BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The novel features of this invention, as well as the invention itself, both as to its structure and its operation, will be best understood from the accompanying drawings, taken in conjunction with the accompanying description, in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts, and in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a device in accordance with the present invention for storing and deploying an aerostat;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a center tube used with the device;
FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the tapered disc component of the device;
FIG. 4A is an elevation view of an aerostat prepared for loading into the device of the present invention, with the device shown in cross section as seen along the line 4-4 in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4B is a view of the device and aerostat, as seen in FIG. 4A, with the aerostat in its initial phase of loading;
FIG. 4C is a view of the device and aerostat, as seen in FIG. 4B, with the aerostat in its final phase of loading;
FIG. 4D is a view of the device and aerostat, as seen in FIG. 4C, with the aerostat essentially loaded in the device;
FIG. 5A is a view of the device and aerostat, as seen in FIG. 4D with the aerostat in its initial phase of deployment (tail section inflated);
FIG. 5B is a view of the device and aerostat, as seen in FIG. 5A, with the aerostat partially deployed; and
FIG. 5C is a view of the device and aerostat, as seen in FIG. 5B, with the aerostat deployed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring initially to FIG. 1, a device in accordance with the present invention for storing and deploying an aerostat is shown and is generally designated 10. As shown, the device 10 includes a cylindrically shaped container 12 that defines a longitudinal axis 14. Further, the container 12 has an open end 16 and a closed end 18. Also, the device 10 includes a center tube 20 that is positioned inside the container 12 and oriented along the axis 14. Mounted on the center tube 20, substantially as shown, is a tapered disc 22.
FIG. 2 shows that the center tube 20 is formed with an axially aligned slot 24, and that it has a lumen 26 that extends the length of the center tube 20 from end 28 to end 30. Further, the center tube 20 is formed with a locating slot 32 that is contiguous with the axially aligned slot 24, and is azimuthally oriented on the center tube 20. Both the axially aligned slot 24 and the locating slot 32 extend from the surface 34 of the center tube 20, and through the center tube 20 to the lumen 26. In a preferred embodiment of the device 10, both the axially aligned slot 24 and the locating slot 32 have respectively corresponding slots (not shown) that are diametrically opposed to the slots 24 and 32.
FIG. 3 shows that the tapered disc 22 is formed with a center hole 36. FIG. 3 also shows that the disc 22 has a pair of diametrically opposed protrusions 38a and 38b that extend into the center hole 36. With this structure, when the tapered disc 22 is engaged with the center tube 20, the protrusion 38a is inserted for positioning in either the axially aligned slot 24 or in the locating slot 32 that is contiguous therewith. Similarly, the protrusion 38b is inserted into the corresponding diametrically opposed slots (not shown).
Referring back to FIG. 1, it is seen that the device 10 includes a gas source 40 that contains a lighter-than-air gas, such as helium. FIG. 1 also shows that the gas source 40 includes a hose 42 that connects it with an adapter 44. Further, FIG. 1 shows that the device 10 also includes a winch 46. The cooperation of the gas source 40 and the winch 46 with other components of the device 10 will be best appreciated with reference to FIG. 4A.
In FIG. 4A, it will be seen that the device 10 includes a fill tube 48 that is coaxially positioned in the lumen 26 of the center tube 20. As shown, the fill tube 48 can be connected in fluid communication with the gas source 40, via the adapter 44. FIG. 4A also shows that a pair of tension wires 52a and 52b extend through the lumen 26 of center tube 20 to interconnect the tapered disc 22 with the winch 46. Further, it will be seen in FIG. 4A that the container 12 defines a chamber 54 that is partially bounded by a base member (bottom) 56 on which the center tube 20 is mounted. It is also indicated in FIG. 4A that the tapered disc 22 can be generally characterized as having a taper angle “α” that will be in a range from zero to about twenty degrees (α=0° to 20°).
Still referring to FIG. 4A, an aerostat 58 for use with the device 10 is shown to include a tail section 60 and a nose ring 62, with a body portion 64 therebetween. As intended for the present invention, the nose ring 62 of aerostat 58 can be engaged with the connector 50 on center tube 20. This engagement accomplishes at least two functions. For one, it fixedly holds the aerostat 58 on the device 10. For another, it connects the aerostat 58 in fluid communication with the gas source 40. As specifically intended for the present invention, with this engagement, the aerostat 58 can be deflated and stored in the chamber 54 of the container 12 (see FIGS. 4A-4B). Also, while so engaged, a deflated aerostat 58 can be inflated for deployment (see FIGS. 5A-5C).
Operation
For an operation of the device 10 of the present invention, various stages of a deflation and storage procedure for the aerostat 58 are sequentially shown in FIGS. 4A through 4D. Referring first to FIG. 4A, it is seen that the aerostat 58 is hung from its tail section 60 by a line 66 and pulley 68. In this condition, the nose ring 62 of the aerostat 58 is attached to the connector 50 of the device 10. Importantly, in this configuration, the tapered disc 22 is in a first axial position wherein the disc 22 is at a distance “d” from the open end 16 of the container 12 (see FIG. 4A). It is also important to note that in this position (FIG. 4A) the protrusions 38a and 38b are respectively seated in locating slots 32 on the center tube 20. Thus, the tapered disc 22 is held stationary, relative to the center tube 20. With the device 10 in this configuration, the aerostat 58 is then lowered by the line 66 and pulley 68.
As the aerostat 58 is being lowered by the line 66, and while the tapered disc 22 is held stationary in its first axial position, the body portion 64 of the aerostat 58 is folded and fed into the chamber 54 of container 12 (see FIG. 4B). This continues until substantially all of body portion 64 of the aerostat 58 has been stored in the chamber 54 (see FIG. 4C). At this point, the tapered disc 22 is rotated to move the protrusions 38a and 38b from the locating slots 32 and into respective axially aligned slots 24. The winch 46 is then activated to pull the tapered disc 22 by the tension wires 52a and 52b until the disc 22 is moved to a second axial position. In the second axial position, the distance “d” is substantially zero (see FIG. 4D). Tail portion 60 of the aerostat 58 can then be folded into the space between the tapered disc 22 and the nose ring 62. In this configuration (shown in FIG. 4D) the device 10 with aerostat 58 can be moved and stored as desired.
The stages of an inflation procedure for the aerostat 58 begins with the configuration shown in FIG. 4D. Subsequent stages are then sequentially shown in FIGS. 5A through 5C. When referring to FIGS. 4D and 5A through 5C, recall that the gas source 40 can be attached to the adapter 44, to thereby establish fluid communication between the gas source 40 and the aerostat 58 (see also FIG. 1). Thus, once the gas source 40 is connected as described, the tapered disc 22 is moved from its second axial position (see FIG. 4D) to a release position (see FIG. 5A). As a practical matter, this movement of the tapered disc into its release position may be very minimal, or even non-existent (i.e. the release position may be essentially the same as the second axial position). In any event, as indicated in FIG. 5A, an inflation of the entire aerostat 58 is started with an inflation of only the tail section 60 of the aerostat 58. This is done while the body portion 64 of the aerostat 58 is still in the chamber 54 of container 12. Specifically, a lighter-than-air gas (preferably helium) is fed from the gas source 40, and through the fill tube 48, into the aerostat 58 for this purpose. As inflation of the aerostat 58 continues (see FIG. 5B), the body portion 64 is drawn from the container 12. Importantly, in order to control the deployment of the body portion 64 from the chamber 54 of container 12, a tension force can be maintained on the body portion 64 by the tapered disc 22. Specifically, this can be done by a manipulation of the winch 46. Eventually, once the entire aerostat 58 has been inflated (see FIG. 5C), the nose ring 62 of the aerostat 58 can be disengaged from the connector 50 of device 10. The aerostat 58 is thus fully deployed.
While the particular Aerostat Inflator as herein shown and disclosed in detail is fully capable of obtaining the objects and providing the advantages herein before stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown other than as described in the appended claims.
Patent Application
20080083848
