Aerostat inflator

US7503277B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Information Systems Laboratories, Inc. · US

Inventors

• James Boschma · Huntsville, US
• William McDaniel · Oakview, US
• Michael McNabb · Huntsville, US
• Michael Ryder · Brownsboro, US
• Callum R. Sullivan · New Market, US
• Glenn Martin Tierney · Huntsville, US
• Peter K. Van Staagen · Madison, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 5, 2006
• Grant date: Mar 17, 2009
• Expiry date: Apr 26, 2027

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G09F21/06
• WIPO field: Audio-visual technology
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A device for deploying an aerostat includes a cylindrical shaped container having an open end and a closed end and a center tube axially oriented in the container. A tapered disc is mounted for axial movement on the center tube, and it has a taper of increasing diameter in an axial direction from the closed end toward the open end of the container. In its operation, the tapered disc is held in a first position while a portion of the aerostat is loaded into the container. It is then moved to a second position wherein the tapered disc holds the loaded portion of the aerostat in the container. Thereafter, the disc is moved to a release position wherein the disc directs deployment of the aerostat from the container.