Portable balloon launch rig

Abstract

A portable launch rig (PLR) may include a support structure including two side supports defining an interior space for lifting and filling a balloon envelope of a balloon. Wheels on each of the side supports enable the PLR to be moved in various directions in order to prepare the PLR for launching the balloon. The side supports are connected by a lateral support beam having a pair of cranes arranged thereon. Each crane has an arm arranged over the interior space that is connected to a spreader beam. The spreader beam includes a lift assembly configured to lift and inflate the balloon envelope within the interior space. The PLR includes a platform and perch for supporting and moving the balloon envelope. A door assembly of the PLR includes a plurality of hangar doors configured to block wind from a respective direction of each hangar door entering the interior space.

1 . A system for launching a balloon including a balloon envelope, the system comprising:
 a support structure defining an interior space, the support structure having a plurality of lateral sides;   a crane structure configured to lift the balloon in the interior space; and   a door assembly attached to the support structure, the door assembly including first, second, and third hangar doors configured to block wind from a respective direction of each hangar door entering the interior space, wherein each of the first hangar door, second hangar door, and third hangar door are arranged at respective ones of the plurality of lateral sides.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising the balloon. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of lateral sides includes four sides, and three of the four lateral sides are arranged with one of the first hangar door, the second hangar door, and the third hangar door, respectively such that a fourth lateral side does not include a hangar door. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the door assembly includes a first side curtain between first and second hangar doors and a second side curtain between the second and third hangar doors. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of door housings, the first hangar door, the second hangar door, and the third hangar door are configured to be extended from and retracted at least partially into a respective door housing of the plurality of door housings. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the support structure includes three beams arranged at a top end of the support structure, and each of the respective door housings is arranged adjacent to one of the three beams. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein each of the first hangar door, the second hangar door, and the third hangar door are configured to be rolled up at least partially into the respective door housing of the plurality of door housings. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the door assembly is attached to the support structure via a plurality of structural spacing bars. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of structural spacing bars rigidly connect hangar door frames to the support structure. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of wheels and wherein the plurality of structural spacing bars hold hangar door frames a non-zero distance from the support structure in order to allow the plurality of wheels to be out of alignment with one another. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the structural spacing bars are arranged to reduce stresses on the hangar doors when the wheels are out of alignment. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of wheels configured to enable the support structure to be driven. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of wheels enable the support structure to be driven using a 2-wheel drive system. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of wheels enable the support structure to be driven using a 4-wheel drive system. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the support structure includes at least two bottom support beams each including two wheels of the plurality of wheels that are configured to rotate the support structure. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein each wheel of the two wheels of each of the bottom support beams includes an independent drive system such that each wheel of the two wheels of each of the bottom support beams can be rotated and pivoted independently of other wheels of the two wheels of each of the bottom support beams. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the support structure includes two side supports defining an interior space for lifting and filling a balloon envelope, each side support including two side beams connected by top support beams and bottom support beams, wherein the bottom support beams each include two wheels configured to move the support structure, and the side supports are connected by a lateral support beam. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second crane, each of the crane and the second crane having an arm arranged over the interior space. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , further comprising a spreader beam attached to the arms of each of crane of the pair by a respective crane cable such that the respective crane cables can raise and lower the spreader beam relative to the support structure, the spreader beam including a lift assembly configured to lift and inflate the balloon envelope within the interior space. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a platform having a pair of lateral support bars, each lateral support bar of the pair being connected to top support beams of the support structure by a respective support bar cable such that the respective support bar cables can be operated to raise and lower the platform relative to the interior space.