A system and method for constructing an airship hull is described, comprising a plurality of flexible members disposed lengthwise about the perimeter of the airship skin. The flexible members can be held in place in sleeves on the skin of the airship. The ends of the flexible members are drawn towar
A system and method for constructing an airship hull is described, comprising a plurality of flexible members disposed lengthwise about the perimeter of the airship skin. The flexible members can be held in place in sleeves on the skin of the airship. The ends of the flexible members are drawn toward one another by tensioning means, causing the members to bow outwardly from a central axis and providing a rigid structure for the skin.
대표청구항▼
1. A foldable airship hull comprisinga gastight skin;a plurality of flexible members disposed about and generally perpendicular to a perimeter of the skin, said flexible members being held at at least one point to the skin and said flexible members having first and second ends, said first ends being
1. A foldable airship hull comprisinga gastight skin;a plurality of flexible members disposed about and generally perpendicular to a perimeter of the skin, said flexible members being held at at least one point to the skin and said flexible members having first and second ends, said first ends being fixed in place proximate to one another and said second ends being fixed in place proximate one another; andat least one tensioning member which is lengthwise adjustable, said tensioning member being attached at a first point to said first end of the flexible members and at a second point to said second end of the flexible members so as to draw the said first ends of said flexible members toward the said second ends of said flexible members and thereby elastically bending the said flexible members outwardly, forming, with the skin, a stiff body. 2. The foldable airship hull of claim 1 wherein the skin further comprises a plurality of sleeves, and wherein at least one of the said flexible members is contained within said sleeve. 3. The foldable airship hull of claim 1 further comprising at least one gondola, said at least one gondola being suspended from at least one chosen from the group consisting of said first and second ends, the skin fabric, the flexible members and a load curtain. 4. The foldable airship hull of claim 1 further comprising means for heating a volume of gas within the skin. 5. The foldable airship hull of claim 4 wherein said heating means is disposed in an interior of the skin. 6. The foldable airship hull of claim 4 further comprising at least one gas-tight flexible vessel disposed within the skin. 7. The foldable airship hull of claim 1, further comprising propulsion means to control movement of the airship and at least one mounting means for mounting the propulsion means. 8. The foldable airship hull of claim 7 wherein at least one of said propulsion means is mounted proximate to an outer surface of the skin. 9. The foldable airship hull of claim 7 wherein at least one of said propulsion means is on the gondola. 10. The foldable airship hull of claim 1, further comprising at least one stiff cone covering one of the first or second ends of the flexible members. 11. The foldable airship hull of claim 1 wherein at least one of the flexible members is comprised of a plurality of segments which are attachable one to the other. 12. The foldable airship hull of claim 1 wherein the flexible members are held together at an end by a rigid frame. 13. The foldable airship hull of claim 1 wherein the tensioning member is lengthwise adjustable. 14. The foldable airship hull of claim 1 where at least one of the flexible members is made with metal. 15. The foldable airship hull of claim 1 where at least one of the flexible members is made with a glass fiber composite. 16. The foldable airship hull of claim 1 where at least one of the flexible members is made with carbon fiber composite. 17. The foldable airship hull of claim 1 where at least one of the flexible members has an elliptical cross section. 18. The foldable airship hull of claim 1 where at least one of the flexible members is made with aluminum. 19. A method of constructing a foldable airship hull comprising the steps of:providing an airtight skin having a generally cylindrical shape tapered at at least one end;providing a plurality of flexible members removably disposed about and generally perpendicular to a perimeter of the skin, said flexible members being held at at least one point to the said skin and further said flexible members having first ends and second ends, said first ends being fixed in place proximate to one another and said second ends being fixed in place proximate to one another;providing a lengthwise adjustable connector attached at a first point to the said first end of the flexible members and attached at a second point to said second end of said flexible members so as to tension said flexible members by drawing the said first ends of said f lexible members toward the second ends of said flexible members and thereby elastically bending the said flexible members outwardly forming, with the skin and flexible members, a substantially rigid body. 20. The method of claim 19 wherein the skin further comprises a plurality of sleeves, and the further step of placing at least one of the flexible members within said sleeve and holding said at least one flexible member in place. 21. The method of claim 19 further comprising a gondola, and the additional step of suspending the said gondola from at least one of said first and second ends. 22. The method of claim 19 further comprising heating a volume of gas within the skin by heating means. 23. The method of claim 19 with the additional steps of providing an opening on an underside of the skin, placing the said heating means externally to the skin and proximate to the said opening, and using the said heating means for heating a volume of gas within the skin. 24. The method of claim 19 further comprising at least one gas-tight chamber disposed within the skin and which chamber can enclose and hold a volume of a gas. 25. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of providing propulsion means to control movement of the airship and at least one mounting means for mounting the propulsion means. 26. The method of claim 25 wherein at least one of said propulsion means is mounted on an outer surface of the skin. 27. The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of suspending at least one gondola using at least one load curtain. 28. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of providing at least one generally conical firm covering over one of the first and second ends of the flexible members. 29. The method of claim 19 wherein at least one of the flexible members is comprised of a plurality of segments which are able to be assembled to form a single flexible member. 30. The method of claim 19 wherein the flexible members are held together at an end by a rigid frame. 31. The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of loosening the tensioning means whereby the flexible members straighten and may be rolled up together with the skin. 32. The method of claim 19 wherein at least one of the flexible members is made with a glass fiber composite. 33. The method of claim 19 where at least one of the flexible members is made with carbon fiber composite. 34. The method of claim 19 wherein at least one of the flexible members has an elliptical cross section. 35. The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of at least partially inflating the skin before tensioning the flexible members. 36. A foldable airship comprisinga generally tubular skin closed at each of a first and a second end, forming an envelope containing a volume of gas, and further having a plurality of sleeves about a perimeter of the said skin and running generally perpendicularly to said perimeter about a longitudinal axis of said skin;a plurality of flexible members, disposed within the said sleeves;a first connector at a first end of the said skin holding a first end of each of the said plurality of flexible members proximally to one another, and a second connector at a second end of the said skin holding a second end of each of the said plurality of flexible members proximally to one another;a third connector between the said first connector and said second connector, which third connector is lengthwise adjustable so as to be able to draw the said first connector and said second connector toward one another, thereby putting the flexible members in tension and bowing in a generally outwardly direction from the said longitudinal axis of the said skin so as to tension the said skin about the said flexible members forming a substantially rigid volume.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (18)
Yon ; Jr. Terrell H. (Cocoa Beach FL), Aerostat structure with conical nose.
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