GB2537832A - P.I.v2 weather balloon shuttle - Google Patents

Abstract

A Shuttle/capsule with a strong chassis comprising two mainframes 1 & 2, a mainframe plate 3 and aluminium ring 16, allowing the stability of the carbon fibre top section 14 and polycarbonate dome 15 casing. It has a component platform 7 to provide the best view of the flight, which is attached to the mainframe plates by the component platform column 6. A GPS and parachutes release mechanism 8 will preferably be integrated into the shuttle, and the parachute system functions with parachute release mechanism cutters 9 cutting through a cord of spectre 12 to allow the deployment of the parachutes within the pouches 13. The holes within the shuttle/capsule mainframe plate and polycarbonate casing 17 allow airflow within the shuttle/capsule to prevent an issue with a difference in the interior and exterior pressures.

Description

P.I.v2 Weather Balloon Shuttle This invention relates to an aerodynamic shuttle for high altitude ballooning.

When people do high altitude ballooning, they require a casing for their components, also known as a shuttle or capsule. This houses all the components needed to ensure a safe flight path, such as cameras, GPS' and more.

However, many people use boxes, often Styrofoam cooling boxes to keep the temperature constant inside the capsule/shuttle, as a cheap, light, and easy way to packages their equipment, but it can lead to a number of issues. In the case of the shuttle/capsule being a box, it is flat on all sides, resulting in an unstable and uncontrollable flight. This is due to having flat-faces as the top and bottom, resulting in a slower ascension and unstable landing due to the wind resistance. Especially in in upper-atmosphere currents, it can lead to a further unwanted distance from the landing target. Moreover, in the case of cheap casings such as a Styrofoam cooling box, it is very prone to breaking under the forces of the parachute and Weather Balloon. The physical forces the Styrofoam can withstand, is often below that of the forces it undergoes from the cable from the Balloon and parachute; this can then cause the shuttle/capsule to break mid-flight. Furthermore, even for those that can afford a more personalised capsule, the parachute deployment is a key residing problem throughout all Weather Balloon flights. As the parachute is released at apogee (Peak Height), this results to again, a significantly unwanted increased distance from the launching point. In terms of using cameras to capture the high altitude view, it can become difficult to ensure the safety of the camera doesn't jeopardise the quality of the footage. As the quality of the camera is on average proportional to the cost, many people use unstable, unpredictable shuttle/capsule casings, to stay within their budget, and therefore putting their expensive equipment at risk.

To overcome these problems, the present invention proposes a light Weather Balloon Shuttle/capsule with a very sleek and aerodynamic design to allow a comfortable and stable flight, a strong casing and chassis that will withstand the forces of parachute and Weather Balloon, have an innovative parachute release mechanism that will reduce the distance from the launch point, and protective means to ensure equipment safety and security.

The sleek and aerodynamic concept is kept throughout the craft, and it is provided by two carefully designed components; the top and bottom of the shuttle/capsule. At the top of the shuttle/capsule is a cone-like shape or teardrop top section; a sharp-nose shape that will not only allow for a stable flight, but a quick ascension.

The bottom of the shuttle/capsule is a dome which will again maintain a stable flight, but the increased drag coefficient in comparison to the top of the shuttle/capsule enables for a degree of safety so that it has better landing.

The chassis of the shuttle/capsule keeps all the parts of the shuttle/capsule secure and fixed throughout the flight. The chassis is comprised of three parts; the mainframe, the mainframe plates, and the component platform. The mainframe of the shuttle/capsule is a triangular shape, which reduces the gap between the top section casing and the chassis, allowing for a more firm shuttle/capsule. These frames provide structure to the shuttle/capsule and as they are made of aluminium, can without a doubt withstand the physical forces of the Weather balloon and the parachute.

In the heart of the shuttle/capsule is the chassis plates that provides the foundation to the shuttle/capsule, with both the mainframe and the component platform attached to it. There are three chassis plates, two of which guide the top and bottom parts of the outer casing into place, and the other plate being the barrier between the two casings.

A key and essential part is the component platform. Attached by a column is a platform, which can be fitted optionally, for any components that the user wishes to fit, especially cameras. With the air-vent holes at the side of the dome, the component platform can even be used for research; sampling the atmosphere at various altitudes.

In order to overcome the issue of far landing distances, not only is this shuttle/capsule aerodynamic allowing for a quicker ascension and decent to the landing site, but it eliminates the parachute deployment issue. The shuttle/capsule is fitted with a circuit that has high standard parachute release mechanism cutters that at a certain altitude and speed, will cause the parachutes to be deployed. Once at apogee, the Weather Balloon pops, and the shuttle/capsule falls towards the earth. This decent is far quicker than one with the parachute open at apogee, and therefore results in a closer point to landing destination. At approximately 5,000ft, the first parachute opens to ensure a decrease in the speed of the shuttle/capsule. At 1,000ft, another parachute opens as a back-up the first, primary parachute. If at all, any of these parachutes do not deploy, a military cutter system is engaged to release the faultless parachute. The manufacturer of the cutters state that not a single cutter manufactured has failed, therefore ensuring the safety of the shuttle/capsule.

In order to maintain the safety of the shuttle/craft's equipment, not only does this present invention provide a fixed and steady base for the components to be attached to, but a strong and protective dome. The Bottom part of the shuttle/capsule is a transparent polycarbonate dome that is injection moulded to prevent irregularities in the thickness to provide optical clarity. Being currently used as bulletproof glass, the dome ensures that the equipment can get the best position possible, without putting their security in danger.

This invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 An interior view of the shuttle/capsule Figure 2 An exterior view of the shuttle/capsule Figure 3 An interior view of the guided-shuttle/capsule Figure 4 An exterior view of the guided-shuttle/capsule (The top and bottom parts of the shuttle/capsule have a circular base, and therefore the shape is consistent throughout the all perspectives on the y-axis) NOTATION: (XY -XI plane, XZ -XZ olane, ZY -ZY plane) In Figure 1, the chassis parts are the mainframes [1 & 2] which is attached to the mainframe plates [3] by the vertical L-joints [4] and nuts and bolts [5]. The mainframes [1 & 2] are slotted vertically 90° to each other to allow a good structure to the shuttle/capsule. Wielded to the mainframe plates is the component platform column [6], which is attached to the component platform [7]. The mainframes [1 & 2] have holes to allow other equipment such as the GPS and parachute release mechanism [8] to slot into place perfectly without hassle. From the GPS and Parachute release mechanism case [8], is the parachute release cutter wire [9] leading to a small cylinder [10] attached to the mainframes [1 & 2] with horizontal L-joints [11], which houses all the cutters for the parachutes, as well as being the point that the parachutes weather balloon is attached to. The parachute release mechanism cutters cut through a cord of spectre [12], which fastens the parachute pouch [13] firmly, until the point of deployment, for which the cutter cuts the cord, and allows the parachute to be released. In addition to the description of the exterior parts, the carbon fibre top section casing [14] provides an aerodynamic shape and protection to the mainframe, followed by the polycarbonate dome [15] which protects the component on the platform.

There are 3 layers to the mainframe plate [3], all of which have holes in them to permit airflow.

The top plate not only allows the mainframes [1 & 2] to slot plates, but to prevent the carbon fibre top section casing [14] from moving during the flight.

The middle plate has the top and bottom plates attached to it, by the nuts and bolts from the vertical L-joints [4]. It has a thin aluminium ring [16] around it to again, prevent both the top and bottom section casing from moving, and to allow them to slot into place.

Similarly to the top plate, the bottom plate also has the main purpose to prevent the polycarbonate dome [15] from moving around during the flight.

The polycarbonate dome [15] has relatively small holes [17] to allow airflow within the shuttle. This, along with the holes in the mainframe plates [3], allows the exterior and interior pressures to be equal to each other at all times, to prevent it from rupturing during its flight path, as pressure increases with altitude.

Figure 2 provides a 3D view of the shuttle with the parachute pouches [13], the carbon fibre top casing [14], the aluminium ring [16], and the polycarbonate dome [15].

In Figure 3, all the original components are identical, however new ones are added so that the shuttle/capsule can be guided to the landing point. Using the GPS within the casing [8], the step-up motors [18] on both side of the mainframe chassis [1 & 2], (thus 4 motors), can be used to change the angle (to a limited range) of the fins [19] so that the shuttle/capsule can land where it was launched. The fins of mainframe [1] move the shuttle/capsule on the z-axis (forwards and backwards), and the fins on mainframe [2] move the shuttle/capsule on the x-axis (left and right).

Figure 4 provides a 3D view of the shuttle/capsule, identical to Figure 2, but with the newly added fins [19].

Claims (15)

1. Claims 1. A shuttle/capsule which has a teardrop-like shape.
2. 2. A shuttle/capsule that has a triangular mainframe with holes to slot components.
3. 3. A shuttle/capsule that has component platform at the bottom the shuttle/capsule.
4. 4. A shuttle/capsule that has parachutes that do not deploy until the predetermined altitude and speed.
5. 5. A shuttle/capsule with an optical clarity dome/bottom section.
6. 6. A shuttle/capsule that can be programmed to return to its launch point using its CPS.
7. 7. A shuttle/capsule which according to claim 1, allows it to ascend quickly, and descend at a slow and safer rate.
8. 8. A shuttle/capsule which according to claim 1, has a teardrop or cone top-section, and a hemisphere dome/bottom section.
9. 9. A shuttle/capsule which according to claim 2, allows versatility with adding and removing components of all sizes to the mainframe.
10. 10. A shuttle/capsule which according to claim 2, allows stability of the top casing due to the shape of the mainframe, and small gap between the casing and the mainframe
11. 11. A shuttle/capsule that according to claim 3, allows the components to get the best position of the shuttle/capsule flight path, especially for cameras.
12. 12. A shuttle/capsule that according to claim 3, allows the component platform to be removed optionally.
13. 13. A shuttle/capsule that according to claim 4, allows it to have a smaller horizontal travelling distance (Smaller distance from landing and launching points)
14. 14. A shuttle/capsule that according to claim 5, allows cameras and other equipment to make readings and record visual aspects without compromising its quality.
15. 15. A shuttle/capsule that according to claim 6, is achieved with fins to move the shuttle on the x-axis and z-axis.