초록 ▼

An air vehicle for lifting loads generates lift forces from helium gas within a torus-shaped envelope having a central passageway, and from a fan arrangement designed to direct air downwardly through the passageway. Lateral propulsion units are provided on the envelope. In one embodiment, the fan ar

An air vehicle for lifting loads generates lift forces from helium gas within a torus-shaped envelope having a central passageway, and from a fan arrangement designed to direct air downwardly through the passageway. Lateral propulsion units are provided on the envelope. In one embodiment, the fan arrangement comprises two fans carried by a saddle supported on the envelope, while in another embodiment a single fan is carried by a gondola suspended from the envelope.

대표청구항 ▼

An air vehicle comprising: an envelope having the general shape of a torus extending about a passageway between top and bottom surfaces of the envelope, the envelope containing a gas which is lighter than air, said passageway being of inverted generally frusto-conical shape flaring outwardly adjacen

An air vehicle comprising: an envelope having the general shape of a torus extending about a passageway between top and bottom surfaces of the envelope, the envelope containing a gas which is lighter than air, said passageway being of inverted generally frusto-conical shape flaring outwardly adjacent its upper end and merging smoothly into said top surface of the torus, said passageway tapering inwardly toward said bottom surface of the torus to a discharge opening in said surface on a vertical center line of the vehicle; fan means carried by the envelope and arranged to direct air downwardly through the passageway to generate a downwardly vectored thrust for lifting the vehicle, the fan means being controllable to vary the magnitude of the thrust and hence the altitude of the vehicle in flight; propulsion means carried by the envelope and adapted for generally lateral propulsion of the vehicle; and, a gondola suspended from said envelope at the lower end of said passageway and supporting said fan means for drawing air downwardly through the passageway and generating said thrust, the gondola defining a central opening which is on said center line of the vehicle and coincident with said discharge opening, and through which air is directed downwardly from the passageway.