IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0153020
(2014-01-11)
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등록번호 |
US-9221531
(2015-12-29)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
McDonnell Boehnen Hulbert & Berghoff LLP
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
9 인용 특허 :
2 |
초록
▼
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for an apex fitting for securing to a high altitude balloon. An example apparatus involves: (a) a base plate defining an opening, where the base plate is configured to be securable to an exterior of a balloon envelope, (b) at least one stud coupled to the base pla
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for an apex fitting for securing to a high altitude balloon. An example apparatus involves: (a) a base plate defining an opening, where the base plate is configured to be securable to an exterior of a balloon envelope, (b) at least one stud coupled to the base plate and configured to be securable to a tendon, (c) a retention ring defining at least one opening configured to receive the at least one stud, (d) a fill-port body defining a cavity, wherein a flange is coupled to the fill-port body, wherein the fill-port body is arranged coaxially with and extends through the opening of the base plate such that the flange lies adjacent to the bottom surface of the base plate, and (e) a locking body coupled to the fill-port body, wherein the locking body defines an opening arranged coaxially with the fill-port body.
대표청구항
▼
1. An apparatus, comprising: a base plate having a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the base plate defines an opening, and wherein the base plate is configured to be securable to an exterior of a balloon envelope;at least one stud coupled to the base plate, wherein the at least one stud is
1. An apparatus, comprising: a base plate having a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the base plate defines an opening, and wherein the base plate is configured to be securable to an exterior of a balloon envelope;at least one stud coupled to the base plate, wherein the at least one stud is configured to be securable to a tendon;a retention ring defining at least one opening configured to receive the at least one stud;a fill-port body defining a cavity, wherein a flange is coupled to the fill-port body, wherein the fill-port body is arranged coaxially with and extends through the opening of the base plate such that the flange lies adjacent to the bottom surface of the base plate; anda locking body coupled to the fill-port body, wherein the locking body defines an opening arranged coaxially with the fill-port body, wherein the fill-port body extends through the opening of the locking body such that a portion of the locking body lies adjacent to the top surface of the base plate. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a flange is coupled to a body of the at least one stud at a free end. 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the at least one opening of the retention ring has a first portion sized to receive the flange of the at least one stud, wherein the at least one opening of the retention ring has a second portion defining a channel having a width that is less than a diameter of the flange of the at least one stud. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base plate defines one or more apertures. 5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: at least one locking pin disposed through the retention ring. 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the at least one locking pin may comprise two or more retention screws disposed through the retention ring and coupled to the base plate. 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the opening of the base plate is centered in the base plate. 8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a balloon envelope, wherein the balloon envelope defines an opening at an apex of the balloon envelope, wherein the body of the fill port extends through the opening of the balloon envelope such that a portion of the balloon envelope is disposed between the flange of the fill-port body and the bottom surface of the base plate. 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein a gasket is disposed between the flange of the fill-port body and the balloon envelope. 10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein one or more electrical passages are disposed through a cap removably coupled to the fill-port body. 11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the base plate defines one or more apertures. 12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising: one or more sensors coupled to the balloon envelope and aligned with at least one of the one or more apertures of the base plate. 13. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising: a flight termination system configured to puncture the balloon envelope through at least one of the one or more apertures of the base plate. 14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the one or more apertures of the base plate comprises one aperture, wherein the aperture has a half moon shape. 15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the one or more apertures of the base plate comprises a plurality of apertures, wherein the plurality of apertures are arranged such that the base plate has a spoke-like configuration. 16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one stud comprises a plurality of studs, wherein the at least one opening of the retention ring comprises a plurality of openings, and wherein the plurality of studs have a spaced-apart arrangement about a periphery of the base plate. 17. A method, comprising: affixing a base plate to a balloon envelope, wherein the balloon envelope defines an opening at an apex of the balloon envelope, wherein the base plate defines an opening, wherein the opening of the base plate is aligned with the opening of the balloon envelope, and wherein a plurality of studs are coupled to the base plate;placing a fill-port body through the opening of the balloon envelope and through the opening of the base plate such that a flange of the fill-port body lies adjacent to the balloon envelope and opposite a bottom surface of the base plate;securing a locking body to the fill-port body, the base plate, or both the fill-port body and the base plate such that the locking body lies adjacent to a top surface of the base plate;securing a plurality of tendons to the plurality of studs; andsecuring a retention ring to the base plate via the plurality of studs. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the retention ring defines a plurality of openings each configured to receive one of the plurality of studs, wherein each of the plurality of openings of the retention ring has a first portion sized to receive a flange of one of the plurality of studs, wherein each of the plurality of openings of the retention ring has a second portion defining a channel having a width that is less than a diameter of the flange of one of the plurality of studs, wherein securing the retention ring to the base plate comprises (i) aligning the first portion of the plurality of openings in the retention ring with the plurality of studs of the base plate, (ii) sliding the retention ring over the flanges of the plurality of studs such that the flanges of the plurality of studs extend through the first portion of the plurality of openings of the retention ring and (iii) rotating the retention ring relative to the base plate such that a body of each of the plurality of studs are received within the second portion of the plurality of openings of the retention ring. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein securing the retention ring to the base plate further comprises coupling at least one locking pin to the retention ring. 20. The method of claim 17, wherein securing the locking body to the fill-port body, the base plate, or both comprises (i) press-fitting the locking body onto the fill-port body such that the locking body is received in a detent defined by the fill-port body, (ii) press-fitting the locking body onto the fill-port body such that at least one detent defined on the locking body receives at least one protuberance coupled to the fill-port body, (iii) coupling the locking body to the base plate or the fill-port body via one or more connectors, (iv) coupling the locking body to the base plate or the fill-port body via adhesive, or (v) screwing a lock nut onto the fill-port body via threads coupled to the opening of the locking body and mating threads coupled to an exterior of the fill-port body.
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