APPARATUS FOR LANDING A TETHERED BALLOON

摘要

An apparatus for landing a tethered balloon, comprising a balloon which is drawn down to the ground (9) by means of a pulling cable (2) and has a gondola (6) hollow central portion for the cable (2) to pass therethrough, and a cable take-up and pay-out assembly (11) arranged in a hole (10) in the ground. A landing platform (3) covering the hole (10) comprises an opening (12) through which the cable (2) passes and which is centred on the vertical pay-out axis (12a) of the pulling cable (2). The landing platform (3) consists of a curved surface (3a, 3b) of at least one upright cone frustum (13, 14) with a substantially horizontal ring-shaped landing pad (15, 15') extending from the lower end thereof, said frustum being centred on the vertical pay-out axis (12a) of the pulling cable (2). The gondola (6) of the balloon (1) has at least three swivelling wheels attached to the underside of the gondola (6) in a ring-shaped portion having the same size as the landing pad (15, 15').