Tubular polythene film balloons for load lifting in the construction, mining and recreation industries

ABSTRACT

This paper assesses the use of gas-filled tubular balloons for lifting loads in the range 0.1–100 tonnes. The advantage of this approach is the lower cost of tubular envelopes relative to spherical envelopes in recreational ballooning and lower lifting costs relative to conventional lifting methods in construction and deep open cut mining. The physics of lifting with tubular balloons is derived and a method for sealing the tube ends and attaching loads is described. The load capacity of a tubular balloon is limited by the yield stress of the plastic film of the envelope and for heavy loads arrays of tubular balloons are required. Details of tubular balloon lifting in the recreation, construction and mining industries are developed in sufficient detail to allow cost comparisons with conventional methods of lifting, the comparisons indicating the potential for significant economies in construction, mining, and in recreational ballooning.

KEYWORDS:

• Tubular thin film balloons
• lifting applications
• hydrogen gas permeability
• cost analysis

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ian Edmonds

Ian, B.Sc., M.Sc., Auckland, Ph.D., Warwick, lectured in physics at Massey University, 1965 - 69 and at Queensland University of Technology, 1972 - 2007. Currently retired, Ian continues research, principally in the area of conservation of energy. ian’s inventions include the laser cut panel, the prism-coupled compound parabolic concentrator and the hot air balloon engine.