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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.
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公开(公告)号：US09701061B1
公开(公告)日：2017-07-11
申请号：US14449518
申请日：2014-08-01
Applicant: X Development LLC
Inventor： Kevin Roach , Jeffrey Neri
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: Aspects of the disclosure relate to manufacturing balloon envelopes for use in high-altitude mesh networks for packet-data communications. As an example, a gore portion may be placed on a table such that the gore portion overlies a groove within the table. A tendon may be placed on the gore portion and within the groove. A portion of tubing may be placed over the tendon. The tubing may have one or more surface openings. Restraining tape is applied over the one or more surface openings in the tubing. A constant force roller is applied to secure the tendon to the gore portion and to secure the tendon to the tubing. As an alternative or in addition to the surface openings, double-sided restraining tape may be placed between the tendon and the tubing. The tubing and restraining tape may prevent undesired lateral and longitudinal movement of the tendon during deployment.
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公开(公告)号：US09676468B1
公开(公告)日：2017-06-13
申请号：US14514610
申请日：2014-10-15
Applicant: X Development LLC
Inventor： Kevin Roach
Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to fabricating high-altitude balloons having a prebuilt parachute overlying the surface of the balloon envelope to handle catastrophic envelope failures. The balloon envelope is formed from a number of gore panels. Tendons are positioned adjacent to corresponding ones of the gore panels. Each tendon is configured to carry a load caused by pressurized lifting gas within the balloon envelope. The parachute is affixed to at least some of the tendons, and covers at least a portion of the balloon envelope adjacent to the apex of the envelope. The parachute may be sewn onto the tendons. An outer surface of the parachute is covered with a UV-protective material. For instance, an aluminum coating may be vapor-deposited onto the parachute's outer surface. An IR-reflective material may cover an inner surface of the parachute.
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Patent Agency Ranking
公开(公告)号：US09580161B1
公开(公告)日：2017-02-28
申请号：US14509503
申请日：2014-10-08
Applicant: X Development LLC
Inventor： Kevin Roach
CPC classification number: B64B1/58 , B29C65/5014 , B29C65/5042 , B29C70/00 , B29D22/02 , B29D22/04 , B29L2022/022 , B64B1/40
Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to fabricating balloon envelopes for high-altitude balloons. One or more segments of reinforcing tape are applied to gore segments of the balloon envelope. The segments are arranged in a ring to circumscribe an upper portion of the balloon envelope, and may be affixed by a pressure sensitive adhesive. Should a catastrophic failure of the balloon envelope occur, the reinforcing tape acts as a ripstop to prevent a tear from extending upward toward the apex of the balloon envelope. Tendons secured to the apex and to a base of the balloon envelope are configured to keep the top film of the envelope in a parachute configuration in the event of a catastrophic failure. The reinforcing tape is positioned above an equator of the balloon envelope, for instance approximately ⅓ of the distance down from the apex to the base of the envelope.
Abstract translation: 本公开的方面涉及制造用于高空气球的气球信封。 加强带的一个或多个部分被施加到气囊包封的部分。 片段被布置成环以包围气囊外壳的上部，并且可以通过压敏粘合剂固定。 如果发生气球外壳的灾难性故障，则加强带作为裂缝，以防止撕裂向气球外壳的顶点向上延伸。 固定到顶点和球囊的底部的肌腱被配置成在发生灾难性故障的情况下将信封的顶部膜保持在降落伞构型。 加强带位于气球外壳的赤道上方，例如从顶点到信封的底部的距离的大约1/3。
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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.
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公开(公告)号：US09908607B1
公开(公告)日：2018-03-06
申请号：US14954107
申请日：2015-11-30
Applicant: X Development LLC
Inventor： Daniel Henry Fourie , Kevin Roach
CPC classification number: B64B1/58 , B64F5/0009 , B64F5/10
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：US20190070792A1
公开(公告)日：2019-03-07
申请号：US15783399
申请日：2017-10-13
Applicant: X Development LLC
Inventor： Kevin Roach , Jacques Gagne
Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to manufacturing a balloon envelope for use in a stratospheric balloon system. For instance, a stream of polyethylene mixture us extruded through an extruder in order to orient molecules of polymer chains of polyethylene and to provide an oriented film. The oriented film is passed through an electron beam and thereby crosslinking the polymer chains to provide a cross-linked film. The cross-linked film is heat sealed to form the balloon envelope
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公开(公告)号：US09840319B2
公开(公告)日：2017-12-12
申请号：US14722354
申请日：2015-05-27
Applicant: X Development LLC
Inventor： Kevin Roach , Pamela Desrochers
Abstract: A balloon apparatus is provided having (1) a cage structure that includes (a) a plurality of vertical tendons, where each of the vertical tendons includes a first end and second end, where the first ends of the vertical tendons are all connected to one another and where the second ends of the vertical tendons are all connected to one another and (b) one or more horizontal tendons, where each horizontal tendon is attached to each of the vertical tendons at a corresponding level of the cage structure and (2) a balloon envelope, where the balloon envelop is arranged inside the cage structure and inflatable within the cage structure.
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