De. 7, 1948.

F, A, GASPAR `
METEOROLOGI CAL BALLOON

2,455,469

Filed Oct. 1, 1946

/NVENTO

. GASPAR
m

4'Tra A/fy

APatented Dec. 7, 1948

2,455,469

UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE

2,455,469 y

Mn'rEoRoLoGIcAL> BALLooN Frank Albert Caspar, Tiverton,rEngland, assigner to Pak Parachute Company Limited, Tiverton,

England Application October 1, 1946, Serial No. 700,544

In Great Britain October 11, 1945 4 Claims.

(Cl. 244-24)

six, suitably seamed together, each gore being of The present invention is concerned with the a length such that when the -cover is applied to location and ranging of free meteorological bal a balloon 3, the latte-r having its maximum diame loons by radio echo for the purpose of obtaining ter such as would result from its reaching a high meteorological and like readings. It is well known that for efficient operation the object being Ui altitude, the balloon will be enclosed over a little more than half its peripheral surface. ranged must be a fairly eliicient electrical con Each seam is preferably as shown in Figure 2, ductor to have the required electrical reflecting the edges of the adjacent gores being folded over properties, and the application of an electrical as shown and the seam covered by an inner tape reflecting surface to such balloons has hitherto 4 of woven net material which together with the presented a problem due to the weight of the sur seam is stitched to secure the parts firmly face having to be maintained at a minimum, and
owing to the fact that the presence of such a sur

together.

face must not interfere with the free expansion of the balloon resulting from an increase in

altitude.
The invention consists broadly therefore in the
provision of a metallic or metallised open mesh balloon cover of such a shape and size as to en

The gores are preferably composed of light weight open mesh net material which is metallised with a silver or other metallic deposit which will

have the required electrical reflecting properties,

the seams joining the various gores together ex tending to a binding vent 5 through which is
20

close the balloon over more than half its periph

eral surface, the cover being so constructed or in

corporating means whereby it will adapt itself to any variation in the effective diameter of the
balloon and permit of the more or less free ex pansion of the balloon as a result of an increase

passed the inflating neck of the balloon, the vent being enclosed by a fabric ring 6 (see particularly Figure 5) which is stitched to the edges of the
gores and seam ends as shown in Figures 4 and 5. To maintain the cover in position on the bal

loon when the balloons diameter is at minimum,

25 the mouth of the cover incorporates elastic cords

in altitude,
It has been found in the course of experiment that in the case of a standard meteorological bal

loon it is possible to obtain satisfactory results by

providing a cover which extends over a little more ' than half of its peripheral surface, and that the 30 ited degree of expansion which is `determined by

1 (see Figure 6), or is otherwise formed to exert a frictional grip on the balloons surface. To maintain the grip as the diameter of the balloon increases, the mouth of the cover has only a lim

contains the cords l and is stitched to the edge of the mouth of the cover when fully extended being slightly less than the diameter of that part of the `or other suitable material metallised with silver or other good electrical conducting metal. 35 balloon with which it contacts when the balloon is expanded to its maximum (i. e. when the bal In order that the invention may be clearly un loon has reached the highest altitude at which derstood and readily carried into effect, the in it is required to take readings) so that the mouth vention is hereinafter described with reference to of the cover bites into the balloon surface and the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view looking on the 40 forms a peripheral channel or recess therein. In this way the cover is maintained in position -on inside of a balloon cover in accordance with the the balloon despite variation in the balloons present invention; diameter and its natural tendency to turn or spin Figure 2 is a section drawn to an enlarged scale during ascent and Without damaging the surface on the line II~II in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the cover 45 of the balloon in any way. Alternatively, the tension of the elastic cords applied to a balloon; may be such that when the balloon is fully ex Figure 4 is a section drawn to an enlarged scale panded, the tension is sufficient to form the pe on the line IV-IV in Figure 5; Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan View showing ripheral channel or recess, in which case the diameter of the mouth of the cover may be equal the formation of the cover adjacent the vent; and Figure 6 is a section drawn to an enlarged scale to the diameter of that part of the balloon with on the line VI-VI in Figure 3. which it contacts when the lballoon is fully ex panded. In the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated, the cover I is of part-spherical form I claim: built up from a number of gores 2, for example 55 1. A self-retaining metallic or metallised open

required lightness of construction and good elec trical reflecting properties can be obtained by employing an open mesh net composed of nylon

substantially inextensible binding tape 8 which

2,455,469
mesh cover for meteorological balloons of a size and shape such that it will enclose the balloon
over a little more than half its peripheral surface,

4. A self-retaining cover as claimed in claim 1, said cover being adapted to enclose said balloon
over at least a little more than half of its lower.

the mouth of the cover being so constructed that peripheral surface, and said cover having a cen its maximum diameter is a little less than the Ul tral vent for the passage of the balloons ination maximum diameter of the balloon so as to bite neck and built up of a plurality of gores seamed into the balloon surface and form temporarily together and being secured to binding material
a peripheral channel or recess therein on the

surrounding said vent and extending around said

mouth of said cover.

diameter of the balloon increasing as a result of an increase in height. 2. A self-retaining cover as claimed in claim 1,

FRANK ALBERT CASPAR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:
UNITED STATES PATENTS

including at least one elastic cord being incor

porated in the mouth vof said cover so as to exert a friction grip on the balloons surface. 3. A self-retaining cover as claimed in claim 1,

including at least one elastic cord being incor

porated in the mouth of said cover so as to exert a friction grip on the balloon surface, said elastic

Number
1,329,584 2,151,336

Name

Date

cord being located within substantially inex tensible binding material applied to said cover .0 adjacent said mouth.

Marinis ___________ __ Feb. 3, 1920 Scharlau _________ __ Mar. 21, 1939

2,165,610

Boyle ____________ __' July 11, 1939