公开(公告)号：US09840913B1

公开(公告)日：2017-12-12

申请号：US14920793

申请日：2015-10-22

Applicant: X Development LLC

Inventor： Gabriella Levine ,  Richard W. DeVaul ,  Eric H. C. Liu

IPC: E21D9/13 ,  E21D11/40 ,  E21D9/11 ,  E21D11/00 ,  E21C41/24

CPC classification number: E21D11/403 ,  E21B7/205 ,  E21D9/04 ,  E21D9/111 ,  E21D9/13

Abstract: Techniques and mechanisms to form a reinforcement structure including dirt processed during drilling of a tunnel. In an embodiment, a device includes a drill head to drill an underground tunnel, where a housing of the device takes in dirt produced by such drilling. A mixer and other components of the device variously condition the dirt to produce a casing material that is subsequently provided to a compactor of the device. The compactor extrudes the casing material through a die. The extruded casing material is eliminated from the device to form a reinforcement structure at one or more sides of the tunnel. In another embodiment, a fiber optic cable is paid out from the device into the tunnel during the drilling, or is pulled into the tunnel by the device during the drilling.

公开(公告)号：US09666940B2

公开(公告)日：2017-05-30

申请号：US15003760

申请日：2016-01-21

Applicant: X Development LLC

Inventor： Cyrus Behroozi ,  Eric Teller ,  Richard W. DeVaul

IPC: H01Q1/28 ,  H01Q3/08 ,  H01Q1/08 ,  H01Q15/14 ,  H01Q3/06

CPC classification number: H01Q3/08 ,  H01Q1/082 ,  H01Q1/28 ,  H01Q3/06 ,  H01Q15/14

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for passively steering an antenna disposed on a balloon in a balloon network. An example balloon involves: (a) an antenna and (b) a pressure-sensitive mechanism in mechanical communication with the antenna such that a change in the balloon's altitude causes at least an element of the antenna to rotate upward or downward, a separation distance between two or more radiating elements to increase or decrease, or a separation distance between the two or more radiating elements and a reflector to increase or decrease.