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公开(公告)号：US10220929B1
公开(公告)日：2019-03-05
申请号：US16048600
申请日：2018-07-30
Applicant: LOON LLC
Inventor： Daniel Henry Fourie , Kyle Brookes
Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide a fill port apparatus for filling high altitude balloons, such as those used in communications networks, with lighter than air lift gasses. For instance, the fill port apparatus includes a tubular body portion having a passageway extending between a first end and a second end of the tubular body portion. The fill port apparatus also includes an attachment structure arranged at the first end of the tubular body portion. This structure is configured to attach to a top plate of a balloon envelope. The fill port apparatus also includes a plurality of energy directing structures arranged on an interior surface of the tubular body portion. These energy directing structures extend into the passageway from the interior surface and are each configured to contact at least one other of the plurality of energy directing structures when the tubular body portion is welded to itself.
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公开(公告)号：US10751949B1
公开(公告)日：2020-08-25
申请号：US16192945
申请日：2018-11-16
Applicant: LOON LLC
Inventor： Daniel Henry Fourie , Matthew Knoll
Abstract: A system for manufacturing a balloon envelope includes a table component and a sealing component. The sealing component includes a first level and a second lower level. The first level further includes first and second platforms. The first platform can provide a work area for sealing respective first and second sheets of material together to form a sealed edge and the second platform may provide a work area for sealing the second sheet of material and a third sheet of material together. The first, second, and third sheets of material respectively form first, second, and third gores of the balloon envelope. The sealing component may be configured to move along length of the first platform and to apply a heat seal to bond the first sheet of material to the second sheet material and form a sealed edge.
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公开(公告)号：US10670062B1
公开(公告)日：2020-06-02
申请号：US16261079
申请日：2019-01-29
Applicant: LOON LLC
Inventor： Daniel Henry Fourie
Abstract: A laminated load ring for a balloon assembly includes a plurality of ring stacking units stacked one on top of the other. Each of the ring stacking units can include a main body having a central opening, a plurality of arms, and at least one weld line. The plurality of arms may each extend away from the main body around a circumference of the main body. The at least one weld line can be formed on the main body. The plurality of arms of the plurality of ring stacking units may be aligned with one another. The weld line of each of the plurality of ring stacking units may be offset from the weld line of a directly adjacent ring stacking unit in a direction extending around the circumference of the laminated load ring.
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公开(公告)号：US10780648B1
公开(公告)日：2020-09-22
申请号：US16563137
申请日：2019-09-06
Applicant: Loon LLC
Inventor： Daniel Henry Fourie
Abstract: An assembly for manufacturing a balloon envelope includes a table component and a sealing component. The table component may include a first platform, a second platform, a third platform, and a lateral opening between the first and second platforms. The first and second platforms can receive a first sheet of material that forms a first gore of the balloon envelope and a second sheet of material that forms a second gore of the balloon envelope. At least a portion of the first platform may move relative to the third platform so as to allow for the tendon and the portion of the second sheet attached to the tendon to move toward the third platform. The sealing component may be configured to bond the first sheet to the second sheet in order to join the first and the second gores of the balloon envelope.
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公开(公告)号：US10456990B1
公开(公告)日：2019-10-29
申请号：US16113539
申请日：2018-08-27
Applicant: LOON LLC
Inventor： Daniel Henry Fourie
Abstract: An assembly for manufacturing a balloon envelope includes a table component and a sealing component. The table component may include a first platform, a second platform, a third platform, and a lateral opening between the first and second platforms. The first and second platforms can receive a first sheet of material that forms a first gore of the balloon envelope and a second sheet of material that forms a second gore of the balloon envelope. At least a portion of the first platform may move relative to the third platform so as to allow for the tendon and the portion of the second sheet attached to the tendon to move toward the third platform. The sealing component may be configured to bond the first sheet to the second sheet in order to join the first and the second gores of the balloon envelope.
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Patent Agency Ranking
公开(公告)号：US10696371B1
公开(公告)日：2020-06-30
申请号：US15834515
申请日：2017-12-07
Applicant: LOON LLC
Inventor： Daniel Henry Fourie , Kevin Roach
Abstract: A method for constructing a balloon assembly includes inserting balloon envelope material which will become an apex of a balloon envelope into a platen opening of a platen; flaring the balloon envelope material outward over the top surface of the platen; positioning a termination plate over the platen opening and within the apex opening; and folding at least some of the balloon envelope that overlies the platen onto the termination plate. The balloon envelope material further includes an apex opening.
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公开(公告)号：US10293913B1
公开(公告)日：2019-05-21
申请号：US14633369
申请日：2015-02-27
Applicant: LOON LLC
Inventor： Kevin Roach , Daniel Henry Fourie
Abstract: The present disclosure provides an apparatus for use on a balloon having a balloon envelope. The apparatus includes a frame body comprising first and second members, an adjustable arm attached to the first member and a circular heating element disposed on a surface of the second member. The adjustable arm may be configured to cause the first member to move in a direction with respect to the surface the second member. The surface of the second member may be arranged to receive a termination plate and a portion of a balloon envelope. By moving the adjustable arm between first and second positions with respect to the surface of the second member, the termination plate and the portion of a balloon envelope are pressed together. In this regard, the circular heating element, when activated, is configured to cause the termination plate to heat bond with the portion of the balloon envelope.
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公开(公告)号：US10173764B1
公开(公告)日：2019-01-08
申请号：US16018468
申请日：2018-06-26
Applicant: LOON LLC
Inventor： Daniel Henry Fourie , Kevin Roach
Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to techniques for manufacturing a balloon envelope. In one example, a first sheet of material for a first gore of the balloon envelope is provided. Lap seal material is arranged at least partially on the first sheet of material. A first heat seal is created between the lap seal material and the first sheet of material. A second sheet of material for a second gore of the balloon envelope is arranged over the first heat seal. A second heat seal is created between the lap seal material and the second sheet of material such that the lap seal material is configured to provide additional structural support to the balloon envelope.
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公开(公告)号：US10173373B1
公开(公告)日：2019-01-08
申请号：US15165752
申请日：2016-05-26
Applicant: LOON LLC
Inventor： Daniel Henry Fourie , Matthew Knoll
Abstract: A system for manufacturing a balloon envelope includes a table component and a sealing component. The sealing component includes a first level and a second lower level. The first level further includes first and second platforms. The first platform can provide a work area for sealing respective first and second sheets of material together to form a sealed edge and the second platform may provide a work area for sealing the second sheet of material and a third sheet of material together. The first, second, and third sheets of material respectively form first, second, and third gores of the balloon envelope. The sealing component may be configured to move along length of the first platform and to apply a heat seal to bond the first sheet of material to the second sheet material and form a sealed edge.
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公开(公告)号：US10472040B1
公开(公告)日：2019-11-12
申请号：US15587734
申请日：2017-05-05
Applicant: LOON LLC
Inventor： Daniel Henry Fourie , Jeffrey Neri
Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to techniques for manufacturing a balloon envelope including a duct for high altitude balloons. In one example, a first sheet of material may be provided. A premade duct may be arranged at least partially on the first sheet of material. The duct may include a first substance on an internal surface. A second sheet of material may be arranged over at least a portion of the duct. A heat sealing device may be applied to the second sheet of material to heat seal the first sheet of material to the second sheet of material. The heat sealing device may be applied over at least a portion of the duct in order to seal external surfaces of the duct to each of the first and second sheets of material and form a balloon gore. The first substance may keep the duct from being sealed to itself.
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