FR2570049A1 - Method and equipment for keeping captive hot-air balloons up. Heating mode and various means for keeping the ascending force of these balloons constant. Method for animating and illuminating these balloons - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to captive balloons, held up and intended essentially for advertising purposes. Connected to the ground by a rope anchored to a spike, the balloon contains, at its base, in place of the traditional burner, an electric fan above which are electrical heating elements. A flap closes off or frees access for external air. A regulation system for the internal heat provides for instantaneous cut-off of the electrical supply. From the inside, the envelope may be illuminated by projectors or serve as a screen for advertising features.

Description

The present invention relates to hot air balloons, maintained in lift but captive, thanks to an electric heating mode.

Until now, and since the MONTGOLFIER brothers, the balloons have been heated with eS flames coming from various fuels, wood, straw, and more recently, propane gas. This last mode being for free balloons the chosen medium watchman.

The balloons, objects of the present invention, are intended to remain captive, mainly for advertising purposes. They do not require constant supervision by a qualified aeronaut, nor frequent replacement of gas cylinders.

In the appendix of the balloon, and in the places and place of the usual "burner", there is an electric fan, intended, in the first phase of implementation of the balloon, to give it its shape by injecting it with a volume of air-sulfur. Unlike the fans used for inflating gas balloons, this fan is fixed, and is an integral part of the machine.

Above this fan, and in its breath, there are electrical resistances, a heating power proportional to the volume of the balloon to be heated. When the balloon, under the breath of this fan, has assumed its flight form, the electrical resistances are energized, and the air injected into the envelope is then hot.

Gradually the air in the balloon heats up and it tends to rise above the ground.

The classic balloons require the presence, at the crown cord, of a team member or several, who hold the balloon until its elevation is clear and allows it to bester, without falling back to the gusts of wind, by taking a position vertical.

In order to avoid the immobilization of a person in charge of this crown cord, a strong stake in the shape of a screw is planted in the ground, which can offer a resistance proportional to the upward force of the balloon.

The crown cord is then passed through a ring connected to this stake, and is sufficiently long to be retained, from the location of the balloon appendage, by the operator assuming its implementation.

As soon as the balloon shows a tendency to "climb" the operator then releases this rope gradually, until the balloon has reached the position in which it will be moored.

 In order to maintain constant the rising force of the balloon by first regulating the pressure of the hot air it contains, and then the temperature of this air according to the ambient air, we will have recourse to the three oJstèr.es ci below 12 - To maintain the pressure inside the balloon, as many little boys as there are lines connected to the crown. These little boys are connected and joined to a rope centralizing their traction efforts. This rope, itself connected to the balloon appendage, will control a valve kept closed by a light spring.

As soon as the pressure exerted on the crown bends, the boys stretch, and ceasing to act on the valve spring, allow it to open, and ee taken outside the envelope of the ball. The fan thus takes in fresh air outside, which heats up by passing over the electrical resistances, and which is added to the air already contained in the envelope.

At the same time, this rope will command a second valve, giving access to the fan, to air coming from the envelope, and having cooled by going down and licking the walls of the latter.

 22 therefore there are two functions to this rope grouping the efforts of the boys; open the outside air inlet valve, and open another valve allowing the arm fan to ser the air contained in the balloon, without supply of outside air, and to increase its heat by this mixing.

 30. It is also possible, if the upward force proves to be too strong, to cut off at times the current supplying the electrical resistances, and by a calorstat system to ensure their return to operation by regulating this at a temperature chosen.

The ascending force chosen can be programmed on a kind of dynamometer placed in tension between the mooring rope and the balloon anchor point. It can also be operated manually.

The gas-heated hot air balloons are visible at night thanks to the flame of their burner, but this flame being intermittent, i is ee long moments when the ball remains invisible.

The present invention, owing to the fact that the balloon includes the presence on its edge of electricity, can be illuminated by simple projectors contained in the envelope and controlled from the ground
We can also, if the envelope of the balloon is white or light in color, project onto its walls, marks, texts or any projections, fixed or mobile, using a projector located in the center of the wraps and functions automatically, or controls the floor.

This process allows, even in broad daylight if the projector is powerful, to make appear on the ball the brands of your choice, without having to paint or stick on the envelope marks that may vary depending on the advertisers.

Claims (5)

CLAIMS: 1 / Balloon heated with hot air from an electric heat source generated by a set of resistors located in the buffalo of a fan which pulses the air thus heated in the envelope of the balloon. gallon characterized by its need to be kept captive to be supplied with electricity. Fixed fan located at the appendix of the balloon and fitted with electric resistances. 2 / Process for maintaining the air pressure inside the balloon using little boys collecting the ascending force of the lines equipping the crown and transmitting it to a valve system closing or releasing the air access from outside the tank. 3 / actuated valve, according to claim 2 by a cord collecting the upward forces of the crown, and using the force collected to maneuver the entry of an air source, either cold from the outside, or already warmed from inside the balloon. 4 / Device for regulating the internal heat of the balloon by a dyna mometer actuating a circuit breaker on the electrical supply of the resistors generating the heat. This device is placed at the point connecting the balloon's mooring rope to an anchor point. The operation can also be manual. 6 / Process for illuminating the balloon from inside its envelope, using a color projector or slides with slogans or all decorations, animated or not.  he accompanying drawings represent  In Figure 1, a view of the balloon being inflated with A la cord  from crown B the Mixed ring at stake C and returning the neck cord  Ronne towards the appendix of the balloon.  In Figure 2, the set of little boys E recovering the ascent force  from the cupola D of the balloon, F the rope gathering the boys.  In Figure 3 the shé; -atique the heating block with R the re  electrical heaters, I the fan, G the "chimney" conveying  the air in the balloon, K the cold air coming from outside, J the air  coming from inside the ball, B the string transmitting the jitters  tion exerted by the boys and acting on L the valve metering the  air intake either outside or inside the enclosure, L pivots  around M axial spring now L in position "air intake  outside "and allowing it to fold down to prevent K air  cold to penetrate, and giving access to the air coming from the balloon.  N being the envelope of the balloon