GB2026971A - An aerostatic balloon of air type heated by solar energy - Google Patents

An aerostatic balloon of air type heated by solar energy Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2026971A
GB2026971A GB7927126A GB7927126A GB2026971A GB 2026971 A GB2026971 A GB 2026971A GB 7927126 A GB7927126 A GB 7927126A GB 7927126 A GB7927126 A GB 7927126A GB 2026971 A GB2026971 A GB 2026971A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
envelope
balloon
air
closed
aerostatic
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB7927126A
Other versions
GB2026971B (en
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
SOLAR Srl
Original Assignee
SOLAR Srl
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by SOLAR Srl filed Critical SOLAR Srl
Publication of GB2026971A publication Critical patent/GB2026971A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2026971B publication Critical patent/GB2026971B/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B64AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
    • B64BLIGHTER-THAN AIR AIRCRAFT
    • B64B1/00Lighter-than-air aircraft
    • B64B1/58Arrangements or construction of gas-bags; Filling arrangements

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
  • Toys (AREA)
  • Elimination Of Static Electricity (AREA)

Abstract

An aerostatic balloon comprises an envelope 1 made of thin plastics sheet material e.g. polyethylene, which is of a dark colour 1, preferably black, and is open at one zone 2 thereof for being partially filed with air and then closed. The heating of the inner air in the envelope 1, after exposure to solar rays, develops a lift exceeding the weight of the balloon, so that the latter will fluctuate in the atmosphere. The balloon may be used for advertising or as a scientific toy. A mass may be hung from it to maintain the balloon in a desired attitude. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION An aerostatic balloon of air type heated by solar energy This invention relates to a heated air type of aerostatic balloon, wherein air heating is provided by taking advantage of solar thermic radiation.
A balloon according to the invention may be used in many applications, but is particularly suitable as a simple scientific game and/or advertising vehicle.
Hot air balloons are already known. In their classical design, such balloons generally comprise a nearly spherical envelope with a wide aperture at the bottom, just below which a heating means is provided, such as a free flame heating the air filling up the balloon, thus producing an aerostaticthrust according to well known principles of physics.
Such balloons have various disadvantages. The free flame may set fire to the envelope forming the balloon, or cause it to fuse, most of thermic energy is scattered, upon exhaustion of the energy source, which cannot be too heavy, the balloon loses its lift due to cooling of the inner air and the balloon will collapse and fall to ground.
On the other hand, the present invention solves the above mentioned drawbacks by proposing a balloon, in which the energy for heating the air therein is comprised of solar energy.
For this purpose, a balloon according to the invention is characterised by comprising an envelope made of dark colour, soft light film-like material, open at one zone thereof for being partly filled with air and then closed.
The weight by volume unit of said envelope is such that, after exposure of the envelope to solar rays for a sufficient time, with consequent expansion of air therein, the resulting aerostatic thrust will exceed the balloon weight.
Experimentally, it was found that a suitable matervial forth envelope may be a sheet of plastics material, such as polyethylene, of the smallest thickness as possible consistent with the dimensions and structure of the envelope and modern technologies for the production of such sheets.
According to the uses to which the envelope is intended, the envelope can be anchored to ground by a suitable cable or wire, or allowed to follow freely the air streams.
Where the envelope is used in advertising fields, it may carry writing printed on its outer surface and it may be kept in stabilized horizontal or vertical attitudes by suitable counterweights or by suitable sling through thin net.
Where the balloon is intended for freely following the air streams, and accordingly not recoverable, it is convenient that the envelope has a tubular shape, since its production can be obtained with relatively low costs by conventional extrusion heads with pneumatic inflation prior to cooling, that is by a technique quite similar to that for the production of standard tubular manufactured articles. Moreover, such a tubular shape allows better visible writing to be developed lengthwise of the envelope and the cutting of sections from a continuous tubular body, with each section being intended to form an envelope, can be carried out without any particular accuracy, since the correct length is not a determining factor.
Each individual section may be sealed at one end on manufacture, also by simple thermoplastic welding of the material, whilst the other end may be left open and then sealed, or be simply closed by binding after partially filling with air the envelope so obtained. Such a filling can also be carried out by taking advantage also of light wind streams, by a relative movement with respect to atmosphere, or by means such as fans even of a highly limited head.
A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown by mere way of unrestrictive example in the figures of the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 shows the balloon in a perspective view; and Figure 2 and3 show two possible stabilized attitudes of the balloon in air, either under free conditions, or under anchoring conditions.
The balloon comprises a tubular envelope 1 provided by extruding a continuous tubular body of polyethylene which is of dark colour, translucent, having a thickness of 10 microns and a diameter of 0.71 m, the operation being carried out by a conventional machine. The continuous tubular body or stock was divided into sections, each of which had a length of 3m, and one end of each section was sealed by thermoplastic welding, or was merely closed by binding. The tubular envelope 1 was then partially filled with air to about 60-70% of its total volume, which filling could be obtained by relative movement between ambient air and envelope (for example, by exposing the open end 2 to wind, or by running and holding said end open wide apart), or also by using a mechanical means, such as a fan of comparatively limited head.Upon completion of partial filling, the open end 2 of the envelope was closed by simple binding, and such an envelope was exposed to solar rays.
The balloon can be stabilized, both in anchoring and under conditions of free flight, by suitable counterweight means 3 for holding it in a vertical attitude (Fig. 3), or it can be held in an horizontal attitude (Fig.
2) by properly balancing the ends, or also by a counterweight 4 anchored to two tie rods 5 diverging therefrom and suitably engaging the envelope 1 at symmetrical positions relative to the center or also directly to the ends. The counterweights 3 and 4 may be replaced by an anchoring cable, or form the hooking or connecting means for such a cable.
The balloon envelope according to the embodiment had a weight by volume unit of 60-70 grams/cu.m. and a lift of 200 g after exposure to solar rays for a few mintues with an ambient atmospheric temperature to the sun of 25"-35"C.
1. An aerostatic balloon comprising an envelope made of light, soft film-like material of a dark colour, open at one zone thereof for being partially filled with air, and then closed.
2. A balloon according to Claim 1, wherein said envelope is of black polyethylene, having such a thickness that the total weight of the balloon is less
**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION An aerostatic balloon of air type heated by solar energy This invention relates to a heated air type of aerostatic balloon, wherein air heating is provided by taking advantage of solar thermic radiation. A balloon according to the invention may be used in many applications, but is particularly suitable as a simple scientific game and/or advertising vehicle. Hot air balloons are already known. In their classical design, such balloons generally comprise a nearly spherical envelope with a wide aperture at the bottom, just below which a heating means is provided, such as a free flame heating the air filling up the balloon, thus producing an aerostaticthrust according to well known principles of physics. Such balloons have various disadvantages. The free flame may set fire to the envelope forming the balloon, or cause it to fuse, most of thermic energy is scattered, upon exhaustion of the energy source, which cannot be too heavy, the balloon loses its lift due to cooling of the inner air and the balloon will collapse and fall to ground. On the other hand, the present invention solves the above mentioned drawbacks by proposing a balloon, in which the energy for heating the air therein is comprised of solar energy. For this purpose, a balloon according to the invention is characterised by comprising an envelope made of dark colour, soft light film-like material, open at one zone thereof for being partly filled with air and then closed. The weight by volume unit of said envelope is such that, after exposure of the envelope to solar rays for a sufficient time, with consequent expansion of air therein, the resulting aerostatic thrust will exceed the balloon weight. Experimentally, it was found that a suitable matervial forth envelope may be a sheet of plastics material, such as polyethylene, of the smallest thickness as possible consistent with the dimensions and structure of the envelope and modern technologies for the production of such sheets. According to the uses to which the envelope is intended, the envelope can be anchored to ground by a suitable cable or wire, or allowed to follow freely the air streams. Where the envelope is used in advertising fields, it may carry writing printed on its outer surface and it may be kept in stabilized horizontal or vertical attitudes by suitable counterweights or by suitable sling through thin net. Where the balloon is intended for freely following the air streams, and accordingly not recoverable, it is convenient that the envelope has a tubular shape, since its production can be obtained with relatively low costs by conventional extrusion heads with pneumatic inflation prior to cooling, that is by a technique quite similar to that for the production of standard tubular manufactured articles. Moreover, such a tubular shape allows better visible writing to be developed lengthwise of the envelope and the cutting of sections from a continuous tubular body, with each section being intended to form an envelope, can be carried out without any particular accuracy, since the correct length is not a determining factor. Each individual section may be sealed at one end on manufacture, also by simple thermoplastic welding of the material, whilst the other end may be left open and then sealed, or be simply closed by binding after partially filling with air the envelope so obtained. Such a filling can also be carried out by taking advantage also of light wind streams, by a relative movement with respect to atmosphere, or by means such as fans even of a highly limited head. A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown by mere way of unrestrictive example in the figures of the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 shows the balloon in a perspective view; and Figure 2 and3 show two possible stabilized attitudes of the balloon in air, either under free conditions, or under anchoring conditions. The balloon comprises a tubular envelope 1 provided by extruding a continuous tubular body of polyethylene which is of dark colour, translucent, having a thickness of 10 microns and a diameter of 0.71 m, the operation being carried out by a conventional machine. The continuous tubular body or stock was divided into sections, each of which had a length of 3m, and one end of each section was sealed by thermoplastic welding, or was merely closed by binding. The tubular envelope 1 was then partially filled with air to about 60-70% of its total volume, which filling could be obtained by relative movement between ambient air and envelope (for example, by exposing the open end 2 to wind, or by running and holding said end open wide apart), or also by using a mechanical means, such as a fan of comparatively limited head.Upon completion of partial filling, the open end 2 of the envelope was closed by simple binding, and such an envelope was exposed to solar rays. The balloon can be stabilized, both in anchoring and under conditions of free flight, by suitable counterweight means 3 for holding it in a vertical attitude (Fig. 3), or it can be held in an horizontal attitude (Fig. 2) by properly balancing the ends, or also by a counterweight 4 anchored to two tie rods 5 diverging therefrom and suitably engaging the envelope 1 at symmetrical positions relative to the center or also directly to the ends. The counterweights 3 and 4 may be replaced by an anchoring cable, or form the hooking or connecting means for such a cable. The balloon envelope according to the embodiment had a weight by volume unit of 60-70 grams/cu.m. and a lift of 200 g after exposure to solar rays for a few mintues with an ambient atmospheric temperature to the sun of 25"-35"C. CLAIMS
1. An aerostatic balloon comprising an envelope made of light, soft film-like material of a dark colour, open at one zone thereof for being partially filled with air, and then closed.
2. A balloon according to Claim 1, wherein said envelope is of black polyethylene, having such a thickness that the total weight of the balloon is less than the lift produced by heating the inner air after exposure of said envelope to solar rays for some time.
3. A balloon according to Claim 2, wherein the thickness of said envelope is in the range of 5 to 50 microns, preferably in the order of 10 microns.
4. A balloon according to Claim 1, wherein the weight of the envelope is in the range of 60-70 grams for each cubic meter of the envelope capacity.
5. A balloon according to Claim 1, having an elongate tubular shape, closed at one end by welding, and open at the other end, intended to be closed after partial filling.
6. A balloon according to Claim 5, wherein means are provided for presetting its attitude.
7. An aerostatic balloon substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
GB7927126A 1978-08-04 1979-08-03 Aerostatic balloon of air type heated by solar energy Expired GB2026971B (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT09554/78A IT1103648B (en) 1978-08-04 1978-08-04 SYSTEM FOR OBTAINING AN ENVELOPE SPONTANEOUSLY EQUIPPED WITH THRUST A AND OSTATIC FOR THE USE OF SOLAR ENERGY

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB2026971A true GB2026971A (en) 1980-02-13
GB2026971B GB2026971B (en) 1982-02-10

Family

ID=11132110

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB7927126A Expired GB2026971B (en) 1978-08-04 1979-08-03 Aerostatic balloon of air type heated by solar energy

Country Status (18)

Country Link
JP (1) JPS5539886A (en)
AU (1) AU4957179A (en)
BE (1) BE877756A (en)
BR (1) BR7905008A (en)
DE (1) DE2930755A1 (en)
DK (1) DK322979A (en)
ES (1) ES251732Y (en)
FI (1) FI792236A (en)
FR (1) FR2432435A1 (en)
GB (1) GB2026971B (en)
GR (1) GR64904B (en)
IT (1) IT1103648B (en)
LU (1) LU81569A1 (en)
NL (1) NL7905997A (en)
NO (1) NO792567L (en)
PT (1) PT70024A (en)
SE (1) SE7906575L (en)
YU (1) YU183779A (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0184262A1 (en) * 1984-12-06 1986-06-11 CENTRE NATIONAL D'ETUDES SPATIALES (C.N.E.S.) Etablissement public, scientifique et Steerable aerostatic balloon

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2472971A1 (en) * 1980-01-04 1981-07-10 Centre Nat Etd Spatiales METHOD FOR PRODUCING AN ENVELOPE, ESPECIALLY FOR SPATIAL BALLOONS, A REALIZED ENVELOPE, AND USE THEREOF IN THE AEROSPACE FIELD
FI832132A0 (en) * 1983-06-14 1983-06-14 Vaisala Oy FOER FARANDE VID TILLVERKNING AV LUDNINGSKLUT OCH MED FOERFARANDET TILLVERKAT LUDNINGSKLUT

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0184262A1 (en) * 1984-12-06 1986-06-11 CENTRE NATIONAL D'ETUDES SPATIALES (C.N.E.S.) Etablissement public, scientifique et Steerable aerostatic balloon
FR2574369A1 (en) * 1984-12-06 1986-06-13 Centre Nat Etd Spatiales PILOTABLE AEROSTATIC BALLOON
WO1986003469A1 (en) * 1984-12-06 1986-06-19 Centre National D'etudes Spatiales (C.N.E.S.) Steerable aerostatic ballon

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ES251732Y (en) 1981-05-16
BE877756A (en) 1979-11-16
IT1103648B (en) 1985-10-14
IT7809554A0 (en) 1978-08-04
FI792236A (en) 1980-02-05
LU81569A1 (en) 1979-12-07
AU4957179A (en) 1980-02-07
DK322979A (en) 1980-02-05
JPS5539886A (en) 1980-03-21
FR2432435B3 (en) 1981-05-22
FR2432435A1 (en) 1980-02-29
NL7905997A (en) 1980-02-06
BR7905008A (en) 1980-05-06
NO792567L (en) 1980-02-05
GR64904B (en) 1980-06-07
GB2026971B (en) 1982-02-10
PT70024A (en) 1979-09-01
DE2930755A1 (en) 1980-02-14
YU183779A (en) 1983-01-21
ES251732U (en) 1980-12-16
SE7906575L (en) 1980-02-05

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US4038777A (en) Airborne, hovering, decorative object, toy or the like
US4848704A (en) Aerodynamic devices
US6290172B1 (en) Super-pressure balloon and method of manufacturing the same
US3153878A (en) Flying solarthermic toy airship
US3565368A (en) Solar energy balloon
US4307537A (en) Airborne floating lift-weight balanced toy
ATE38647T1 (en) CONTAINER WITH SYMMETRICAL LOBBY STRUCTURE.
US3337162A (en) Balloon activated by solar energy
US3220671A (en) Solar balloon or aerostat
GB2026971A (en) An aerostatic balloon of air type heated by solar energy
Booker et al. Superpressure balloons for weather research
US5027539A (en) Pole restrained kite or airfoil
US20050277359A1 (en) Rigid ballon
US3345646A (en) Parachute hat
CA1192048A (en) Balloon type structure and methods for inflating same
US5076513A (en) Aerostat intended to travel in an autonomous and reversible manner between the ground of a planet having an atmosphere and a predetermined ceiling altitude
CA1147363A (en) Movable targets
McShera Aerodynamic Drag and Stability Characteristics of Towed Inflatable Decelerators at Supersonic Speeds
US2804276A (en) Kite
JP6548136B1 (en) Balloon with windsock
US949420A (en) Toy airship.
US3141636A (en) Streamlined meteorological balloons
US3298634A (en) Balloon
JPH02286186A (en) Aerial net
US824616A (en) Tailless kite which can be taken to pieces.

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee