Patent · US Expired

Device for coupling a balloon envelope with an element external to the envelope

US4696444A · kind A · utility

7Cited by
8References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateApr 18, 1986
Grant dateSep 29, 1987
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 18, 2006

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB64B1/60
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A device for coupling a flexible envelope (1) to an external element including a ballonet (3) with two fasteners (4, 5) located in such a manner as to define the upper and lower poles of said ballonet, one of the fasteners (5) being linked by coupling members (2, 16) fitted to position the ballonet with respect to the envelope (1) in such a manner as to create a contact surface Z1 between said ballonet and the envelope (1), the second fastener (4) being linked to the external element by link means (8-15) including drive means to set the ballonet (3) in rotation; this device makes it possible to transmit large point forces or torques between an external element and an envelope, especially a space-balloon envelope.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.