claim 13, wherein the gore panel divider
separates the first gore panel and the second gore panel adjacent
to the edge coupling mechanism.
15. The system of claim 13, wherein the tendon positioning
mechanism extends from the gore panel divider between the seam
coupling mechanism and the edge coupling mechanism.
16. A method for forming a tendon sleeve on an atmospheric balloon,
the method comprising: coupling a first gore panel having a first
lateral edge to a second gore panel having a second lateral edge at
a seam joint spaced from the first and second lateral edges to form
respective first and second edge flanges from the first and second
gore panels; coupling the first and second edge flanges together at
an edge joint spaced from the seam joint to form the tendon sleeve
with a tendon sleeve passage between the seam joint and between the
edge joint and the first and second edge flanges; and positioning a
tendon within the tendon sleeve passage.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein coupling the first and second
gore panels, coupling the first and second edge flanges, and
positioning the tendon are substantially simultaneous.
18. The method of claim 16, wherein the seam joint includes a seam
seal, and coupling the first and second gore panels at the seam
joint includes sealing the first gore panel to the second gore
panel to form the seam seal.
19. The method of claim 16, wherein coupling the first and second
edge flanges together at the edge joint includes coupling the first
and second edge flanges near the first and second lateral
edges.
20. The method of claim 16, further comprising cutting the tendon
to a specified length before positioning the tendon in the tendon
sleeve passage.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent
Application 62/110,780, filed on Feb. 2, 2015, which application is
incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] This document pertains generally, but not by way of
limitation, to balloons and inflatable bladders having atmospheric
application. Lobed balloons are used in high-altitude ballooning.
Lobed balloons, in some examples have a relatively high curvature
that allows for larger diameter balloons using relatively thin
material for the balloon material. In at least some examples,
payloads including instruments, communications equipment and the
like are coupled with or suspended from the lobed balloon. The
payloads, in some examples, are configured to conduct operations
(e.g., observation, communication and the like) at the high
altitudes lobed balloons reach, for instance an altitude of around
20 miles.
[0003] Examples of lobed balloons are constructed with a
lightweight material that is provided in shaped panels of material,
e.g., a gore pattern, that extend from top apex to a bottom apex
and taper from near a midpoint toward the top and bottom apexes.
The shaped gore panels are bonded to one another along their
respective longitudinal edges to form the balloon. The balloon with
gores arranged in this fashion includes a plurality of longitudinal
seams extending from the top to the bottom of the balloon, with one
seam between adjacent shaped panels (or gores). The wider midpoint
of each of the shaped panels provides the outwardly curving shape
of the balloon with respect to the narrower top and bottom
apexes.
SUMMARY
[0004] This disclosure describes atmospheric balloons including
sleeves for securing tendons to the balloon, where the tendons
provide structural integrity to the balloon during high-altitude
operation of the balloons. The sleeves are formed by coupling
together adjacent gore panels that form the balloon membrane in
such a way that a portion of each adjacent gore panel forms an edge
flange. The respective edges flanges are coupled together to form a
sleeve with a passage in which the tendon is received. This
disclosure also describes systems and methods for forming the
tendon sleeves.
[0005] In an example, an atmospheric balloon system is described
herein. The balloon system comprising a balloon including a balloon
membrane having a plurality of gore panels, a plurality of tendons
extending from near an upper apex to a lower apex of the balloon,
and a plurality of tendon sleeves each located at intersections
between adjacent gore panels. Each of the plurality of tendon
sleeves includes first and second edge flanges of respective
adjacent gore panels, a seam joint coupling the first and second
edge flanges, and an edge joint coupling the first and second edge
flanges, the edge joint spaced from the seam joint to form a sleeve
passage between the seam joint and the edge joint and the first and
second edge flanges, wherein one of the plurality of tendons is
received within the sleeve passage of the tendon sleeve.
[0006] A system for forming a tendon sleeve on an atmospheric
balloon is also described. The system includes a coupling assembly
comprising a seam coupling mechanism that forms a seam joint
between a first gore panel and a second gore panel, the seam joint
is spaced from respective first and second lateral edges of the
first and second gore panels to form first and second edge flanges,
and an edge coupling mechanism that forms an edge joint between the
first and second edge flanges and closes a tendon sleeve, the edge
joint spaced from the seam joint. The tendon sleeve includes a
tendon sleeve passage between the seam joint and the edge joint and
between the first and second edge flanges. The system also includes
a tendon positioning mechanism, the tendon positioning mechanism
positions a tendon within the tendon sleeve passage.
[0007] A method of forming a tendon sleeve on an atmospheric
balloon is also described. The method includes coupling a first
gore panel comprising a first lateral edge to a second gore panel
comprising a second lateral edge by forming a seam joint spaced
from the first and second lateral edges, coupling the first and
second edge flanges together at an edge joint spaced from the seam
joint to form a tendon sleeve with a tendon sleeve passage between
the seam joint and the edge joint and the first and second edge
flanges, and positioning a tendon within the tendon sleeve
passage.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0008] In the figures, which are not necessarily shown to scale,
like numerals or names may describe similar components in different
views. The figures illustrate generally, by way of example, but not
by way of limitation, various embodiments discussed in the present
document.
[0009] FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of an example atmospheric
balloon system configured for high-altitude flight.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a close-up view of adjacent gore panels of the
atmospheric balloon system of FIG. 1 shown at detail 2 in FIG.
1.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a detailed view of an example tendon sleeve for
securing a tendon at a seam between adjacent coupled gore
panels.
[0012] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the example tendon
sleeve of FIG. 3.
[0013] FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of an example system for
forming a tendon sleeve at a seam between adjacent gore panels, the
system including an example coupling mechanism in a ready
position.
[0014] FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of the example system for
forming a tendon sleeve of FIG. 5 with the coupling mechanism in an
operating position.
[0015] FIG. 7 is an end view of a feed end of the example system
for forming a tendon sleeve of FIGS. 5 and 6.
[0016] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an example gore panel
divider used with the example system for forming a tendon sleeve of
FIGS. 5-7.
[0017] FIG. 9 is a top view of the example gore panel divider of
FIG. 8.
[0018] FIG. 10 is a first perspective view of an outlet end the
example system for forming a tendon sleeve of FIGS. 5-7 in the
operation position with a pair of gore panels fed through the
system and a finished tendon sleeve formed at the outlet end of the
system.
[0019] FIG. 11 is a schematic view of another example system
forming a tendon sleeve at a seam between adjacent gore panels.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0020] The following Detailed Description describes an improvement
of high-altitude balloons that are designed for stratospheric
flight. The balloons include tendon sleeves for securing tendons at
a seam between adjacent gore panels of the balloon. The tendon
sleeve allows for a simple structure that secures a tendon to a
substantially fixed position by using a portion of each of two
adjacent gore panels to form the tendon sleeve. In some examples,
the methods and systems described herein provide for substantially
simultaneous formation of the joint between the adjacent gore
panels, formation of the tendon sleeve, and coupling the tendon and
the tendon sleeve to the balloon.
[0021] The methods and systems described herein eliminate or reduce
the need for separate manufacture of the tendon sleeve, as well as
the need to wind the tendon and sleeve onto a secondary spool
before attaching the tendon sleeve to the balloon. The systems and
methods described herein, therefore, simplify the process of
manufacturing atmospheric balloons formed from gore panels as well
as simplifying the design of the balloon itself. The systems and
methods described herein provide for a more efficient manufacturing
process, reducing waste and balloon weight. As described in more
detail below, the systems and method described herein also allow
for easier formation of foreshortened tendons. The systems and
methods described herein also allow for formation of prefabricated
(e.g., precut) tendons, or non-prefabricated tendons, depending on
what is better for the particular application.
[0022] The tendon sleeves described herein are formed on a balloon
that is used for long duration stratospheric flight of payloads. In
some examples, the balloon has limited steering capability along
the flight path occurring as a result of varying wind directions at
flight altitudes.
[0023] FIG. 1 shows an example of a high altitude balloon system
100. The example high altitude balloon system 100 includes a
balloon 102 comprising one or more chambers 104, 106. The balloon
102is sometimes referred to as a pumpkin balloon 102 or a lobed
balloon 102. The balloon 102 includes an upper apex 108 and a lower
apex 110. A balloon membrane 112 encloses the one or more chambers
104, 106. The balloon membrane 112 is formed from a plurality of
gore panels 114 coupled together along gore panel seams 116. The
gore panels 114 cooperate to collectively form the balloon membrane
112
[0024] In some examples, a payload 118 is coupled to the balloon
102, such as by being suspended from the balloon 102. In some
examples, the payload 118 includes instruments, or communication
devices, or both, or includes other structures or devices to
provide additional functionality to the balloon system 100, such as
a propulsion system. In an example, instruments in the payload 118
provide for observation beneath and around the balloon system 100.
In some examples, communication devices in the payload 118 allow
for communication, e.g., transmission of information, reception of
information and the like.
[0025] In an example, the payload 118 includes a balloon volume
controller that controls the volume of each of the one or more
balloon chambers 104, 106. In an example, the balloon volume
controller controls one or more blowers that are mounted to the
payload 118 or to the balloon 102 and that blow atmospheric air
into an air ballast chamber 104 to control the relative volume of
the air ballast chamber 104 relative to a lift gas chamber 106 that
contains a lift gas, such as helium, within the balloon 102.
[0026] The lift gas chamber 106 is separated from the air ballast
chamber 104 within the balloon membrane 112. In an example, the air
ballast chamber 104 and the lift gas chamber 106 are separated by a
deflectable diaphragm 120 positioned within the balloon 102. In an
example, the deflectable diaphragm 120 is coupled across the
balloon 102 by extending inwardly from a circumferential edge 122
of the balloon 102. The deflectable diaphragm 120 is interposed
between the air ballast chamber 104 and the lift gas chamber 106
during construction of the balloon 102. As the balloon 102 is
formed, the deflectable diaphragm 120 is coupled to the gore panels
114 to accordingly form a triple layered dual chamber balloon 102
with the deflectable diaphragm 120 interposed and coupled between
an upper portion of the gore panels 114 and a lower portion of the
gore panels 114. In an example, the lift gas chamber 106 is formed
by the upper portions of the gore panels 114 and the deflectable
diaphragm 120, and the air ballast chamber 104 is formed by the
lower portions of the gore panels 114 and the deflectable diaphragm
120.
[0027] In some examples, the deflectable diaphragm 120 is coupled
across another portion of the balloon 102 other than at the
circumferential edge 122. In an example, the deflectable diaphragm
120 has a smaller perimeter than the circumferential edge 122 and
is coupled to the balloon membrane 112 closer to either the upper
apex 108 or the lower apex 110. In another example, the deflectable
diaphragm 120 is provided as a nested balloon formed of a second
membrane within the balloon membrane 112. In an example, the
deflectable diaphragm 120 is a ballonet coupled with the balloon
102 at one of the upper apex 108 or the lower apex 110.
[0028] The balloon system 100 also includes a plurality of tendons
124 extending from the upper apex 108 to the lower apex 110. The
tendons 124 are distributed around the balloon membrane 112 to
provide structural integrity to the balloon 102 and maintain the
balloon volume constant (e.g., constant, near constant,
substantially constant, or the like after inflation and during
flight of the high altitude balloon system 100. Examples of tendons
124 include, but are not limited to, cables, biodegradable
filaments, or the like.
[0029] Each of the tendons 124 is secured within a tendon sleeve
126 at one of the gore panel seams. The tendon sleeves 126 are
coupled to the balloon membrane 112 at the gore panel seams 116.
The tendon sleeves 126 maintain the tendons in a distributed
fashion around the balloon outer surface. In an example described
in more detail below, each tendon sleeve 126 is formed from excess
portion of the film material that forms adjacent gore panels 114
that are sealed together so that the tendon sleeves 126 are
integrally coupled to the gore panels 114. FIG. 2 shows a close up
view of a few of the gore panels 114 with tendons 124 fed through
corresponding tendon sleeves 126 at the gore panel seams 116 of the
balloon system 100.
[0030] In an example, each of the plurality of tendons 124 is
coupled to the upper apex 108 and the lower apex 110. In an
example, an upper apex plate 128 is mounted to the balloon membrane
112 at the upper apex 108 and a lower apex plate 130 is mounted to
the balloon membrane 112 at the lower apex 110. The plurality of
tendons 124 are coupled to the upper apex plate 128 and the lower
apex plate 130. In an example, each of the apex plates 128, 130
includes a plurality of tendon anchors, wherein an upper end of
each of the plurality of tendons 124 is coupled to a corresponding
one of the plurality of tendon anchors of the upper apex plate 128
and a lower end of each of the tendons 124 is coupled to a
corresponding tendon anchor of the lower apex plate 130.
[0031] FIG. 3 shows a close-up view of an example tendon sleeve 200
formed by sealing adjacent gore panels 202 together to form a gore
panel seam 204 and to form the tendon sleeve 200. FIG. 4 shows a
cross-sectional view of the example tendon sleeve 200. FIG. 3 shows
the tendon sleeve 200 after it has been formed, but before the
balloon has been inflated, while FIG. 4 shows the tendon sleeve 200
after inflation of the balloon, e.g., after injection of a gas such
as a ballast gas or a lift gas, e.g., helium, into a balloon
interior 206. Optionally, in an example, the tendon sleeve 200 is
positioned along the interior of the balloon, for instance, the
tendon sleeve 200 is on the opposed side of the gore panels 202
along with the balloon interior 206. In an example, one or more,
and in some examples all of, the tendon sleeves 126 of the balloon
system 100 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are formed in the form of the
example tendon sleeve 200 of FIGS. 3 and 4.
[0032] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, each of the adjacent gore panels
202 includes a lateral edge 208, and the adjacent gore panels 202
are coupled together at an intersection between the adjacent gore
panels 202 to form a seam joint 210 between the adjacent gore
panels 202. In an example, the seam joint 210 is spaced from the
lateral edges 208 of the adjacent gore panels 202. The spacing
between the gore panel lateral edges 208 and the seam joint 210
forms an edge flange 212 being formed for each adjacent gore panel
202. In an example, the edge flanges 212 of the adjacent gore
panels 202 are each formed of a strip of the film material of a
corresponding gore panel 202 that protrudes from the seam joint
210. In an example, the edge flanges 212 are each a portion or
region of a corresponding gore panel 202 that extends from the seam
joint 210 to a corresponding one of the lateral edges 208.
[0033] The example tendon sleeve 200 of FIGS. 3 and 4 is formed
from the edge flanges 212 by coupling the lateral edges 208 of the
edge flanges 212 together to form a sleeve (e.g., of the material
that makes up the gore panels 202). In this way, the tendon sleeve
200 is positioned on or adjacent to the balloon membrane (which is
collectively formed by the gore panels 202) at an intersection
between the adjacent gore panels 202. In an example, the adjacent
gore panels 202 are sealed together at the seam joint 210, for
example so that the seam joint 210 comprises a seam seal that seals
the polymeric material of polymeric gore panels 202 together. The
seam seal formed at the seam joint 210 prevents (e.g., minimizes,
stops, prevents, reduces, or the like) leaking of the lift gas or
the ballast gas from the balloon interior 206. As used herein, the
term "seal," when referring to sealing a polymeric material of the
gore panel 202 at the seam joint 210, includes, but is not limited
to, the polymeric material of the gore panels 202 being coupled
together substantially continuously at a macromolecular level so
that at least 99% (on a weight flow rate basis) of the passage of
the lift gas through the seam joint 210 is via intermolecular
diffusion, such as at least 99.5%, for example at least 99.9%, or
all (100%), of the passage of the lift gas though the seam joint
210 is via intermolecular diffusion, rather than via the flow of
lift gas through openings along the seam joint 210.
[0034] The edge flanges 212 are coupled together proximate to the
lateral edges 208 of the adjacent gore panels 202 by an edge joint
214. In an example, the edge joint 214 is formed by coupling the
edge flanges 212 at a plurality of points at or near the gore panel
lateral edges 208. The seam joint 210, the edge joint 214, and the
edge flanges 212 act together to form the tendon sleeve 200. The
tendon sleeve 200 encloses a tendon sleeve passage 216 that is
bounded by the seam joint 210, the edge joint 214, and the edge
flanges 212, as in FIG. 4. A tendon 218 is positioned between the
edge flanges 212. Because, in an example, the edge flanges 212 are
a portion of the gore panels 202 that are coupled together at the
seam joint 210 and the edge joint 214, the tendon 218 positioned
inside the tendon sleeve passage 216 is correspondingly secured to
the gore panels 202 and to a balloon formed by the gore panels 202.
In an example, the edge joint 214 comprises an edge seal along or
proximate to the lateral edges 208 so that the edge flanges 212 are
sealed together to form the tendon sleeve 200.
[0035] In an example, each tendon sleeve 200 is formed using the
material of the gore panels 202 rather than forming a separate
sleeve that is coupled to the balloon membrane separately. This
simplifies the design and manufacture of the balloon. As
demonstrated below, the tendon sleeve 200 described herein allows
for systems and methods where the tendon sleeve 200 is formed, the
tendon 218 is positioned in the tendon sleeve 200, and the tendon
sleeve 200 is coupled to the balloon membrane (formed from the
plurality of gore panels 202) all simultaneously (e.g., at the same
time, substantially the same time, within a few seconds of each
other or the like) no that all three functions are performed within
a short period of time by one or more manufacturing operations or
in a consolidated manufacturing operation. Alternatively, in an
example, one or more of the operations of forming the seam joint
210, positioning the tendon 218, and forming the edge joint 214 are
performed separately, either with the same manufacturing operation
but separated in time or with more than one manufacturing
operation. For example, the seam joint 210 and positioning of the
tendon 218 are performed simultaneously (e.g., at the same time,
substantially the same time, within a few seconds of each other or
the like) and with the formation of the edge joint 214 occurring at
a later time.
[0036] FIGS. 5-10 show aspects of an example system 300 for forming
a tendon sleeve at a seam between adjacent gore panels in order to
manufacture an atmospheric balloon. In an example, the system 300
makes the tendon sleeve 200 described with respect to FIGS. 3 and
4, by joining portions of adjacent gore panels 202 together at a
seam 204 by forming a seam joint 210 and an edge joint 214, which
encloses and secures a tendon 218 along the seam 204.
[0037] In an example, the system 300 includes one or more feed
mechanisms for feeding a pair of gore panels 202, e.g., a first
gore panel and a second gore panel, to be coupled together with a
coupling assembly 302 in such a way that the tendon sleeve 200 is
formed with a tendon 218 positioned in the tendon sleeve passage
216 formed by the tendon sleeve 200. Alternatively, in an example
the gore panels 202 remain stationary, and at least the coupling
assembly 302 moves along the lateral edges 208 of the gore panels
202 to form the tendon sleeve 200 and position the tendon 218
within the tendon sleeve passage 216. FIGS. 5-7 and 10 include an
arrow 304 representing the direction of relative motion of the gore
panels 202 relative to the system 300, e.g., the that the gore
panels 202 travel when being fed through the coupling assembly 302,
e.g., from a feed end of the coupling assembly 302 toward an
exhaust end.
[0038] In an example, each gore panel 202 comprises a sealable
polymeric membrane material. In an example, each gore panel 202
comprises polyethylene or a co-extruded polyethylene and ethyl
vinyl alcohol (EVOH) film.
[0039] The coupling assembly 302 includes a seam coupling mechanism
306 to couple the gore panels 202 being fed to the system 300
together to form a seam joint 210 at the seam 204 between adjacent
gore panels 202. In an example, the seam coupling mechanism 306
comprises a band sealer, such as that shown in FIGS. 5-7 and 10.
The seam coupling mechanism 306 couples the adjacent gore panels
202 together at the seam 204 to form the seam joint 210 between the
adjacent gore panels 202. In an example, the seam coupling
mechanism 306 includes a band sealer. The band sealer of the seam
coupling mechanism 306 compresses the gore panels 202 together and
heats a band of the compressed gore panels 202 to cause one or both
of the gore panels 202s to temporarily melt or flow, creating a
band of molten material that forms the seam joint 210. The seam
coupling mechanism 306 is positioned relative to the lateral edges
208 of the gore panels 202 so that the seam joint 210 is spaced
from the lateral edges 208. This spacing of the seam coupling
mechanism 306 from the lateral edges 208 of the gore panels 202
results in the gore panels 202 forming the edge flanges 212 that
protrude from the seam joint 210 toward the lateral edges 208 (see,
e.g., FIGS. 3,4, and 10). In an example, the seam coupling
mechanism 306 joins the gore panels 202 together so that the seam
joint 210 comprises a seam seal between the adjacent gore panels
202.
[0040] As described above, the edge flanges 212 are coupled
together at or near the lateral edges 208 of the gore panels 202 by
an edge joint 214 so that the edge flanges 212 form a tendon sleeve
200 to secure a tendon 218 to a balloon membrane collectively
formed by the gore panels 202. The tendon 218 is thereby secured by
the tendon sleeve 200 to an atmospheric balloon formed by the
balloon membrane at a seam 204 formed between the recently coupled
gore panels 202 (e.g., as with the tendon sleeves 126 shown in FIG.
2). Therefore, in an example, the coupling assembly 302 includes an
edge coupling mechanism 308 to couple the pair of edge flanges 212
together with an edge joint 214 at or proximate to the lateral
edges 208 of the gore panels 202 to form the tendon sleeve 200. In
an example, shown in the system of FIGS. 5-7 and 10, the edge
coupling mechanism 308 also seals the pair of edge flanges 212
together to form the tendon sleeve 200, e.g., so that the edge
joint 214 comprises an edge seal at or near the lateral edges
208.
[0041] As shown in FIG. 10, the edge coupling mechanism 308 also
includes a cutting station to cut off an excess portion 310 of each
of the edge flanges 212 (e.g., the material not needed for the edge
joint 214). In an example, the edge coupling mechanism 308 both
cuts the excess portions 310 from the edge flanges 212 and couples
the edge flanges 212 together. In an example, the edge coupling
mechanism 308 is spaced from the seam coupling mechanism 306 by a
specified distance, e.g., from about 2 centimeters (cm) (about 0.8
inch) to about 10 cm (about 4 inches), such as about 5 cm (about 2
inches) to about 7.5 cm (about 3 inches), where the spacing
distance between the seam coupling mechanism 306 and the edge
coupling mechanism 308 defines the width of the edge flanges 212,
and thus the width of the tendon sleeve 200 that is formed by the
coupling assembly 302.
[0042] Referring again to FIG. 10, in an example, the cutting
station of edge coupling mechanism 308 comprises a hot knife
structure 312, referred to hereinafter simply as a "hot knife 312."
The hot knife 312 cuts the material of the gore panels 202
including the excess portions 310 from the edge flanges 212. The
hot knife 312 is heated at least to a melting temperature of the
material of the gore panels 202 so that the hot knife 312 melts
through the edge flanges 212 and cuts off the excess portions 310
from the edge flanges 212.
[0043] In an example, the edge coupling mechanism 308, including
the hot knife 312, is configured to both cut the excess portions
310 from the edge flanges 212, and to simultaneously (e.g., at the
same time, substantially the same time, within a few seconds of
each other or the like to said cutting) couple the edge flanges 212
together to form the edge joint 214. As described above, the hot
knife 312 is heated at least to a melting temperature of the
material of the gore panels 202 and thus of the edge flanges 212.
Because the hot knife 312 melts the edge flanges 212 as it cuts
them, the melted portion of the edge flanges 212 are placed in
close proximity to one another so that the edge joint 214 is formed
by the melted portions of the edge flanges 212 merging together
before resolidifying. In an example, the edge coupling mechanism
308 includes a mechanism to compress the edge flanges 212 together
at the lateral edges 208 while the portions of the edge flanges 212
are melted (e.g., melted, liquefied, softened, or the like) to form
the edge joint 214 between the edge flanges 212.
[0044] In an example, the coupling assembly 302 includes an anvil
314 with a slot 316 configured to receive the hot knife 312. In an
example, the coupling assembly 302 also includes one or more
rollers 318 or other structures to clamp the edge flanges 212 of
gore panel membrane material together. The two edge flanges 212 are
clamped between the one or more rollers 318 and the anvil 314 while
the hot knife 312 is inserted into the slot 316 so that the hot
knife 312 will pass through both of the edge flanges 212. The
clamping of the edge flanges 212 between the one or more rollers
318 and the anvil 314 puts the edge flanges 212 in close proximity
so that when the hot knife 312 melts the edge flanges 212 to cut
off the excess portions 310 of the edge flanges 212, the melted
portions of the edge flanges 212 are coupled together to form the
edge joint 214 and complete the tendon sleeve 200. FIG. 5 shows a
perspective view of the coupling assembly with the hot knife 312
raised above the anvil 314 in a ready position. FIGS. 6 and 10
shows a perspective view of the hot knife 312 after it has been
lowered to an operational position with the hot knife 312 inserted
into the slot 316 in the anvil 314. FIG. 10 also shows the one or
more rollers 318 moved into close proximity with the anvil 314 to
clamp the gore panels 202 between the one or more rollers 318 and
the anvil 314.
[0045] In an example, the coupling assembly 302 also includes a
gore panel divider. 320 that separates the gore panels 202 being
coupled together. In an example, the gore panel divider 320 guides
the gore panels 202 into a position to be coupled by the coupling
assembly 302, e.g., by the seam coupling mechanism 306 and the edge
coupling mechanism 308. FIG. 7 shows a view of the feed end of the
coupling assembly 302 (e.g., with the direction of motion 304 of
the gore panels 202 being shown as being into the page and away
from the viewer in FIG. 7, as represented by the symbol {circle
around (.times.)}. FIG. 7 also shows an end view of the gore panel
divider 320. In an example, the pair of gore panels 202 are fed to
the coupling assembly 302 so that a first gore panel 202 is
positioned on one side of the gore panel divider 320, e.g., the top
gore panel positioned above the gore panel divider 320 in FIG. 7,
and a second gore panel 202 is positioned on the other side of the
gore panel divider 320, e.g., the bottom gore panel 202 positioned
below the gore panel divider 320 in FIG. 7. The gore panel divider
320 is secured to the coupling assembly 302 to position the gore
panel divider 320 relative to the one or more coupling mechanisms
of the coupling assembly 302, such as the seam coupling mechanism
306 and the edge coupling mechanism 308.
[0046] FIGS. 8 and 9 show the gore panel divider 320 disconnected
from the coupling assembly 302. FIGS. 7-9 show details of an
example gore panel divider 320. The example gore panel divider 320
of FIGS. 7-9, in an example, the gore panel divider 320 includes a
divider member 322 to separate the gore panels 202, e.g., so that
the gore panels 202 are joined and/or sealed at desired locations.
In an example, the divider member 322 comprises a sheet of metal or
another material. In an example, the gore panel divider 320 also
includes a guide member 324 that guides at least one of the gore
panels 202 into a specified location and/or alignment with respect
to the coupling assembly 302, e.g., with respect to one or both of
the seam coupling mechanism 306 and the edge coupling mechanism
308. In an example, the guide member 324 includes a bearing surface
326 that is engaged by an edge of one of the gore panels 202 as the
gore panels 202 are fed through the coupling assembly 302. The
engagement between the edge of the gore panel 202 and the bearing
surface 326 acts to guide the gore panels 202 into the specified
position with respect to one or both of the seam coupling mechanism
306 and the edge coupling mechanism 308. In an example, the divider
member 322 and the guide member 324 of the gore panel divider 320
are both made from the same sheet of material, such as a sheet of
metal that has been bent or otherwise shaped to provide the divider
member 322 and the guide member 324.
[0047] The gore panel divider 320 also includes an assembly
mounting structure 328 provides a location to mount the gore panel
divider 320 to the coupling assembly 302, such as with fasteners
330 (as shown in FIG. 7). In an example, the gore panel divider 320
also includes an anvil mounting structure 332 to provide a location
to mount the gore panel divider 320 such as with fasteners or other
mounting structures or devices. Mounting of the gore panel divider
320 maintains or substantially maintains the position of the gore
panel divider 320 relative to one or both of the seam coupling
mechanism 306 and the edge coupling mechanism 308 during operation
of the system 300.
[0048] In an example, the system 300 includes a tendon positioning
mechanism to position the tendon 218 at a specified position and
orientation relative to the edge flanges 212 while the tendon
sleeve 200 is being formed, e.g., while the gore panels 202 are
coupled together with the seam joint 210 to form the seam 204 and
the edge flanges 212 are coupled together with the edge joint 214
to form the tendon sleeve 200. In an example, the tendon
positioning mechanism is included as part of the gore panel divider
320, as described in more detail below). In an example, the tendon
positioning mechanism is separate from the gore panel divider
320.
[0049] In an example, the tendon positioning mechanism comprises a
tendon positioning guide, such as the tendon positioning guide 334
that is part of the gore panel divider 320, as in FIGS. 8 and 9.
The tendon positioning guide 334 is positioned relative to the
coupling assembly 302 so that the tendon positioning guide 334 is
positioned within the tendon sleeve passage 216 when the seam joint
210 and edge joint 214 are formed, as in FIG. 10. A tendon 218 is
temporarily secured to the tendon positioning guide 334 such that
the tendon 218 is placed between the edge flanges 212 of the gore
panels 202 and between the seam joint 210 and the edge joint 214,
as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 10. In other words, the tendon
positioning guide 334 is positioned so that as the gore panels 202
are fed through the coupling assembly 302 and are coupled together,
the tendon positioning guide 334 is within the tendon sleeve
passage 216 as the tendon sleeve 200 is being formed. The
positioning of the tendon positioning mechanism, e.g., the tendon
positioning guide 334, in the tendon sleeve passage 216 causes the
tendon 218 to be positioned within the edge joint 214 as well.
[0050] In an example, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the tendon
positioning guide 334 is coupled to and extends from the divider
member 322 of the gore panel divider 320 so that the tendon
positioning guide 334 will be positioned between the gore panels
202, e.g., vertically between the gore panels 202, and between the
seam coupling mechanism 306 and the edge coupling mechanism 308,
e.g., laterally between the coupling mechanisms 306, 308, as shown
in FIG. 10. In an example, the tendon positioning guide 334 is an
integral part of the gore panel divider 320, as shown in FIGS. 8
and 9. A tendon 218 is temporarily secured to the tendon
positioning guide 334 with a securing structure, such as via an eye
336 at or proximate to a distal end of the tendon positioning guide
334 to which a tether 338 is secured, as shown in FIG. 10. The
secured tendon 218 is then pulled into the tendon sleeve passage
216 as the tendon sleeve 200 is formed.
[0051] A tendon positioning mechanism or structure that positions a
tendon 218 to be pulled into the tendon sleeve 200, and in
particular pulled into the tendon sleeve 200 while the tendon
sleeve 200 is being formed, such as the tendon positioning guide
334 shown in the figures, allows for a prefabricated (e.g., precut
to a specified length) tendon 218, or a non-prefabricated tendon
(e.g., one that is cut close in time to the manufacture of the
balloon). The tendon positioning mechanisms or structures described
herein also allow for pre-tensioned or untensioned tendons. In some
examples, the coupling assembly 302 and the tendon positioning
guide 334 provide for foreshortened tendons 218. As used herein,
the term "foreshortened," when referring to a tendon that is to be
used to provide structural support for an atmospheric balloon, can
refer to a tendon with a specified length that is shorter than the
corresponding length of the gore panels being supported by the
tendon, for example the length of the gore panels 114 between the
upper apex 108 and the lower apex 110 of the balloon system 100
shown in FIG. 1. Foreshortened tendons allow the tendons to
continue to provide structural support to the balloon membrane when
the low temperatures associated with atmospheric flight cause the
gore panel material to contract faster than the tendon material
contracts due to differences in coefficients of thermal expansion.
Foreshortened tendons continue to carry the load of the balloon
after the gore panel material has thermally contracted due to the
low temperatures experienced at high altitudes,
[0052] FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of the system 300 in
operation. FIG. 10 shows the gore panels 202 being fed to the
coupling assembly 302 from the back of the system 300, as indicated
b the arrow for the direction of motion 304. As the gore panels 202
are fed to the coupling assembly 302, the seam coupling mechanism
306 (e.g., a band sealer) couples the gore panels 202 together by
forming the seam joint 210, for example by pressing the two gore
panels 202 together (as in FIG. 7) and applying heat in a band to
form the seam joint 210 at the seam 204 between the gore panels
202. In an example, the seam joint 210 is a seam seal.
Substantially simultaneously, the edge coupling mechanism 308
couples the edge flanges 212 of the gore panels 202 together by
forming the edge joint 214 at the lateral edges 208 of the edge
flanges 212. In an example, the edge joint 214 is an edge seal. In
an example, the edge coupling mechanism 308 also cuts off excess
portions 310 of the edge flanges 212, for example with the hot
knife 312 melting through the edge flanges 212. As described above,
in some examples, the edge coupling mechanism 308 includes one or
more rollers 318 and an anvil 314 to clamp the edge flanges 212
together and a hot knife 312 that cuts and couples the clamped edge
flanges 212 together to substantially simultaneously form the edge
joint 214 and cut off the excess portions 310 of the edge flanges
212.
[0053] FIG. 10 also show the tendon 218 being positioned in the
tendon sleeve passage 216 by a tendon positioning guide 334 as the
tendon sleeve 200 is being formed, e.g., as the seam joint 210 and
the edge joint 214 are being formed. The tendon 218 is secured to
the tendon positioning guide 334, such as by tying the tendon 218
to a tendon securing structure on the tendon positioning guide 334
(e.g., the eye 336) or by securing an intermediate securing
structure (e.g., the tether 338) to the tendon securing structure
on the tendon positioning guide 334 (e.g., at the eye 336) and then
securing the intermediate securing structure (e.g., the tether 338)
to tendon 218, as shown in FIG. 10. As the gore panels 202 are fed
to the coupling assembly 302, friction between the edge flanges 212
of the gore panels 202 and the tendon 218 causes the tendon 218 to
be threaded through the tendon sleeve 200 so that the tendon 218 is
positioned within the tendon sleeve passage 216 when the gore
panels 202 are coupled together at the seam joint 210 and the edge
joint 214.
[0054] FIG. 11 shows a schematic diagram of another example system
400 that forms a tendon sleeve at a seam between adjacent gore
panels for securing a tendon to an atmospheric balloon. The system
400 shown in FIG. 11 is an alternative to the system 300. Like the
system 300 of FIGS. 5-7 and 10, the system 400 includes an example
coupling assembly 402 for coupling adjacent gore panels 404
together. Like the coupling assembly 302 of the system 300, the
example coupling assembly 402 shown in FIG. 11 includes a seam
coupling mechanism 406 to couple a first of the gore panels 404,
e.g., the top most of the gore panels 404, to a second of the gore
panels 404 at a seam joint 408. The seam joint 408 is spaced from
the lateral edges 410 of the gore panels 404, resulting in a pair
of edge flanges 412 that protrude from the seam joint 408. The
coupling assembly also includes an edge coupling mechanism 414 to
couple the pair of edge flanges 412 together by forming an edge
joint 416 at or proximate to the lateral edges 410 to form a tendon
sleeve 418 with a tendon sleeve passage 420. The example system 400
shown in FIG. 11 also includes a tendon positioning mechanism 422
that positions a tendon 424 within the tendon sleeve passage
420.
[0055] Like the coupling assembly of FIGS. 5-7 and 10 described
above, the seam coupling mechanism 406 of the example system 400
shown in FIG. 11 is a band sealer, referred to hereinafter as the
seam joint band sealer 406. In an example, the seam joint band
sealer 406 compresses the gore panels 404 together and applies
heat, such as via a heating bar 426, to melt the polymeric material
of the gore panels 404 so that the gore panels 404 are combined at
a relatively wide seam joint 408. In an example, the edge coupling
mechanism 414 of the system 400 in FIG. 11 is also a band sealer,
referred to hereinafter as the edge joint band sealer 414. In an
example, the edge joint band sealer 414 joins the gore panels 404
together at or near the lateral edges 410 of the edge flanges 412
to form the edge joint 416 and at least partially close the tendon
sleeve 418. In an example, the edge joint band sealer 414
compresses the edge flanges 412 together and applies heat, such as
via a heating bar 428, to melt the polymeric material of the edge
flanges 412 so that the edge flanges 412 combine at a relatively
wide edge joint 416. In an example, each of the heating bars 426,
428 of the seam joint band sealer 406 and the edge joint band
sealer 414, respectively, comprise a heating and cooling bar 426,
428 that also cools the locations of the seam joint 408 and the
edge joint 416, respectively, to solidify the melted and joined
portions of the gore panels 404 and the edge flanges 412,
respectively, to form the seam joint 408 and the edge joint 416,
respectively. A cutting station, such as a hot knife 430, is also
provided to cut off excess portions of the edge flanges 412.
[0056] The tendon positioning mechanism 422 shown in FIG. 11 is
different from that shown in the example system 300 of FIGS. 5-7
and 10. The example tendon positioning mechanism 422 shown in FIG.
11 includes a tendon guide channel 432 positioned between the seam
joint band sealer 406 and the edible joint band sealer 414. A
tendon guide, such as a tendon guide tub 434, is located within the
tendon guide channel 432 to provide a space between the gore panels
404. A tendon feed mechanism 436 feeds the tendon 424 to the tendon
guide tube 434, such as with a tendon eye guide 438, so that the
tendon 424 will be in the tendon sleeve passage 420 when the tendon
sleeve 418 is formed. In an example, a first of the gore panels 404
(e.g., the top gore panel 404 in FIG. 11) is directed to one side
of the tendon guide tube 434 (e.g., above the tendon guide tube
434). A second of the gore panels 404 (e.g., the bottom gore panel
404 in FIG. 11) is directed to an opposite side of the tendon guide
tube 434 from the first of the gore panels 404 (e.g., below the
tendon guide tube 434). The positioning of the first and second
gore panels 404 results in the tendon guide tube 434 being located
in the space that will become the tendon sleeve passage 420, such
that when the tendon 424 is fed into the tendon guide tube 434, the
tendon 424 is positioned within the tendon sleeve passage 420 when
the tendon sleeve 418 is formed. As the tendon 424 and the gore
panels 404 are fed to the coupling assembly 402, the tendon 424 is
positioned within the tendon guide tube 434, and thus between the
gore panels 404 and also between the seam joint 408 and the edge
joint 416 formed by the seam joint band sealer 406 and the edge
joint band sealer 414, respectively.
[0057] In an example, the bands of both the seam joint band sealer
406 and the edge joint band sealer 414 are mounted on the same
wheel shaft, which allows the band speed of both bands to be
controlled by the same drive mechanism. This, in turn, provides for
substantially synchronized formation of the seam joint 408 and the
edge joint 416. In an example, the heating bars 426, 428 are
configured with a groove or channel cut therethrough, with the
tendon guide (e.g., the tendon guide tube 434) extending the length
of the heating bars 426, 428.
[0058] Further details regarding balloons and balloon systems in
which the tendon sleeves of the present disclosure can he used are
described in: U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.
61/734,820, titled "High Altitude Balloon," filed on Dec. 7, 2012;
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/827,779, titled "High Altitude
Balloon System," filed on Mar. 14, 2013; and U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Ser. No. 62/103,790, titled "High Altitude
Balloon Apex Assembly," filed on Jan. 15, 2015; the disclosures of
which are incorporated herein by reference as if reproduced in
their entirety.
[0059] In order to provide further detail regarding the aspects of
the atmospheric balloon system, the tendon sleeve, the system for
forming tendon sleeves, and the method for forming tendon sleeves
described herein, the following non-limiting list of Embodiments is
provided for illustrative purposes.
[0060] EMBODIMENT 1 includes an atmospheric balloon system. The
balloon system includes a balloon comprising a balloon membrane
having a plurality of gore panels, a plurality of tendons extending
from near an upper apex of the balloon to near a lower apex of the
balloon, and a plurality of tendon sleeves each located at an
intersection between adjacent gore panels. Each of the plurality of
tendon sleeves includes first and second edge flanges of respective
adjacent gore panels, a seam joint coupling the first and second
edge flanges, and an edge joint coupling the first and second edge
flanges, the edge joint spaced from the seam joint to form a tendon
sleeve passage between the seam joint and the edge joint and
between the first and second edge flanges, wherein one of the
plurality of tendons is received within the tendon sleeve
passage.
[0061] EMBODIMENT 2 includes the atmospheric balloon system of
EMBODIMENT 1, wherein the edge joint is near to respective lateral
edges of the first and second edge flanges, and the seam joint is
spaced from the respective lateral edges, relatively.
[0062] EMBODIMENT 3 includes the atmospheric balloon system of
either one of EMBODIMENTS 1 or 2, wherein the seam joint includes a
seam seal at the intersection between respective adjacent gore
panels.
[0063] EMBODIMENT 4 includes the atmospheric balloon system of any
one of EMBODIMENTS 1-3, wherein the edge joint includes an edge
seal between the first and second edge flanges.
[0064] EMBODIMENT 5 includes a system for securing a tendon on an
atmospheric balloon. The system includes a coupling assembly
comprising a seam coupling mechanism that forms a seam joint
between a first gore panel and a second gore panel, the seam joint
is spaced from respective first and second lateral edges of the
first gore panel and the second gore panel to form first and second
edge flanges; and an edge coupling mechanism that forms an edge
joint between the first and second edge flanges and closes a tendon
sleeve, the edge joint spaced from the seam joint, the tendon
sleeve including a tendon sleeve passage between the seam joint and
the edge joint and between the first and second edge flanges. The
system also includes a tendon positioning mechanism that positions
the tendon within the tendon sleeve passage.
[0065] EMBODIMENT 6 includes the system of EMBODIMENT 5, wherein
the coupling assembly forms the seam joint and the edge joint
substantially simultaneously.
[0066] EMBODIMENT 7 includes the system of either one of
EMBODIMENTS 5 or 6, wherein the coupling assembly forms the edge
joint and the tendon positioning mechanism positions the tendon in
the tendon sleeve passage substantially simultaneously.
[0067] EMBODIMENT 8 includes the system of any one of EMBODIMENTS
5-7, wherein the coupling assembly forms the seam joint and edge
joint substantially simultaneously with the tendon positioning
mechanism positioning the tendon in the tendon sleeve passage.
[0068] EMBODIMENT 9 includes the system of any one of EMBODIMENTS
5-8, wherein the seam coupling mechanism comprises a seam sealing
mechanism that forms a seam seal between the first gore panel and
the second gore panel.
[0069] EMBODIMENT 10 includes the system of EMBODIMENT 9, wherein
the seam sealing mechanism comprises a first band sealer.
[0070] EMBODIMENT 11 includes the system of either one of
EMBODIMENTS 9 or 10, wherein the edge coupling mechanism comprises
an edge sealing mechanism to form an edge seal between the first
and second edge flanges.
[0071] EMBODIMENT 12 includes the system of EMBODIMENT 11, wherein
the edge sealing mechanism comprises a second band sealer.
[0072] EMBODIMENT 13 includes the system of any one of EMBODIMENTS
5-12, wherein the tendon positioning mechanism comprises a tendon
positioning guide.
[0073] EMBODIMENT 14 includes the system of EMBODIMENT 13, wherein
the tendon positioning guide guides the tendon into position
between the first and second edge flanges and between the seam
joint and the edge joint to secure the tendon within the tendon
sleeve.
[0074] EMBODIMENT 15 includes the system of either one of
EMBODIMENTS 13 or 14, wherein the seam coupling mechanism is
adjacent to the edge coupling mechanism.
[0075] EMBODIMENT 16 includes the system of EMBODIMENT 15, wherein
at least a portion of the tendon positioning guide is between the
seam coupling mechanism and the edge coupling mechanism.
[0076] EMBODIMENT 17 includes the system of any one of EMBODIMENTS
5-16, further comprising a cutting station.
[0077] EMBODIMENT 18 includes the system of EMBODIMENT 17, wherein
the cutting station cuts an excess portion of each of the first and
second edge flanges.
[0078] EMBODIMENT 19 includes the system of any one of EMBODIMENTS
5-18, wherein the edge coupling mechanism cuts excess portions of
the first and second edge flanges while coupling the first and
second edge flanges together at the edge joint.
[0079] EMBODIMENT 20 includes the system of any one of EMBODIMENTS
5-19, wherein the edge coupling mechanism comprises a hot
knife.
[0080] EMBODIMENT 21 includes the system of EMBODIMENT 20, wherein
the hot knife cuts and couples the first and second edge flanges
together at the edge joint.
[0081] EMBODIMENT 22 includes the system of either one of
EMBODIMENTS 20 or 21, wherein the coupling assembly comprises an
anvil with a slot for receiving the hot knife.
[0082] EMBODIMENT 23 includes the system of any one of EMBODIMENTS
5-22, wherein the coupling assembly comprises a gore panel divider
that separates a portion of the first gore panel and a
corresponding portion of the second gore panel.
[0083] EMBODIMENT 24 includes the system of EMBODIMENT 23, wherein
the portion of the first gore panel and the corresponding portion
of the second gore panel that are separated by the gore panel
divider are adjacent to the seam coupling mechanism.
[0084] EMBODIMENT 25 includes the system of either one of
EMBODIMENTS 23 and 24, wherein the portion of the first gore panel
and the corresponding portion of the second gore panel that are
separated by the gore panel divider are adjacent to the edge
coupling mechanism.
[0085] EMBODIMENT 26 includes any one of EMBODIMENTS 23-25, wherein
the tendon positioning mechanism extends from the gore panel
divider between the seam coupling mechanism and the edge coupling
mechanism.
[0086] EMBODIMENT 27 includes a method for forming a tendon sleeve
on an atmospheric balloon. The method includes coupling a first
gore panel having a first lateral edge to a second gore panel
having a second lateral edge at a seam joint spaced from the first
and second lateral edges to form respective first and second edge
flanges from the first and second gore panels, coupling the first
and second edge flanges together at an edge joint spaced from the
seam joint to form the tendon sleeve with a tendon sleeve passage
between the seam joint and between the edge joint and the first and
second edge flanges, and positioning a tendon within the tendon
sleeve passage.
[0087] EMBODIMENT 28 includes the method of EMBODIMENT 27, wherein
coupling the first and second gore panels and coupling the first
and second edge flanges are substantially simultaneous.
[0088] EMBODIMENT 29 includes the method of either one of
EMBODIMENTS 27 or 28, wherein coupling the first and second edge
flanges and positioning the tendon are substantially
simultaneous.
[0089] EMBODIMENT 30 includes the method of any one of EMBODIMENTS
27-29, wherein coupling the first and second gore panels, coupling
the first and second edge flanges, and positioning the tendon are
substantially simultaneous.
[0090] EMBODIMENT 31 includes the method of any one of EMBODIMENTS
27-30, wherein the seam joint includes a seam seal.
[0091] EMBODIMENT 32 includes the method of EMBODIMENT 31, wherein
coupling the first and second gore panels at the seam joint
includes sealing the first gore panel to the second gore panel to
form the seam seal.
[0092] EMBODIMENT 33 includes the method of any one of EMBODIMENTS
27-32, wherein the edge joint includes an edge seal.
[0093] EMBODIMENT 34 includes the method of EMBODIMENT 33, wherein
coupling the first and second edge flanges together at the edge
joint includes sealing the first edge flange to the second edge
flange to form the edge seal.
[0094] EMBODIMENT 35 includes the method of any one of EMBODIMENTS
27-34, wherein coupling the first and second edge flanges together
at the edge joint includes coupling the first and second edge
flanges near the first and second lateral edges.
[0095] EMBODIMENT 36 includes the method of any one of EMBODIMENTS
27-35, further comprising cutting the tendon to a specified
length.
[0096] EMBODIMENT 37 includes the method of EMBODIMENT 36, wherein
cutting the tendon to the specified length is performed before
positioning the tendon in the tendon sleeve passage.
[0097] EMBODIMENT 38 includes the method of any one of EMBODIMENTS
27-37, wherein coupling the first and second gore panels is
performed with a seam coupling mechanism.
[0098] EMBODIMENT 39 includes the method of any one of EMBODIMENTS
27-38, wherein coupling the first and second edge flanges is
performed with an edge coupling mechanism.
[0099] EMBODIMENT 40 includes the method of any one of EMBODIMENTS
27-39, wherein positioning the tendon in the tendon sleeve passage
is performed with a tendon positioning guide.
[0100] EMBODIMENT 41 includes the method of EMBODIMENT 40 wherein
the tendon positioning guide is positioned relative to the seam
coupling mechanism and the edge coupling mechanism so that at least
a portion of the tendon positioning guide is within the tendon
sleeve passage when the seam joint and the edge joint are
formed.
[0101] The above Detailed Description is intended to be
illustrative, and not restrictive. For example, the above-described
examples (or one or more elements thereof) can be used in
combination with each other. Other embodiments can be used, such as
by one of ordinary skill in the art upon reviewing the above
description. Also, various features or elements can be grouped
together to streamline the disclosure. This should not be
interpreted as intending that an unclaimed disclosed feature is
essential to any claim. Rather, inventive subject matter can lie in
less than all features of a particular disclosed embodiment. Thus,
the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed
Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate
embodiment. The scope of the invention should be determined with
reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of
equivalents to which such claims are entitled.
[0102] In the event of inconsistent usages between this document
and any documents so incorporated by reference, the usage in this
document controls.
[0103] In this document, the terms "a" or "an" are used, as is
common in patent documents, to include one or more than one,
independent of any other instances or usages of "at least one" or
"one or more." In this document, the term "or" is used to refer to
a nonexclusive or, such that "A or B" includes "A but not B," "B
but not A," and "A and B," unless otherwise indicated. In this
document, the terms "including" and "in which" are used as the
plain-English equivalents of the respective terms "comprising" and
"wherein." Also, in the following claims, the terms "including" and
"comprising" are open-ended, that is, a molding system, device,
article, composition, formulation, or process that includes
elements in addition to those listed after such a term in a claim
are still deemed to fall within the scope of that claim. Moreover,
in the following claims, the terms "first," "second," and "third,"
etc. are used merely as labels, and are not intended to impose
numerical requirements on their objects.
[0104] Method examples described herein can be machine or
computer-implemented, at least in part. Some examples can include a
computer-readable medium or machine-readable medium encoded with
instructions operable to configure an electronic device to perform
methods or method steps as described in the above examples. An
implementation of such methods or method steps can include code,
such as microcode, assembly language code, a higher-level language
code, or the like. Such code can include computer readable
instructions for performing various methods. The code may form
portions of computer program products. Further, in an example, the
code can be tangibly stored on one or more volatile,
non-transitory, or non-volatile tangible computer-readable media,
such as during execution or at other times. Examples of these
tangible computer-readable media can include, but are not limited
to, hard disks, removable magnetic disks, removable optical disks
(e.g., compact disks and digital video disks), magnetic cassettes,
memory cards or sticks, random access memories (RAMs), read only
memories (ROMs), and the like.
[0105] The Abstract is provided to allow the reader to quickly
ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted
with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or
limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
[0106] Although the invention has been described with reference to
exemplary embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize
that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from
the spirit and scope of the invention.
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