FR3057539A1 - SYSTEM FOR THE AUTOMATIC LAUNCHING OF WEATHER BALLOONS - Google Patents

Abstract

Device for launching meteorological balloons in automatic systems consisting of a pneumatically operated sleeve fed by the balloon gas filling system and a springless check valve where the weight of the flight chain ensures sealing of the gas contained in the balloon as soon as it is launched.

Description

© Publication no .: 3,057,539 (to be used only for reproduction orders)

©) National registration number: 16 01519 ® FRENCH REPUBLIC

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY

COURBEVOIE © Int Cl ⁸ : B 64 B 1/58 (2017.01), G 01 W 1/08

PATENT INVENTION APPLICATION

A1

©) Date of filing: 19.10.16. (© Priority: © Applicant (s): BARAT JEAN — TR. (© Inventor (s): BARAT JEAN. ©) Date of making the request available to the public: 20.04.18 Bulletin 18/16. ©) List of documents cited in the preliminary search report: See the end of this booklet (© References to other related national documents: ® Holder (s): BARAT JEAN. ©) Extension request (s): (© Agent (s): BARAT JEAN.

SYSTEM FOR THE AUTOMATIC LAUNCH OF METEOROLOGICAL BALLOONS.

©) Device for launching meteorological balloons in automatic systems consisting of a pneumatically controlled sleeve supplied by the gas filling system of the balloon and a non-return valve without spring where the weight of the flight chain seals the gas contained in the balloon as soon as it is launched.

FR 3 057 539 - A1

System for the automatic launch of weather balloons

The launch of meteorological balloons in automatic launch systems imposes several conditions:

A-The balloon must be fitted with a non-return valve which prevents gas from escaping once the filling of the balloon is completed.

This valve, which generally uses a return spring, is fixed in the neck of the balloon and made integral with it by a collar or any other suitable means. The valve is then introduced into the so-called filling sleeve either by an outside operator or by an automaton. This sleeve is connected to the gas tank which supplies the balloon through a pressure regulator giving an outlet pressure P and a system of solenoid valves: it meets a double need

B-Sealing the filling to prevent any leakage outside the filling gas

C-Keep the non-return valve integral with the sleeve during the filling phase and separate it when you release it.

In current systems, functions B and C are provided by an electromechanical system. Before releasing the balloon, there are several phases in the operation of the sleeve from the moment when the non-return valve has been introduced into said sleeve:

Operation: Securing of the sleeve with the valve and sealing of the filling duct via the electromechanical system.

Operation 2: Filling the tank by opening one or more solenoid valves at the outlet of the regulator mounted on the high pressure gas tank.

Operation 3: Stop filling the tank by closing the solenoid valve (s).

Operation4: Separation of the sleeve with the valve via the electromechanical system so that the balloon can be released.

The device according to the invention makes it possible to eliminate any electromechanical system for operations 1 and 4 and therefore to simplify the structure of the sleeve as much as possible.

A first characteristic of the invention is to use an air chamber placed around the valve located in the sleeve which, when it is inflated under a pressure Pj blocks the non-return valve on said sleeve and therefore makes it integral with it. ci while ensuring the tightness of the filling circuit. When the pressure P falls to a very low value, the valve is then mechanically detached from the sleeve. Operations 1 and 4 are therefore carried out without using an electromechanical system.

A second characteristic of the invention is to use the filling gas of the balloon (hydrogen or helium) which is at pressure P at the outlet of the regulator to inflate the chamber and ensure all of the operations 1,2 and 3.

A third characteristic of the device according to the invention is that the control of two solenoid valves mounted on the balloon filling circuit at the outlet of the regulator alone allows all of the operations 1,2,3 and 4, i.e. filling in gas from the balloon with sealing and securing / detaching of the valve relative to the sleeve.

A fourth characteristic of the invention is to use a non-return valve which has no spring and which uses the weight of the balloon flight chain to seal and prevent any leakage of gas from the balloon.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention

Figure 1 shows in section the device of the sleeve and the valve according to the invention.

By way of nonlimiting example, FIG. 2 shows the section of an embodiment of a sleeve and of the non-return valve using the device which is the subject of the invention. In Figure 3 there are shown as examples two possible diagrams of the mechanical and electrical connection of two solenoid valves which are used to control the different phases of filling / release of the balloon. Figure 4 illustrates the operation of the springless check valve once the balloon is in flight. In Figure 1 the sleeve consists of several elements. It consists first of all of an open cylindrical tube (1) of slightly compressible hose-like material. Inside the tube can slide without friction and without play the valve. This consists of two coaxial half-cylinders (2) and (3). The first half-closed cylinder (2) has its lower part pierced with a circular orifice Or. Inside this half cylinder is placed the second half-closed cylinder (3): the outside diameter of (3) is more small than the inside diameter of (2) so that gas can circulate between the walls of (2) and (3) but large enough so that the base of (3) can completely seal the Gold orifice. As another piece constituting the sleeve an inner tube Ca of elastic wall (4) and of width d surrounds the tube (1) at the level of the cylinder (2). This chamber Ca is contained in a fixed volume delimited by a cylinder of rigid material (5) half-closed at its two ends and coaxial with (1) The upper base of (5) is pierced with a circular orifice whose diameter is slightly higher than that of (1). On the contrary, the lower base of (5) is pierced with a circular orifice whose diameter is that of the tube (5) and it is rigidly fixed to this tube either by gluing or by any other suitable means. The interior of the chamber Ca communicates with the external environment through a valve (6) from which the needle has been removed: the orifice of the valve is Eb. When air is sent under pressure P into chamber Ca, it expands and comes to bear on the walls of (1) and (5). The tube (1) which is slightly compressible and which is not connected to (5) in its upper part therefore comes to grip the part (2) of the valve with a force which is proportional to the pressure P. The valve is therefore integral with the tube (1) and no gas can pass between the walls of (1) and (2). In the upper part of (1) is fitted the neck (7) of a weather balloon, a collar (8) joining the two parts. A cylindrical plug ¢ 9) integral with (1) closes said cylinder in its lower part. It is pierced with a tube (10) with an external orifice Er which allows gas to be supplied to the balloon without leakage from the external medium. A cylindrical sleeve (11) is interposed in (1) between the upper part of (9) and the base of (2) so that the part (2) constituting the valve abuts on it when it is introduced. in (1). To ensure the launch of the balloon, you must operate as follows. Initially, air is injected under a pressure Pl into the chamber Ca: the parts (2) and (1) are then integral and no gas can pass between them. In a second step, gas is injected under pressure P from the regulator through the tube (10): under the effect of pressure P the tube (3) lifts and the gas passes between (2) and (3 ) thus filling the balloon through its neck. When the filling is finished the pressure P falls to a residual value Pa which is very low and which is due to the elasticity of the walls of the balloon: under the effect of this pressure Pa and of gravity the part (3) is pressed on (2) thus preventing the balloon from emptying. By cutting off the gas supply to Ca and then putting this chamber in communication with the outside environment, the pressure drops to 0 and the valve is no longer attached to the tube (1) since the force exerted by Ca on the wall of 2 becomes zero: under the effect of its upward force the balloon can then escape

To accomplish these operations, it is therefore necessary to be able to connect the outlet Eb on the one hand to an inlet for compressed air at the pressure Pl by means of a first solenoid valve for filling

Ca and on the other hand to the outside environment by means of a second solenoid valve to separate the valve from the sleeve. It is also necessary to be able to connect the input Er to the inlet of the filling gas (helium or hydrogen) by means of a third solenoid valve located after the regulator. In Figure 2 is shown in section a non-limiting example of embodiment of the sleeve according to the invention. The sleeve is first constituted on the outside by an open cylindrical tube (14) of rigid material. Inside this tube are placed at a distance dl from each other two cylindrical rings (15) and (16) which have the same outside diameter as the bore of (14). These two rings are rigidly fixed to (14) either by gluing or by screws (17). Passing through these rings a cylindrical tube (18) of slightly compressible material such as hose can slide without friction in the ring (15) but on the other hand is rigidly fixed on the ring (16) either by gluing or by any other suitable means. A linear air chamber (19) of envelope (20), of width dl and which is closed at its two ends surrounds the tube (18) for several turns. In FIG. 2 the air chamber (19) makes six times the turn of (18). This configuration makes it possible to minimize the internal volume of (19) when it is not filled with pressurized gas. A valve (21) in which the needle has been removed communicates with the external environment through a conduit (22) drilled in (14). Its outlet orifice is Eb. In the upper part of (18) is inserted with a very small clearance when the chamber (19) is not under pressure a cylindrical tube (23). The upper end of (23) is open while on its other end closed a circular orifice Or is drilled in its base (24). The lower part of (23) is located at the region where the chamber (19) is wound. In the upper part of (23) is fitted the elastic collar (25) of a weather balloon which is fixed to it by means of a collar (26). In the lower part of (18) is placed a cylindrical plug ( 27) and a collar (28) seals it. A conduit (29) of orifice Er ensures a sealed passage through (27). Inside (23) is placed coaxially to it a second open / closed cylindrical tube (30) whose outside diameter is less than the inside diameter of (23) so that gas can circulate between the two walls. The diameter of (30) is greater than that of the Gold orifice and under the effect of gravity the solid base (31) of (30) closes the Gold orifice. A ring (32) fixed on the part lower (31) of (30) and whose dimension is less than Or is hung a fine wire f, said outgoing wire, sliding between (18) and (23), outside the sleeve. The set of parts (23), (30) and (32) constitutes the non-return valve associated with the sleeve. A cylindrical sleeve (33) located inside (18) prevents (24) from coming to bear on the plug (27).

FIG. 3 gives an example configuration for supplying gas to the balloon by means of the sleeve. The upper part shows the connection for a DC system. Two solenoid valves (el) and (e2) are used. The first (el) has its input S connected to the outlet of the regulator coupled to the gas cylinder (helium or hydrogen) supplying the filling gas at pressure P. It is controlled by supplying its electrical input terminals (al) and ((a2). The output of (el) is connected to the input of (e2). A bypass makes it possible to communicate with the input Er of FIG. 2. The output of (e2) feeds the input Eb of Figure 2. Its power supply terminals are (bl) and (b2). As shown in the top figure (al) is directly connected to the power supply terminal (-) and the terminal (a2) is connected to the terminal (+) through a switch (II). The terminals (al) and (bl) are connected together while the terminal (b2) is connected to the pole (+) through the switch (12) A diode D connects (a2) and (b2) so that the current can only pass from (a2) to (b2). If the switch (II) is closed the two solenoid valves are simultaneously open and the outputs Erand Eb are supplied. If the switch (12) is closed, only the solenoid valve (e2) is open. In practice, the launch of a balloon is done in the following way. At first, the switch (II) is closed: the gas at pressure P coming from the regulator enters the balloon through the orifice Er by lifting the part (30) and passing between the walls of (23) and (3). At the same time the air chamber (19) is inflated to the pressure P through (e2) and it compresses (18) on (23) thus ensuring the tightness of the filling. When the switch (II) is opened, the two solenoid valves close and the inflation of the balloon is stopped. As the air chamber (19) is closed, the pressure P is maintained in said chamber thus blocking (18) on (23): the balloon secured to the neck 25 by the collar (26) cannot fly away. When the switch (12) is closed, the solenoid valve (e2) opens, thus placing the chamber (19) in communication with the interior of the balloon where the residual pressure Pa due to the elasticity of the wall of the balloon is very weak as it was said before. The chamber (19) no longer compresses (18) on (23) and under the effect of its upward force the balloon can fly away. It can therefore be seen that the switch (II) controls the filling of the balloon and the switch (12) releases it, using only the filling gas at the outlet of the regulator. With the same notations the lower figure gives the circuit diagram for an AC power supply. The diode is deleted and the switch (12) is replaced by a double switch (13). The switch (12) does not change. As soon as the balloon escapes from the sleeve when the switch (12) has been opened, the wire (f) is released. If the end of this wire is attached to the flight chain (unwinder + parachute + radiosonde) it will very quickly take it into account. In FIG. 4, the configuration of the system has been represented in the case where the flight chain is reduced to radiosonde M: very quickly the weight of the radiosonde fixed to the hook (32) by the wire f comes to press the base of (30 ) on the base (24) of (23) thus ensuring a perfect seal and thus preventing the gas from the balloon from escaping. The valve made up of parts (23), (30) and (32) therefore behaves like a valve with a spring of force equal to the weight of the flight chain in one direction and of zero force for filling. It will also be noted that in the non-return valve, the cylinder (30) can be replaced by a sphere or a portion of sphere of diameter greater than Gold and to which the wire f is fixed by a ring (32): the effect the weight of the flight chain pressing the sphere in abutment on Gold will allow a very good sealing of Gold.

Claims (9)

1-) Device for the automatic launching of meteorological balloons characterized by a pneumatically controlled sleeve and a non-return valve without spring secured to the neck of the balloon where the weight of the flight chain when the balloon is released serves to ensure sealing gas in the balloon. 2-) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the pneumatically controlled sleeve is supplied by the gas filling system of the balloon. 3-) Device according to claim 2 characterized in that the pneumatic control of the sleeve is done by means of two solenoid valves located at the outlet of the regulator placed behind the high pressure gas tank supplying the balloon, each solenoid valve being controlled by a switch and being connected together so that the first switch controls the filling of the balloon and the second controls its release so that the balloon launching operation does not involve any moving mechanical part. 4-) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the pneumatically controlled sleeve is supplied both by the gas supply system of the balloon for filling and by an external supply of another gas for blocking / unblocking the valve. 5-) Device according to claim 4 wherein an electromagnetic valve controls the filling of the balloon from the gas tank of the balloon and one or more solenoid valves control the blocking / unblocking of the valve from a secnd separate tank of gas or a compressor 6-) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the pneumatic control for blocking / unblocking the valve uses the deformation of an air chamber made of elastic material which, pressurized, ensures both blocking of the non-return valve on the sleeve and the filling of the balloon without leakage to the outside environment. 7-) Device according to claim 6 wherein the pneumatic control is constituted by a linear air chamber of elastic material closed at its two ends which surrounds on one or more turns the supply duct 5 in gas at the level where the non-return valve is located and which, pressurized, ensures gas filling of the balloon without leakage to the outside environment and which, once deflated, allows the release of said balloon 8-) Device according to claim 7 characterized by the 10 the fact that the weight of the fly chain is used to press by means of a wire connection a flat or hemispherical surface on an orifice of cylindrical section used for filling the balloon so as to prevent any leakage of gas from the balloon.