EP1858755A1

EP1858755A1 - Captive balloon mobile in a tower

Info

Publication number: EP1858755A1
Application number: EP06726037A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Matthieu Gobbi; Jérôme Giacomoni
Original assignee: Aerogroupe SARL
Current assignee: Aerogroupe SARL
Priority date: 2005-03-08
Filing date: 2006-03-07
Publication date: 2007-11-28
Also published as: FR2882986B1; KR20080004457A; BRPI0609162A2; US20080067285A1; WO2006095082A1; CA2600963A1; US20080156929A1; JP2008532839A; MX2007011030A; RU2007136951A; FR2882986A1

Abstract

The invention concerns an assembly comprising a flying balloon (100) and a tower (200). The balloon is captive and mobile in the tower. The captive balloon can ascend and descend along the tower with a limited wind intake or counterbalanced by the retention forces exerted by the tower, and can be flown up regardless of weather conditions without requiring a considerable and cumbersome stabilizing device. Such a balloon may be used as advertising sign and/or as an attraction.

Description

CAPTIFMOBILE BALL IN A TOWER

The present invention relates to a captive and mobile balloon in a tower, and to a method of raising a balloon in a tower. Such a balloon can be used as an advertising sign and / or as an attraction. Indeed, the balloon may include an envelope marked with a commercial sign and / or may include seats or a nacelle to receive passengers to train in the tower.

Document FR-A-2 758 789 describes a captive balloon and a method for stabilizing such a balloon. A tethered balloon comprises an inflatable buoyancy envelope connected to a load frame via suspension lines and means for returning the balloon to the ground.

The lift envelope is usually inflated with a gas lighter than air that allows the natural rise of the balloon. The means for returning the balloon to the ground may include one or more cables fixed to the load frame and which wind on the ground on a winch system for controlling the raising and lowering of the captive balloon. The commercial exploitation of captive balloons depends heavily on meteorological parameters, in particular the wind factor; gusts of wind too high cause oscillations of the balloon and make his climb dangerous, even when empty.

The document FR-A-2,758,789 mentioned above proposes a system for stabilizing the balloon enabling the balloon to ascend, even in difficult meteorological conditions. The system described in this document comprises means for lateral stabilization of the balloon in flight comprising at least one cable attached to the balloon and connected to the ground in order to exert on the balloon a braking force opposite to a lateral displacement caused by the wind.

The system described in this document is however complex and cumbersome. Indeed, it is stated that for a 22 m diameter balloon, whose south pole is located about 15 m from the ground, three cables are necessary to stabilize the balloon with a distance of 40 m between each winch means of stabilization and hoisting means of return. The balloon with its stabilization system occupies an area of about 5,000 m ² .

There is therefore a need for a balloon that can be climbed independently of the weather without requiring a large and bulky stabilizer.

For this purpose, the invention proposes to dispose a balloon in a tower. The ball is thus held and guided by the structure of the tower; the cable stabilization device can therefore be deleted. The invention relates more particularly to an assembly comprising an ascending balloon and a tower, the balloon being captive and mobile in the tower.

According to one embodiment, the tower may be of closed perimeter; the captive balloon in the tower can therefore go up and down along the tower without taking wind. According to one embodiment, the tower may include guide rails to accommodate carts integral with the balloon to drive the balloon in motion in the tower.

According to the embodiments, the assembly according to the invention comprises one or more of the following characteristics:

the tower comprises a metal structure comprising at least three vertical columns;

the tower is cylindrical with a circular or polygonal base;

- the tower has a closed perimeter and / or a closed top;

- the tower has translucent panels forming walls;

the balloon has a spherical or substantially oval shape; the ratio of the height of the balloon over its width is between 1.2 and 4;

the balloon has a diameter at the equator of between 8 m and 18 m;

the overpressure at the south pole of the balloon is less than or equal to 50 Pa;

- the tower has a height between 30 m and 80 m;

the inside diameter of the tower is substantially equal to the diameter of the equator of the balloon;

the balloon has reinforcements on the equator;

the balloon has rolling elements arranged on the equator;

- The tower has rolling elements on its inner wall, which can be placed in each corner of a polygonal tower; - The rolling elements have an axis of rotation extending in a direction between 0 ° and 30 ° relative to the horizontal;

at least three carriages secured to the balloon;

the balloon is equipped with a drive ring on which the carriages are fixed; the drive ring may be located substantially at the equator of the balloon or in the vicinity of one of the tropics;

- The drive ring has an outer ring to which the carriages are attached and an inner ring fixed to the balloon, the outer and inner rings being movable relative to each other; at least three of the vertical posts of the tower comprise guide rails and drive cables, the carriages of the crown being hooked to said cables;

a motor associated with each drive cable for controlling the movement of the cable in one direction or the other; a control unit is adapted to synchronize the drive motors of the cables;

- that the carriages of the ring have a stop mechanism adapted to be housed between the guide rail and the drive ring when a drive cable is broken;

- The driving ring comprises at least one electrical collector connecting the outer ring to the inner ring, at least one carriage of the balloon being adapted to conduct a power supply cable running through one of the poles of the tower;

- lighting arranged inside the balloon;

at least one seat hooked to the balloon; means for returning the balloon to the ground;

- Traction means of a balloon inflated with air.

The invention also relates to a method of raising a captive balloon in a closed perimeter tower, comprising the steps of:

unwinding means for returning the balloon to the ground; - activate braking means when the ball has traveled more than two thirds of the height of the tower.

According to one embodiment, the return means of the balloon on the ground can be unwound freely and / or the ascent of the balloon can be stopped by abutment against the closed top of the tower. The invention also relates to a method of raising a captive balloon in a tower comprising at least three posts provided with guide rails and drive cable, the balloon comprising at least three carriages hooked to the drive cables, the method comprising the steps of:

actuating at least one drive motor of a cable to raise the balloon in the tower;

- control the drive motor in the opposite direction to return the balloon to the ground.

The features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description given by way of illustrative and nonlimiting example, and with reference to the figures which represent: - Figure 1, a diagram of a tethered balloon in a tower according to a first embodiment of the invention;

- Figure 2, a diagram of a captive balloon in a tower, seen from above, according to a second embodiment of the invention; - Figure 3, a diagram of a captive balloon in a tower, seen from above, according to a third embodiment of the invention;

- Figure 4, a diagram of a captive balloon in a tower according to a fourth embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 5a and 5b, a diagram of a tethered balloon in a tower according to a fifth embodiment of the invention;

- Figure 6, a top view of the drive ring of the balloon of Figures 5a and 5b;

- Figure 7, a detailed view of the ball drive system of Figures 5a and 5b.

- Figure 8, a diagram of a tethered balloon in a tower according to a sixth embodiment of one invention.

Figure 1 describes an assembly according to the invention, comprising a balloon and a tower. The terms "up", "down", "horizontal" and "vertical" are used in the description which follows with reference to the figures and are not limiting to the implementation of the invention. The balloon is defined with an equator consisting of a line forming the largest circle perpendicular to its axis of ascension, and with a south pole and a north pole consisting respectively of the point of the balloon closest to the ground and the point of the balloon the farthest from the ground. The North Pole of the ball can also be designated as the top of the balloon. The balloon is said to be ascending in that it is intended to rise in the air inside the tower; this ascension can be ensured by an inflated balloon with a gas lighter than air or by a drive system of a balloon inflated with air.

The tower is defined with a vertical structure comprising at least three posts, a top and a base placed on the ground. The tower may further comprise walls connecting the poles of the structure to form a closed perimeter; the tower may also have braces connecting the vertical posts, such as cross-helices or cross-ties. According to the invention, a balloon 100 is placed captive in a tower 200. The balloon 100 may comprise an envelope inflated with a gas lighter than air, such as hot air and / or a gas such as air. helium; the balloon can also be driven upward by cables of a drive system. The balloon can thus rise in the air and move in the height of the tower, possibly carrying one or passengers placed in one or more seats 300 hooked to the ball.

According to some embodiments, the balloon is placed in a closed perimeter tower

(Figures 1 to 4). This embodiment is interesting when the balloon 100 is inflated with a gas lighter than air and rises of itself without drive system; the walls 210 of the tower then protect the balloon from the weather and in particular against the wind to allow an ascent of the balloon whatever the weather conditions.

FIG. 1 shows means for returning the balloon to the ground, comprising, for example, a return cable 50, one end of which is fixed to the balloon and the other end of which is connected to a winch 51 for winding the cable. These return means are necessary when the balloon is inflated with a gas lighter than air and rises without a drive system. Returning means for controlling the rise and controlling the descent of a captive balloon are known per se and in particular documents FR-A-2 743 049 and FR-A-2 758 789. In FIG. 200 is substantially circular cylindrical base and the balloon

100 substantially spherical. We will see with reference to Figures 2 and 3 that these forms are not limiting. The tower 200 may comprise a top 220 closed in order to provide security in the event of breakage or unwinding of the return cable 50 of the inflated balloon with a gas lighter than air. The closed top 220 may also provide additional protection for the balloon 100 against the weather, particularly against the rain.

The balloon may include seats 300 for embarking passengers to constitute an attraction. Figure 1 does not represent the seats to scale with respect to the volume of the balloon. The number of seats depends mainly on the volume of the ball that determines its climbing power. We can provide from 2 to 20 seats depending on the size of the ball. For exemple :

- from 2 to 4 passengers for a balloon 9 m in diameter, approximately 400 m ³ ;

- from 4 to 6 passengers for a balloon of 10 m in diameter, ie approximately 600 m ³ ;

- from 10 to 15 passengers for a balloon 14 m in diameter, ie about 1500 m ³ ;

- from 20 to 30 passengers for a balloon 18 m in diameter, or about 3,000 m ³ . The seats can be suspended from the load circle 120 which connects the lines of the balloon to the return cable. The seats will be arranged preferentially outward so as to allow passengers to observe the surroundings. The seats can be divided circular around the return cable, or replaced by a nacelle with a central opening allowing the return cable to pass, and in which the passengers can move freely.

It should be noted that the maximum number of passengers is much greater than the number of passengers that can take place in a balloon of the prior art. Indeed, for the balloons of the prior art, thus evolving in the open air, it is necessary to keep some of the lift of the balloon to stretch the return cable to withstand the maximum wind that the balloon can meet during his ascent. Even when the weather conditions are extremely mild, caution is required to guard against the possibility of even slight gusts of wind. On the other hand for the balloons according to the invention, guided and protected in a tower, the tension in the return cable can be minimal because the balloon does not need lateral wind resistance; the lift of the balloon can thus be entirely used for the carriage of passengers.

By way of example, the comparative performance of two 400 m ³ balloons, one according to the prior art and the other according to the invention, are reported in the table below which indicates the maximum number of passengers:

The tower can have a height between 30 m and 80 m to allow a good panoramic view when passengers are raised with the balloon and to allow to see the balloon raised by far when the envelope of the balloon includes a sign advertising. The interface between the balloon and the inner walls of the tower is optimized. In particular, the inner diameter of the tower is substantially equal to the diameter of the equator of the balloon, which may be between 8 m and 18 m approximately. The diameter of the balloon is chosen small enough to limit the bulk of the assembly and allow easy installation in busy places, such as shopping centers for example, and large enough to allow an ascent of the balloon with passengers the case applicable.

The pressure inside the balloon can be optimized to limit the effects of shocks against the walls of the tower. Indeed, captive outdoor balloons, such as those described in the aforementioned prior art documents, are usually pressurized to avoid to deform under the action of the wind, so as to maintain a good coefficient of penetration into the air and limit the strain force due to wind.

The captive flasks of the anterior part conventionally have an overpressure relative to the ambient air of 100 to 300 Pa at the south pole. This overpressure is increased by the thrust of the gas column upwards at the top, that is to say from 100 to 200 Pa at the top. The overpressure at the equator is then 200 to 400 Pa.

The balloon according to the invention does not. no need to present overpressure in its lower part. We can therefore maintain a zero overpressure at the south pole, as is the case for free gas balloons. For example, an overpressure at the south pole of less than 50 Pa will be maintained. The overpressure prevailing inside the envelope at its equator will then be reduced relative to the captive balloons of the prior art, at around 50 to 100.degree. Pa. Gold, a lower pressure inside the balloon allows to distribute the effect of a shock against the walls of the tower on a larger surface. By allowing this effort to be used on a larger canvas surface, the effects are limited, especially the risk of tearing. On the other hand, the surface of the balloon subjected to friction is greater and it is necessary to protect it effectively.

FIG. 1 thus shows reinforcements 110 on the balloon 100, preferably arranged close to the equator. These reinforcements 110 are intended to come into contact with the inner walls of the tower 200 and protect the balloon envelope against wear or addictions due to friction of the ball against the walls 210 of the tower. The reinforcements 110 may consist of an extra thickness of the fabric constituting the envelope or an extra thickness constituted by another material more slippery and more resistant than the fabric of the envelope, for example nylon or polyester.

Figures 2 and 3 show another embodiment of the invention in which the base of the tower has a six-sided polygonal shape. The balloon is seen from above, it may have a spherical shape as in Figure 1 or oval as in Figure 3. The base of the tower 200 may have a polygonal shape other than a hexagon, for example a polygon of four to eight sides.

A tower whose base is of polygonal shape can be easily mounted from a metal structure 250. Translucent panels 260 can be used to complete the metal structure and close the perimeter of the tower to protect the balloon without hindering the view from seats attached to the balloon or prevent the sight of the balloon from outside the tower. Translucent panels can be Plexiglas, polycarbonate or glass. The translucent panels form at least the top of the walls of the tower, but can also form all of the walls. The metal structure of the tower can be of the freestanding type, founded or maintained by guying. We prefer a freestanding structure, compact and easy to assemble and disassemble, when the tower must be mounted in busy places such as shopping centers or urban places. Grounded or braced structures are however preferable when the tower is mounted with a potentially high wind load.

Figures 2 and 3 show rolling elements 130, 230 disposed on the balloon 100 or on the tower 200. These rolling elements 130, 230 of the balloon and the tower contribute to guiding the balloon along the tower.

According to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the rolling elements 130 are disposed on the balloon 100, preferably close to the equator. The equatorial zone of the balloon is stiffened by the thrust of the gas inflating the balloon. Rollers 130 may be fixed on this zone, for example on the material constituting the reinforcements 110 of the balloon to accompany the vertical movement of the balloon along the tower and reduce the friction of the balloon cloth on the inner walls of the tower. The number of rollers and their spacing depend on the diameter of the balloon and the shape of the tower. In the case of a cylindrical tower, as in Figure 1, four to ten wheels can be distributed equidistantly on the equator of the balloon. In the case of a polygonal tower, as in Figure 2, one can provide at least one wheel facing each side of the tower or a wheel facing each corner of the tower. As illustrated in Figure 2, the axis of rotation of each wheel 130 disposed on the balloon 100 extends in a direction tangent to the balloon in the plane of the equatorial circle.

According to the embodiment of Figure 3, the rolling elements 230 are disposed on the inner wall of the tower 200. The rolling elements of the tower 200 may be rollers 230 disposed along some or each edge of the tower, on the posts 250 constituting the metal structure. The spacing between two consecutive rollers along the same end of the tower depends on the height of the balloon: in this case the ball comes into contact with the fixed rollers as it rises in the tower. It should be as often as possible in contact with rollers. We can for example arrange these rollers on the edges of the tower, at the same height, with a vertical spacing equal to half the height of the balloon. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the axis of rotation of the rollers 230 disposed on the tower

200 extends in a substantially horizontal direction, that is to say perpendicular to the axis of the tower.

According to one embodiment, the rolling elements of the tower 230 may have an axis of rotation slightly inclined relative to the horizontal, for example up to 30 °. Such inclination of the rollers 230 induces pivoting of the balloon as it slides on the roll and makes it possible to turn the balloon uphill and downhill. Rotation of the balloon

100 on itself when traveling in the 200 tower can be appreciable when the balloon has seats so that the passengers can admire a panoramic view and to provide more exciting sensations to the passengers.

Similarly, in the embodiment where the rolling elements are integral with the balloon, they may have an inclination which drives the balloon in rotation by pressing against the walls of the tower.

Alternatively, the balloon can freely mount without rotary movement to the top of the tower, then be rotated when it is in the top position. This rotary movement is no longer passive as described above, but performed by a drive system, for example at least one motor actuating rollers or rollers oriented along a vertical axis of rotation, and not inclined as previously.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the invention in which the balloon 100 has the shape of a drop of water or of overturned egg. The tower 200 of Figure 4 may have a cylindrical shape of circular or polygonal base. Such a balloon shape 100 is not usual for a tethered balloon, but becomes possible within the scope of the present invention because the external mechanical stresses are reduced.

The balloon 100 thus has a height h greater than its width defined by twice its radius R. The width of the balloon is always determined by the diameter equator. The width of the balloon is such that the equatorial zone of the balloon substantially fills the cross section of the tower 200. The height of the balloon can reach four times its width; the ratio of the height to the width can be between 1.2 and 4.

For a given volume, this elongated shape has a smaller diameter than the spherical shape retained for the balloons of the prior art. It therefore makes it possible to accommodate a balloon of a given volume in a tower of smaller diameter, which offers an advantage in terms of size and cost. For example, a spherical ball of 600 m ³ has a diameter of about 10 m. It lodges in a tower about 10 m in diameter and occupies a height equal to its diameter increased by the distance from the south pole to the load circle, typically 15 m. An elongate balloon of the same volume is obtained with an ellipsoid with a diameter of 8.30 m and a height of 16.60 m. The elongated balloon therefore reduces the diameter of the tower by keeping a capacity (passenger number and useful height of flight) substantially equivalent to that of a spherical balloon of the same volume. Thus, for a given tower, the use of an elongated balloon can increase the passenger carrying capacity, and therefore a better profitability.

In another embodiment, the balloon is placed in a tower with a drive system for raising an inflated balloon with air (FIGS. 5-8). The tower has at least three vertical posts having guide rails adapted to accommodate respectively three carriages integral with the balloon; the tower guides and holds the balloon as it ascends.

FIGS. 5a and 5b show a tower-balloon assembly according to a fifth embodiment of the invention, respectively with the ground balloon and the raised balloon. In FIGS. 5a and 5b, only two vertical posts are illustrated, but the tower 200 comprises at least three vertical posts 25 which constitute three points for guiding and holding the balloon. The vertical poles may be interconnected by braces, such as cross-helices or crossed crosspieces and / or translucent panels. The vertical poles and the braces constitute the structure of the tower, this structure can be metallic.

According to this fifth embodiment, at least three of the vertical posts of the tower 250 comprise guide rails in which are placed drive cables 400, for example Bowden type cables used for elevators. Each cable 400 can extend from a winch 420 located at the base of the tower to a return pulley 410 located at the top of the tower and has a return run from the pulley 410 to the winch 420. The winch can be of the type used for elevator installations; it can be associated with a control unit to control the direction of rotation of the cable 400 and regulate its speed; the control unit also controls the synchronization of the movement of the three carriages so that the ball goes up straight in the tower, that is to say while keeping its horizontal equator, to prevent the balloon from touching the posts and that the passengers do not bend to one side or the other.

FIGS. 5a and 5b also show the balloon 100 captured in the tower 200. It can be seen in FIG. 5b that the balloon 100 does not comprise a return cable as in FIG. Indeed, the balloon 100 of the fifth embodiment is driven by the drive cables 400 and slides along the vertical posts. For this purpose, the balloon 100 may have a drive ring 140 which comprises at least three carriages 150 intended to be respectively attached to each of the drive cables 400 to slide in the guide rails of the posts 250.

The drive crown can be located substantially at the equator of the balloon, but it can also be shifted to the North Tropic or South Tropic. From the point of view of training, this solution is almost as advantageous as training at the equator; the couple of efforts caused by the wind remains weak, even if it is not zero as for an attachment to the equator. A fixation in the vicinity of the tropics allows to leave free the equatorial zone, for example in case of backlighting or for an advertising message. The term "tropics" means the line parallel to the equator, for which a radius forms an angle of 30 ° with the equatorial plane.

Figure 6 shows a top view of the balloon drive ring according to the fifth embodiment. The ring 140 has an outer ring 141 on which are fixed the carriages 150 and an inner ring 142 attached to the balloon 100. The outer ring 141 is fixed in rotation relative to the tower 200 since the carriages 150 are housed in the guide rails 250. In addition, the inner ring 142 is fixed in rotation relative to the balloon but may be rotatable relative to the tower 200. The inner ring 142 may have internal radial support beams 144. These support beams 144 are inside the balloon; they guarantee the constancy of the spacing between the carriages 150 and ensures the rigidity of the balloon 100 at the equator when the ring surrounds the equator of the balloon; they can also serve as a support for lighting elements inside the balloon. The outer and inner rings are movable relative to each other, i.e. they can slide in horizontal rotation relative to each other. It is thus possible to provide a mechanism for training the balloon which makes the balloon turn on itself during its ascent or descent.

Fig. 7 shows a detail view of the balloon drive system according to the fifth embodiment. Figure 7 shows a portion of a column 250 of the tower and a portion of the envelope of the balloon 100 captive in the tower. FIG. 7 also shows a carriage 150 housed in guide rails of the post 250 and hooked to a drive cable 400. The cable 400 has two strands of cable on either side of the pulley returns 410; a first strand of cable on which is hung the carriage defining a drive path and a second cable strand defining a return path to the winding winch of the cable 420. Each winch can be associated with a motor to control the movement cable in one direction or the other. One can for example have three motors synchronized by an electronic unit to control the movement of three cables to drive three carriages of the ball along three poles of the tower. Of course, you can have more than three trolleys and more than three engines when the tower has more than three vertical posts. One can also have a single motor controlling the movement of three cables.

Figure 7 also shows a side sectional view of the drive ring 140 of the balloon. According to the illustrated example, the outer ring 141, fixed in rotation with respect to the tower, has a triangle structure with a side secured to the carriage 150 and an opposite vertex provided with a ball joint on which a pulley is articulated. drive 143 of the inner ring 142. The pulley 143 of articulation of the rings can be connected to a low power engine 146 which rotates the pulley 143 on the ball of the fixed ring 141, which causes the relative displacement of the outer crowns and inner and rotating the balloon on itself. This motor 146 can be powered by electrical collectors 145 sliding in a hanger between the two inner and outer rings. An electrically conductive path may be provided from a power supply cable driven by the carriage 150 and traversing the pole 250 of the tower to the collector 145 via the structure of the outer ring 141. This power supply cable can be coaxial with the drive cable or be a specific cable running along the drive cable.

In the case of a balloon carrying ascending passengers, the use of several synchronized motors to control the movement of several carriages drive cables provides redundancy in case of failure or breakage of a cable to improve passenger safety. If a cable breaks, the carriage attached to this cable will slide along the post by gravity, which will tip the balloon to the post at the broken cable. The envelope of the balloon will come up against the pole of the tower which guides and maintains the captive balloon; the ball will not tilt completely. This tilting of the balloon, even without danger for safety, can however frighten the passengers of the balloon. It is therefore possible to provide, on each carriage 150 of the balloon, a stop mechanism which compensates for this rocker by maintaining a certain distance between the guide rail and the drive ring when a drive cable is broken. For example, it is possible to provide a stop that is shaped to fit between the carriage and the outer ring 141 when the carriage slides downwards faster than the crown. It is also possible to provide on the carriage sets of joints such that the carriage is deformed when the tension of the cable is zero (broken cable) to form a stop between the guide rail and the outer ring and thus avoid the flip-flop of the balloon.

FIG. 8 illustrates a sixth embodiment of an assembly according to the invention. The balloon inflated with air can be driven into the tower without turning on itself by carriages solidarity balloon. For example, a support circle 170 may be provided in the southern tropic of the balloon 100 to support the pull of the balloon. The support circle 170 is connected to attachment points located substantially on the equator and to which the carriages 150 are attached. The carriages 150 are driven by the cables of the posts 250 of the tower, as described above and pull the ball upwards through the support circle 170. When the ball is lowered, the carriages hold the descent of the balloon. through the support ring 170, the air-inflated balloon being pulled down by gravity. When the balloon does not turn on itself, a power supply to lighting elements inside the balloon can be provided simply through the hooked points of the carriages 150 driving an electric cable along the poles 250 of the balloon. tower.

The assembly according to the invention may have lighting means for enhancing the balloon and / or the tower in the dark. The lighting can be outside with spot lights placed on the ground and / or on the poles of the structure of the tower. The light spots are placed in such a way that the light beams illuminate the balloon and / or the structure of the tower. Thus, if the envelope of the balloon includes an advertising sign, it can be visible from afar and at night. Lighting can also be placed inside the balloon to illuminate the fabric of the envelope in backlight. The lighting system inside the enclosure can be powered from the mains by means of an electric cable. This power cable may be specific or be integrated with the return cable of the balloon; and can pass through an electrical collector between the crowns of the balloon as described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7.

The raising of the balloon of the assembly according to the invention can be done in the following manner.

The tower is mounted, temporarily or permanently, in a given place, preferably visible from afar from a busy road. The ball is placed in the tower and inflated. When the balloon is inflated with a gas lighter than air, it is moored to the ground with return means, for example comprising a cable attached to a winch. When the balloon is inflated with air, it is hooked to the drive cables placed in the poles of the tower. Passengers can be embarked if necessary in seats hung on the balloon. When the balloon is inflated with a gas lighter than air, the means of return of the balloon on the ground are then unrolled and the balloon rises along the tower, offering a panoramic view to the passengers through the translucent walls of the balloon. the tower and offering itself to the sight of the surroundings. The ascent of the balloon can provide a feeling of free flight if the return means of the balloon on the ground are unwound freely, that is to say without restraint on the largest portion of the path. The tower may include a ventilation system at the top that sucks up the balloon and improves the balloon ascension by syringe effect.

Braking means, for example a lever associated with the winch of the return means, are then actuated on the upper portion of the upward path of the balloon, for example once the balloon has traveled at least two-thirds of the height of the tower . The ascent of the ball can be completely stopped by braking on the return means or by thrusting the ball against the closed top of the tower.

If the tower is not closed, it is preferable that the balloon does not extend beyond the upper edge of the tower, as it would be subject to the wind and could not descend through the hole in the tower. We therefore prefer a tower with a closed top or choose a length of return cable such that the balloon can not rise above the tower.

The means for returning the balloon to the ground may comprise, in place of a cable connected to a winch, a horizontal thread located near the top of the tower and equipped with a return means to the ground. In this case, the balloon can be dropped from the ground and move freely upward without means of return clean. Arriving at the top of the tower, he is stopped by the horizontal net. The means for returning the net, for example an assembly consisting of several ropes or vertical cables connecting the periphery of the net to one or more winches, then allows the net to descend to the ground by driving the balloon and its passengers. Such a system can be used alone, to offer the passengers on board seats a feeling of departure in free flight, or in emergency means, in the event of a rupture of the main return cable when the balloon is held by a cable operated by a winch.

According to another embodiment, the balloon 100 can be inflated by air and pulled upwards by a system of pulleys and winches. Indeed, the balloons of the prior art are supported by the action of a gas lighter than air, which creates an aerostatic thrust. In the device described, the balloon can simply be inflated with air, and rise by means of a drive system as described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 8. It is understood that the winch 420 can be placed at the top of the tower rather than at its base and can pull the ball up. The drive cables are hidden in the vertical posts of the tower. The balloon seems to rise on its own. One could also provide a drive cable that would cling to the top of the envelope of the balloon, and / or that would cross to hook directly to the passenger lifting system, for example to the load circle 120.

In the case of a balloon inflated with air, a permanent ventilation, for example with an electric fan, makes it possible to counterbalance the possible gas leaks, as well as the variations of the volume of the air due to the variations of temperatures and surrounding pressures. The ventilation system can run on an on-board battery or be powered from the mains using the drive cable, or a specific power cable that is separate from the drive cable.

The captive balloon in a tower according to the invention constitutes a safe and compact assembly allowing the ascent of a balloon whatever the weather conditions.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described by way of example. In particular, the respective shapes and dimensions of the balloon and the tower can vary without departing from the scope of the invention. Similarly, the means of initiation of the flight, braking and return of the balloon to the ground can be modified and adapted by a skilled person without departing from the scope of the invention.

One could also provide, in the absence of passengers, a balloon mounted fixed at the top of a tower. Such a balloon can serve as an advertising medium; the diameter of the balloon may be greater than that of the tower. The balloon can also be fixedly attached to the top of the tower, for example by means of its two tropics.

Claims

1. Set comprising:

an ascending balloon (100); - a tower (200); the ball being captive and mobile in the tower.

2. The assembly of claim 1, characterized in that the tower comprises a metal structure comprising at least three vertical posts (250).

3. An assembly according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the tower is cylindrical circular base.

4. The assembly of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the tower is cylindrical, polygonal base.

5. Assembly according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the tower has a closed perimeter.

6. Assembly according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the tower has a closed top.

7. The assembly of claim 5, characterized in that the tower comprises translucent panels forming walls.

8. Assembly according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the balloon has a spherical shape.

9. Assembly according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the balloon has a substantially oval shape.

10. The assembly of claim 9, characterized in that the ratio of the height of the balloon over its width is between 1.2 and 4.

11. Assembly according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the balloon has a diameter at the equator between 8 m and 18 m.

12. Assembly according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the overpressure at the south pole of the flask is less than or equal to 50 Pa.

13. Assembly according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the tower has a height of between 30 m and 80 m.

14. Assembly according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the inner diameter of the tower is substantially equal to the diameter of the equator of the balloon.

15. Assembly according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the balloon has reinforcements on the equator.

16. Assembly according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the balloon has rolling elements arranged on the equator.

17. An assembly according to one of claims 7 to 16, characterized in that the tower comprises rolling elements on its inner wall.

18. An assembly according to claims 4 and 17, characterized in that rolling elements are placed in each corner of the polygon.

19. The assembly of claim 17 or 18, characterized in that the rolling elements have an axis of rotation extending in a direction between 0 ° and 30 ° relative to 1 'horizontal.

20. Assembly according to one of claims 2 to 15, characterized in that it comprises at least three carriages (150) integral with the balloon (100) and adapted to be hooked to the drive cables (400) housed in guide rails for at least three of the vertical posts (250) of the tower (200).

21. The assembly of claim 20, characterized in that the balloon is equipped with a drive ring (140) on which are fixed the carriages (150).

22. The assembly of claim 21 characterized in that the drive ring (140) is located substantially on the equator of the balloon or in the vicinity of one of the tropics.

23. An assembly according to claim 21 or 22, characterized in that the drive ring (140) has an outer ring (141) to which are fixed the carriages (150) and an inner ring (142) attached to the balloon (100). ), the outer and inner rings being movable relative to each other.

24. An assembly according to one of claims 20 to 23, characterized in that it comprises a motor associated with each drive cable for controlling the movement of the cable in one direction or the other.

25. The assembly of claim 24, characterized in that it comprises a control unit adapted to synchronize the drive motors of the cables.

26. An assembly according to one of claims 21 to 25, characterized in that the carriages (150) of the ring gear (140) have a stop mechanism adapted to maintain a spacing between the guide rail and the drive ring ( 140) when a drive cable (400) is broken.

27. An assembly according to one of claims 21 to 26, characterized in that the drive ring (140) comprises at least one electrical collector (145) connecting the outer ring to the inner ring, at least one carriage of the balloon being adapted to drive a power cable running through one of the poles of the tower.

28. Assembly according to one of claims 1 to 27, characterized in that it comprises a lighting arranged inside the balloon.

29. Assembly according to one of claims 1 to 28, characterized in that it comprises at least one seat hooked to the balloon.

30. Assembly according to one of claims 1 to 29, characterized in that it comprises means for returning the balloon to the ground.

31. Assembly according to one of claims 1 to 30, characterized in that it comprises means for pulling a balloon inflated with air.

A method of raising a captive balloon in a closed perimeter tower, comprising the steps of:

33. The method of claim 32, characterized in that the return means of the balloon on the ground are unwound freely.

34. The method of claim 32 or 33, characterized in that the ascent of the ball is stopped by abutment against the closed top of the tower.

35. A method of raising a tethered balloon in a tower comprising at least three posts provided with guide rails and drive cables, the balloon comprising at least three carriages hooked to the drive cables, the method comprising the steps of: