Towable inflatable balloon launchpad and operations trailer

Abstract

A trailer that is configured to for use with an inflatable balloon consisting of a flat bed having a topside and an underside, a front, a left side, a right side and a rear; a tongue; a plurality of suspension systems, axles, and wheels; a balloon stabilization mechanism; a gas bottle storage rack; a centralizing gas piping system with a plurality of bottle connection valves and one inflation valve; a balloon deployment winch; three balloon stabilization winches; an electric generator; an electrical distribution panel, an operational equipment payload docking station, an operational equipment cabling system; and a deflated balloon storage container.

Description

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a trailer and, more particularly, to a trailer that is configured to store and transport all of the paraphernalia needed for transport of an inflatable balloon to and from a launch site and to serve as the launchpad and operation center for an inflatable balloon.

The use of inflatable balloons for recreational, scientific, surveillance, advertising, and other purposes is well known in the art. The use of inflatable balloons requires the collection, storage, transport, retrieval, use, and return to storage of many various types and amounts of personnel, materials, and equipment and the provision of a clean, dry, flat, level surface from which to operate. Another significant problem is anchoring the inflatable balloon during the inflation, launch, flight, and recovery phases.

The present invention seeks to address all of these problems by providing a trailer that is configured to provide ample organized space for the collection, storage, transport, retrieval, use, and return to storage of the many various types and amounts of personnel, materials, and equipment needed for use of an inflatable balloon; to provide a clean, dry, flat, level surface from which to operate an inflatable balloon; and to provide a stabilization, launching and anchoring device for the inflatable balloon during the inflation, launch, flight, and recovery phases.

There is thus a need for, and it would be highly advantageous to have, a towable inflatable balloon launchpad and operations trailer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided a trailer consisting of a flat bed having a topside and an underside, a front, a left side, a right side and a rear; a tongue; a plurality of suspension systems, axles, and wheels; a balloon stabilization mechanism; a gas bottle storage rack; a centralizing gas piping system with a plurality of bottle connection valves and one inflation valve; a balloon deployment winch; three balloon stabilization winches; an electric generator; an electrical distribution panel, an operational equipment payload docking station, an operational equipment cabling system; and a deflated balloon storage container.

More particularly, the trailer is configured for use with an inflatable balloon. The trailer has a flat bed with a topside, an underside, a front edge, a rear edge, a left edge, a right edge. A towing tongue is structurally and operatively attached to the front edge of the bed. A plurality of paired suspension mechanisms, each having an inboard and an outboard side, are structurally and operatively attached in a paired bilateral fashion to the underside of the bed with their longitudinal axes along the respective left edge and right edge of the bed. An axle with two ends is structurally and operatively attached to and through each pair of suspension mechanisms in a manner that allows protrusion of each end of the axle from the outboard side of each suspension mechanism and rotation of the axle within each suspension mechanism. A plurality of paired wheels are structurally and operatively attached to the ends of each axle in paired bilateral fashion on the outboard side of each suspension mechanism.

An inflatable balloon stabilization mechanism is structurally and operatively attached to the topside of the bed for the purpose of providing a mechanism for the support and tethering of an inflatable balloon. The inflatable balloon stabilization mechanism is made of a plurality of vertical balloon stabilizing posts and a plurality of horizontal balloon stabilizing bars. Each vertical balloon stabilizing posts has a length of approximately one hundred (100) centimeters and a proximal end and a distal end. Each horizontal balloon stabilizing bar has a proximal end and a distal end and a bottom and a top. The proximal end of each vertical balloon stabilizing post is attached to the topside of the bed. The distal end of each vertical balloon stabilizing post is attached to the either the proximal end or distal end or the bottom of one or more horizontal balloon stabilizing bars positioned above the distal end of each vertical balloon stabilizing post.

The inflatable balloon trailer is also configured with a plurality of paired extendable and retractable support stanchions structurally and operatively attached to the underside of the bed along the left and right edge approximately one-quarter of the distance from the most rear point of each edge to the most front point of each respective left and right edge, for the purpose of controlling the lateral tilt of the bed in order to maintaining said bed in a level position. The trailer is further configured with an extendable and retractable support stanchions structurally and operatively attached to the underside of the bed along the approximate center of the front edge for the purpose of controlling the pitch of the bed in order to maintain the bed in a level position.

The inflatable balloon trailer is further configured with a balloon deployment winch structurally attached to the bed and operatively attached to a balloon deployment winch line having a proximal end and distal, which balloon deployment winch line terminates at its distal end with a balloon attachment mechanism for the purpose of attaching said balloon deployment winch line to an inflatable balloon. The inflatable balloon trailer is further configured with a plurality of lateral balloon stabilization winches, each lateral balloon stabilization winch being structurally attached to the bed along the left and right edge approximately one-quarter of the distance from the most rear point of each edge to the most front point of each edge and operatively attached to a respective lateral balloon stabilization winch line having a proximal end and a distal end, which lateral balloon stabilization winch line terminates at its distal end with a balloon attachment mechanism for the purpose of attaching said balloon stabilization winch line to an inflatable balloon.

The inflatable balloon trailer is further configured with a front balloon stabilization winch structurally attached to the bed along the approximate center of the front edge of the bed and operatively attached to a front balloon stabilization winch line having a proximal end and a distal end, which balloon stabilization winch line terminates at its distal end with a balloon attachment mechanism for the purpose of attaching said lateral balloon stabilization winch line to an inflatable balloon. The balloon deployment winch and the balloon stabilizations winches can be operated with manual cranks with electric winch motors. If electric winch motors are used, then a central winch control panel is operatively attached to each respective balloon deployment winch and respective balloon stabilization winches being electrically operated.

The inflatable balloon trailer is further configured with a plurality of extendable and retractable lateral balloon stabilization winch stanchions in a number equal to the number of lateral balloon stabilization winches structurally attached to the bed along the left and right edge approximately one-quarter of the distance from the most rear point of each edge to the most front point of each edge and operatively attached to said lateral balloon stabilization winch and said lateral balloon stabilization winch line for the purpose of extending the lateral distance from a center point of the bed to the said lateral balloon stabilization winch and lateral balloon stabilization winch line and increasing the effectiveness of the said balloon stabilization winch line. A similar extendable and retractable front balloon stabilization winch stanchion is structurally attached to the approximate center of the front edge of the bed and operatively attached to said front balloon stabilization winch and said front balloon stabilization winch line for the purpose of extending the lateral distance from a front edge of the bed to the respective balloon stabilization winch and the respective balloon stabilization winch line and increasing the effectiveness of the respective balloon stabilization winch line.

The inflatable balloon trailer is further configured with an operational equipment payload docking station for the purpose of providing a storage container and housing for any operational payload equipment to be used during the storage, transportation and operation of the inflatable balloon.

The inflatable balloon trailer is further configured with an electric generator structurally and operatively attached to the bed and operatively attached to an electrical power distribution panel, which is in turn attached to the balloon deployment winch, the lateral balloon stabilization winches and the front balloon stabilization winch, and the operational equipment payload for the purpose of providing electrical power to the lateral balloon deployment winches, the front balloon stabilization winch, and the operational equipment payload.

The inflatable balloon trailer is further configured with an operational equipment payload docking station attached to the topside of said bed for the purpose of providing a storage container and housing for operational payload equipment to be used during the storage, transportation and operation of said inflatable balloon. The inflatable balloon trailer is also configured with an operational equipment payload cabling system which is operatively connected between the operational equipment payload docking station and whatever operational equipment payload may be present on the inflatable balloon for the purpose transmitting electrical signals from whatever operational equipment payload may be present on the inflatable balloon to the operational equipment payload docking station.

The present invention successfully addresses the shortcomings of the presently known configurations by providing a single piece of equipment optimally configured to use an inflatable balloon. The present invention discloses an innovative arrangement of many components optimally arranged to ease and simplify the operation of inflatable balloons.

Use of the present invention is intuitively obvious. The inflatable balloon and all associated equipment and supplies required for the use of the inflatable balloon are collected and docked or stored on the present invention and transported to the launch site. The inflatable balloon is removed from its storage container; spread across and tethered to the balloon stabilization device; connected to the primary and second winches, the centralized gas piping system, and whatever other connections to the operational equipment cabling are required for the particular mission. The balloon is then inflated with gas from the bottles using the centralized gas piping system and single inflation valve. The tethers from the balloon stabilization device to the inflatable balloon are released and the balloon ascends to the height approximately equal to the lengths of line let out by the winches. Recovery, deflation and storage of the inflatable balloon and associated equipment is simply a reverse of this process.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top-front-right oblique view;

FIG. 2 is an underside-front-right oblique view;

FIG. 3 is direct underside view;

FIG. 4 is a left side view;

FIG. 5 is a rear view a;

FIG. 6 is a right view;

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is a trailer that is configured to provide ample organized space for the collection, storage, transport, retrieval, use, and return to storage of the many various types and amounts of personnel, materials, and equipment needed for use of an inflatable balloon; to provide a clean, dry, flat, level surface from which to operate an inflatable balloon; and to provide an anchoring and launching device for the inflatable balloon during the inflation, launch, flight, and recovery phases. The principles and operation of a device according to the present invention may be better understood with reference to the drawings and the accompanying description.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates the top-front-right oblique view of an inflatable balloon trailer device 10 fully configured for operation of an inflatable balloon 20. The inflatable balloon has a deployment cable attachment point 30 (not shown) and a plurality of stabilization cable attachment points 31, 32, and 33 (not shown) approximately evenly distributed about the approximately greatest circumference of the inflatable balloon 20.

The trailer 10 is substantially composed of a bed 110, which has a topside 111, an underside 112 (not shown in FIG. 1), a front edge 113, a rear edge 114, a left edge 115, and a right edge 116. The bed 110 of the trailer 10 shown in this embodiment measures approximately two (2) meters wide by four (4) meters long, but these width and length measurements of the bed 110 may be enlarged or decreased as needed by variations in the size, weight, and amount of balloons and ancillary personnel, materials and equipment needed for use of a particular inflatable balloon.

The front 113 of the inflatable balloon trailer device 10 is configured with a towing tongue 120 for the purpose of attaching the trailer 10 to a towing vehicle.

FIG. 2 illustrates that the trailer 10 is configured to rest upon the ground and roll using a plurality of suspension mechanisms 130 structurally and operatively attached to the underside 112 of the bed 110 approximately halfway along the length of each of the left 115 and right 116 sides, which are in turn structurally and operatively attached to a plurality of axles 131, which are in turn structurally and operatively attached to a plurality of wheels 132. While the present embodiment depicts two suspension systems 130, two axles 131, and four wheels 132, the numbers of these components can be enlarged or diminished to reflect the size and weight of the complement of the trailer 10.

FIG. 2 also illustrates that the underside 112 of the trailer 10 is further configured with two deployable and retractable trailer support stanchions 133 attached to the underside 112 of the trailer 10 near the rear of the left 115 and right 116 sides of the bed 10 and one deployable and retractable trailer support stanchion 134 attached to the underside 112 of the trailer 10 near the approximate center of the front 113 of the bed 10, for the purpose of stabilizing the pitch and lateral tilt of the trailer 10 during use.

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 illustrate that the underside 112 of the trailer 10 is further configured with a gas bottle rack 140 for the purpose of receiving and storing a plurality of bottles of gas 145 used to inflate an inflatable balloon. The size of the gas bottle rack 140 may be adjusted relative to the size and number of gas bottles 145 needed for a particular operation. Each gas bottle 145 has a gas bottle valve 146 for the purpose of controlling the release of gas 147 (not shown) contained in the gas bottle 145. The underside 112 of the trailer 10 is further configured with a gas piping system 150 composed of one central balloon inflation valve 151 with an operatively attached central balloon inflation gauge 152 (not shown) located beneath a central inflation valve hole 153 (not shown) cut approximately in the center of the front third of the bed 110 (the location of the central balloon inflation valve 151 and central inflation valve hole 153 may be moved and adjusted depending on the dictates of configuring the other operative elements of the trailer). The central balloon inflation valve 151 is operatively attached to a series of gas pipes 154. Each gas pipe is directed to and attached to one of a plurality of distal gas bottle fittings 155 for the purpose of collecting gas 147 from the gas bottle valves 146 of each gas bottle 145 and delivering the gas 147 to the central balloon inflation valve 151. The pressure of the gas 147 is monitored by the central balloon inflation gauge 152.

Referring again to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, the topside 111 of the bed 110 is configured with a balloon stabilization mechanism 160 located over the approximate center of the entire width of the bed 110 for the purpose of providing a structure upon which to inflate and to which to tether the inflatable balloon 20. The balloon stabilization mechanism 160 is composed of a plurality of vertical balloon stabilizing posts 161 and a plurality of horizontal balloon stabilizing bars 162. Each vertical balloon stabilizing posts 161 has a length of approximately one hundred (100) centimeters and a proximal end 163 and a distal end 164. Each horizontal balloon stabilizing bar 162 has a proximal end 165 and a distal end 166 and a bottom 167 and a top 168. The proximal end 163 of each vertical balloon stabilizing post 161 is attached to the topside 111 of the bed 110. The distal end 164 of each vertical balloon stabilizing post 161 is attached to the either the proximal end 165 or distal end 166 or the bottom 167 of one or more horizontal balloon stabilizing bars 162 positioned above the distal end 164 of each vertical balloon stabilizing post 161. While the present embodiment depicts four vertical balloon stabilizing posts 161 attaching to one horizontal balloon stabilizing bar 162, which has been bent and whose proximal end 165 and distal end 166 have been joined to make a circular horizontal stabilizing bar 162, other configurations could include a larger or small number of vertical balloon stabilizing posts 161 attached to a plurality of horizontal balloon stabilizing bars 162 forming a balloon stabilization mechanism 160 in the shape of pair parallel horizontal balloon stabilization bars 162, a triangle of three such horizontal balloon stabilization bars 162, a square or rectangle of four such horizontal balloon stabilization bars 162 or a respective geometric shape of a larger plurality of parts.

FIG. 4 also illustrates that the topside 111 of the bed 110 is further configured with a deployment winch line guide 170 structurally and operatively attached to the bed 110 beneath the approximate center of the balloon stabilization mechanism 160.

FIG. 4 further illustrates that the topside 111 of the bed 110 is further configured with a balloon deployment winch 220 located in the corner formed by the intersection of the front 113 and the left hand side 115 of the bed 110 with its winding axis parallel to the front edge of the bed.

FIGS. 4,5 and 6 also illustrate that the topside 111 of the bed 110 is further configured with a plurality of extendable and retractable balloon stabilization winch stanchions 211, 212, 213 located respectively in the center of the front edge 113 of the bed 110 and near the rear of the left 115 and right 116 sides of the bed 110, for the purpose of providing attachment points to the inflatable balloon 20 at distances substantially in excess of the perimeter of the bed 110. Each balloon stabilization winch stanchion 211, 212, 213 has a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end of each balloon stabilization winch stanchion 211, 212, 213 is attached to the bed 110.

Each balloon stabilization winch stanchion 211, 212, 213 is operatively connected at its distal end to a corresponding plurality of balloon stabilization winches 221, 222 and 223. While the present embodiment depicts three balloon stabilization winches 221, 222 and 223 located respectively in the center of the front edge 113 of the bed 110 and near the rear of the left 115 and right 116 sides of the bed 110, other embodiments of the present invention could utilize a larger or small number of stabilization winches located at other positions.

The balloon deployment winch 220 and the balloon stabilization winches 221, 222 and 223 are operated manually by cranks 230, 231, 232, and 233, which are operatively attached to their respective winches, or electrically using electric winch motors 240, 241, 242 and 243, which are also operatively attached to their respective winches. The electric winch motors 240, 241, 242 and 243 may be controlled directly at the respective winches using electric winch motor switches 250, 251, 252, and 253, operatively connected to the respective winch motors. The electric winch motors 240, 241, 242 and 243 may also be remotely controlled from a central winch remote control 260 (not shown) operatively connected to the electric winch motors 240, 241, 242 and 243.

The balloon deployment winch 220 is operatively connected to a balloon deployment winch line 270 (not shown), which has a proximal end 271 and a distal end 272. The proximal end 271 of the balloon deployment winch line 270 is attached to the balloon deployment winch 220. The distal end 272 of the balloon deployment winch line 270 travels from the balloon deployment winch 220 across the surface of the bed 110 to and through the deployment winch line guide 170 and up to the inflatable balloon 20 where it attaches to the deployment cable attachment point 30 of the inflatable balloon 20.

Similarly, the balloon stabilization winches 221, 222 and 223 are operatively connected to balloon stabilization winch lines (not shown) with proximal and distal ends and the distal ends terminate in attachment devices for the purpose of attaching to connection points on an inflatable balloon.

FIG. 6 further illustrates that the topside 111 of the bed 110 is further configured with a gasoline can storage rack 290 in the corner formed by the intersection of the front 113 and the right hand side 116 of the bed 110 with its long axis parallel to the front edge of the bed 110. A gasoline can 295 is depicted in the gasoline can storage rack 290.

FIG. 6 also illustrates that the topside 111 of the bed 110 is further configured with an electric generator 300 located in the area of the front 113 and the right hand side 116 of the bed 110 to the rear of the gasoline can storage rack 290 with its long axis parallel to the front edge of the bed 110. The topside 111 of the bed 110 is further configured with an electrical power distribution panel 350 located in the area of the front 113 and the right hand side 116 of the bed 110 to the rear of the electric generator 300, for the purpose of distributing electrical power. The electric generator 300 is operatively connected to the electrical power distribution panel 350, for the purpose of providing electrical power, and the electrical power distribution panel 350 is operatively connected to the electric winch motors 240, 241, 242 and 243.

The topside 111 of the bed 110 is further configured with an operational equipment payload docking station 400 located on the right edge 116 of the bed, for the purpose of providing a storage container and housing for operational payload equipment to be used during the storage, transportation and operation of the inflatable balloon.

The topside 111 of the bed 110 is further configured with an operational equipment payload cabling system 450 (not shown) which is operatively connected between the operational equipment payload docking station 400 and whatever operational equipment payload may be present on the inflatable balloon 20 for the purpose transmitting electrical signals 455 (not shown) from whatever operational equipment payload may be present on the inflatable balloon 20 to the operational equipment payload docking station 400.

FIG. 6 also illustrates that the topside 111 of the bed 110 is further configured with an inflatable balloon storage container 500 located in the approximate center of the rear 114 edge of the bed 110, for the purpose of providing a storage place in which to put a deflated inflatable balloon during transport.

While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, it will be appreciated that many variations, modifications and other applications of the invention may be made and all of the configurations described herein are only described as examples and are expressly without the purpose or effect of limiting of the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A trailer configured for use with an inflatable balloon, said trailer comprising: a. a flat bed with a topside, an underside, a front edge, a rear edge, a left edge, and a right edge; b. a towing tongue structurally and operatively attached to the front edge of the bed; c. a plurality of paired suspension mechanisms, each having an inboard and an outboard side, structurally and operatively attached in a paired bilateral fashion to the underside of the bed with the longitudinal axes of said suspension mechanisms aligned along the respective left edge and right edge of the bed; d. an axle with two ends structurally and operatively attached to and through each pair of said suspension mechanisms in a manner that allows protrusion of each end of said axle from said outboard side of each said suspension mechanism and rotation of said axle within each said suspension mechanism; e. a plurality of paired wheels structurally and operatively attached to said ends of each said axle in paired bilateral fashion on said outboard side of each said suspension mechanism; and. f. an inflatable balloon stabilization mechanism structurally and operatively attached to said topside of said bed for the purpose of providing a mechanism for the support and tethering of an inflatable balloon, said inflatable balloon stabilization mechanism further comprising: i. a plurality of vertical balloon stabilizing posts and a plurality of horizontal balloon stabilizing bars; ii. each said vertical balloon stabilizing posts having a length of approximately one hundred (100) centimeters and a proximal end and a distal end; iii. each said horizontal balloon stabilizing bar having a proximal end and a distal end and a bottom and a top; iv. said proximal end of each said vertical balloon stabilizing post being attached to said topside of said bed; v. said distal end of each said vertical balloon stabilizing post being attached to either said proximal end or said distal end or said bottom of one or more horizontal balloon stabilizing bars positioned above said distal end of each said vertical balloon stabilizing post.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of paired extendable and retractable support stanchions structurally and operatively attached to said underside of said bed along said left edge and said right edge approximately one-quarter of the distance from the most rear point of each said edge to the most front point of each respective said left and right edge, for the purpose of controlling the lateral tilt of said bed in order to maintain said bed in a level position.

3. The device of claim 1 further comprising an extendable and retractable support stanchions structurally and operatively attached to said underside of said bed along the approximate center of said front edge for the purpose of controlling the pitch of said bed in order to maintaining said bed in a level position.

4. The device of claim 1 further comprising a balloon deployment winch structurally attached to said bed and operatively attached to a balloon deployment winch line having a proximal end and distal, which said balloon deployment winch line terminates at its said distal end with a balloon attachment mechanism for the purpose of attaching said balloon deployment winch line to an inflatable balloon.

5. The device of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of lateral balloon stabilization winches each said lateral balloon stabilization winch being structurally attached to said bed along the said left and said right edge approximately one-quarter of the distance from the most rear point of each said left and right edge to the most front point of each said left and right edge and operatively attached to a respective lateral balloon stabilization winch line having a proximal end and a distal end, which lateral said balloon stabilization winch line terminates at its said distal end with a balloon attachment mechanism for the purpose of attaching said balloon stabilization winch line to an inflatable balloon.

6. The device of claim 1 further comprising a front balloon stabilization winch structurally attached to said bed along the approximate center of said front edge of said bed and operatively attached to a front balloon stabilization winch line having a proximal end and a distal end, which sadi balloon stabilization winch line terminates at its said distal end with a balloon attachment mechanism for the purpose of attaching said lateral balloon stabilization winch line to an inflatable balloon.

7. The device of claims 3, 4 and 5 further comprising said respective balloon deployment winch and respective balloon stabilization winches being manually operated.

8. The device of claims 3, 4 and 5 further comprising said respective balloon deployment winch and respective balloon stabilization winches being electrically operated.

9. The device of claim 8 further comprising a central winch control panel operatively attached to each respective balloon deployment winch and respective balloon stabilization winches being electrically operated.

10. The device of claim 5 further comprising a plurality of extendable and retractable lateral balloon stabilization winch stanchions in a number equal to the number of said lateral balloon stabilization winches structurally attached to said bed along said left and right edge approximately one-quarter of the distance from the most rear point of each said left edge and right edge to the most front point of each said edge and operatively attached to said lateral balloon stabilization winch with said lateral balloon stabilization winch line further attached for the purpose of extending the lateral distance from a center point of said bed to said lateral balloon stabilization winch with said lateral balloon stabilization winch line further attached and increasing the effectiveness of the said balloon stabilization winch line.

11. The device of claim 6 further comprising an extendable and retractable front balloon stabilization winch stanchion structurally attached to the approximate center of said front edge of said bed and operatively attached to said front balloon stabilization winch with said front balloon stabilization winch line further attached for the purpose of extending the lateral distance from said front edge of said bed to said respective balloon stabilization winch with said respective balloon stabilization winch line further attached and increasing the effectiveness of said respective balloon stabilization winch line.

12. The device of claim 1 further comprising an operational equipment payload docking station attached to said bed for the purpose of providing a storage container and housing for any operational payload equipment to be used during the storage, transportation and operation of an inflatable balloon.

13. The device of claim 1 further comprising an electric generator structurally and operatively attached to said bed and operatively attached to an electrical power distribution panel, which is in turn attached to said balloon deployment winch, said lateral balloon stabilization winches and said front balloon stabilization winch, and said operational equipment payload for the purpose of providing electrical power to said lateral balloon deployment winches, said front balloon stabilization winch, and said operational equipment payload.

14. The device of claim 1 further comprising an operational equipment payload docking station attached to the topside of said bed for the purpose of providing a storage container and housing for any operational payload equipment to be used during the storage, transportation and operation of an inflatable balloon.

15. The device of claim 14 further comprising an operational equipment payload cabling system which is operatively connected between said operational equipment payload docking station and whatever operational equipment payload may be present on an inflatable balloon for the purpose transmitting electrical signals from whatever operational equipment payload may be present on an inflatable balloon to said operational equipment payload docking station.