-
公开(公告)号：US10086561B1
公开(公告)日：2018-10-02
申请号：US15080027
申请日：2016-03-24
Applicant: X Development 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.
-
公开(公告)号：US09925718B2
公开(公告)日：2018-03-27
申请号：US15160140
申请日：2016-05-20
Applicant: X Development LLC
Inventor： Kevin Roach , Jeffrey Neri , Daniel Henry Fourie
CPC classification number: B29C65/18 , B29C65/226 , B29C65/30 , B29C65/4825 , B29C65/50 , B29C65/743 , B29C65/7802 , B29C65/7847 , B29C66/0044 , B29C66/1122 , B29C66/133 , B29C66/244 , B29C66/3452 , B29C66/474 , B29C66/71 , B29C66/836 , B29C66/86533 , B29C66/9672 , B29K2623/06 , B29L2022/022 , B64B1/58 , B29K2011/00 , B29K2023/06 , B29K2067/003
Abstract: An assembly for use during manufacture of a balloon envelope that includes a table having first and second levels, an indicator disposed on the first level and a sealing component. The first level is arranged to receive a first sheet portion of material. The indicator is arranged along a lengthwise axis of the table to indicate a position for attaching a tendon to the first sheet portion. The second level is arranged to receive assembled gore portions of the envelope comprising the first sheet portion, the tendon and a second sheet portion of material. The sealing component is configured to move along the table and to apply a heat seal to bond together the first and second sheet portions disposed thereon in order to form at least part of a gore portion of the envelope, such that the tendon is arranged proximate to a centerline of the gore.
-
公开(公告)号：US09983146B1
公开(公告)日：2018-05-29
申请号：US15597374
申请日：2017-05-17
Applicant: X Development LLC
Inventor： Daniel Henry Fourie
CPC classification number: G01N21/8901 , B29C65/8253 , B29C66/43 , B29C66/71 , B29C66/73921 , B29L2022/022 , G01N21/8806 , G01N21/8914 , G01N21/892 , G01N21/894 , B29K2023/06 , B29K2067/003
Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to systems and techniques for inspecting seals for high altitude balloons. In one example, a system may include a reflective surface, a translucent material on the reflective surface, and a movable light source configured to move along the reflective surface and provide light to the reflective surface. The light is provided such that it is reflected from the reflective surface and through the translucent material in order to backlight a balloon envelope seal for inspection. A method for inspecting a balloon envelope seal may include placing balloon envelope material on a table, forming a seal between portions of the material, moving a light over the seal, shining light onto a reflective portion of the table below the seal to backlight the seal, and inspecting the seal using the backlighting of the seal.
-
公开(公告)号：US09908609B1
公开(公告)日：2018-03-06
申请号：US15171274
申请日：2016-06-02
Applicant: X Development LLC
Inventor： Daniel Henry Fourie
Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to terminating flight of a balloon that may include separating a connection between a balloon envelope and a payload of the balloon. In one example, a payload separation apparatus includes a first shaft configured to attach to the envelope, a second shaft configured to attach to the payload, a pair of arms, and a bracket arranged to secure the pair of arms to the first shaft. In another example, a system includes a flight termination assembly having a cutting edge configured to cut an opening in the envelope and a payload separation apparatus. The apparatus includes a first shaft configured to attach to the envelope, a second shaft configured to attach to the payload, a pair of arms, and a bracket configured to secure the pair of arms to the first shaft. The system also includes a controller configured to activate the cutting edge.
-
公开(公告)号：US09689808B1
公开(公告)日：2017-06-27
申请号：US14811189
申请日：2015-07-28
Applicant: X Development LLC
Inventor： Daniel Henry Fourie
CPC classification number: G01N21/8901 , B29C65/8253 , B29C66/43 , B29C66/71 , B29C66/73921 , B29L2022/022 , G01N21/8806 , G01N21/8914 , G01N21/892 , G01N21/894 , B29K2023/06 , B29K2067/003
Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to systems and techniques for inspecting seals for high altitude balloons. In one example, a system may include a reflective surface, a translucent material on the reflective surface, and a movable light source configured to move along the reflective surface and provide light to the reflective surface. The light is provided such that it is reflected from the reflective surface and through the translucent material in order to backlight a balloon envelope seal for inspection. A method for inspecting a balloon envelope seal may include placing balloon envelope material on a table, forming a seal between portions of the material, moving a light over the seal, shining light onto a reflective portion of the table below the seal to backlight the seal, and inspecting the seal using the backlighting of the seal.
-
Patent Agency Ranking
公开(公告)号：US09669918B1
公开(公告)日：2017-06-06
申请号：US14810742
申请日：2015-07-28
Applicant: X Development LLC
Inventor： Daniel Henry Fourie , Jeffrey Neri
CPC classification number: B64B1/42 , B29C65/02 , B29C65/18 , B29C65/7441 , B29C66/004 , B29C66/1122 , B29C66/2442 , B29C66/43 , B29C66/71 , B29C66/7392 , B29C66/81417 , B29C66/81427 , B29C66/836 , B29L2022/022 , B29L2031/3076 , B32B37/0076 , B32B37/06 , B32B37/18 , B32B38/0012 , B32B2605/18 , B64B1/40 , B64B1/58 , B29K2023/06 , B29K2067/003
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.
-
公开(公告)号：US10190993B1
公开(公告)日：2019-01-29
申请号：US15967734
申请日：2018-05-01
Applicant: X Development LLC
Inventor： Daniel Henry Fourie
Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to systems and techniques for inspecting seals for high altitude balloons. In one example, a system may include a reflective surface, a translucent material on the reflective surface, and a movable light source configured to move along the reflective surface and provide light to the reflective surface. The light is provided such that it is reflected from the reflective surface and through the translucent material in order to backlight a balloon envelope seal for inspection. A method for inspecting a balloon envelope seal may include placing balloon envelope material on a table, forming a seal between portions of the material, moving a light over the seal, shining light onto a reflective portion of the table below the seal to backlight the seal, and inspecting the seal using the backlighting of the seal.
-
公开(公告)号：US10059422B1
公开(公告)日：2018-08-28
申请号：US15883653
申请日：2018-01-30
Applicant: X Development LLC
Inventor： Daniel Henry Fourie , Kyle Brookes
CPC classification number: B64B1/58 , B29C65/08 , B29C66/1122 , B29C66/30223 , B29C66/4312 , B29C66/439 , B29C66/61 , B29C66/71 , B29C66/83221 , B29C2793/009 , B29K2023/06 , B29K2067/003 , B29L2022/022 , B29L2031/3076 , B64B1/40
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.
-
公开(公告)号：US10029776B1
公开(公告)日：2018-07-24
申请号：US14858595
申请日：2015-09-18
Applicant: X Development 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.
-
公开(公告)号：US09963216B1
公开(公告)日：2018-05-08
申请号：US15054598
申请日：2016-02-26
Applicant: X Development LLC
Inventor： Daniel Henry Fourie , Kyle Brookes
CPC classification number: B64B1/58 , B29C65/08 , B29K2023/06 , B29K2067/003 , B29L2031/3076 , B64B1/40
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.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Search Results
11
records
(took 0.014 seconds)
