FR2539381A1 - Balloon using the kinetic energy produced during its free ascent to raise its pilot by means of a rope - Google Patents

Abstract

Balloon using the kinetic energy produced in its free ascent to raise its pilot by means of a rope. The ascent force, less than the weight of the pilot - moving by leaps of 3 to 10 m - makes it possible to use a black solar envelope avoiding the heating system, possibly made of plastic film, the whole thing being therefore cheaper than a bicycle, and weighing of the order of 10 kg, and thus being easily transported by hand. Essential elements: envelope 1, extensible rope 2, handle 3. Then: tear-off panel 4 with its rope 5, harness 6. Operation: the pilot releases the balloon which lifts him, when it has arrived at the end of its travel, by virtue of the kinetic energy resulting from its ascent speed and from its mass (entrapped air, especially).

Description

The invention relates to leisure aerostatic balloons, which are currently hot air balloons or gas balloons, requiring strong financial means and a large crew.

The present invention introduces a new principle for ballooning: the use of the kinetic energy of the inflated envelope - envelope itself and especially the mass represented by the air contained-freely ascending the length of the rope for lift the pilot, who falls automatically because his weight is much higher than the ball's upward force (the pilot will have previously released the balloon held at his height)
The aerostat according to the invention allows jumps of a few meters in height with inexpensive equipment (less than a bicycle with the use of synthetic films for the envelope as well as the use of the mode of support by solar radiation on black or dark colored envellope - thus the aerostat according to the invention makes it possible to use this mode which is not on a hot air balloon because of the impossibility of regulating the ascending force)
The gas or the heating system that does not need adjustable inputs are usable but less attractive,
The essential elements are: the envelope, the rope, preferably extensible to absorb the shock of the balloon arriving at the end of its stroke, and with a length of around 10 m, and the pilot's handle at the bottom of the rope; possibly a safety harness. The rope can be divided into several attachment points on the balloon to distribute the forces (starting from an intersection point that can be ballasted so that the free movement of the balloon is regular).

Piloting is carried out only in light or no wind
during the rise of the aerostat, the pilot moves
to be under the ball at the time of the jump. A few
figures (more particularly concerning the mode of
solar sustedsion, preferential).

A spherical envelope of 200 m whose temperature
indoor air is 20g to 25Q higher than ex air
interior (processes would allow temperatures
significantly higher) thanks to the black color of the
waterproof and closed velvet, will have 20 deca newton of
upward force minus 5 deca newton of envelope.

Total mass: 5 kg of envelope plus 240 kg of air 245kg
Climbing speed = 380 cm / sec.

Lowering speed limit with a weight of 60 kgs
660 cm / sec; actually by the time the weight (or pilot)
hits the ground normal atmospheric conditions the
descent speed does not exceed 380cm / sec, i.e.
the descent speed of a man as much as? 0 ctn approximately.

The kinetic energy of the balloon is in these conditions of the order of 1700 joules, thus raising the weight (at which
the 15 deca newton of rising force of the balloon are
removed) at 3.9 m in height.

A balloon of 400 m, and 20 deca newton of ascending force
will increase to 345 cm / sec. and give 7.3 m, and
with 40 deca newton upward force 490 cm / sec
and about 30 m.

For security the hops should not exceed iOm;
for that provide a tear panel in case a
Ascension would take the whole higher than expected (10 m is also the height at which the hot air balloon pilots open the tear panel to land).

In view of the low heights reached, the envelope swelling through a large opening kept against the wind or shaken can be made of synthetic film such as polyester or polyethylene 12 to 30 microns thick, respectively 15 and 75 times cheaper than the Nylon used for hot air balloons.

The brittleness of the polyester in the primed tear is resolved by a grid of adhesive tape on the surface of the envelope; (by 1 M approximately a 1m tear in
not full leap with inconvenient consequences for the altitude reached) same for pAyethylene less resistant to tearing and heat, but can be reinforced by welds in grid also: this while waiting for the arrival of polyesters and polyethylenes armed with a grid.

Note that there is no black and opaque polyester film.

Figure 1 shows an embodiment of the aerosatat according to the invention, rope not stretched, the balloon having just been released by the pilot, Figure 2, the balloon lifting the pilot, rope stretched, Figure 3 a transparent envelope with a black plane.

The shape of the envelope can be cylindrical for an easier realization, if the desired capacity is 400 ni3 the envelope (1) black or dark in color in the case of the solar susten-ation mode - will result from the '' assembly of a rectangle of 8 m by 25 n closed on itself and 2 circles or squares of 25 ni of tower of which one is emptied in its center for the opening, the removed material serving if surround- I erbouchure which ferné by a cord tied around. If the envelope (is in polsethxlene of the adhesive fabric will be stuck on the circumference of the triangle delimiting the panel of tear (5) of some M2 as well as. On the corresponding removable part which is fixed by simple pressure and a cord (6) from the top ensures the opening. The adhesive fabric can be replaced by adhesive tape on the polyester. The harness (7) and the handle (3) are connected to the envelope (1) by an extensible cord () dividing into several cords (4) from the point of intersection (8) weighted or not. A variant of solar balloon (fig. 3): transparent envelope (1) with black or dark transverse plane (2): less loss by radiation outside, use of polyester Y for the envelope (l). Note that the speed of the wind influences convection phenomena: the faster the wind, the greater the difference - between the ascending forces of the free and captive balloon (depending on the phases of use) with an advantage for the free balloon.

Application in leisure.

Claims (7)

1) Aerostat (fig. 1 and fig. 2) including a  envelope (1) which can be provided with a tear-off panel (5) actuated by a cord (6) characterized in the presence of an extensible cord (2) preferably connecting the envelope (1) possibly via diary of several ropes (4) starting from the point of intersection (8) weighted or not with the handle (3) of the pilot and in that the operation is as follows: the balloon released by the pilot freely rises the length of rope and lifts the pilot the balloon arriving at the end of the run I by the use of its kinetic energy; the pilot automatically falls because his weight is greater than the ball's upward force.  harness (7).  2) Aerostat according to 1) characterized by the addition of a 3) Aerostat according to 1 or 2) using the solar levitation mode and therefore provided with a black or dark-colored envelope, and closed.  4 Aerostat according to 1 or 2) or 3) characterized in that the envelope is made of synthetic film such as polyester or polyethylene. 5) Aerostat according to 4) characterized in the presence of a grid of adhesive tape on the surface of the envellope. 6) Aerostat according to A) characterized in the presence of ren  strong welds.  7) Aerostat (fig.3) according to 1) and Jl characterized in that the transparent envelope (1) is crossed by a black plane (2).