US2983950A - Atmospheric powered demand-ballaster - Google Patents

Description

May 16, 1961 J. A. wlNKER ATMOSPHERIC POWERED DEMAND-BALLASTER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 5, 1960 www n w f .fr f. n vf-@411. n c 1 n L?? fr L d I A M May 16, 1961 J. A. WINKER 2,983,950

ATMOSPHERIC POWERED DEMAND-BALLASTER Filed March 3, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ezzazzbz" James All//M'ef' gg jm, MMM, @E

"May 16, 1961 J. A. wlNKER ATMOSPHERIC POWERED DEMAND-BALLASTER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 3, 1960 Ezel-:far Jmes ,4. #Vin/rer United States Patent() 2,983,950 ATMOSPHERIC POWERED DEMAND-BALLASTER Filed Mar, s, 1960, ser. No. 12,6711

, |10 claims. (c1. 244-94) v The present invention relates to an improved ballaster operated by atmospheric pressure for dropping ballast and keeping a free iioating balloon at substantially a constant altitude.

InV free oating balloons of the type that are sent aloft for the collectionof scientific data or the like it is often desirable that the balloon maintain a constant altitude with a minimum of variation. The balloon may be kept at a constant altitude by dropping ballast to increase the gross lift of the balloon. Thus as the balloon descends ballast is automatically dropped to cause it to ascend to the desired altitude. As the ballast is dropped to compensate for loss of lift of the gas in the balloon, the balloon will oscillate about an ideal altitude. Changes in conditions which, when uncompensated, cause the balloon to lose altitude include the loss of lifting gas -due to diffusiontthrough the balloon material, and decrease in volume of gas from temperature decrease.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved ballaster for dropping ballast and maintaining a balloon at a constant altitude which is atmospheric powered to obtain the release of ballast and is controlled by atmospheric pressure increase due to balloon descent.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved ballaster which is simple in construction, reliable in operation, has good response to altitude change, and does not require the provision of auxiliary power such as batteries for operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved ballaster which utilizes the principles of the effects ofpressure change with change in balloon` altitude on an'air chamber having an opening closed by a control liquid so that the air in the air chamber will change in volume with change in balloon altitude to cause a shift in position of the control liquid.

Other objects and advantages will become more apparent with the teaching of the principles of the invention in connection with the disclosure of the preferred embodiments in the specification, claims, and drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a free floating balloon provided with an atmospheric powered ballaster in accordance with the principles of the present invention for controlling the balloon altitude;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view, shown somewhat inschematic form, of a ballaster constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

1.'. .Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view similar to Figure 2 and showing the parts of the ballaster in position for dropping ballast, while in Figure 2 ballast is not being dropped; Y

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view shown in somewhat schematic form of a modied form of the structure tlf-Figures 2 and 3;

Figures 5 and 6 are vertical sectional views in somewhat schematic form of another arrangement of a ballaster in accordance with the present invention with the ballaster of Figure 5 not dropping ballast and the ballaster of Figure 6 dropping ballast;

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view showing another form of ballaster constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 8 is a vertical section view taken substantially along line VIII-VIII of Figure 7; and

Figures 9 and l0 arevertical sectional views similar to Figure 8 but showing the ballaster partly tipped in Figure 9 and showing the ballaster inverted in Figure 10 in position to drop ballast.

As shown on the drawings: Y

Figure l illustrates a floating balloon 16 having lifting gas therein. The balloon may be of the type formed of a lightweight plastic such as polyethylene cut into gores with the gores welded to each other to form the balloon envelope. The balloon is partially inflated on the ground and rises to the desired altitude without dropping ballast. The ballaster will remain inactive during ascent and until the oating altitude is reached, as determined by the factors of balloon design, load, and gas in the balloon. The ballaster will start functioning when the balloon descends below a desired floating altitude as deterf mined by design of the ballaster. Descent below said desired altitude will cause the dropping of small amounts of ballast by a ballaster or ballast mechanism 17 which is part of the balloon payload. Y

As illustrated in Figure 2 the ballast mechanism includes a container 18 closed at its upper end with liquid ballast 19 therein and below the ballast container is a control liquid container 20 with a chamber 21 with control liquid therein. Theliquid ballast and control liquid each are a material which preferably does not freeze and kerosene or a similar product may be employed. Within the control liquid container 20 is a float 22 being hollow to form a chamber 23 lillel with a gas such as air. The control liquid container provides a irst chamber 21 for the control liquid and the oat 22 provides avsecond chamber 23 therein with the chambers communicating through an opening 24 at the base of the second chamber beneath the surface of the liquid. The container 20 has an opening 20a in its side above the control liquid.

At its upper end, `the oat carries an open cup-like container 26 which receives liquidrballast 25Vin a pool to close olf or open a depending spout 27n leading from the ballast container 18. t t

When the `float 22 moves downwardly in the control liquid container 20 to the position of Figure 3, air bubbles can pass up into the closed ballast container 18 to permit the ballast 19 to flow downwardly through the spout 27 and ilow out through a discharge spout 28 to thereby lighten the ballast load and increase the free lift of the balloon. As will be observed the lioat 22 will remain at its uppermost position while the balloon is ascending from the ground to floating level and some air will escape from the iioat chamber 23. When the balloon reaches iioating altitude and begins descending, liquid will flow into the hollow tioat chamber 23 through the opening 24 thereby reducing the buoyancy of the float 22 to cause it to sink and to drop ballast from the container 18.

In order to reduce the rate of release of ballast from the container 1S it may be desirable to place a iiow restriction in the spout 27 such as by locating a porous packing in the opening.V In each of the ballasters illustrated` and described, a flow restriction such as a felt or other fibrous material for blocking the discharge orifice may be employed and flow can be regulated to virtually any desired value. q K Y The unit can operate without the spoutsZS if desired 3 and the opening 20a will then be used for the escape of ballast.

In the arrangement illustrated in Figure 4, the sensitivityrof the ballaster is increased byproviding .a booster container 29 with a chamber 32 thatfdrains liquid from the control liquid .container 20. .The booster .chamber 32 has liquid 30 therein which flows through an opening 31 communicating with the control liquidchamber ,21. -Airis trapped in the upper end vofthe booster .chamber 32.

In this arrangement, while the differential between liquid levels is maintained as -with the arrangement of Figures 2 and 3, the levels of the-liquid in the-first chamber 21 and the liquid 30 in the thirdchamber 32 are changed in rapid response to changing pressure. The sensitivity can be controlled by aV selected choice'of booster chamber volume.

As an example we -will consider a ballaster vwith a booster chamber volume of 15 cubic inches, a control liquid container having a cross-section area of l square inch, and a oat chamber length vof 2 inches. With descent of the balloon, a pressure change of 2% will cause .3 cubic inch of liquid to be drawn into the boosterchamber, lowering the level of liquid in thecontrol container .3 inch. At the same time, the oat will sink .04r inch by reason of the 2% liquid'intake within its chamber. The two actions result in a oat travel of .34 inch which is quite adequate to start ballast flow.

.As will be recognized, the rst chamber 21, the second chamber 23 and the third chamber 32 .maybe constructed in various shapes within the limits of the lprinciples of the invention, with the preferred .shapes .being shown.

In the ballaster of Figures and 6, portions .of the structure are the same as the ballasters of vFigures 2, 3 and 4 and are numbered similarly.

The release of ballast from the ballast container 18 is obtained through the liquid valve arrangement including the spout 27 projecting down into the pool 25 of the ballast. The pool of liquid which controls a ballast valve is supported on a float 33 in the control liquid container 20 having the iirst chamber 21 of control liquid therein. Within the oat is a second chamber 36 having an opening 35 at its bottom end communicating with the kcontrol liquid. The oat has an upper surface which is positioned relative to the control liquid so that the control liquid ows over the upper surface thereof. A support rod 38 of relatively small diameter supports the container 26 on the oat.

When the balloon descends .and atmospheric airpressure increases to force .control liquid up into they oat chamber 36, in the manner illustrated in Figure 6, the control liquid closes over the top surface .37 of the iloat and the float then will no longer be buoyant and will sink immediately. This can be adjusted for `great sensitivity.

In the ballaster of Figures 7 through 10, a ballast and control liquid container 55 is provided with trunions 56 and 57 to be pivotally supported on a balloon. The container has a liquid ballast chamber '58 therein with an opening 59 for discharge of the ballast. In the position of Figures 7 and 8 ballast will not be discharged, and when the container is inverted to the position of Figure 10, ballast can seep out through the opening 59. A 'itting such as 55a equalizes the pressure within the liquid ballast chamber 58 with atmospheric pressure.

The container has a control section on the right end with control liquid 60 therein. At the upper end of the control section is a first air chamber 65 and at .the lower end is a second chamber `61 which contains the control liquid during times when Vballast .is .not being released. The second chamber 61 is provided with a ll opening 62 which communicates with atmosphere so that the sur face of the control liquid is exposed to atmospheric pressure. An arcuately shaped passageway 63 communicates between the chambers 61 and 65 and extends around the '4 edge of the cylindrical shaped container 55. The air chamber 65 communicates through an opening with a booster chamber 67 within the control section of the container. At an intermediate portion of the passageway 63 is an enlarged portion 64.

During balloon ascent, air bleeds out of the booster chamber 67 and the air chamber 65 through the chamber 61 to the atmosphere. When the balloon reaches the oating height and again descends, low pressure in the air chamber relative to the ambient pressure causes liquid to suck up through the passageway 63, in the manner illustrated in Figure 9. The passageway is so sized so that it will be nearly iilled when the lower chamber 61 becomes empty. The greater mass of the control liquid is concentrated in the enlarged portion'64 which is spaced from the chambers 61 and 65. This creates a maximum torque or rolling force to tend to invert or to turn the container from its upright position. Once the 'container 55 starts to rool from the position of Figure 8 to the position of Figure 9, the liquid transfers completely into the upper chamber 65 so that the container moves to the position of Figure l0. The ballaster is then held stably .and in inverted position with the liquid ballast seeping from the drain opening 59 until such time as the balloon again rises to its ideal altitude. At this time the transfer of control liquid reverses and the ballaster is restored to an upright position.

In reversal, as will be apparent from Figure l0, 'decrease inatmospheric air pressure will cause the liquid to flow upwardly through the passageway 63 and will roll the container 55 back to the upright position. .The process is repeatable making this a true demand atmospheric powered ballaster.

Thus it will be 'seen that I have provided an improved ballaster which meets the objectives and advantages hereinbefore set forth. The mechanism is extremely reliable and is simple to manufacture. It does not require the provision of additional power and is operated by atmospheric pressure changes.

The drawings and specification present a detailed disclosure of the preferred embodiments of the invention, and it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific forms disclosed, but covers all modifications, changes and alternative constructions and methods falling within the scope of the principles taught bythe invention.

I claim as my invention:

.1. An atmospheric powered ballast release mechanism comprising a container for ballast to be controllably released in increments from a free floating balloon, a ballast release device having a chamber movable with respect to its support and controlling the release of said ballast .in response to movement of the chamber, a first chamber containing a control 'liquid exposed to atmospheric pressure, a second closed chamber containing a gas exposed to said control liquid to be compressed or expanded as a function of atmospheric pressure on the control liquid, and means responsive to change in volume in gas in said second chamber for changing the position of said movable chamber and operating said ballast release device when the atmospheric pressure has a predetermined increase caused by descent of the balloon.

2. An atmospheric powered ballast release mechanism comprising a container for ballast to vbe controllably rcleased in increments from a free oating balloon, a ballast release device having a chamber movable with respect to its support and controlling the release of said ballast in response to movement of the chamber, a lirst :chamber containing a control liquid exposed to atmospheric pressure, a second chamber containing air and having a, lower opening communicating with the rst chamber belowfthe surface of the control liquid, and means responsive to the `transfer of liquid from said irst chamber into said second chamber with increase in atmospheric pressure caused by descent of the balloon for changing the position of said movable chamber and operating said ballast release device.

3. An atmospheric powered ballast release mechanism comprising a container for liquid ballast to be controllably released in increments from a free oating balloon, a ballast release valve having a chamber movable with respect to its support and controlling the release of said liquid ballast in response to movement of the chamber, a first chamber containing a control liquid exposed to atmospheric pressure, a second chamber containing air and having a lower opening communicating with the irst chamber below the surface of the control liquid, and means responsive to the transfer of control liquid from said lirst chamber into said second chamber for changing the position of said movable chamber and operating said ballast release valve when the atmospheric pressure has a predetermined increase caused by descent of the balloon.

4. An atmospheric powered ballast release mechanism comprising a container for ballast to be controllably released in increments from a free floating balloon, a control chamber for a pool of control liquid exposed to atmosphere, a float within said control chamber having an air chamber therein communicating with the control chamber beneath the surface of the liquid so that liquid ows into the air chamber and the level of the float in the control chamber varies as a function of the atmospheric pressure change, and a ballast release device connected to the lioat for controlling the release of ballast from the ballast container.

5. An atmospheric powered ballast release mechanism comprising a container for liquid ballast with a downwardly facing ballast discharge opening, an overflow pool of liquid below said ballast container with the ballast discharge opening facing said pool to receive liquid and overow to drop ballast from a balloon, and means responsive to decrease or increase in atmospheric pressure for elevating or lowering the pool as a function of atmospheric pressure change to control discharge of ballast from the ballast container.

6. An atmospheric powered ballast release mechanism comprising a container for ballast to be controllably released in increments from a free floating ballon, a first chamber for an open pool of control liquid exposed to atmosphere, a oat within said rst chamber having a closed second chamber therein filled with air and communicating with the first chamber beneath the surface of the liquid so that liquid flows into the air chamber and the level of the lloat changes as a function of atmospheric pressure change, a closed third chamber lilled with air and communicating with said first chamber below the surface of the liquid so that the level of the liquid in the first chamber will change with atmospheric change to change the elevation of the iloat relative to the ballast release mechanism, and a ballast release device connected to the oat for controlling the release of ballast as a function of the elevation of the oat.

7. An atmospheric powered ballast release mechanism comprising a container for ballast to be controllably released in increments from a free floating balloon, a control chamber for a pool of control liquid exposed to at mosphere, a iioat within said chamber having an air chamber therein communicating with the control chamber beneath the surface of the liquid so that liquid flows into the air chamber and the level of the oat is a function of the atmospheric pressure change, said oat having a reduced size at its upper end so that the liquid of the control chamber closes over an upper surface of said iioat as the oat descends and the iloat will lose its buoyancy and will drop rapidly for rapid response, and a ballast release device connected to the float for controlling the release of ballast as a function ofthe elevation of the oat.

8. An atmospheric powered ballast release mechanism comprising a ballast container for liquid ballast to be controllably released in increments from a floating balloon, a support for the container accommodating movement between an upright and an inverted position, and means responsive to change in altitude for inverting the container when the balloon descends to drop ballast and returning the balloon to a normal altitude, said altitude responsive means moving the container to an upright position when the balloon ascends.

9. An atmospheric powered ballast release mechanism comprising a ballast container for liquid ballast to be controllably released in increments from a free oating balloon, a closed tirst chamber iilled with air, a second chamber for a control liquid open to atmospheric pressure, a passageway communicating between said chambers, a support carrying said chambers and mounted for inversion with the chambers located so that the support will be upright with the control liquid in the second chamber and inverted with the control liquid moved to the lirst chamber by increased atmospheric pressure, and means responsive to movement of the support to inverted position for releasing ballast.

l0. An atmospheric powered ballast release mechanism comprising a ballast container for liquid ballast to be controllably released in increments from a free oating balloon, a closed rst chamber lilled with air, a second chamber for a control liquid open to atmospheric pressure, a pivotal support carrying said chamber with a pivotal support point between the chambers, a passageway communicating between said chambers and extending laterally of said pivotal support point so that a moment arm will be created to pivot the upper chamber downwardly when the passageway contains liquid, and means responsive to pivotal movement of the pivotal support for releasing ballast when said passageway is iilled with liquid as increasing atmospheric pressure forces the liquid from the second to the lirst chamber.

No references cited.

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