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

IPC: B64B1/30 ,  B64B1/44

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.

公开(公告)号：US20210016865A1

公开(公告)日：2021-01-21

申请号：US16513782

申请日：2019-07-17

Applicant: Loon LLC

Inventor： Jacques Gagne ,  Matthew Knoll ,  Daniel Alex Luebke ,  Jonathan Nutzmann ,  Michael Eglington ,  Sameera Ponda ,  Aaron Fan ,  Ewout van Bekkum

IPC: B64B1/30 ,  B64B1/44

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.