IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0932887
(2013-07-01)
|
등록번호 |
US-9211942
(2015-12-15)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
McDonnell Boehnen Hulbert & Berghoff LLP
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
4 인용 특허 :
6 |
초록
▼
A balloon is provided having a balloon envelope, one or more straws, where each of the one or more straws includes a first end connected to the balloon envelope and a second end within the balloon envelop, one or more mechanisms, where each mechanism is operable to close and open the first end of on
A balloon is provided having a balloon envelope, one or more straws, where each of the one or more straws includes a first end connected to the balloon envelope and a second end within the balloon envelop, one or more mechanisms, where each mechanism is operable to close and open the first end of one of the straws, and a control system configured to cause at least one of the mechanisms to close the first end of the corresponding straw such that gas is retained in the balloon envelope and to cause at least one of the mechanisms to open the first end of the corresponding straw such that gas below the second end of the corresponding straw is released from the balloon envelope through the corresponding straw, causing the balloon to descend.
대표청구항
▼
1. A balloon comprising: a balloon envelope;a plurality of straws, wherein each of the straws comprises a first end connected to the balloon envelope and a second end within the balloon envelope;a plurality of mechanisms, wherein each mechanism is operable to close and open the first end of a corres
1. A balloon comprising: a balloon envelope;a plurality of straws, wherein each of the straws comprises a first end connected to the balloon envelope and a second end within the balloon envelope;a plurality of mechanisms, wherein each mechanism is operable to close and open the first end of a corresponding one of the straws; anda control system configured to: cause the plurality of the mechanisms to close the first end of each of the straws such that gas is retained in the balloon envelope;cause a first mechanism of the plurality of mechanisms to open the first end of a first corresponding straw at a first time such that gas below the second end of the first corresponding straw is released from the balloon envelope through the first corresponding straw, causing the balloon to descend; andcause a second mechanism of the plurality of mechanisms to open the first end of a second corresponding straw at a later second time such that gas below the second end of the second corresponding straw is released from the balloon envelope through the second corresponding straw, causing the balloon to descend. 2. The balloon of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of straws has a different length. 3. The balloon of claim 1, wherein at least one of the straws has a length that is approximately equal to half of a maximum height of the balloon envelope. 4. The balloon of claim 1, wherein the plurality of straws comprises: a shortest straw having a given length; andone or more other straws, wherein each of the one or more other straws has a length that is approximately equal to a multiple of the given length of the shortest straw. 5. The balloon of claim 1, wherein the plurality of straws comprises three straws. 6. The balloon of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of straws comprises an extruded foam straw. 7. The balloon of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of straws comprises a polyurethane foam straw. 8. The balloon of claim 1, wherein each mechanism comprises a ball valve, wherein the ball valve is located at the first end of the corresponding straw. 9. The balloon of claim 1, wherein each mechanism comprises a movable plate, wherein the movable plate is located at the first end of the corresponding straw. 10. The balloon of claim 9, wherein each mechanism further comprises a cord connected to the movable plate such that the first end of the corresponding straw is opened by cutting the cord. 11. The balloon of claim 1, wherein the control system is configured to open the first end of one or more of the straws based on at least the altitude of the balloon. 12. The balloon of claim 1, wherein the control system is configured to open the first end of one or more of the straws based on at least the rate of the descent of the balloon. 13. The balloon of claim 1, further comprising a parachute attached to the balloon, wherein the parachute serves to slow the descent of the balloon. 14. A computer-implemented method comprising: controlling the descent of a balloon, wherein the balloon is comprised of a balloon envelope, a plurality of straws, wherein each of the straws comprises a first end connected to the balloon envelope and a second end within the balloon envelope, and a plurality of mechanisms, wherein each mechanism is operable to close and open the first end of a corresponding one of the straws; andoperating a control system to: cause the plurality of the mechanisms to close the first end of each of the straws such that gas is retained in the balloon envelope;cause a first mechanism of the plurality of mechanisms to open the first end of a corresponding straw at a first time such that gas below the second end of the first corresponding straw is released from the balloon envelope through the first corresponding straw, causing the balloon to descend; and cause a second mechanism of the plurality of mechanisms to open the first end of a second corresponding straw at a later second time such that gas below the second end of the second corresponding straw is released from the balloon envelope through the second corresponding straw, causing the balloon to descend. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein each of the plurality of straws has a different length. 16. The method of claim 14, wherein the plurality of straws comprises three straws. 17. The method of claim 14, wherein controlling the descent of a balloon further comprises using a parachute attached to the balloon to slow the descent of the balloon. 18. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored therein instructions executable by a computing device to cause the computing device to perform functions comprising: controlling the descent of a balloon, wherein the balloon is comprised of a balloon envelope, a plurality of straws, wherein each of the straws comprises a first end connected to the balloon envelope and a second end within the balloon envelope, and a plurality of mechanisms, wherein each mechanism is operable to close and open the first end of a corresponding one of the straws; andoperating a control system to: cause the plurality of the mechanisms to close the first end of each of the straws such that gas is retained in the balloon envelope;cause a first mechanism of the plurality of mechanisms to open the first end of a corresponding straw at a first time such that gas below the second end of the first corresponding straw is released from the balloon envelope through the first corresponding straw, causing the balloon to descend; andcause a second mechanism of the plurality of mechanisms to open the first end of a second corresponding straw at a later second time such that gas below the second end of the second corresponding straw is released from the balloon envelope through the second corresponding straw, causing the balloon to descend. 19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein each of the plurality of straws has a different length. 20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein the plurality of straws comprises three straws. 21. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein controlling the descent of a balloon further comprises using a parachute attached to the balloon to slow the descent of the balloon. 22. A balloon comprising: a balloon envelope;one or more straws, wherein each of the one or more straws comprises a first end connected to the balloon envelope and a second end within the balloon envelope;one or more mechanisms corresponding to the one or more straws, wherein each mechanism comprises: a movable plate, wherein the movable plate is positioned at the first end of a corresponding one of the straws to keep the first end of the corresponding one of the straws closed such that gas is retained in the balloon envelope; anda cord connected to the movable plate such that the first end of the corresponding one of the straws is opened when the cord is cut; anda control system configured to: cause at least one of the mechanisms to open the first end of at least one corresponding straw such that gas below the second end of the at least one corresponding straw is released from the balloon envelope through the at least one corresponding straw, causing the balloon to descend.
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