Controlling descent of a zero pressure balloon
View Patent ↗An apparatus is provided that includes a solenoid chamber having a plunger configured to create an opening in a first balloon envelope of a balloon system when the solenoid chamber is actuated. The opening enables gas to evacuate from the first balloon envelope. A mixer valve having a nozzle is coupled to the solenoid chamber. The mixer valve is configured to create a gas mixture formed from the gas evacuating from the opening and atmospheric gas. A heating device is attached to the nozzle. The heating device is configured to heat the gas mixture created by the mixer valve. A second balloon envelope is attached to the nozzle. The second balloon envelope is arranged to expand in proportion to a quantity of the heated gas mixture passing through the nozzle. This expansion of the second balloon envelope creates an amount of lift for controlling descent of the balloon system.
1. An apparatus for controlling balloon descent, comprising:
a solenoid chamber having a plunger configured to create an opening in a first balloon envelope of a balloon system when the solenoid chamber is actuated, the opening enabling gas to evacuate from the first balloon envelope;
a mixer valve having a nozzle coupled to the solenoid chamber, the mixer valve configured to create a gas mixture formed from the gas evacuating from the opening in the first balloon envelope and atmospheric gas;
a heating device attached to the nozzle, the heating device configured to heat the gas mixture created by the mixer valve; and
a second balloon envelope attached to the nozzle, the second balloon envelope arranged to expand in proportion to a quantity of the heated gas mixture passing through the nozzle, wherein the expansion of the second balloon envelope creates an amount of lift for controlling descent of the balloon system.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a control unit configured to remotely actuate the solenoid chamber.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the solenoid chamber, upon actuation, causes movement of the plunger towards the first balloon envelope with sufficient force to create the opening.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the opening is confined to a region of the first balloon envelope corresponding to a boundary region of the solenoid chamber.
5. The apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising an activation unit in communication with the control unit and the heating device, wherein activation of the activation unit causes the heating device to heat the ignition element.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the activation unit is activated in response to a command from the control unit.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the mixer valve includes one or more gas inlets and a gas outlet, the one or more gas inlets being arranged to mix the atmospheric gas with the gas evacuating from the opening in the first balloon envelope, and the gas outlet being arranged to discharge the gas mixture through the nozzle.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the mixer valve is configured to provide a stoichiometric ratio of each gas.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the expansion is caused by filling the second balloon envelope with an amount of the heated gas mixture.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the amount of lift caused by the expansion of the second balloon envelope is different than an amount of lift in the first balloon envelope.
11. A system for controlling balloon descent,
comprising:
a balloon structure having a first balloon envelope; and
an apparatus attached to the balloon structure, the apparatus comprising:
a solenoid chamber having a plunger configured to create an opening in the first balloon envelope when the solenoid chamber is actuated, the opening enabling gas to evacuate from the first balloon envelope;
a mixer valve having a nozzle coupled to the solenoid chamber, the mixer valve configured to create a gas mixture formed from the gas evacuating from the opening in the first balloon envelope and atmospheric gas;
a heating device attached to the nozzle, the heating device configured to heat the gas mixture created by the mixer valve; and
a second balloon envelope attached to the nozzle, the second balloon envelope arranged to expand in proportion to a quantity of the heated gas mixture passing through the nozzle, wherein the expansion of the second balloon envelope creates an amount of lift for controlling descent of the balloon structure.
12. The system of claim 11 , further comprising a control unit configured to remotely actuate the solenoid chamber.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the solenoid chamber, upon actuation, causes movement of the plunger towards the first balloon envelope with sufficient force to create the opening.
14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the opening is confined to a region of the first balloon envelope corresponding to a boundary region of the solenoid chamber.
15. The system of claim 12 , further comprising an activation unit in communication with the control unit and the heating device, wherein activation of the activation unit causes the heating device to heat the ignition element.
16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the activation unit is activated in response to a command from the control unit.
17. The system of claim 11 , wherein the mixer valve includes one or more gas inlets and a gas outlet, the one or more gas inlets being arranged to mix the atmospheric gas with the gas evacuating from the opening in the first balloon envelope, and the gas outlet being arranged to discharge the gas mixture through the nozzle.
18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the mixer valve is configured to provide a stoichiometric ratio of each gas.
19. The system of claim 11 , wherein the expansion is caused by filling the second balloon envelope with an amount of the heated gas mixture.
20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the amount of lift caused by the expansion of the second balloon envelope is different than an amount of lift in the first balloon envelope.