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公开(公告)号：US10819273B2
公开(公告)日：2020-10-27
申请号：US15843197
申请日：2017-12-15
Applicant: LOON LLC
Inventor： John Cromie , Kyle Brookes
Abstract: A stratospheric balloon may include an upper structure having a pulley, a lower structure, at least one solar panel suspended between the upper structure and the lower structure, and a first orientation control member connected, at a first end thereof, to a first transverse edge of the at least one solar panel and, at a second end thereof, to a second transverse edge of the at least one solar panel. The first orientation control member is wound about the pulley such that rotating the pulley changes the orientation of the at least one solar panel relative to the upper structure and the lower structure. In another example, the pulley may be replaced by first and second support mechanisms and the system may include a second orientation control member. The first and second orientation control members are connected to the first and second support mechanisms, respectively, and to the solar panel.
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公开(公告)号：US10676170B1
公开(公告)日：2020-06-09
申请号：US16026361
申请日：2018-07-03
Applicant: LOON LLC
Inventor： Kyle Brookes , John Cromie , Raymond Louis Gradwohl
IPC: B64B1/40
Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide a flex connection for high altitude balloon applications. During operation flex connection allows a payload of a high-altitude balloon to remain level when an envelope of the balloon is tilted, in order to change the direction of the balloon. As an example, a system may include a balloon envelope, a payload, a cable between the balloon envelope and the payload, and a flex connection on the cable. The flex connection enables the payload to remain level relative to the ground when the balloon is in flight and the balloon envelope is tilted relative to the payload. The flex connection includes a top portion, a plurality of discs, and a bottom portion.
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公开(公告)号：US20190185126A1
公开(公告)日：2019-06-20
申请号：US15843116
申请日：2017-12-15
Applicant: LOON LLC
Inventor： John Cromie
IPC: B64B1/40
Abstract: The technology relates to a telescoping support structure which can be suspended between two objects. The telescoping support structure uses projections between adjacent tubular sections in order to prevent the adjacent tubular sections from falling away from one another. Although the telescoping support structure may be utilized in various different environments and circumstances, it may be of particular usefulness in the field of high-altitude ballooning. For instance, when used in a balloon system, the telescoping support structure may be suspended between two objects such as an upper payload structure and a lower payload structure. As another example, the telescoping support structure may be suspended between a balloon envelope and a payload which, in some examples, may include an upper and a lower payload structure.
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公开(公告)号：US20190190439A1
公开(公告)日：2019-06-20
申请号：US15843197
申请日：2017-12-15
Applicant: LOON LLC
Inventor： John Cromie , Kyle Brookes
Abstract: A stratospheric balloon may include an upper structure having a pulley, a lower structure, at least one solar panel suspended between the upper structure and the lower structure, and a first orientation control member connected, at a first end thereof, to a first transverse edge of the at least one solar panel and, at a second end thereof, to a second transverse edge of the at least one solar panel. The first orientation control member is wound about the pulley such that rotating the pulley changes the orientation of the at least one solar panel relative to the upper structure and the lower structure. In another example, the pulley may be replaced by first and second support mechanisms and the system may include a second orientation control member. The first and second orientation control members are connected to the first and second support mechanisms, respectively, and to the solar panel.
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公开(公告)号：US20220033101A1
公开(公告)日：2022-02-03
申请号：US16942536
申请日：2020-07-29
Applicant: LOON LLC
Inventor： Thomas Swanson , Matthew Joshua Yee , John Cromie
Abstract: The technology relates to techniques for lightweight brackets for storm hardening of aircraft components. A bracket flange for protecting an electronics assembly from electrical storm activity can include a leg element coupled to and extending from a component of a vehicle and a first bar element extending from another end of the leg element on a plane substantially parallel to the component and over a part of an electronics assembly. The location of the bracket flange can be determined using a lightning attachment survey configured to indicate a part of the electronics assembly to which a lightning streamer attaches during an electrical surge. The location and size of the bracket flange may be configured to divert surge current away from the part of the electronics assembly to which the lightning streamer attaches in the lightning attachment survey.
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Patent Agency Ranking
公开(公告)号：US20210061436A1
公开(公告)日：2021-03-04
申请号：US16559192
申请日：2019-09-03
Applicant: Loon LLC
Inventor： Kyle Brookes , Samuel Truslow , Leonard Bouygues , John Cromie
Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to flight termination systems for aerial vehicles having envelopes. For instance, a flight termination system may include one or more heat sources mounted on the top plate and oriented towards envelope material of the envelope. The one or more heat sources may each include a gas generator configured to generate gas of sufficient temperature to melt the envelope material and vent lift gas from the envelope. The flight termination system may also include a drag device arranged at the top plate which may be being configured to provide stability to the envelope during descent.
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公开(公告)号：US20210016866A1
公开(公告)日：2021-01-21
申请号：US16513795
申请日：2019-07-17
Applicant: Loon LLC
Inventor： Jacques Gagne , Matthew Knoll , Raymond Gradwohl , Kristen Anderson , John Cromie
Abstract: Aspects of the technology relate to propulsion systems for high altitude, long duration balloons, such as balloons that operate in the stratosphere for weeks, months or longer. A propeller assembly is used to provide lateral directional adjustments, which allows the balloon to spend more time over a desired region, reduce the return time to the desired region, reduce fleet overprovisioning, and increases the safety case by additional controls and avoidance abilities. A control assembly manages operation of the propeller assembly, including setting the pointing direction, speed of rotation and determining when to turn on the propeller and for how long. The propulsion system including the control and propeller assemblies is rotatable around a connection member of the balloon. Such rotation is independently adjustable from any rotation of the balloon's payload. The propeller blades may be made of plastic, which reduces weight and cost while providing sufficient speed at stratospheric altitudes.
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公开(公告)号：US20210006200A1
公开(公告)日：2021-01-07
申请号：US17024816
申请日：2020-09-18
Applicant: LOON LLC
Inventor： John Cromie , Kyle Brookes
Abstract: A stratospheric balloon may include an upper structure having a pulley, a lower structure, at least one solar panel suspended between the upper structure and the lower structure, and a first orientation control member connected, at a first end thereof, to a first transverse edge of the at least one solar panel and, at a second end thereof, to a second transverse edge of the at least one solar panel. The first orientation control member is wound about the pulley such that rotating the pulley changes the orientation of the at least one solar panel relative to the upper structure and the lower structure. In another example, the pulley may be replaced by first and second support mechanisms and the system may include a second orientation control member. The first and second orientation control members are connected to the first and second support mechanisms, respectively, and to the solar panel.
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公开(公告)号：US10793246B1
公开(公告)日：2020-10-06
申请号：US15827138
申请日：2017-11-30
Applicant: LOON LLC
Inventor： John Cromie , Gopal Ravi
Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide anti-tilt assemblies for reducing the strain of an air ballast when used to change the direction of a high altitude balloon. For instance, in one example, a balloon includes a balloon envelope having an air ballast and a plurality of support tendons and a payload assembly. The balloon also includes an anti-tilt assembly arranged between the balloon envelope and the payload assembly. The anti-tilt assembly includes a support structure having a plurality of line connections arranged at a top end of the support structure and a connection member at a bottom end of the support structure. The connection member is attached to the payload assembly. The anti-tilt assembly also includes a plurality of support lines connected at to one of the support tendons and to the connection member. In addition, each support line is arranged to pass through a corresponding one of the line connections.
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公开(公告)号：US10717510B2
公开(公告)日：2020-07-21
申请号：US15843116
申请日：2017-12-15
Applicant: LOON LLC
Inventor： John Cromie
Abstract: The technology relates to a telescoping support structure which can be suspended between two objects. The telescoping support structure uses projections between adjacent tubular sections in order to prevent the adjacent tubular sections from falling away from one another. Although the telescoping support structure may be utilized in various different environments and circumstances, it may be of particular usefulness in the field of high-altitude ballooning. For instance, when used in a balloon system, the telescoping support structure may be suspended between two objects such as an upper payload structure and a lower payload structure. As another example, the telescoping support structure may be suspended between a balloon envelope and a payload which, in some examples, may include an upper and a lower payload structure.
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