Mechanical assembly for lifting a balloon

摘要

A lift assembly (800) for use with a balloon envelope (802) is provided. The lift assembly (800) includes a plate structure (810) having a set of cavities. Each cavity includes one or more openings passing through the plate (810). One or more pistons (825) are coupled to the plate (810) through at least one of the openings of each cavity in the set of cavities. Each piston (825) has a hollow tube portion projecting lengthwise from the at least one opening, a flange attached to the hollow tube portion and a grabber portion in communication with the flange. The grabber portion includes a plurality of bearings for grabbing a stud (830) attached to an apex (840) of the balloon envelope (802). A handle portion (880) is coupled to the plate (810). The handle (880) is arranged to lift the envelope (802) when the bearings have grabbed a given stud (830).