METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INFLATING A BALLOON

A balloon inflating device includes a gas mixing device fluidly connecting a supply of pressurized lighter-than-air (LTA) gas and a supply of a second gas to a balloon interface nozzle via a gas shut-off valve. The gas mixing device includes an outer pipe including a closed first end, an inner chamber, an inner pipe that projects through the closed first end of the outer pipe into the inner chamber, a first fluidic inlet and an outlet port. The inner pipe includes a second fluidic inlet into the inner chamber. The second fluidic inlet fluidly connects to the supply of LTA gas. The first fluidic inlet is proximal to the closed first end and fluidly connects to the supply of the second gas. A second end of the outer pipe fluidly connects to the outlet port. The outlet port fluidly connects via the gas shut-off valve to the balloon interface nozzle.