초록 ▼

A solar powered hot air balloon is disclosed having an envelope with an opaque portion and a transparent portion arranged so as to utilize solar heating to heat air within the envelope. The solar heating air may either by sufficient to provide the entire free lift or may be combined with air from a

A solar powered hot air balloon is disclosed having an envelope with an opaque portion and a transparent portion arranged so as to utilize solar heating to heat air within the envelope. The solar heating air may either by sufficient to provide the entire free lift or may be combined with air from a hot air generating system carried by a gondola supported by the envelope. The opaque portion of the envelope has a substantially black inner surface and a light reflecting outer surface with the black inner surface being positioned so as to receive a maximum amount of sunlight through the transparent portion for a given average position of the sun.

대표청구항 ▼

A solar powered hot air balloon, comprising: an envelope; a gondola suspended from the envelope; a highly translucent portion of the envelope; an opaque portion of the envelope, said opaque portion having a substantially black light absorbing inner surface over substantially the entire opaque portio

A solar powered hot air balloon, comprising: an envelope; a gondola suspended from the envelope; a highly translucent portion of the envelope; an opaque portion of the envelope, said opaque portion having a substantially black light absorbing inner surface over substantially the entire opaque portion within the envelope positioned so as to receive a substantial portion of sunlight passing through the translucent portion; substantially an entire outer surface of the opaque portion having a substantially total light reflecting outer surface means opposite the black inner surface for minimizing radiation of heat from within the balloon through the opaque portion; a horizontal plane relative to level flight passing through a central portion of the balloon at its largest periphery intersecting the opaque portion at one side of the balloon and the translucent portion at an opposite side of the balloon; and means for rotating the balloon about its vertical axis relative to level flight so as to position the translucent portion towards the sun.