Dec.

27, 1949

L. w. lsoM
FAST RISING SOUNDING BALLOON

2,492,800

Filed Aug. 16, 1948

INVENTOR.

Langley W lsom

Patented Dec. 27, 1949

2,492,800

o-Niiiz so: szrnr E's

2,492,800?

FAST-RISINGSOUNDINGBALLO'GN
Eangley' W; Isom; Belmont} Mass, assign'or w
Dewey; an?i Alm'y Chemical Company, North Gambridge;-.- Massa. a. corporation; of- Massaw
chusetts: >

ApplicatiorfAugust' 16, 1948, Serial Nb".- 44,512

2rGla-i'ms.

12
This invention relates to-a faster-is-ing balloon
having! a non-elastic- envelope.

2
ofithe; envelopes; tendtto. be spherical. It: is di?irt
cult to: avoid this shape. limitation. On the other

rilhe asoensionlrrate-of elasticballoonsi isimuchi limited by the e?eetsoi the atmosphere on~the
there is a relative'i-wind" velocity acting against

hand. a-non-elastic-balloonLcantbe maderinishapes'i deviatingrwidely from: spherical. such'alba'lloonr

shape of the balloom As such" a-~ balloon rises 5 can. be made. streamlined? and. thus have: a: still

higher ascension velocity.

the topY-o-i the-balloon.- Thisvelooity>headtends to ?atten the balloon;- causing the horizontal-die

It is. the 1 obj ectiof. my: invention .to: produce: a

non-elastic?! balloon that. maintains: at constant:

liitin'gi-force, .ascendsfatia .constant- velocity; .vents decrease, resulting-man ob'late spheroidi balloon; 10 no gas; and. is atiall:.timess?llediandrrigida My invention Willi become? evidentl from- their Unfortunately; the balloon do'esnotl even main- drawings. Figure:- 1:- showsia verticali'section. off tain this deformed shape; but; because of 2internal the. balloon with; means; for? accomplishing- thev restoring forces and the resulting decreasedve-v above?objectsr Figare'=:2~ satpartialiverticalsece > locity, springsv back? approaching- its- original spherical form. The net-result isian'oscill'ation' 15 tion of another: featureieoff' thist invention. . The balloon consists-: of" an =elastici. envelopes. if between an oblate spheroid and-a nearespherical having- a neck. |a.- Thisienvelope lislcompletefe form. _ ly: surrounded. by a2. lightLweighti non-elastic This oscillationv can be overcome and: the
ameter to increase > and the vertical; diameter to;

fabric- envelope 2 so: constructed- as to: be elone-i ascension rate can be increased if'su?icientlprese sure can be maintained within-the;- balloon to 20- gated vertically and; widerr at? the top than. at
the bottom to . give the balloon'fwhen :?lledLWith':

keep it tight and'rigid'. The=pressureecannotbe

increased in anlelastio balloon;- Introduction of? more gas causes suchiabalfo'on-to expand? the pressure remains constant. To-kmaintainisu?i-r oient pressure withinaballoontolieephitl rig-id 25 requires the envelope to'be non-elastic; Here tofore the usual. practiceiw-ith'rnoneelastic ballloons has been. to ?ll-'- the balloonswith' thed' sired gas, helium orhyd-rogen', andithen" provide-r
relative internal pressure increases during the" ascension of the balloon. If this1-werenot1-d0ne1
the ' envelope would soonaburstiiomtthe increased-L

gas a1 streamlined shape; In; the necks: Ia; and, 2a. of?- these' envelopes: l' and: 2: is at: light; non~~ porous 1 plug" 4' having1 a} cylindrical: aperture: Ala throughthe center, . and. another: smaller: oylin-

dricaliapertureiib' throughianotherrpart of the:

plug1 4. > The? necks. la; and; 2m of. the: envelopes-1

I- and! are:secured;-toifthe;plug.elby seizing

'Ihroug-h'~ the largerir central? aperture 4a of " the: means for allowing~ the gas to: escape. as the-:30 plug 4is~insertedithenentrance-ztube iiavof- a con.-~

stant differential pressure: valve-6, the: outlet of" which vents: to the. atmosphere; This, valve; 5 consists simply of. the: tube: ?'wwhich is closed.
velope having. azneck. 3a.: The: neck; 3a: com. municates. 170: the: constant. differential pressure
valve 6.. by ' inserting ' the rentrancevtube 6a of: the

by an . adjustable springiloadedzidiaphragm. In internal relative pressure.v Allowingthefescap'e" of gas in this manner" causes the ascension ve=-- 35 side of; the! envelopesrl and: Zzis an' elastic en-

locity to. decrease: during; that ascension;- until;

su?icienti gas escapesi for? the ' net< lifting; force:

to' be zero, when itilevels oiil and maintains a:

constanti altitude. This - effect is? undesirable in .

sounding balloons whichia-rei used-ltorcarry- in'e 40 struments to the desiredialtitudesiand then burst-l torelease the instruments; It: isidesirablei-thatii such a balloon; especially 'whenucarryingarra'diosonde, rise at a constant: velocity.v untilcitiburstss. Allowing gas. to: escape; inithis: mamrer'is'. also: 8.5.. 45 waste. of gas: Su?icient: gas to; provide r the dot sired buoyancy attthe; propels altitude is: all .:that:'

valve. 6;into the neck; ?arandrsecuring the neck-r. 3a. around-the 'tuber?m bygseizing" 1-. ln/the same:
manner that; the: necksv laaa'nd .2a- of. the. enve-~~
lopes l and mare-secured 1 to t the. plug. 4-:

I.- have'. found" a ?nenessi ratio- (theratio ofv

height to greatest width), of: about? 2:1 t0\be'the-most satisfactory. Balloonswith ratios substanv tiallyj'lower than this areiless streamlined result
ing in a sacri?ceof ascensionvelocity. Increas-J
ing; the ' ?neness ratio: of. the. balloon substan~

need. be used. Thistamount-.of.tgas:.wouldi?lllthe

balloon at the proper altitude; but not: at. sea.

itally" above 2:1 increases the ratio; of- surface

level where the pressureiis' greater; The. rest of 50 ~ area to volumeresultlng lnlarger and heavier envelopes whi'chare not warranted:~ by any subthe: gas is usedmerely tor?-llthe/balloon.atlseaa.

stantial increase in ascension = velocity. level. To increase.~ the-stability of . the. balloon. during. Another advantage. ofi: a: non-elastic; balloon; its ascension it hassbeer'r.v found. desirable. to pro over an elastic-balloontissthatgreaterzfreedompfs. shape Elastic: ballbons,.becausee of - the naturex55z-videthree'or:'four?ns<-l=l?llwnear therlOWElTEHdn

2492300

"

>

of the balloon. These ?ns II-II consist of ap proximately triangular pieces of a strong fabric
as balloon cloth symmetrically placed near the tail of the balloon in vertical axial planes. The ?ns IIII are secured to the fabric envelope 2 and are held distended by radial bowed spring
strut rods I0I0 the ends of which rods ?t into pockets II 'z-I Ia provided at the outermost cor

4
be combined as a single non-elastic envelope made, for example, from thin sheet plastic ma
terial such as polyethylene or polyvinylidene

chloride. However, I prefer the two envelope

structure because gas-tight elastic envelopes are easier and cheaper to manufacture and have
proved more dependable.

balloon will just lift this weight from the ground. Tube 8 is then closed with the stop-per 8a, and the weight is removed. The constant differen
tial pressure valve 6 is then adjusted to allow the escape of air from the interior of the envelope 3 when the pressure within the envelope I in creases beyond the amount su?icient to hold the envelope I and its surrounding envelope 2 com pletely distended. Air is then introduced through the tube 9 into the envelope 3 in similar manner

The altitude to which the balloon will ascend ners of the ?ns II-I I. The inner ends of the depends on the size of the outer envelopes I and strut rods I0I0 are secured to the lower side 10 2 and the load that the balloon carries. The vol of the end plug 4. A more detailed description ume of the outer envelopes must be such as will of the ?ns II-II and struts I0-I0 assembly is be completely ?lled by the amount of gas that given in United States Letters Patent, Number is required to lift the load with the desired lifting 2,398,744. force at the proper altitude. After all the air has The envelopes are ?lled with gas through the 15 escaped from the inner envelope 3, the relative tubes 8 and 9. Tube 8 passes through the smaller pressure within the outer envelope I increases aperture db in plug 4 and communicates with with a further ascent of the balloon, causing the the interior of the envelope I, and is secured outer envelopes to burst. tightly to the inner wall of the smaller aperture A balloon to carry 1700 grams to 45,000 feet at 41) in plug 6 to prevent the leakage of gas. The 20 2,850 feet per minute has the following charac tube 8 is conveniently closed by the tapered plug teristics: Fineness ratio, 2:1; total volume 4,189 8a. Tube 9 enters the entrance tube 6a of the cubic feet; volume of hydrogen at sea level and valve 6 and is in communication with the interior 70 degrees Fahrenheit, 524 cubic feet. This of the envelope 3 through the entrance tube 6a amount of hydrogen in a non-elastic balloon pro- of valve 6. Tube 9 is conveniently closed by the 25 vided with outlet means for the hydrogen as it tapered plug 0a. expands would carry the balloon to only 27,000 In operation the envelope I is in?ated by con feet. A hydrogen-?lled non-elastic balloon with necting the open end of tube 8 to a hose which outlet means for the hydrogen would require 1,839 leads to a source of gas, as hydrogen or helium. cubic feet of hydrogen at sea level to reach 45,000 Sufficient gas is introduced to the interior of en feet. An elastic balloon containing 524 cubic velope I to impart to the balloon the desired lift feet of hydrogen would rise at a rate of only about ing force. This can be done conveniently by tem 1,800 feet per minute, about 2%; the rate of my porarily securing to the balloon a weight equal to balloon. the desired lifting force and allowing gas to en The advantages of my invention are obvious. ter the envelope I through the tube 8 until the _ My balloon ascends always with the same size and

shape, making streamlining feasible, and always

with a constant lifting force. Balloons having sealed elastic envelopes have a constant lifting force, but do not ascend with a constant size and shape. Ordinary balloons with non-elastic en velopes maintain the same size and shape, but re quire a continual Venting of gas which results in a continually decreasing lifting force and the asymptotic approach to a constant altitude. My balloon is ideal for operations which require a rapid ascent to the proper altitude whereupon the balloon bursts, as with sounding balloons. The principle of my invention can also be ap plied to a high-?ying, constant-level balloon by providing a separate differential pressure valve
in communication with the interior of the outer _

until the envelope 3 has expanded sufficiently to

raise the pressure in the envelope I to the desired -

amount at which point the differential pressure relief valve 6 opens prohibiting the entrance of more air into the envelope 3. At this point the tube 9 is closed by the plug 9a. The pressure in envelope 3 is determined solely by the pressure in envelope I and is always high er than the pressure in envelope I by a constant
and very slight amount. By maintaining a con stant pressure relative to the atmospheric pres sure within the envelope 3 by means of the con stant differential pressure valve 6, a constant rel ative pressure is maintained within the envelope I. As the balloon rises and the atmospheric pressure decreases the relative pressures within the envelopes I and 3 tend to increase. Both of these tendencies reflect on the pressure within envelope 3, and any increase in the relative pres
sures opens the constant differential pressure

non-elastic envelope. This valve is adjusted to open when the pressure in the non-elastic outer envelope increases beyond the pressure required
to open the constant differential pressure valve in

communication with the inner envelope.

Vent

ing from the outer envelope does not occur until all the air is vented from the inner envelope. Consequently, after the air from the inner enve lope is exhausted, a further ascent does not cause the balloon to burst but results in a venting of the
lifting gas and a continual decrease in the ascen

sion velocity to zero when the balloon maintains a constant altitude. This provides a fast-rising,

valve 0 thereby allowing the escape of air from er altitudes are also realized for there is no es envelope 3. The increase in the volume of the cape of gas until after the balloon reaches the al gas in envelope I is compensated by the de?ation titude where the inner air-containing envelope is of the envelope 3. No gas escapes from envelope completely de?ated. I resulting in a constant lifting force. Since all 70 This aspect of my invention is shown in Figure of the expansion of the gas in envelope I is pro 2. The second constant differential pressure vided for by the de?ation of envelope 3 there is valve consists of the tube 20 concentric with the no change in the size or shape of the balloon. tube 6a, sealed at its outer end by the flange 23, Alternatively the non-elastic outer envelope 2 which ?ange 23 also secures the tube 20 to the and the elastic inner envelope I, or gas cell, can 75 tube 6a. The upper end of the outer tube 20 is

constant-velocity, constant-level balloon. High

2,492,800
in communication with the interior of the outer envelope I. Near the lower end of the tube 28, spaced circumferentially around the lateral pe riphery is a number of ports 22, through which
determined di?erential pressure in the inner envelope is exceeded and until all the gas from the inner envelope is exhausted. 2. A free-?ying balloon having a non-elastic outer envelope adapted to contain gas, a constant gas from the interior of envelope I can escape. differential pressure valve in communication These ports 22 are closed by an elastic band 2! with the interior of the outer envelope and vent placed around the lower end of tube 20 in a man ing to the atmosphere adapted to maintain a ner whereby the ports 22 are covered. The tube predetermined differential pressure less than the 24 connects with the interior of the tube 20 and provides a means for in?ating the outer envelopes 10 pressure required to burst the outer envelope be tween the gas in the outer envelope and the lat I and 2. This tube 24 is closed with the tapered mosphere and to allow the escape of gas from the stopper 24a. The tube 24 and stopper 24a in this outer envelope to the atmosphere whenever the embodiment of my invention replaces the tube predetermined pressure di?erential is exceeded, 8 and stopper 8a shown in Figure 1. an elastic inner envelope adapted to contain gas, The differential pressure that this valve will and a second constant differential pressure valve maintain within the envelope I is controlled by in communication with the interior of the inner the size and number of ports 22 and by the ten envelope and venting to the atmosphere adapted sion of the elastic band 2|. This diiferential to maintain a predetermined differential pressure pressure need only be such as will not burst the outer envelopes I and 2 and can be conveniently _ between the gas in the inner envelope and the atmosphere and to vent gas from the inner en preset. Other than allowing the escape of gas velope to the atmosphere whenever the predeter from the outer envelope I at such an altitude mined pressure differential is exceeded and to that all the air in the inner envelope 3 has been vent all the gas from the inner envelope before the exhausted, this second valve also has the addi pressure in the outer envelope is great enough to tional feature of providing an additional safety open the ?rst named valve. valve should the inner envelope 3 be overin?ated LANGLEY W. ISOM. during the in?ation of the balloon.
I claim as my invention:

1. A constant-dimension, streamlined, free

?ying, self-destructible balloon comprising an ,.

REFERENCES CITED
The following references are of record in the

unvented, non-elastic, outer envelope having a

?neness ratio of about 2:1 adapted to receive a

?le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

predetermined weight of lifting gas and to retain

the gas until the balloon destroys itself and bear

ing spring extended ?ns adjacent the tail section adapted to maintain the balloon in stable verti cal ?ight, an elastic inner envelope adapted to
contain air, and a valve adapted to maintain a predetermined di?erential pressure between the air in the inner envelope and the atmosphere and to permit the escape of air from the inner

Number 1,274,207
1,834,614

Name Date Sordyka ___________ __July 30, 1918

Hall ______________ __Dec. 1, 1931

Number
1,318

FOREIGN PATENTS Country

Date

Great Britain __________ .... of 1892

864,950

France ____________ "Feb. 10, 1941

envelope to the atmosphere whenever the pre