Raven Industries, Inc.

Randy E Scott

Michael Scott Smith

Mark L West

Justin Lee Marsh

Kurt L Sehnert

Gary W Craig

Edward Lee Rainwater

An atmospheric balloon descent system includes a system housing having a drogue chamber containing a drogue chute and a parachute chamber containing a parachute. The parachute coupled with the drogue chute with a drogue tether. A riser tether extends between a descent system end portion and a balloon system end portion, and the descent system end portion is coupled with the parachute. A drogue cover release is coupled between the riser tether and the drogue cover. The descent system transitions between riser deployment and parachute deployment configurations. In the riser deployment configuration the system housing is decoupled from the atmospheric balloon system and the riser tether is deployed between the system housing and the atmospheric balloon system. In the parachute deployment configuration the deployed riser tether opens the drogue chamber and deploys the drogue chute and the deployed drogue chute opens the parachute chamber and deploys the parachute.

Atmospheric balloon descent system

A balloon system includes a balloon having a balloon membrane extending between an upper apex and a lower apex opening. The lower apex opening extends through the balloon membrane at a balloon lip. A ballonet is within the balloon. The ballonet is coupled with the balloon membrane at the lower apex opening. The ballonet includes a lower ballonet panel having a lower perimeter edge and a ballonet orifice extending through the lower ballonet panel at a ballonet lip and an upper ballonet panel having an upper perimeter edge. The upper and lower ballonet panels are coupled along the respective upper and lower perimeter edges. A lower apex fitting couples the ballonet with the balloon at the balloon lip of the lower apex opening.

Atmospheric balloon system

An example can include a pod detachably coupled to a hull. At least one thrust generator can be fixed to the pod. A power source can be mounted to the pod and slideable fore and aft. A power source actuator can be coupled between the pod and the power source to translate the location of the power source with respect to the pod. A sensor can be coupled to the pod to detect a pitch of the hull and provide a pitch signal. A controller can be coupled to one or more of the power source, the power source actuator, the first and second thrust generators and the sensor. The controller can maintain a pitch of the hull by translating the power source within the pod in association with the pitch signal.

Airship pitch trim and directional control system

A high altitude balloon system includes a dual chamber balloon extending from an upper apex to a lower apex with a circumferential edge between the upper and lower apexes. A deflectable diaphragm is within the dual chamber balloon and coupled along the circumferential edge. The deflectable membrane divides the dual chamber balloon into a lift gas chamber formed by an interior surface of the dual chamber balloon and the deflectable diaphragm, and a ballast chamber formed by the interior surface of the dual chamber balloon and the deflectable diaphragm. Optionally, the dual chamber balloon is constructed by interposing the deflectable diaphragm between an upper and lower balloon panels. Each of the upper and lower balloon panels and the deflectable diaphragm are then coupled together along the circumferential edge to form both the lift gas chamber and the ballast chamber.

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Sulphur Springs, TX, United States of America

Randy E Scott