Abstract: The invention relates to an aerostat of the double balloon type intended to travel in an autonomous and reversible manner between the ground of a planet having an atmosphere and a predetermined ceiling altitude. This aerostat is of the type comprising a first closed carrier balloon (1) for containing a gas lighter than the gas present in the atmosphere, and a solar hot air balloon (3) comprising a permanent opening (6) permitting its filling by the gas present in the atmosphere. According to the invention the solar hot air balloon is provided at its upper extremity with an opening defined by an annular border, and means for sealingly securing this annular border to the peripheral wall of the carrier balloon (1), such that said carrier balloon extends partially into the interior of the envelope of the hot air balloon (3).

Abstract: A process and an apparatus for hooking of a band of a flexible material, intended to be subjected to tensile forces, to a fixation piece, for hooking onto the fixation piece of an envelope of which the end portion is divided along a given length, into a plurality of bands of equal width, the process comprising longitudinally folding one extremity of the band upon itself, at least one time, in such a manner as to form at least one hem (14, 15), transversely gathering the hem in accordian fashion in such a manner as to form a flange presenting a fan-shaped configuration, using a fixation piece provided with a groove of a wedge-shape conjugate to the shape of the flange, the groove having a longitudinal extremity opening toward its apex, and arranging the flange within the groove, the band extending through the open extremity of the groove in such a manner as to create a self-locking of the flange when the band is placed in tension.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for joining films by heat sealing, where these films are in rolls (9) and in particular a few microns thick. In a first stage, this process consists in spreading out a first film (1) on an assembly table (5) while hemming one of its longitudinal edges with a junction tape (3) and an positioning tape (4) sealed on that side of the junction tape (4) which is opposite the film. Once the desired film length has been reached, the film is transversely cut off and the positioning tape (4) then is used to handle this first film (1) and to assure its alignment with a segment of the film (2) packed on the roll (9). The second joining stage then consists in spreading out the film (2) on the table (5) while sealing a longitudinal edge of said film (2) to the outer side of the junction tape (3) following separation of the positioning tape (4) from this junction tape (3).

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for joining films by heat sealing, where these films are in rolls (9) and in particular a few microns thick. In a first stage, this process consists in spreading out a first film (1) on an assembly table (5) while hemming one of its longitudinal edges with a junction tape (3) and a positioning tape (4) sealed on that side of the junction tape (4) which is opposite the film. Once the desired film length has been reached, the film is transversely cut off and the positioning tape (4) then is used to handle this first film (1) and to assure its alignment with a segment of the film (2) packed on the roll (9). The second joining stage then consists in spreading out the film (2) on the table (5) while sealing a longitudinal edge of said film (2) to the outer side of the junction tape (3) following separation of the positioning tape (4) from this junction tape (3).

Abstract: A method for deploying an airtight envelope (8) around an object (1) comprising providing a cylindrical, elongated envelope with two mutually opposite poles (3, 9) at each of its ends, inverting this envelope on itself and longitudinally pleating it accordion-wise when in this inverted position, the pole (9) of this envelope (8) being in the inverted part and being solidly joined to the object (1), the opposite pole (3) being connected to the object (1) by a link mast (2) comprising a cylindrical balloon initially in the deflated state, the deployment of the envelope (8) comprising inflating the link mast until it is full, then inflating the envelope (8) until it is full and at which time it will be deployed around the object (1).

Abstract: The invention concerns a steered aerostatic balloon and in particular the creation of balloons of large volumes, which are free (airships, space balloons) or captive (material loading or unloading balloons). This balloon has an outer envelope (1) containing air, an interpolar connector (11) connecting the lower pole (2) and the upper pole (3) of this envelope, a grid of longitudinal reinforcements (8) connected to the poles (2) and (3), a grid of circumferential reinforcements (8) connected to the poles (2) and (3), a grid of circumferential reinforcements (7), at least one inside envelope (12) within the first envelope and containing helium, this latter envelope during inflation coming to rest against the outer envelope and being provided with poles fixed on the interpolar connector (11), and lastly air intake means and air evacuation means to and from the outer envelope.

Abstract: A method for hooking a flexible envelope to a fastener device, comprising employing an annular and rigid fastener (2), provided with an annular groove (3) on its outer peripheral side, tightening the sheath at the fastener (2) and locking it in place in such a manner that it assumes the shape of the groove (3) by means of a tightening collar (4) comprising a cable made of a substantially inextensible material of high tensile strength and wound inside said groove to a specific height within it, and placing an annular seal (5) in contact with the outer peripheral side (4a) of the tightening collar (4), whereby this seal (5) when compressed may deform radially in order to provide the tightening collar with a degree of freedom with respect to the groove sidewalls (3a); and a hooking device for use with the method.

Abstract: A device for coupling a flexible envelope (1) to an external element including a ballonet (3) with two fasteners (4, 5) located in such a manner as to define the upper and lower poles of said ballonet, one of the fasteners (5) being linked by coupling members (2, 16) fitted to position the ballonet with respect to the envelope (1) in such a manner as to create a contact surface Z1 between said ballonet and the envelope (1), the second fastener (4) being linked to the external element by link means (8-15) including drive means to set the ballonet (3) in rotation; this device makes it possible to transmit large point forces or torques between an external element and an envelope, especially a space-balloon envelope.

Abstract: A process for altitude-stabilizing an atmospheric balloon comprising ballast jettison mechanism to vary the balloon's specific weight, and using a balloon provided with an interpole link for actuating said ballast jettison mechanism so that an increase in the tension in the link causes a reduction in the specific weight of the balloon by jettison of ballast is disclosed.

Abstract: A stress control mechanism for a space balloon is comprised of an axial tie member extending from the upper pole of a load carrying space balloon envelope, the tie member passing from the upper pole of the space balloon envelope through the balloon to an aperture located in a slideable member attached to the lower pole of the space balloon, a stopping member positioned at a pre-selected point on the axial tie member as a member for stopping the slideable member and thereby permitting the space balloon to assume a pre-selected shape upon inflation of the space balloon.

Abstract: The method of the invention for launching especially large-volume space balloons consists in using a space balloon (8) equipped with a non-stretching or slightly stretching axial tie (9) to which is fastened the upper pole of the balloon and alongside which the lower pole may slide, in using an auxiliary carrier balloon (1) of a lesser volume and provided with a non-stretching axial tie (2) between its upper and lower poles, in fastening the collapsed space balloon (preferably housed in a protective sheath 22) underneath the carrier balloon by connecting the axial ties of the two balloons, and in arranging a transfer duct (7) between these, in partially inflating the carrier balloon (1), and, after transferring a given amount of gas into the space balloon, in inducing the sealing of the transfer duct (7), the separation between the space balloon (7) and the carrier balloon (1) and the locking of the power pole of the space balloon on the axial tie (9) of same.