Variable weft webbing for use as superpressure envelope load tendon
View Patent ↗A tendon is provided for supporting a balloon having a balloon envelope. The tendon has first and second end portions that are configured to be secured to sections of the balloon envelope and a main body portion disposed between the ends. The main body portion is configured to support a load caused by inflating the balloon envelope. The first end, second end and main body portions are formed from a plurality of weft and warp fibers disposed as webbing. The warp fibers extend longitudinally through the webbing and the weft fibers extend threadedly from side to side through the warp fibers. An elasticity of the tendon is adjusted by configuring the weft fibers along a particular weft path so as to be spaced apart in the main body portion at a certain distance from each other that is different than a spacing of the weft fibers in the ends.
1. A tendon for use on a balloon envelope, the tendon comprising:
first and second end portions and a main body portion disposed between the first and second end portions, each of the first end portion, the second end portion and the main body portion being comprised of a plurality of weft and warp fibers disposed as webbing;
wherein an elasticity of the main body portion is adjusted by configuring the weft fibers along a particular weft path so as to be spaced apart in the main body portion at a certain distance from each other that is different than a spacing of the weft fibers in the first and second end portions.
2. The tendon of claim 1 , wherein the first and second end portions are configured to be secured to a given portion of the balloon envelope.
3. The tendon of claim 2 , further comprising a bar tack device attached to each end portion of the first and second end portions, the bar tack device being secured to the given portion of the balloon envelope.
4. The tendon of claim 1 , wherein the main body portion is configured to loop over the balloon envelope along an axis thereof in order to support a load caused by inflation of the balloon envelope.
5. The tendon of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of warp fibers extend longitudinally through the webbing and the weft fibers extend threadedly from side to side through one or more of the warp fibers.
6. The tendon of claim 5 , wherein spacing of the weft fibers in the main body portion is within a range between 1 ppi to 5 ppi.
7. The tendon of claim 6 , wherein spacing of the weft fibers in the first and second end portions is within a range between 10 ppi to 20 ppi.
8. A system, comprising:
a balloon having a balloon envelope; and
a plurality of tendons attached to the balloon envelope, each tendon, comprising:
first and second end portions and a main body portion disposed between the first and second end portions, each of the first end portion, the second end portion and the main body portion being comprised of a plurality of weft and warp fibers disposed as webbing;
wherein an elasticity of the main body portion is adjusted by configuring the weft fibers along a particular weft path so as to be spaced apart in the main body portion at a certain distance from each other that is different than a spacing of the weft fibers in the first and second end portions.
9. The tendon of claim 8 , wherein the first and second end portions are configured to be secured to a given portion of the balloon envelope.
10. The tendon of claim 9 , further comprising a bar tack device attached to each end portion of the first and second end portions, the bar tack device being secured to the given portion of the balloon envelope.
11. The tendon of claim 8 , wherein the main body portion is configured to loop over the balloon envelope along an axis thereof in order to support a load caused by inflation of the balloon envelope.
12. The tendon of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of warp fibers extend longitudinally through the webbing and the weft fibers extend threadedly from side to side through one or more of the warp fibers.
13. The tendon of claim 12 , wherein spacing of the weft fibers in the main body portion is within a range between 1 ppi to 5 ppi.
14. The tendon of claim 13 , wherein spacing of the weft fibers in the first and second end portions is within a range between 10 ppi to 20 ppi.
15. A method of manufacturing a tendon for supporting a balloon having a balloon envelope, the tendon comprising first and second end portions, a main body portion disposed between the first and second end portions and a plurality of weft and warp fibers disposed as a webbing, the method comprising:
receiving the weft and warp fibers at a manufacturing device, the warp fibers extending longitudinally through the webbing;
feeding, using the manufacturing device, the weft fibers threadedly from side to side through one or more of the warp fibers, the weft fibers are feed at a adjustable uptake rate along a particular weft path; and
adjusting the uptake rate for the feeding in order to configure an elasticity of the main body portion of the webbing, the weft fibers in the main body portion being spaced apart at a certain distance from each other that is different than a spacing of the weft fibers in the first and second end portions based on the adjustments.
16. The method of manufacturing of claim 15 , wherein the first and second end portions are configured to be secured to a given portion of the balloon envelope.
17. The method of manufacturing of claim 16 , further comprising attaching a bar tack device to each end portion of the first and second end portions, the bar tack device being secured to the given portion of the balloon envelope.
18. The method of manufacturing of claim 15 , wherein the main body portion is configured to loop over the balloon envelope along an axis thereof in order to support a load caused by inflation of the balloon envelope.
19. The method of manufacturing of claim 18 , wherein adjusting comprises increasing the uptake rate for the feeding so that the spacing of the weft fibers in the main body portion is within a range between 1 ppi to 5 ppi.
20. The method of manufacturing of claim 19 , wherein adjusting comprises increasing the uptake rate for the feeding so that the spacing of the weft fibers in the first and second end portions is within a range between 10 ppi to 20 ppi.