WO2015173627A1

WO2015173627A1 - Aerostatic platform of the braked type, that may be raised at variable heights and provided mainly for supporting antenna systems for sound and data radio transmissions, and in case for supporting also devices for displaying and aerial surveying of land surfaces with different widths, and of persons, animals and objects of various kind arranged onto such surfaces

Info

Publication number: WO2015173627A1
Application number: PCT/IB2015/000691
Authority: WO
Inventors: Massimo ZECCA
Original assignee: Zecca Massimo
Priority date: 2014-05-14
Filing date: 2015-05-13
Publication date: 2015-11-19
Also published as: EP3143663A1

Abstract

Aerostatic platform (5) of the braked type, that may be raised at variable heights, provided mainly for supporting antenna systems (13) for sound and data radio transmissions, and in case for supporting also devices for displaying and aerial surveying (63, 77) of land surfaces with different widths, and of persons, animals and objects of various kind arranged onto such surfaces. Platform shaped like at least a balloon (6, 23, 71) having adequate dimension and volume, which can be filled with helium for being able to raise itself, together with the antenna systems (13) and any apparatus for displaying and aerial surveying (63, 77), up to such heights as to permit the radio transmissions with greater covering of the land surface. Such balloon (6, 23, 71) is provided with a central and vertical through hole (12), opened at its upper and lower end portions, for securing and supporting in the upper part the antenna (13), which may be connected with a vertical coaxial cable (14), the lower end portion (15) of which is connected to one or more apparatuses for sound and data radio transmissions. The balloon (6, 23, 71) is anchored to the ground by means of mooring ropes (17) and is connected also to at least a safety rope (19) which reaches up to the ground and is actuated for permitting the balloon to be raised and lowered.

Description

AEROSTATIC PLATFORM OF THE BRAKED TYPE, THAT MAY BE RAISED AT VARIABLE HEIGHTS AND PROVIDED MAINLY FOR SUPPORTING ANTENNA SYSTEMS FOR SOUND AND DATA RADIO TRANSMISSIONS, AND IN CASE FOR SUPPORTING ALSO DEVICES FOR DISPLAYING AND AERIAL SURVEYING OF LAND SURFACES WITH DIFFERENT WIDTHS, AND OF PERSONS, ANIMALS AND OBJECTS OF VARIOUS KIND ARRANGED ONTO SUCH SURFACES.

The invention relates to an aerostatic platform of the braked type of new configuration, adapted to contain helium for being able to be raised at variable heights, and which is made mainly for supporting antenna systems for sound and data radio transmissions, and in case for supporting also devices for displaying and aerial surveying of land surfaces with different widths, and of persons, animals and objects of various kind arranged onto such surfaces, such aerostatic platform being associated with anchorage devices and devices for regulating the raising height of new and innovative type.

The antenna systems for sound and data radio transmissions are normally employed for effecting these transmissions by using the Hertzian waves propagation, and lend themselves for various applications such as for example in the civil protection field, for facing emergency situations (earthquakes, floods, landslides, avalanches etc.), for police and/or military operations, into various zones of the land surface (earth, sea, rivers, lakes) etc.. Normally, the antennas for radio transmissions of this type are installed in a fixed manner into established positions, by anchoring them to the ground by means of a set of long vertical poles made of metallic materials or other suitable materials having high mechanical strength, the lower and upper end portions of which are adequately anchored to the ground, in the positions in which the antennas must operate for establishing the radio connections, for example on to the levelled grounds and/or also on to concrete platforms poured in advance, and on the upper end portions of these poles there are adequately secured the antennas and the appliances for the sound and data radio connections, in a way to cover a land surface wide as much as possible.

Since the structures formed by such poles for supporting the antennas for the radio transmissions may not exceed in height pre-established maximum lengths, such that do not compromise the stability and the mechanical strength of the structures and to increase the risk that the same structures may fall, with dangers of damaging the persons and the objects and the unavoidable interruptions of the radio connections, in the case in which the radio transmissions with these transmissions systems should be effected for distances which are longer than those attainable with the same systems, it would be necessary to install additional radio stations with relative repeater antennas which are mounted on to support structures of the same kind, which are installed in fixed positions adequately spaced away from the above described antenna, in order to cover a greater land surface during the radio connections. However, the so realized antenna systems for radio transmissions, have the drawbacks of being of fixed type and do not lend themselves for being installed into different positions, in the case in which this is required for performing the above mentioned activities, and moreover for ensuring radio connections for covering sometimes very limited and insufficient distances for establishing effective radio connections with stations spaced away too far, owing to the curvature of the land surface, particularly in the case in which there are involved radio connections exploiting the Hertzian waves propagation with direct wave.

These antenna systems for radio transmissions may in case support also apparatuses for displaying and aerial surveying such as for example cameras, video' cameras and similar apparatuses, supplied in an autonomous manner and connected via radio or cables with land receiving stations, into which the aerial images which have been shot are displayed and stored. Even in this case, these possible apparatuses for displaying and aerial surveying have the same drawbacks of the antennas for radio transmissions referred to.

The object of the present invention is to make available an aerostatic platform of the braked type (namely coupled to the land surface), which can be filled with helium, and eliminates the above mentioned drawbacks and applicative limits of the present structures for supporting the antenna systems for sound and data radio transmissions and on to which also the above specified displaying and surveying apparatuses may be installed, in order to effect radio transmissions and connections as well as transmissions of aerial images with other near or far stations, even along a greater land surface covering, and this thanks to the possibility to be able to raise this type of aerostatic platform at heights which are greater than those which are attainable with the conventional poles, and to be able to support and to drive such aerostatic platform in a different way during the raising and lowering thereof. This aerostatic platform of the braked type is made with the substantially described constructive characteristics, with particular reference to the attached claims.

The invention will be better understood from the following description, given solely by way of not-limitative example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

- Fig. 1 shows a perspective front view of an aerostatic platform of the braked type in accordance to the invention, in a first embodiment thereof, and with the support and raising and lowering structures thereof ;

- Fig. 2 shows a front view of the aerostatic platform of the Fig. 1 ;

- Fig. 3 shows a perspective front view of an aerostatic platform of the braked type in accordance to the invention, in a second embodiment thereof, and with the support and raising and lowering structures thereof ;

- Fig. 4 shows a front view of the aerostatic platform of the Fig. 3 ; - Fig. 5 shows a perspective and enlarged front view of the upper part of the aerostatic platform of the Figs. 1 and 2, with a radio antenna installed therein ;

- Fig. 6 shows with the same view of the Fig. 5 the enlarged item of the device for mounting and securing the radio antenna on to the platform, in a first embodiment thereof ; - Fig. 7 shows a perspective front view of the aerostatic platform of the Fig. 1 , with another device for mounting and securing the radio antenna ;

- Fig. 8 shows a front view of the aerostatic platform of the Fig. 7 ;

- Fig. 9 shows a perspective front and enlarged view of the upper part of the aerostatic platform of the Figs. 7 and 8 ;

- Fig. 10 shows, with the same view of the Fig. 9, the enlarged item of the device for mounting and securing the radio antenna ;

- Fig. 11 shows a perspective front view of the same aerostatic platform of the Fig. 3, with another device for mounting and securing the radio antenna ;

- Fig. 12 shows a front view of the aerostatic platform of the Fig. 11 ;

- Fig. 13 shows a perspective front view of the same aerostatic platform of the Fig. 1, with a different mechanism for anchoring the safety rope for allowing the same platform to be raised and lowered ;

- Fig. 14 shows a perspective front view of the same aerostatic platform of the Fig. 3, with a different mechanism for anchoring the safety rope for allowing the same platform to be raised and lowered ;

- Fig. 15 shows a front view of the same aerostatic platform of the Fig. 2, without radio antenna and with a plate supported in the lower part of the same platform, for supporting a lower camera for displaying and aerial surveying of the images of the land surface ;

- Fig. 16 shows a front view of the same aerostatic platform of the Fig. 4, without radio antenna and with the same lower camera of the Fig. 15 ; - Fig. 17 shows a perspective view from below of the lower camera of the Figs. 15 and 16 and the relative device for mounting and securing thereof ;

- Fig. 18 shows a plan view of the aerostatic platform of the Figs. 3 and 4, without radio antenna and with the addition of a valve for the inflation and deflation of the same platform;

- Fig. 19 shows, with the same plan and enlarged view, the aerostatic platform of the Fig. 18, with an additional reserve valve for the inflation and deflation of the same platform ;

- Fig. 20 shows an enlarged view from below of the lower part of the aerostatic platform, with a device for hooking the safety rope ;

- Fig. 21 shows a perspective front view of an aerostatic platform of the braked type in accordance to the invention, in a third embodiment thereof, and with the structures for supporting and raising and lowering thereof ;

- Fig. 22 shows a front view of the aerostatic platform of the Fig. 21 ;

- Fig. 23 shows a perspective front and enlarged view of the upper part of the aerostatic platform of the Figs. 21 and 22, with an installed radio antenna ;

- Fig. 24 shows a still more enlarged front view of the upper part of the aerostatic platform of the Fig. 23 ;

- Fig. 25 shows a plan view of the upper part of the aerostatic platform of the Fig. 21 ;

- Fig. 26 shows an enlarged plan view of the aerostatic platform of the Fig. 25, without the radio antenna ;

- Fig. 27 shows a view from below of the upper part of the aerostatic platform of the Fig. 26, with a device for hooking the safety rope ;

- Fig. 28 shows an enlarged front view of the aerostatic platform of the Fig. 22, without the upper radio antenna and with a lower device for mounting and securing a shot apparatus such as for example a camera or the like ; - Fig. 29 shows a perspective enlarged front view of the Fig. 28, with the relative lower device for mounting and securing a shot apparatus.

In the above Figures, it is schematically illustrated an aerostatic platform 5 of the braked type in accordance to the invention, adapted to contain helium with such quantities as to be able to be raised at different and variable heights, and which is realized mainly for supporting antenna systems for sound and data radio transmissions, by exploiting the Hertzian waves propagation, and in case for supporting also displaying and aerial surveying devices, such as for example cameras, video cameras and similar apparatuses, and such aerostatic platform is adapted to be used for a plurality of applications, such as for example in the civil protection field, for facing emergency situations (earthquakes, floods, landslides, avalanches etc.), for finding and helping persons dispersed in the mountains, in zones covered with snow, for police and/or military operations, into various zones of the land surface (earth, sea, rivers, lakes), etc...

Turning now to the Figs. 1 and 2, it is shown the present aerostatic platform 5 installed in a determinate position, in a first constructive embodiment thereof, and adapted to perform the above mentioned functions. Such aerostatic platform 5 is substantially shaped as a balloon 6 having adequate dimensions and volume, shaped preferably but not necessarily with a flattened oval profile, formed by a convex curved central zone 7 and an upper zone curved upward 8, joined with the convex curved central zone 7 and having a curvature radius greater than that of the convex central zone 7 and terminating with an upper flat surface 9, joined with the curved upper zone 8, and the oval profile of the present platform 5 is also formed by a lower zone curved downward 10, joined with the convex central zone 7 and shaped substantially identical and symmetrical with respect to the curved upper zone 8, and also terminating with a lower flat surface 11. The balloon 6 is made of a suitable elastic material, such as for example elastomeric material, and may be realized integral or also with different separated parts joined adequately and hermetically to each other.

Preferably, the balloon 6 is shaped with the described oval form, so as to offer with its external surface a smaller resistance to the wind flow impacting the same surface at the heights at which the balloon is raised, with consequent smaller side displacements of the balloon, and therefore also of the antenna systems for radio transmissions supported by the same balloon, in presence of winds with intensities not extremely high, which

circumstance allows to guarantee efficient sound and data radio transmissions.

Of course, the balloon may be also shaped with different forms, even spherical, which possibly offer a smaller resistance to the wind flow at the altitude, for performing effectively its function. Moreover, as visible from the Figs. 1 and 2, the aerostatic platform 5 is crossed for its entire height by at least a central and vertical through hole 12, opened at its upper and lower end portions, and which is extended from the upper flat surface 9 to the lower flat surface 11, and in the illustrated example such vertical through hole 12 has a circular form with a diameter smaller than the size of the relative flat surfaces 9 and 11 , and on its terminal zones the hole 12 is joined with a correspondent curved surface (not indicated) to the relative upper flat surface 9 and lower flat surface 11, and such vertical through hole 12 is delimited for all its extension by closed internal side walls, in a manner that between these closed internal walls and the external peripheral surface of the balloon 6 a hermetically closed chamber be provided, communicating with at least a valve 27, adapted to open itself for introducing the helium contained into suitable tanks or bottles (not shown), and that, after that the desired quantity of helium has been introduced, closes itself automatically for preventing that the introduced helium goes out outward.

Hereinafter, in the Figures which will be considered the positions and the number of these valves of this kind secured to the balloon will be indicated by way of example only.

The aim of the vertical central through hole 12 is that to let to pass partially at least an upper vertical metallic antenna 13 of a determinate length, which is secured to the upper part of the balloon 6 as it will be described, and which is projected upward from the upper terminal portion of the through hole 12, and is connected in the lower part with an antenna coaxial cable 14 passing through the through hole 12 and directed downward up to reach the land surface, in order to be connected with its lower end portion 15 with one or more sound and data radio transmission apparatuses (not shown) of traditional type, arranged on to the land surface in the installation area of the so equipped aerostatic platform.

Such antenna cable 14 has a considerable length, such that to allow that, during the raising of the balloon 6 up to the maximum height attainable by the same for which the antenna 13 is able to establish effective and not jammed radio communications with other antennas spaced far away therefrom, by covering a land surface which is longer than that attainable with the antenna systems utilized hitherto, the same antenna cable still reaches the land surface with its lower end portion and be always connected with the radio transmission apparatus, in a way that also under this condition there are ensured the radio transmissions between this station and the other radio transmission stations.

For supporting and securing to the land surface the so realized aerostatic platform 5, on to the external peripheral surface of the same platform there are adequately fixed, for example welded or stuck, some hooks 16 for attaching the upper end portions of mooring ropes 17, the lower end portions of which are fixed to correspondent seats of stakes 18 or the like, which are driven into the ground. Preferably, the attaching hooks 16 are fixed along the convex central zone 7 of the aerostatic platform, and spaced away from each other in an uniform manner and such hooks are provided in such quantities as to fix a number of ropes sufficient for anchoring to the ground in an effective way the balloon 6.

In the example illustrated by the Figs. 1 and 2, there are provided four hooks 16 and four mooring ropes 17, however these components may be provided also with different quantities, such that to ensure always a support and a balanced guide of the balloon 6 during its raising and lowering. Besides, the mooring ropes 17 are made with suitable flexible and sturdy material, for example in the form of braided textile fibres, and realized with such lengths as to reach the maximum heights attainable by each balloon, by keeping this latter always adequately anchored to the ground.

Finally, the present aerostatic platform is additionally provided with at least a safety rope 19, made preferably of the same material of the mooring ropes 17 and with the length at least identical to the same ropes, and this safety rope is hooked with its upper end portion in the manner described hereinafter, by passing through the through hole 12 of the same platform, and is wound and unwound with its lower end portion around a winch 20 or the like, which is supported and secured onto an anchoring flat plate 21 fixed with stakes 18 or the like in the ground, and provided with a side handle 22 for winding or unwinding the security rope 19 with respect to the winch 20. In this way, during the raising of the platform 5, the safety rope 19 is unwound progressively from the winch 20, and the mooring ropes 17 are progressively entrained upward by the same platform. When the platform 5 is raised at the desired height, such that to allow the desired radio connection with its antenna 13 to be effected, the rotation of the winch 20 is stopped, so that the platform 5 is kept at the reached height by the presence of both the mooring ropes 17 and the safety rope 19, and under this condition the aerostatic platform 5 remains at the reached height and permits to effect all the radio connections with all the desired radio-transmitting stations. The safety rope 19 also serves to prevent that, in the case in which one or more mooring ropes 17 detach or break themselves, the platform 5 may shift it laterally under the wind thrust or in presence of unfavourable meteorological conditions, or even tends to fall, and under such circumstances the safety rope 19 is rapidly re-wound on to the winch 20, thereby bringing back the same platform on to the ground, so as to prevent any possible damage thereof and in case any possible damage to the persons and objects arranged on to the ground. Should the aerostatic platform 5 for any reason deflate itself progressively of the helium, with consequent progressive lowering of the platform 5 together with the antenna system, under the condition in which the radio transmission would not more operate correctly or even could stop itself, the safety rope 19 would be re-wound on to the winch 20 so as the platform would be brought back on to the ground, for being filled again with the helium up to the required volume, or for replacing the same platform with another one, which then would be filled with the helium for performing the same function of the replaced platform.

It is to point out that the present platform and the components of the antenna system installed thereon as well as the components which are connected to the platform, for keeping it anchored to the ground and permitting the raising and lowering thereof, is preferable be made with materials as light as possible, for facilitating the raising of the platform at the desired heights, thereby decreasing also the quantities of the helium introduced into the same platform for permitting the raising thereof.

Turning now to the Figs. 3 and 4, in which the aerostatic platform 5 in a second constructive embodiment thereof is shown, it is noted that in this case the balloon 23 of the platform is shaped with a different form with respect to that of the Figs. 1 and 2, and to this aim it is still formed with a convex curved central zone 24 having a curvature radius greater than that of the preceding convex central zone 7, and such curved zone is extended for the entire height of the platform 5, which is greater than the height of the previous oval platform 5, and the balloon 23 is also formed by an upper flat surface 25 and a lower flat surface 26, joined with the respective upper and lower end portions of such convex central zone 24. Moreover, also in this case the balloon is provided with a vertical and central through hole 12 identical to the previous one, on the upper part of which the upper vertical metallic antenna 13 is secured as it will be described, and in this case the balloon is still provided with the same above described component parts, namely the anchoring ropes 17, the antenna cable 14, the central safety rope 19 and the winch 20, which are identical to those ones of the previously described balloon, wherein the anchorage ropes 17 hook themselves with their upper portions still to the hooks 16, that here are secured (welded or stuck, etc..) in the middle part of the convex central zone 24 of the balloon 23, and the so configured platform 5 operates in the same way than that previously described.

Furthermore, in the Fig. 4 it is noted a valve 27 applied on to the peripheral surface of the balloon 23 and communicating with the hermetically closed internal chamber of the balloon, for connecting the tank or bottle of the helium, so as to fill with helium such internal chamber, which valve 27 then closes itself automatically at the end of filling the helium, thereby ensuring the hermetical closing of the same internal chamber.

In the Figs. 5 and 6 now is shown with two different enlargements the upper part of the aerostatic platform of the Figs. 1 and 2, with a radio antenna 13 installed thereon, and an example of a device for supporting and fixing 28 such radio antenna, and the underlying safety rope 19. As visible from these Figures, such support and fix device 28 is mounted on to the opened upper end portion of the vertical through hole 12, having circular form, and in the illustrated example it is formed by a square flat plate 29, made of aluminium, carbon fibre or other lightweight and resistant material, which has a dimension smaller than the diameter of the through hole 12, for being able to be housed in the horizontal direction in the central position of the same hole, and this flat plate 29 is joined with its two opposed sides 30 and 31 to the end portion of a relative thin small plate 32 and 33 having rectangular form and made of the same material of the plate 29, and with its two other opposed sides 34 and 35 the flat plate 29 is joined to the end portion of a relative additional thin small plate 36 and 37 having rectangular form. All these small plates are identical to each other and have the same dimensions, and in particular their length is such as to be able to be coupled by insertion with their other end portion into a correspondent short shaped section bar 38, 39, 40 and 41, opportunely secured to the internal wall of the through hole 12, for example by welding or glueing etc... Onto the upper surface of the plate 29 it is secured the lower end portion of the antenna 13, that in this case is shaped as a thin flat disc 42 having circular form, the diameter of which is smaller than the surface of the flat plate 29, and such flat disc 42 is at first laid on to the upper flat surface of the plate 29 and then fixed thereto, for example by means of rivets, bolts or the like 43, or other suitable manner. This flat disc 42 is extended at its lower part with a traditional fixing element (not shown) of the upper end portion of the coaxial cable 14 passing through the through hole 12, in a way that the electric signal received by the antenna 13 be transmitted through such coaxial cable 14 to the underlying sound and data radio transmission apparatus arranged on to the ground and connected with the other end portion of the same antenna cable. Moreover, onto the lower flat surface of the plate 29 it is secured, as it will be described in the Fig. 20, the upper end portion of the safety rope 19, passing through the through hole 12. Of course, according to the invention it is also possible to realize the support and fix device 28 in a manner different than that described by way of example only, provided that it always serves to perform the above described functions, thus without departing from the protection sphere of the present invention.

Of course, the above described support and fix device 28 may be applied in the same manner also on to the balloon 23 of the Figs. 3 and 4, for performing the same functions. In the Figs. 7 and 8 is now shown an oval balloon 6 identical and provided with the same component parts of the balloon illustrated in the Figs. 1 and 2, which therefore are still marked with the same previous reference numerals, however in this case such oval balloon 6 is provided with another device for mounting and securing the radio antenna 13, and the underlying safety rope 19, which in this case is marked with the reference numeral 44 and will be described in detail hereinafter. Such oval balloon 6 is also provided with a valve 27 applied on to the peripheral surface of the balloon 6, which is communicating as described for the valve 27 of the Fig. 4 and performs the same function thereof.

As visible in detail in the Figs. 9 and 10, in which the upper part of the oval balloon 6 with included the device for mounting and securing 44 the radio antenna 13 and the safety rope 19 is shown, it is noted that this device is substantially constituted by the same component parts with the same materials of the device 28 described in the Figs. 5 and 6, namely a square flat plate 46, relative small plates 47, 48, 49 and 50 joined to the sides of the flat plate 46, and shaped section bars 51, 52, 53 and 54, coupled with the relative end portions of the small plates 47-50, and these component parts are always realized with the same dimensions and applied in the same positions of the correspondent flat plate 29 and the small plates 32, 33, 36 and 37 as well as the shaped section bars 38, 39, 40 and 41 of the device 28. However, in this case the small plates 47-50 are welded to the relative sides of the flat plate 46 in a manner to be directed inclined downward from the horizontal plane of such flat plate 46, in a way that when the lower end portions of the small plates 47-50 are coupled as previously with the correspondent shaped section bars 51 -54 fixed inclined in the same preceding positions to the internal wall of the vertical through hole 12, the flat plate 46 be supported by the small plates 47-50 in a position raised and projected upward with respect to the opened end portion of the through hole 12, and therefore these component parts take on a pyramidal form. Then, also in this case on to the upper surface of the flat plate 46 it is fixed the circular disc 55 forming the lower end portion of the antenna 13, and which is extended downward for forming the traditional fixing element (not shown) of the upper end portion of the antenna cable 14, the lower end portion 15 of which is connected as previously with the sound and data radio transmission apparatus, for performing the same function as described above. Besides, also in this case on to the lower flat surface of the flat plate 46 it is fixed, as it will be described in the Fig. 20, the upper end portion of the safety rope 19. In the Figs. 11 and 12 now is shown the present aerostatic balloon 23 in its second constructive configuration of the Figs. 3 and 4, and with the same component parts as described above, the antenna 13 of which is secured to the same balloon in the same position and with the same mounting and securing device 44 having pyramidal form, described in the Figs. 9 and 10. In the Figs. 13 and 14 there are illustrated the aerostatic platforms in their respective first and second constructive configuration previously described, however both are provided with a mechanism for anchoring to the ground of their safety rope 19 which is different than that previously described, and which is identical for both the platforms and is constituted solely by a horizontal flat plate 58 having reduced dimensions, in that in this case the winch has been eliminated, which plate 58 is adequately anchored to the ground, for example by means of stakes 59 or the like, and supports a lengthened upper hook 60 formed by a vertical rectilinear stem 61 and an upper eyelet 62, wherein the lower end portion of such vertical stem 61 is either fixed to the upper surface of the flat plate 58, or is made integral therewith, in a way that the stem 61 be extended upward orthogonally from the flat plate 58, and the upper end portion of the stem 61 is either joined with the eyelet 62 or is made integral therewith. In this way, the lower end portion of the safety rope 19 is introduced into the hole of the eyelet 62 and tied tightly therewith, and with this provision the safety rope 19 may be adjusted from time to time at the desired length, by changing the length of the lower end portion of the rope being tied to the eyelet 62, and under this condition the aerostatic balloon 23 may be raised up to the height permitted by the respectively selected length of the safety rope 19, which keeps the same balloon anchored to the ground.

On the contrary, for returning the balloon 23 back to the ground, or keeping it raised at a smaller height, the rope 19 is pulled manually downward, thereby lowering the same balloon up to the desired position. Turning now to the Figs. 15 and 16, shown therein are the aerostatic platforms in their respective first and second structural configuration, and both not provided with the upper antenna and structured in such a way as to support with their lower part at least a video camera, a camera etc... 63, oriented in a manner to shoot and to display the images of the land surface during the raising and lowering of the same platforms, in order to transmit the images which have been shot via radio or via cable to the apparatuses disposed on to the ground. Each video camera, camera etc.. 63 is supported by means of a mounting and securing device 64 which is described in the Fig. 17, and is substantially constituted by the same component parts described in the Figs. 9 and 10, which are mounted with an arrangement symmetrical with respect to the previous one and defining a pyramidal form projected vertically downward from the opened lower end portion of the through hole 12.

Therefore, also in this case the video camera, camera etc... 63 is supported by the same flat plate 46 and the small plates 47-50 fixed inclined downward with the relative sides of the flat plate 46, and coupled with the correspondent short shaped and inclined section bars 51- 54 secured to the internal walls of the through hole 12. However, in this case the video camera, camera etc... 63 is fixed to the flat plate 46 in a different manner with respect to that of the antenna 13 shown into such Figs. 9 and 10. In fact, such fixing is here effected by applying in an adequate manner a circular ring 65 to the lower flat surface of the flat plate 46, in the central zone thereof, which ring 65 forms a single body with the spherical surface 66 of the video camera, camera etc... 63. Of course, in accordance to the invention it is also possible to support and to fix the video camera, camera etc... 63 in a different manner with respect to its own aerostatic platform, provided that such shot apparatus be always correctly oriented downward for being able to effect the aerial shots, thus without departing from the protection sphere of the present invention.

In the Fig. 18 now is shown a plan view of the aerostatic platform of the Figs. 3 and 4, without radio antenna and with the addition of a reserve valve 67 for inflating and deflating with helium the aerostatic platform, and for arranging the same to be inflated directly from the ground, by means of a special device (not shown) co-operating with such reserve valve 67. Such valve 67 is applied in a determinate position in the interior of the through hole 12, while in the Fig. 19 is shown an enlarged plan view of the same aerostatic platform, without the antenna, and still with the reserve valve 67, wherein it is noted that the flat plate 29 is provided with a set of side through holes 68 and a central through hole 69, of which the side through holes 68 serve for the passage of the rivets, bolts or the like 43 for fixing the flat disc 42 of the antenna 13 to the upper surface of the flat plate 29, which disc is extended downward by forming the lower element for fixing the upper end portion of the coaxial cable 14, passing through the central hole 69. Finally, in the Fig. 20 is shown an enlarged view from below of the aerostatic platform, and the component parts of the Fig. 19, in which it is noted a hooking device 70 formed by a circular hook which is fixed with its end portions to the lower surface of the flat plate 29, and to which is adequately fixed the upper end portion of the safety rope 19. Such hook 70 has such a length as to delimit a space sufficient for passing also the coaxial cable 14, which is then connected to the antenna, and it is applied into all the devices for supporting and securing the radio antenna of the different aerostatic platforms. The so realized aerostatic platform allows to obtain the important advantages to be able to have available some antenna systems for sound and data radio transmissions of movable type, which can be assembled and disassembled rapidly in the positions requested from time to time and on to grounds of any

configuration, for performing any type of activity performed by the systems supported as described above, by allowing also to establish greater coverings of the land surface during the radio connections, thanks to the presence of aerostatic platforms of this kind which permit to support and to raise at different and variable heights such antenna systems.

In the Figs. 21-29 is illustrated schematically an aerostatic platform 5 of the braked type in a third constructive conformation, and with the support structures for raising and lowering thereof which are realized with embodiments different than those previously described. Turning now to the Figs. 21 and 22, shown therein is the present aerostatic platform installed in a determinate position and shaped as a balloon 71 having spherical form with adequate dimensions and volume, which is also crossed for its entire height by at least a vertical and central through hole 12, opened at its upper and lower end portions, and also delimited for its entire extent by closed side internal walls, in a way that between these closed internal walls and the external peripheral surface of the platform 5 be provided at least a hermetically closed internal chamber, communicating with valve means (not shown) adapted to open themselves for introducing the helium in the closed chamber, and to close themselves automatically after the introduction of the desired quantity of helium.

Also in this case, as previously, the valve means serve for permitting to inflate and deflate the balloon 71, and are still shaped for recovering the helium after the same balloon has been deflated. Furthermore, also here at least one of the valve means is for reserve.

Likewise, instead of the spherical form, the balloon may also have forms different than those ones until now described by way of example. Also this type of balloon 5 comprises at least an upper device 72 for supporting and securing the metallic antenna 13, which is shaped as it will be described, which is extended downward with the fixing element of the upper end portion of said coaxial antenna cable 14, passing through the through hole 12, the lower end portion 15 of which is connected with one or more sound and data radio transmission apparatuses, and the balloon 5 also comprises the mooring means (not metallic ropes 17) anchored in the lower part to seats of stakes 18 driven into the ground, and connected in the upper part to said correspondent hooks 16 fixed by welding or glueing etc.. on to the external peripheral surface of the balloon 5, and finally the balloon 5 comprises also the safety means 19 formed by said not metallic rope 19 passing through the through hole 12, which is identical and can be actuated as the rope previously described 19. As visible also from the Figs. 23-26, such upper supporting and securing device 72 is substantially constituted by at least a first pair of lengthened section bars 73, identical to each other and curved upward, made of metal, plastic, carbon fibre or similar material, an end portion of which is fixed to or integral with a central flat disc 74, not necessarily round, and which are extended symmetrically and at a position aligned to each other from two opposite sides of the central disc 74, and the device is moreover constituted by a second pair of lengthened section bars 73 curved upward, identical to each other and to the preceding section bars 73, and which are fixed to or integral with an end portion thereof to the central disc 74 and are also extended symmetrically and at a position aligned to each other from two other opposite sides of the same central disc, and are also spaced away angularly of 90° with respect to the section bars of the first pair.

The other free end portion of all the lengthened section bars curved upward 73 is inserted forced into correspondent seats provided into support elements 75 made of rubber or other suitable flexible material, or also rigid material, which are identical to each other and folded and shaped integral with a relative flat circular disc 76, adapted to be laid on to the spherical external surface of the spherical balloon 71, to which all the flat discs 76 are adequately fixed or glued. In this manner, the spider formed by all the lengthened and curved section bars 73 and the flat central disc 74 may be easily coupled with and supported in position by the spherical balloon 71, by inserting the free end portions of all the lengthened and curved section bars 73 into the correspondent seats of the support elements 75, in order to be able to support the metallic antenna 13. For supporting the antenna 13, the flat disc 42 thereof is also bored with a set of through holes (not indicated) in positions offset angularly to each other and coinciding with the correspondent through holes (not indicated) of the underlying central flat disc 74 of the lengthened and curved section bars 73, and into the through holes coinciding to each other there are than inserted the correspondent rivets, bolts or the like 43, thereby supporting and securing the antenna 13 in position onto the spherical balloon 71.

Finally, also in this case the safety rope 19 is hooked with its upper end portion in the circular hook 70 made of metal or other resistant material, that here is fixed with its end portions to the lower surface of the central flat disc 74 of the lengthened and curved section bars 73, while in turn the coaxial cable 14 is still secured with its upper end portion to the fixing element of the flat disc 42 of the antenna 13.

Turning now to the Figs. 28 and 29, shown therein is the device for supporting the aerial shooting apparatus (video camera, camera, etc..) 77, which is shaped in a manner identical to such upper supporting and securing device 72, namely which comprises a spider formed by the two pairs of lengthened and curved section bars 73, arranged orthogonally to each other, the central flat disc 74 to which the relative end portions of the same section bars are welded or integral therewith, and the support elements 75 provided with the correspondent circular flat discs 76, which are applied on to the external spherical surface of the spherical balloon 71, and in the seats of which the other end portions of such lengthened and curved section bars 73 are inserted. In this case, the aerial shooting apparatus 77 is supported by such support device like that represented in the Figs. 15, 16 an 17, namely it is still constituted by a metallic circular ring 65 forming a single body with the spherical surface 66 of the video camera, camera etc., which ring is shaped with through holes (not indicated) provided in positions coinciding with the through holes of the central flat disc 74, for inserting through the same through holes relative rivets, bolts and the like for fixing the circular ring 65 in the lower part to such central flat disc 74.

In the example illustrated in the Figs. 28 and 29, the spherical balloon 71 isn't provided with the upper antenna 13, but it may also foresees the same antenna.

Of course, also in this case it is possible to support and to secure the shooting apparatus in a manner different with respect to its own aerostatic platform, provided that such shooting apparatus be always oriented correctly downward for being able to effect the aerial shots, thus without departing from the protection sphere of the present invention.

Besides, it is to point out that the shooting apparatus may be also eliminated, in the case in which the aerial shots in the spherical balloon 71 aren't foreseen, while the antenna 13 instead of being supported and secured in the upper part of the spherical balloon 71 as described previously, may be also secured in an upside down turned position (not shown) in the lower part of the same spherical balloon, by utilizing the same above specified supporting and securing device 72.

Of course, the support and fixing of the antenna 13 may be effected always in the lower part also of such first and second embodiments of the aerostatic platform, in this case by utilizing the previously described supporting and securing devices, thus without departing from the protection field of the present invention.

Finally, it is to add that both the antenna and the shooting apparatus may be used contemporaneously or also separately in the upper and lower parts of all the types of the described balloons and also in those shaped in a different manner, for example by using contemporaneously the antenna and the video camera, or by using also other equipment of different kind both in the upper part and in the lower part of each type of balloon.

Further characteristics of the present aerostatic platform may be the following :

- the stakes 18 may be equipped with reels or the like for unwinding or re- winding automatically the mooring ropes 17, with the aid of a pre-tensioning device for each reel. This serves to determine an automatically assisted takeoff or landing of the balloon, above all in the case of strong wind. In fact, during the takeoff or landing, until the balloon isn't anchored to the ground with the mooring ropes 17, it could happen a strong wind gust, so that in this case the ropes would lock themselves thanks to the pre-tensioning device, with consequent automatic stabilization of the balloon and raising in the correct position thereof. This type of system with reels allows also to unwind or re-wind the ropes by keeping them in order and well stretched, in a way that during the raising or lowering of the aerostatic platform the ropes do not braid or entangle themselves in an untidy and accidental manner ;

- in all the types of balloons, the support plates 29 or the like may be shaped also in different manners, and also not be bored for the fixing rivets or bolts, etc... For example, some equipment on board of the balloon could be fixed also with magnetic attraction systems or the like ;

- the small plates 36 and 37 of the supporting and securing devices 28 could be made also with different forms, not necessarily squashed, without departing from the protection sphere of the invention ;

- the hooks represented by way of example may be made also of other forms, in order to hook the mooring ropes 17, which in turn could be more than 4 depending on the needs ;

- the valve means of all the types of balloons may be applied also in different positions ; - in all the types of aerostatic platforms there may be applied some signalling lamps (self- supplied by small photovoltaic panels, etc.), such as for example lights for signalling some flying obstacles (SOV) in the platform upper part, and lamps of other type which signal the raising and the lowering phase of the platform in its lower part (for example, stroboscopic light) ;

- such raising and lowering phase of the platform may be signalled also by means of an acoustic signalling device, such as for example a buzzer, applied in any position of the platform, or on to the winch plate etc... ;

- the winch 20 may be coupled with electric devices controlled remotely (by radio control etc...), which permit to automatize completely the aerostatic platforms by acting from positions far away therefrom, without physical contact therewith ;

- the stakes 18 for the mooring ropes 17 may also be replaced by other devices, depending on to the nature of the site in which these aerostatic platforms are employed.

For example, in the waters they could be replaced by buoys, on to the asphalt for example by concrete blocks or by ballasts made of plastic and filled with water etc...;

- the supporting and securing devices may be also inserted in position not forced into the relative short shaped section bars and into the elements 75, by utilizing for example a fixed joint system with snap-in locking, and moreover in the shaped section bars and the elements 75 the material could be also a rigid material and not necessarily a flexible material, as described ;

- the antennas of the Figures are described by way of example, in that they may have any other form ;

- the fact that the balloon be provided with a vertical central through hole with the relative central supports serves also to give a greater stability to the balloon, thanks to such central distributions of the weights, thereby letting the same balloon to oscillate as less as possible. Should the weights not be so distributed, in spite that the balloons be anchored with the mooring ropes, they would tend to oscillate for a larger extent ;

- in the case of particular needs, the platforms may be utilized even without the mooring ropes, for permitting that the platforms raise themselves at greater heights with the sole safety rope 19 and the winch 20 ;

- to secure the lower end portions of all the mooring ropes directly to the safety rope, instead of the staked driven into the ground, in a way to raise or lower the aerostatic platform by acting on to the safety rope only, which is wound and unwound on to the winch.

Claims

1. Aerostatic platform (5) of the braked type, adapted to contain helium in such quantities as to be able to raise itself at different and variable heights, and provided mainly for supporting antenna systems for sound and data radio transmissions, by exploiting the Hertzian waves propagation, and in case for supporting also devices for displaying and aerial surveying of land surfaces, such as for example cameras, video cameras (63, 77) and similar apparatuses, the aerostatic platform (5) being adapted to be used for a plurality of applications, such as for example in the civil protection sector, for facing emergency situations (earthquakes, floods, landslides, avalanches, etc.), for recognizing and aiding persons who have been lost in the mountains, in areas covered with snow, for police and/or military operations, in various area of the land surface (ground, see, rivers, lakes), etc..., characterized in that to be substantially shaped as at least a balloon (6, 23, 71) of adequate sizes and volumes, made of suitable elastic material, such as for example elastomeric material, and made integral or also with different separated parts opportunely and hermetically joined to each other, said balloon (6, 23, 71) being preferably shaped with a such a form as to offer with its external surface a smaller resistance to the wind flow impacting the same surface at the heights at which the balloon is raised, with consequent smaller side displacements of the balloon, and therefore also of the antenna systems for radio transmissions supported by the same balloon, in presence of winds with intensities not extremely high, which circumstance allows to guarantee efficient sound and data radio transmissions, said aerostatic platform (5) being crossed for its entire height by at least a central and vertical through hole (12), opened at its upper and lower end portions, and delimited for all its extension by closed internal side walls, in a manner that between these closed internal walls and the external peripheral surface of the platform (5) at least an internal hermetically closed chamber be provided, communicating with valve members (27, 67), adapted to open themselves for introducing into the closed chamber the helium contained into suitable tanks or bottles, and to close themselves automatically after the introduction of the desired quantity of helium, said vertical central through hole (12) being adapted to let to pass partially at least an upper vertical metallic antenna (13) of the antenna systems, and having a determined length, said metallic antenna (13) being secured by means of at least a support and fixing device (28, 44, 72) into said balloon (6, 23, 71), preferably onto the upper end portion of said through hole (12), and being extended downward with a traditional fixing element of the upper end portion of at least an antenna coaxial cable (14), passing through said through hole (12), the lower end portion (15) of which is connected with one or more sound and data radio transmission apparatuses, of the traditional type, arranged onto the land surface in the installation area of said platform (5), for the transmission of the electric signals from said antenna (13) to said radio transmission apparatus/es, said antenna coaxial cable (14) having such a length as to maintain the connection with said antenna (13) and said radio transmission apparatus/es even at the greatest raising height of the same platform, said aerostatic platform (5) being also secured with mooring means (17) anchored to the ground, which are adapted to keep always anchored to the ground the same platform, when this latter is arranged on to the ground as well when it is raised at different heights by the helium contained into its internal chamber, wherein in its greatest raising position said platform (5) may establish with its antenna (13) a greater coverage of the radio connections with the desired broadcasting stations, for widths of the land surface that are greater than those now attainable, the platform (5) being also secured with safety means (19), which are passing through said through hole (12) and are actuatable manually or mechanically from the ground, and having such a length that to maintain the connection with the ground and with said platform (5) also at the greatest raising height of this latter, said safety means (19) being actuatable from the ground in a manner to guide and raise or lower said platform (5) from its position arranged on to the ground up to its greatest raising position, and vice-versa.

2. Aerostatic platform according to claim 1, characterized in that said balloon (6) has a flat oval profile, formed by a convex central zone (7) and by an upper zone (8) curved upward, joined with said convex central zone (7) and having a radius of curvature greater than that one of this latter, and ending with an upper flat surface (9), joined with said upper curved zone (8) and in which the upper open end portion of said through hole (12) ends, said oval profile being also formed by a lower zone (10) curved downward, joined with said convex central zone (7) and shaped substantially identical and symmetrical with respect to the curved upper zone (8), and also ending with a lower flat surface (11), in which the lower open end portion of said through hole (12) ends.

3. Aerostatic platform according to claim 2, characterized in that said balloon (23) is formed by a convex curved central zone (24) with a radius of curvature greater than that one of said convex central zone (7), and that is extended for the entire height of the platform (5), which is greater than the height of said oval platform (6), and the balloon (23) is also formed by an upper flat surface (25) and by a lower flat surface (26), which are joined with the respective upper and lower end portions of said convex central zone (24), and characterized in that said through hole (12) terminates at and is joined with its upper and lower end portions with said respective upper flat surface (25) and lower flat surface (26).

4. Aerostatic platform according to claim 3, characterized in that said support and fixing device (28) is formed preferably by a square shaped flat plate (29), made of aluminium, carbon fibre or other lightweight and resistant material, having a size smaller than the diameter of said through hole (12), in order to be able to be housed in the horizontal direction in the central position of the same hole, and this flat plate (29) is joined with its two opposite sides (30, 31) with the end portion of a relative thin small plate (32, 33), and with its other two opposite sides (34, 35) said flat plate (29) is joined with the end portion of a relative additional thin small plate (36, 37), such small plates being all identical to each other and having the same size, in a manner to be able to be coupled in their length by inserting their other end portion into a correspondent short shaped section bar (38, 39, 40, 41), opportunely secured to the internal wall of said through hole (12), for example by welding or glueing, etc..., and that onto the upper surface of said plate (29) it is secured the lower end portion of said antenna (13), which is shaped preferably like a thin flat disc (42) of circular shape, the diameter of which is smaller than the surface of the flat plate (29), and such flat disc (42) is fixed to the flat plate (29) for example by means of rivets, bolts or the like (43), and that said flat disc (42) is extended at its lower part with a traditional fixing element of the upper end portion of said antenna coaxial cable (14).

5. Aerostatic platform according to claim 4, characterized in that said flat plate (29) is provided with a central through hole (69) for the passage of said antenna coaxial cable (14).

6. Aerostatic platform according to claim 4, characterized in that said support and fixing device (44) of the radio antenna (13) is still constituted by a flat plate, preferably of squared shape (46), by relative small plates (47, 48, 49, 50) joined to the sides of the flat plate (46), and by shaped section bars (51, 52, 53, 54), coupled with the relative end portions of the small plates (47-50), and these component parts are always made with the same sizes and applied in the same position of the correspondent component parts of the device (28), however in this case said small plates (47-50) are welded to the relative sides of the flat plate (46) in a manner to be projected inclined downward from the horizontal plane of such flat plate (46), in a manner that when the lower end portions of said small plates (47-50) are coupled with the correspondent shaped section bars (51-54) fixed inclined in the same previously positions to the internal wall of said vertical through hole (12), the flat plate (46) be supported by the inclined small plates (47-50) in a raised position and projected upward with respect to the upper opened end portion of the through hole (12), and so these component parts take on a pyramidal shape, and that onto the upper surface of the flat plate (46) it is fixed in a close contact a circular disc (55) forming the lower end portion of the antenna (13), and that is projected downward by forming the traditional fixing element for the upper end portion of said antenna coaxial cable (14), terminating with a lower end portion (15).

7. Aerostatic platform according to claim 6, characterized in that said mooring means are constituted by various ropes (17) made of a suitable flexible and strong material, such as for example in the form of stranded textile fibers, the upper end portions of which are attached to correspondent hooks (16) fixed welded or glued etc... onto the external peripheral surface of the same platform, and the lower end portions of which are fixed into correspondent seats of stakes (18) or the like, which are driven into the ground, said ropes (17) being spaced away to each other in an uniform way for anchoring to the ground in an effective manner the balloon and for ensuring always a support and an equilibrate guide of the balloon during its raising and lowering, and said ropes (17) being also realized with such lengths as to reach the greatest heights which may be reached by each balloon, by keeping this latter always adequately anchored to the ground.

8. Aerostatic platform according to claim 7, characterized in that said safety means are constituted by at least a safety rope (19), made preferably of the same material of the mooring ropes (17), and passing through said through hole (12) and joined with its upper end portion to hook means (70) secured below said fiat plate (29, 46), said rope (19) being wound and unwound with its lower end portion around a winch (20) or the like, supported and fixed onto a anchoring flat plate (21) fixed with stakes or the like in the ground, and provided with a side handle (22) for winding or unwinding the safety rope (19) with respect to the winch (20), or said safety rope (19) being able to be hooked and tied with its lower end portion in an upper eyelet (62) of an upper lengthened hook (60), formed by said eyelet (62) and by a vertical rectilinear stem (61), the upper end portion of which is joined with said eyelet (62) and the lower end portion of which is fixed or made integral with a lower flat plate (58), which is anchored to the ground, for example by means of rivets or the like (59), in a manner that by acting onto the safety rope (19) it is possible to lower the balloon, or to raise it up to the desired height, and vice- versa, and that said safety rope (19) may be regulated from time to time to the desired length, by varying the length of the lower end portion of the rope being tied to said eyelet (62).

9. Aerostatic platform according to previous claims, structured in a manner to support with its lower part at least a video camera, a camera, etc... (63), oriented in a manner to shoot and to display the images of the land surface during the raising of the same platform, in* order to transmit the shot images by radio or by cable to the apparatuses disposed on the ground, characterized in that the support of each video camera, camera, etc... (63) is obtained by means of a mounting and fixing device (64), substantially identical to and mounted with a symmetrical arrangement with respect to that of the device (44), and defining a pyramidal shape projected vertically downward from the lower open end portion of the through hole (12), said support being obtained by applying a circular ring (65) to the lower flat surface of the flat plate (46), in the central zone thereof, which ring (65) forms a single body with the spherical surface (66) of the video camera, camera, etc... (63).

10. Aerostatic platform according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said balloon (71) has a spherical formed profile, and the central and vertical through hole (12) of which is opened at its upper and lower end portions, and that said upper support and fixing device (72) of the antenna (13) is substantially constituted by at least a first pair of lengthened section bars (73) identical to each other and curved upward, made of metal, plastic, carbon fibre or similar material, an end portion of which is fixed to or integral with a central flat disc (74), and which are extended symmetrically and at a position aligned to each other from two opposite sides of the central disc (74), and the device is moreover constituted by a second pair of lengthened section bars (73) curved upward, identical to each other and to the preceding section bars (73), and which are fixed to or integral with an end portion thereof to the central disc (74), and are also extended symmetrically and at a position aligned to each other from the two other opposite sides of the same central disc, and are also spaced away angularly of 90° with respect to the section bars of the first pair, while the other free end portion of all the lengthened section bars curved upward (73) is inserted forced into correspondent seats provided into support elements (75) made of rubber or other suitable material, or also rigid material, which are identical to each other and folded and shaped integral with a relative flat circular disc (76), adapted to be laid on to the spherical external surface of the spherical balloon (71), to which all the flat discs (76) are adequately fixed or glued, said antenna (13) being supported by arranging the flat disc (42) thereof, bored with a set of through holes in positions offset angularly to each other and coinciding with the correspondent through holes of said central flat disc (74), on to said flat central disc (74), and by inserting into the through holes coinciding to each other correspondent fixing rivets, bolts or the like (43), and characterized in that said device for supporting the aerial shooting apparatus (video camera, camera etc.. 77) is shaped in a manner identical to said upper supporting and securing device (72), and the aerial shooting apparatus (77) is supported by said support device and is still constituted by a circular ring (65) forming a single body with the spherical surface (66) of the video camera, camera etc..., which ring (65) is shaped with through holes provided in positions coinciding with the through holes of the central flat disc (74), for inserting through the same through holes relative rivets, bolts and the like for fixing the circular ring (65) in the lower part of said central flat disc (74).

11. Aerostatic platform according to claim 10, characterized in that said balloon (5) may have also forms different than those above described.

12. Aerostatic platform according to claim 11, characterized in that said safety rope (19) is fixed with its upper end portion in a metallic circular hook (70), which is fixed with its end portions to the lower surface of said central flat disc (74).

i^'

13. Aerostatic platform according to claim 11, characterized in that said antenna (13) instead of being supported by and fixed to the upper part of the spherical balloon (71), may be also fixed in an upside down turned position in the lower part of the same spherical balloon, by utilizing the same above specified supporting and securing device (72).

14. Aerostatic platform according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said antenna (13) may be also fixed in the lower part of said balloon (6) and said balloon (23), by utilizing the same previously described supporting and securing devices.

15. Aerostatic platform according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said antenna (13) and said aerial shooting apparatus (77) may be used contemporaneously or also separately in the upper and lower parts of all the types of used balloons and even in those shaped in a different manner, for example by utilizing contemporaneously said antenna (13) and the video camera (77), or by using also other equipment of different kind both in the upper part and in the lower part of each type of balloon.