Superpressure Polyethylene Balloon With Load Tapes

Abstract

A balloon having a balloon envelope formed with a plurality of adjacent envelope sections each formed of a single seamless piece sealed together at their respective edges to form an edge seam between each of the adjacent envelope sections, a tape comprised of fibers applied to a centerline of each of the envelope sections, wherein the envelope sections are constructed such that the edge seam between each of the adjacent envelope sections is longer than the centerline of each of the envelope sections, and wherein a load caused by pressurized lifting gas within the balloon envelope is carried primarily by the fiber tapes on the centerlines of the envelope sections, rather than the edge seams between the adjacent envelope sections.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a balloon envelope formed with a plurality of adjacent envelope sections, each envelope section comprising a single seamless piece, each adjacent envelope section sealed together at their respective edges to form an edge seam between each of the adjacent envelope sections;   a tape comprised of fibers applied to a seamless centerline of each of the envelope sections;   wherein the envelope sections are constructed such that the edge seam between each of the adjacent envelope sections is longer than the centerline of each of the envelope sections; and   wherein a load caused by pressurized lifting gas within the balloon envelope is carried primarily by the fiber tapes on the centerlines of the envelope sections, rather than the edge seams between the adjacent envelope sections.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the respective envelope sections and fiber tapes applied to the centerlines of the envelope sections extend longitudinally to a load ring positioned at a top of the balloon envelope. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein each of the respective envelope sections and fiber tapes are secured to the load ring and sandwiched beneath a top plate positioned at the top of the balloon envelope. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein each of the respective fiber tapes has a width of ½ inch. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein a pressure sensitive adhesive is applied to the respective fiber tapes before the fiber tapes are applied to the seamless centerlines of the respective envelope sections. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the fibers in the respective fiber tapes are straight line fibers. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the straight line fibers are comprised of dyneema fibers or aramid fibers. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more of the respective fiber tapes includes one or more metallic, reflective fibers. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more reflective fibers serve as an antenna. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the respective fiber tapes are positioned within a tubular sleeve that is adhered to the respective seamless centerlines of the envelope sections. 
     
     
         11 . A method of forming a balloon envelope comprising the steps of:
 positioning a first envelope section formed as a seamless single piece having a first edge and a second edge adjacent a second envelope section formed as a single seamless piece having a first edge and a second edge;   sealing the second edge of the first envelope section to the first edge of the second envelope section to form a first edge seam;   adhering a first fiber tape to a seamless centerline of the first envelope section, wherein the first edge seam has a length that is longer than a length of the centerline of the first envelope section;   positioning a third envelope section formed as a seamless single piece having a first edge and a second edge adjacent the second envelope section;   sealing the second edge of the second envelope section to the first edge of the third envelope section to form a second edge seam;   adhering a second fiber tape to a seamless centerline of the second envelope section, wherein the second edge seam has a length that is longer than a length of the centerline of the second envelope section;   positioning a final envelope section formed as a seamless single piece having a first edge and a second edge adjacent the first envelope section;   sealing the second edge of the final envelope section to the first edge of the first envelope section to form a final edge seam;   adhering a third fiber tape to a seamless centerline of the third envelope section, wherein the second edge seam has a length that is longer than a length of the centerline of the third envelope section; and   adhering a final fiber tape to a seamless centerline of the final envelope section, wherein the final edge seam has a length that is longer than a centerline of the final envelope section.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further including the step of securing the respective envelope sections to a load ring at an apex of the balloon envelope. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the steps set forth in  claim 11  are performed in the exact order listed. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the respective envelope sections are comprised of polyethylene. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the respective fiber tapes have a width of ½ inch. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the fibers in the respective fiber tapes are straight line fibers. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the straight line fibers are comprised of dyneema fibers or aramid fibers. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more of the respective fiber tapes includes one or more metallic, reflective fibers. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein a load caused by pressurized lifting gas within the balloon envelope is carried primarily by the fiber tapes on the centerlines of the envelope sections, rather than the edge seams between the adjacent envelope sections. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the respective fiber tapes are positioned within a tubular sleeve that is adhered to the respective seamless centerlines of the envelope sections. 
     
     
         21 . An apparatus comprising:
 a balloon envelope formed with a plurality of adjacent envelope sections each formed as a seamless single piece sealed together at their respective edges to form an edge seam between each of the adjacent envelope sections;   a tubular sleeve adhered to a seamless centerline of each of the envelope sections;   a tendon positioned within each of the respective tubular sleeves;   wherein the envelope sections are constructed such that the edge seam between each of the adjacent envelope sections is longer than the centerline of each of the envelope sections; and   wherein a load caused by pressurized lifting gas within the balloon envelope is carried primarily by the tendons on the seamless centerlines of the envelope sections, rather than the edge seams between the adjacent envelope sections.   
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein at least some of the tendons are comprised of a fiber tape. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein at least some of the tendons are comprised of a straight fiber cable. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the envelope sections have a coefficient of thermal expansion that matches a coefficient of thermal expansion of the tape.