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US3456903A - Airship - Google Patents

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Publication number
US3456903A
US3456903A US629167A US3456903DA US3456903A US 3456903 A US3456903 A US 3456903A US 629167 A US629167 A US 629167A US 3456903D A US3456903D A US 3456903DA US 3456903 A US3456903 A US 3456903A
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Prior art keywords
envelope
airship
gas
air
layer
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US629167A
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English (en)
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Hermann Ernst Robert Papst
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
    • B64B—LIGHTER-THAN AIR AIRCRAFT
    • B64B1/00—Lighter-than-air aircraft
    • B64B1/58—Arrangements or construction of gas-bags; Filling arrangements
    • B64B1/64—Gas valve operating mechanisms
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B15/00—Layered products comprising a layer of metal
    • B32B15/04—Layered products comprising a layer of metal comprising metal as the main or only constituent of a layer, which is next to another layer of the same or of a different material
    • B32B15/08—Layered products comprising a layer of metal comprising metal as the main or only constituent of a layer, which is next to another layer of the same or of a different material of synthetic resin
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
    • B64B—LIGHTER-THAN AIR AIRCRAFT
    • B64B1/00—Lighter-than-air aircraft
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
    • B64B—LIGHTER-THAN AIR AIRCRAFT
    • B64B1/00—Lighter-than-air aircraft
    • B64B1/06—Rigid airships; Semi-rigid airships
    • B64B1/12—Movable control surfaces
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
    • B64B—LIGHTER-THAN AIR AIRCRAFT
    • B64B1/00—Lighter-than-air aircraft
    • B64B1/58—Arrangements or construction of gas-bags; Filling arrangements
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
    • B64B—LIGHTER-THAN AIR AIRCRAFT
    • B64B1/00—Lighter-than-air aircraft
    • B64B1/58—Arrangements or construction of gas-bags; Filling arrangements
    • B64B1/60—Gas-bags surrounded by separate containers of inert gas
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
    • B64B—LIGHTER-THAN AIR AIRCRAFT
    • B64B1/00—Lighter-than-air aircraft
    • B64B1/58—Arrangements or construction of gas-bags; Filling arrangements
    • B64B1/62—Controlling gas pressure, heating, cooling, or discharging gas

Definitions

  • the invention concerns an airship and, more specically, an airship which operates with water vapor and gas as a lift medium in a ships hull and through a novel type of insulating envelope operating mainly with air as an insulating agent, as well as through a special development which can be utilized in such an advantageous manner that the transportation costs of such an airship for both freight and passengers will be considerably below the costs of traditional means of transportation, such as railroad, air and highway transportation.
  • the invention makes such airships a generally practical means of transportation.
  • the invention comprises specifically a nonrigid airship constructed in a new manner, utilizing a new type of system for the lift, and also, above all, the construction of a new type of insulating envelope, a new type of propulsion system, a new type of construction of the keel frame or of the rigid operating and transportation spaces carried by the airship, as well as devices and the production process for the connection of several layers of the insulating envelope. It is also within the scope of the invention to provide the outside skin of the envelope with a nonabsorbent layer, in order to reduce air resistance and loading down through precipitation. Within the framework of the invention of a new usable airship operating with water vapor, there will also be means to enable the safe handling of the airship in all kinds of weather by quick and firm anchoring at landing places, especially on roofs of buildings.
  • the nonrigid airship has a big advantage as compared to the rigid dirigible in not needing an expensive, complicated construction for the support of the envelope. Instead of a plurality of gas bags, it will essentially get along with one large cellule for the water vapor, whereby the balancing air cells, preferably housed in the bow and the stern, are heated and carried along with it.
  • a nonrigid airship also has the advantage that expensive docks are not required for docking the airship and that after blowing off the lift medium, the nonrigid envelope is rolled up or folded.
  • water vapor according to the invention is advantageous, not only because of the greatly changeable shares of cold or heated air in the balancing and trim cells in such nonrigid airships, but also especially, because during blowing of of the lift medium no considerable economic losses will occur, as is the case with such lifting mediums as helium or even hydrogen, which are diliicult to replace.
  • ballast preferably water
  • the propulsion of the airship according to the invention takes place advantageously exactly in its axial direction by means of air currents produced in special blowers, which air currents are blown out through slotted rocket jets positioned in the bow as well as in the stern.
  • the slotted rocket jet in the bow has been provided with guide means to deflect the expelled air current backwards, glidingly along the bow surface during normal flight. With that, a part of the propulsive energy is introduced directly into the flight counter-current and thus the gas shock pressure of it on the envelope is decreased. This will permit getting along with a lighter envelope for a certain required safety factor.
  • combustible gas such as natural gas (methane) or hydrogen
  • This combustible gas is stored either in separate cells surrounded in a iireproof manner by noncombustible water vapor and/ or they are directly added to the water vapor.
  • the gas which is added directly is added at the most in such a quantity that there is no danger of its igniting if the mixture somehow escapes into the air.
  • This method of operation will avoid changes in lift and allows, at the same time, a maximum measure of heat being carried along by the airship in its travel.
  • the natural gas which had been loaded is not consumed, it increases the loading capacity of the airship through the larger carrying capacity as compared to water vapor (plus 12% Removal of the light gas takes place directly from the special cells or else the gas can be separated from the water vapor by means of condensation of said water vapor.
  • the nonrigid envelope of the airship can be secured to the keel frame containing all of the spaces for operation, for machines and for transportation, whereby said frame has been developed in such a manner, that when it settles down on the ground a sealing path is formed in a resilient manner between theI ground and its entire bottom surface or with the reinforced skeleton frame.
  • an airship according to the invention for the transportation of 75 t. of freight or about 400 passengers on seats, at a diameter of 53 m., a length of 170 m. is required. It has an air layer insulation of 0.3 m. thickness, which lets through 9 kcal. of heat per m.2h., at a 100 C. temperature difference. Its shape is about 'that of a spindle. Slotted rocket jets for propulsion and control are positioned at both ends.
  • the attainable speed in the case f development as a freight airship will amount t o approximately 160 km./h. In the case of a flying speed of 70 km./h., the loss of heat by the lift media, vapor and air, through the insulating envelope, will be compensated fo'i by the exhaust heat of the engines.
  • the intermediate walls in these cells which can be inverted inside the outside envelope in the manner of a nightcap toward the steam-lift chamber, also have heat insulating double walls and are provided with tension members. Therefore, air can be blown between the intermediate double walls or can be sucked out of the walls, so that the passage of heat from the steam-lift chamber to the cells can be blocked or somewhat impeded when desired.
  • the air temperature in the bow and stern trim cells can be changed independently of the vapor space on the basis of this principle.
  • An exchange of cold for warm air requires only 1l kg. of heating oil or 16 cbm. of natural gas (100 C.) for the production of 1 t. of lift and this costs about DM 1.00 to DM 1.50.
  • the intermediate wall is -ventilated so that it will have an at least 100 times better capacity for conducting heat as compared to the insulating effect.
  • the ballast water that is formed consumes approximately the lift of an equal quantity of steam. For new transportation tasks it will then be necessary to use approximately 35 g. of fuel oil or about 50 m.3 of natural gas at 100 C. for the production of steam per l t.
  • the lifting cost for a load that is to be taken up therefore amounts to only about DM 3.50 per 1000 kg. If this airship hovers for 1 hour without its engines running, then the lift will be maintained through combustion of 25 kg. of fuel oil or 35 m.3 of natural gas at 100?v C. In the case of this value, let us figure with an effective heat emission surface of about 20,000 qm. Every mi'nute of stopping time would therefore cost about DM 0.05.
  • the keel skeleton consists of a strong lattice construction, preferably made of aluminum extrusion pipes, in which the propellent is housed preferably in foldable containers protected in a iireproof manner and subdivided.
  • the keel skeleton, the engines, improvements as well as propulsion according to an estimated calculation require 45 t. Therefore, 30 t. of payload and 5 t. for reserve will be left over.
  • the payload for a freight ship will be around 50 t. higher.
  • the new steam airship can be developed with a diameter to length ratio of about 1:2 to 1:3, which is much more favorable for propulsive resistance. In this way, the ratio of capacity to surface has been considerably improved.
  • Airships that were built hitherto also had the disadvantage that they could execute control movements with their tail unit, only at a proper speed which also produced an aerodynamic lifting force.
  • the axial drive according to the invention with a flow around the hull of the ship will permit one to achieve control movements even at a standstill of the ship when one of the drives, either on the bow or on the stern, is reversed in its directional action.
  • the heat insulating outside envelope of the body of the ship according to the invention consists of double walls which are connected with many continuous bands, said bands subdividing the space between the double wall.
  • the bands are in tension and are held at a distance by the pressure of a gas lled in-between the double wall, said gas being preferably air, which pressure surpasses by at least the barometric degree of pressure, the pressure of the lifting gas acting upon Ithe inside part of the wall serving as a cellule. Therefore, the double Walls of the body of the airship have the heat insulating distance at every place. Convection movements of the gas are prevented by the tension bands.
  • the distance of the cross bands is in the order of magnitude of centimeters, for example 5 cm., while the distance of the double walls from one another amounts to a multiple of that, for example 30 cm.
  • the cross bands are covered preferably on their inside with a heat reecting metal layer.
  • a heat reecting metal layer Preferably, an evaporated lm consisting of aluminum is applied, which needs only to be thin and which is economically usable for even several hundred thousand square meters.
  • the actual carrying layer is covered on all sides with a aluminum foil which is impervious to moisture and light, and which in turn is protected against corrosion and the occurrence of sudden leaks by being covered with -a polyvinylidene fluoride foil, which is resistant for a long time with regard to sunlight and weather.
  • a foil which has been tested, is available on the market under the trade name Tedlan
  • other foils too can be used which have this characteristic and which on top of that are nonabsorbent or, to express it in other words, water repellent.
  • nonabsorbent layer atmospheric precipitation will not make the envelope wet but will run olf or will be blown off by the ow of the air about the body. As a result of that, a weighing down of the airship will be prevented.
  • the inside of the envelope of the double wall facing the water vapor is also covered with an aluminum foil and with a polyvinylidene uoride layer.
  • Zig-zag shaped strips may be used which are positioned between the connecting bands and are made of a very thin synthetic material foil having an evaporated aluminum layer. With the use of such strips, the loss of heat, which already is very small, will still be cut in half. However, the strips may be omitted in airships having a very good engine performance and increased exhaust heat, because there will be suicient exhaust heat at ones disposal to compensate for the heat loss due to the radiation.
  • the outsides of the fabrics or of the crossing filaments having the intermediate layer are connected to tight, shift-proof 4surfaces by means of a solid foil, preferably made from the same high strength synthetic material, through an adhesive agent or through fusing by means of a welding process, for example, by means of ultrasonics.
  • the strength of the fiber or the number of fibers ⁇ in the main stress direction of the fabric is made, preferably, twice as strong as in the longitudinal direction of the fabric of the envelope. In this manner, an exceedingly light, highly constant envelope having great strength and safety is provided for the nonrigid arship.
  • the tiber web or cross web, sealed in the manner described, is additionally, and according to the invention, saturated at its edge through connection with an incoming liquid mass of mastic, penetrating the web, which enters by sections even in the cross direction, In this manner, fields that have been closed in an air-tight manner, develop between the cover foils and the periphery of the ⁇ sealing tracks, which prevents moisture from spreading lthey are gradually reduced in strength.
  • the envelope must be stable against a temperature corresponding to the water vapor, because one has it within ones power through letting out the separating layer of gas between the double walls, to make those two labut against each other and to bring about a quick condensation of the water vapor, for exampleZ in. order to discharge a load or in order to stop the a1rsh1p and to store it.
  • the temperature of the water vapor can be reduced through admixture of a gas. According to known laws, the water vapor will then have acondensation temperature which corresponds to its partial pressure in the gas mixture. Preferably methane is mixed for this purpose with the water vapor, because this gas will increase the lift. Hydrogen can also be used as an additive, since it is not combustible if there is only a small portion of it in the water vapor.
  • saturated steam that is to say, the reserve of steam being heated only a little beyond the boiling point, which can be easily achieved by adiabatic expansion, will achieve, therefore, the greatest degree of operational safety which is imaginable for an arship using warm gas for lifting force.
  • FIGURE 1 shows the arship according to the invention with possible installation in the envelope
  • FIGURE 3 shows the arship according to the invention with an aspect ratio of 1/5;
  • FIGURE 4 shows a front view of the arship according to thel invention
  • FIGURE 6 is a section through the most extreme bow part of the arship according to the invention.
  • FIGURE 7 shows a section through the outermost stern part of the arship according to the invention.
  • FIGURE 8 shows a section through the keel frame of the arship according to the invention with the envelope folded up;
  • FIGURES 10, l1 and 12 show a device for application of a layer of synthetic material on a metal layer.
  • the arship consists of a keel frame 1 and an envelope 2.
  • the stern or the bow jets have been designated by 3 and 4.
  • a supporting frame 5 Inside the envelope of the arship, there is a supporting frame 5, to which stretching ropes 6 can be attached, which are capable of guiding the forces from the upper sideV of the envelope to the keel frame.
  • the envelope 2 can be subdivided by transverse walls 30.
  • FIG. 3 shows a shape of the arship, according to the invention, for achieving higher speeds with an aspect ratio of 1 to 5.
  • FIGURE 4 shows a front view of the airship according to the invention, whereby one can recognize that the envelope 2 with keel frame 1 is attached to longitudinal bands 31.
  • the nonrigid envelope 2 itself, as can be seen in the drawing, has been entirely closed within the area of the keel frame.
  • the distance between the walls of the envelope is maintained by gas pressure.
  • the gas pressure is produced by means of a continuously running auxiliary blower (schematically represented by box 40 in FIGURE 9) which sucks up air from trim cells 28 and 29 through intake lines 42, 42', and exhausts air into the space ⁇ between the walls of the envelope through outlet line 44.
  • a binder layer 9 follows the metal foil 8, which binder layer consists of a commercial binder of synthetic substances and Vwhich is applied as a lacquer. With the help of this binder layer, the metal foil 8 will be connected with the fabric layer 10 of synthetic material.
  • the fabric made of synthetic material consists perferably of polyester which is temperature resistant beyond 100 C., however the possibility also exists to use instead of fabric, an arrangement of the threads as a lleece, in the form of adjoining parallel and crossing threads which can be bonded with one aonther.
  • an arrangement of the threads as a lleece, in the form of adjoining parallel and crossing threads which can be bonded with one aonther.
  • the ratio of warp/weft thread in such a manner-for example, 2:1-that the stress upon the individual threads of the fabric will be equalized.
  • a foil consisting of a synthetic fabric is welded together or bonded each time with the inside layer of a foil consisting of a synthetic fabric and with the outside layer 13a, b, c of a foil consisting of a synthetic fabric.
  • surface sectors of a thin folded synthetic material foil 14 may also be provided.
  • This foil 14 has preferably been covered by way of vapor deposit with aluminum or some noble metal.
  • the foils 14 prevent heat radiation between the two layers of fabric 10a, b, c and 13a, b, c, and they prevent, at the same time, convection of the air located in between them.
  • the outside fabric layer 13 is followed in the same manner as the inside fabric layer 10 by a bonding layer 15, then there follows a water vapor resistant metal foil 16 and a nonabsorbent layer 17.
  • the outside nonabsorbent layer 17 prevents rain, snow and dew from adhering to the airship, whereby the moisture runs otf the layer so that no additional loading of the airship will occur through surface moisture.
  • the inside nonabsorbent layer 7 has a thickness of 25p
  • the inside metal foil 8 has a thickness of 11n
  • the bonding layer 9, which is present in the form of lacquer has a weight of 4 g./m.2
  • the inside fabric layer has preferably a thickness of 0.15-1 mm.
  • the transverse bands 11 have a thickness of 5-25/t
  • the metal layer 12, which was steamed on has an approximate hickness of 0.1;t.
  • the outside foil and fabric layer 13a, b, c is the ⁇ bearing layer of the entire envelope. Its thickness amounts to about 0.3 to 2 mm.
  • the bonding layer of lacquer 15 has an approximate thickness of 4p
  • the outside metal foil 16 has a thickness of 11p.
  • the outside nonabsorbent layer 17 is 25, thick.
  • the double-walled insulating envelope according to the invention at a temperature difference of C. for a wall distance of 30 cm. and at a distance of the cross bands of 5 cm., has a loss of heat of less than 17 kcal./m.2h; and in the case of a wall distance of 30 cm. with folding foils 14, the loss of heat amounts to even less than 10 kcal./m.2h.
  • FIGURE 6 shows, furthermore, a section through the outermost bow part of the airship according to the invention.
  • the compressed air produced preferably by diesel engines and propellers or blowers (the engines and propellers ⁇ or blowers being schematically represented by boxes 46) driven by said engines and located in the keel frame, is supplied to the bow jet via an air supply pipe 18, which is also formed of fabric-type materials.
  • the air is distributed in slotted rocket jets with a medium jet body 20 and exits from the inside of the deecting screen 19 alongside the body of the bow. In the inner space of the jet body 20, there may be advantageously an observer or helmsman.
  • the deflecting screen 19 may be adjusted hydraulically by conventional controls schematically represented by box 48 and hydraulic cylinders 50 which interconnect screen 19 with envelope 2 whereby the distance from the edge of the bow and may be adjusted laterally, and thus the airship may be steered.
  • the screen should be foldable, so that the bow jet will blow out a jet counter to the normal direction of travel. In this manner, it will be possible not only to propel the airship according to the invention by means of the bow jet, as in the case of the normal position of the deflecting screen, but also to brake the airship with a folded up deecting screen. Lateral deflection of the compressed air takes place by means of a shift of the jet body 20 from its center position to one side of the edge of the slotted rocket jet. The overwhelming escape of air from one side to the bow nozzle produces forces, deviating from the line of the axis, which can be utilized for steering.
  • FIGURE 7 shows a section through the outermost stern part of the airship according to the invention.
  • the air supply to the stern is accomplished again through an air supply tube 21, just as in the case of the bow.
  • the compressed air itself is produced in the keel frame.
  • the slotted rocket jet is again formed through a central jet body 22, which again is adjustable axially and radially to all sides from its middle position by hydraulic cylinders 52 interconnecting the jet body 22 with envelope 2.
  • the jet body 22 can also be developed just like the bow body 19 as an observation post.
  • FIGURE 8 shows a section through the keel frame 1 of the airship according to the invention with a folded up envelope 2.
  • the keel frame4 1 is fashioned of four longitudinally-running extruded sections of lig-ht metal pipes 23, which have large diameters. Therefore, it will be possible to store propellants and other operating agents in the light metal pipes 23, which are subdivided into cells, in a fireproof manner and shielded from the inside space of the keel frame.
  • the four pipes 23 are connected with one another either through longitudinal and transverse walls or through diagonal trussings.
  • This keel frame can be dimensioned to have a small weight evenly distributed for support at any two places, just as in the case of oceangoing ships. It can then land on any desired bearing sur face.
  • the upper side of the keel frame can be provided with sturdy cantilever walls 25, which, after blowing olf the lifting agent, permit the envelope to be folded together. With this process, a separate airship shed becomes superflu
  • FIGURE 8 furthermore, shows the development of the keel frame 22 with suction plates 32, which are attached either separately by themselves below the keel frame, or else the entire bottom surface of the keel frame 1 is developed as a suction plate.
  • suction plates 32 On the sides of the suction plates or the sides of the keel frame 1, tire elements 24, preferably of a very strongly sealed fabric of synthetic material, have been attached. If the blower on the keel frame sucks away air, then a partial vacuum will be created below the plate of the keel frame. This partial vacuum will then hold the keel frame with the airship with great force on the ground.
  • the sucking in can also take place on lawns, sand planes and similar places.
  • the regular driving blowers For sucking in air, one can also use the regular driving blowers. Additional equipment to produce a partial vacuum will then be unnecessary.
  • FIGURE 9 shows another design of the airship according to the invention in which combustible gas is provided in a special cel1 ⁇ 33 located within and surrounded by noncombustible gas.
  • the cell 33 for the combustible gas 15 is arranged in the middle of the airship.
  • the cell walls 26 consist likewise of a synthetic fabric sealed with a metal foil against water vapor. The water vapor surrounding the cell 33 protects the combustible gas against the possibility of ignition.
  • the walls 27 and 28 can be turned inside out, and separate the steam space from the air spaces.
  • the wall insulates the steam space from the respective bow or stern cell.
  • the walls 27 and 28 no longer insulate the steam space from the bow andstern cells.
  • the air in the bow and in the stern cells 28, 29 can be heated quickly or can also be blown through, by means of fresh air, independently of the steam space.
  • the air in the bow and stern part is hot and therefore contributes considerably to the lift of the airship. If the lifting force of the airship is to be decreased, then the warm air is replaced by cold air through the blower. Inversely, an increased lift may be obtained through the fact that the air in the bow and stern parts is heated, because of the freely running blower 19, a superpressure will be prevented.
  • FIGURE 9 shows in a dotted line the separating walls 27 turned inside out.
  • the airship contains the most air and the least steam.
  • the lifting force is the smallest.
  • Another possibility of storing the combustible gas without any danger consists in admixing the gas with the steam.
  • the admixing ratio should be selected in such a manner that an ignition of the gas within the steam is impossible.
  • To obtain the gas for consumption a part of the steam-gas mixture is drawn off and cooled, so that the steam condenses and the gas is left over.
  • the water obtained in this manner again is evaporated by the exhaust heat of the driving engines and is returned to the steam space.
  • the consumption of the gas and the consumption of liquid or solid propellants or similar things is accomplished in such a manner that the reduced lifting force, on the basis of gas consumption is balanced by a steady decrease in the necessary lifting force.
  • FIGURE l0 shows an arrangement for applying, on a metal foil, a layer of a synthetic substance that does not adsorb layers of water vapor.
  • a roll of aluminum foil in a vacuum is drawn through the annealing furnace, represented by two plates at about 400 C., said aluminum foil being wound up by the right-hand winding roller.
  • the fluorine resin plate has been lifted off.
  • FIGURE 11 shows a further step of the process according to the invention.
  • the left winding roll is turned back, while the bloc-k of resin is pressed against the heated roll (above on the right-hand side).
  • the resin will melt between the heating plates onto the foil in the vacuum.
  • the foil is then wound back again.
  • FIGURE 12 shows a further step whereby a neutral gas, free of water vapor and of high pressure, for example, argon of 16 atm., is allowed to enter the boiler.
  • a neutral gas free of water vapor and of high pressure, for example, argon of 16 atm.
  • the iluorine resin layer ,applied is molten at a higher tempera ture at the above-mentioned gas pressure without decomposition.
  • the airship according to the invention will advantageously be operated only with saturated steam.
  • the advantage of saturated steam lies in the stability of the wall temperature of the envelope, because the condensation temperature in the nonrigid envelope is equally high everywhere.
  • the disadvantage in the condensation of the saturated steam on the inside surface of the nonrigid envelope will be eliminated through the non-absorbent layer.
  • the airship is driven by ordinary engines, such as diesel engines. Still the fact should not be excluded that other driving means, such as gas turbines, atomic reactors, etc., can be used. Furthermore, if these driving agents do not liberate sufficient exhaust heat, additional direct heating of the steam could be accomplished. Such a direct heating of the steam is also necessary to keep the airship hovering in the atmosphere without operation of the driving engines and also for the purpose of filling it prior to its start. Since the additional aggregates or the additional possibilities of use are clear to the expert, and no additional inventive process is required for their use, any further description of these is unnecessary here.
  • the coating of the outermost metal skin with a moistening, therefore nonabsorbent layer of synthetic material has an additional advantage in the fact that through this, the boundary layer can, under certain circumstances, be considerably influenced and the friction resistance of the airship, which absorbs a considerable portion of the driving force, can be greatly reduced. Because of this surface, the air, so to speak, will glide past the airship without the formation of a boundary layer.
  • the airship according to the invention is uniquely suitable for the safe mass transportation of passengers and freight.
  • the safety factor is to be found especially in the fact that even in the case of a very unlikely occurrence of large leaks in square meter areas, escape of the large volume of steam takes place so slowly that a safe landing of the airship Vwould still be possible.
  • said lifting gas comprising an essential portion of steam
  • said intermediate elements are tensile connectors se cured to and interconnecting said inner and said outer walls radially, said intermediate elements being collapsible and spaced a short distance in relation to one another;
  • said surface sectors are formed of thin strips of collapsible foil which reiiect the heat and which are spaced close to one another for a zigzag configuration between said inner and outer walls and are secured to said inner and outer walls.
  • non-rigid dirigible according to claim 8 characterized in that said non-absorbent layers comprise polytetraliuoroethylene.
  • said inner and outer walls of said double wall envelope each comprise a layer of fabric made of synthetic fibers, veach of said layers being covered at least on one side with a thin foil.
  • the non-rigid dirigible according to claim 10 characterized in that said layer of fabric has differing tensile strengths in the longitudinal and peripheral directions of the envelope with the strength in one direction being twice as great as the strength in the other direction.
  • the non-rigid dirigible according to claim 11 characterized in that the ratio of warp threads to weft threads is at least 2:1 for the purpose of absorbing different tensions in the longitudinal and peripheral directions of said envelope.
  • the non-rigid dirigible according to claim 13 characterized in that the air or gas between the inner and outer walls of said double wall envelope has a pressure at least as great as the pressure of the lifting medium within said envelope.
  • a rigid keel frame is carried on the underside of said envelope, said keel frame housing blower means, said blower means interconnected to said bow and stern jet means by supply pipe means;
  • said bow jet means comprising a first body adjustably secured to said envelope and having a surface configuration complementary to the surface of said envelope adjacent said first body and forming with said envelope a first annular opening for discharging compressed air to propel and steer said dirigible, means for adjusting said first body both radially and axially with respect to the longitudinal axis of said envelope to regulate the size and configuration of said first annular opening for effecting the propulsion and steering of said dirigible; and
  • said stern jet means comprising a second body adjustably secured to said envelope and having a surface configuration complementary to the surface of said envelope adjacent said second body and forming with said envelope'a second annular opening for discharging compressed air to propel and steer said dirigible, means for adjusting said second body both radially and axially with respect to the longitudinal axis of said envelope to regulate the size and configuration of said second annular opening for effecting the propulsion and steering of said dirigible.
  • the non-rigid dirigible according to claim 17 characterized in that said first body has a detiecting screen in the form of a hollow, truncated cone which tapers toward the lbow of said envelope, said defiecting screen co-operating with said envelope to form an annular gap for expelling compressed air in a generally rearward direction.
  • the rigid keel frame has a large essentially flat floor means which extends substantially the length of the envelope, the underside of said floor means having an elastic seal which encircles at least a part of the underside of said fioor means and suction means carried in said keel frame and interconnected to the underside of said floor means to create a partial vacuum between a landing surface and the underside of said iioor means.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
  • Laminated Bodies (AREA)
  • Other Liquid Machine Or Engine Such As Wave Power Use (AREA)
  • Circuit Arrangements For Discharge Lamps (AREA)
US629167A 1966-04-09 1967-04-07 Airship Expired - Lifetime US3456903A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DEP0039186 1966-04-09
DEP0041101 1966-12-24

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3456903A true US3456903A (en) 1969-07-22

Family

ID=25990496

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US629167A Expired - Lifetime US3456903A (en) 1966-04-09 1967-04-07 Airship

Country Status (16)

Country Link
US (1) US3456903A (xx)
JP (2) JPS4886298A (xx)
AT (3) AT300581B (xx)
BE (1) BE696793A (xx)
CH (1) CH475125A (xx)
DE (1) DE1481222C3 (xx)
DK (2) DK133186C (xx)
ES (1) ES338923A1 (xx)
FI (1) FI49947C (xx)
GB (2) GB1191322A (xx)
IL (1) IL27731A (xx)
LU (1) LU53360A1 (xx)
NL (1) NL152804B (xx)
NO (1) NO119396B (xx)
SE (4) SE357523B (xx)
SU (2) SU520896A3 (xx)

Cited By (20)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3791611A (en) * 1972-09-11 1974-02-12 L Babbidge Captive inflated lighter-than-air structures
US3844507A (en) * 1969-09-09 1974-10-29 H Papst Process for the transportation of impellent gases, for example natural gas, and apparatus for carrying out the process
US3897032A (en) * 1970-02-26 1975-07-29 Hermann Ernst Robert Papst Method for operating airships, particularly by means of hydrocarbon gas or hydrogen
US3972492A (en) * 1975-01-29 1976-08-03 Milne William G Airship for transporting gas
US3972493A (en) * 1975-01-29 1976-08-03 Milne William G Docking device for a dirigible
US4032085A (en) * 1973-03-21 1977-06-28 Papst Hermann E R Dirigible, especially non-rigid dirigible
US4055316A (en) * 1976-04-07 1977-10-25 John Lester Chipper Method and equipment for aerial transport
US4640474A (en) * 1985-08-05 1987-02-03 Manseth Robert A Method and apparatus for aerially transporting loads
US4696444A (en) * 1985-04-25 1987-09-29 Centre National D'etudes Spatiales (C.N.E.S.) Device for coupling a balloon envelope with an element external to the envelope
US5743786A (en) * 1996-05-30 1998-04-28 Lindsey; Alan Balloon face polyhedra
US5890676A (en) * 1997-11-21 1999-04-06 Coleman; Richard Airship with neutral buoyancy fuel bladder
WO1999026839A2 (en) 1997-09-15 1999-06-03 Sky Station International, Inc. Cyclical thermal management system
US6641083B2 (en) 2001-08-08 2003-11-04 The Director-General Of The Institute Of Space And Astronautical Science Balloon
US20070075186A1 (en) * 2005-09-30 2007-04-05 Marimon Thomas L Airship with lifting gas cell system
WO2007079788A1 (de) * 2006-01-10 2007-07-19 Kamal Alavi Unbemanntes luftfahrzeug für telekommunikative oder für andere wissenschaftliche zwecke
US20100288875A1 (en) * 2009-05-15 2010-11-18 Lockheed Martin Corporation External pressurization system for lighter than air vehicles
US20110062289A1 (en) * 2009-09-14 2011-03-17 Chu Adam N Envelope With Gas Management System For Lighter-Than-Air Aircraft
WO2011154797A3 (en) * 2010-06-07 2012-04-12 Hans Georg Kraus Super -rigid hybrid airship and method of producing
US20170096209A1 (en) * 2014-06-18 2017-04-06 Nikolai Borisowich SHULGIN "vestaplan" gliding helistat
FR3120798A1 (fr) * 2021-03-16 2022-09-23 Safran Nacelles Structure treillis d’aéronef permettant d’éviter la propagation d’un feu et aéronef

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
USRE30391E (en) 1976-02-23 1980-09-02 Abbott Laboratories Chemical analysis cuvette
DE3008071A1 (de) * 1980-03-03 1981-09-17 Verseidag-Industrietextilien Gmbh, 4150 Krefeld Ballonstoff fuer heissluftballons
GB9718211D0 (en) * 1997-08-29 1997-11-05 James Peter A lighter than air low vacuum air displacement -the bucky balloon
GB2346593B (en) 1999-02-09 2003-01-08 Airship Tech Serv Ltd Airship bow thruster apparatus
JP3076842B1 (ja) * 1999-03-29 2000-08-14 工業技術院長 スーパー・プレッシャ型高々度飛行船
WO2010011153A1 (ru) * 2008-07-23 2010-01-28 Sukharevskiy Vladimir Vladimir Гелиевый дирижабль
GB2482340A (en) 2010-07-30 2012-02-01 Davidson Technology Ltd High altitude tethered platform
CN102806988B (zh) * 2012-08-30 2015-01-28 湖南航天机电设备与特种材料研究所 一种大型浮空器充气式舵面
CA3067132A1 (en) * 2017-07-03 2019-01-10 Michael Ian GOODISMAN Flame arrester for the safer use of hydrogen as a lifting gas in airships

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NL57542C (xx) *
DE316005C (xx) *
US2275771A (en) * 1940-08-14 1942-03-10 Kimbel Guy John Power driven balloon
US2396494A (en) * 1941-07-16 1946-03-12 Wingfoot Corp Airship
US2478792A (en) * 1946-07-02 1949-08-09 Trey Serge Airship
US3346216A (en) * 1964-07-23 1967-10-10 Desmarteau Paul Airship

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NL57542C (xx) *
DE316005C (xx) *
US2275771A (en) * 1940-08-14 1942-03-10 Kimbel Guy John Power driven balloon
US2396494A (en) * 1941-07-16 1946-03-12 Wingfoot Corp Airship
US2478792A (en) * 1946-07-02 1949-08-09 Trey Serge Airship
US3346216A (en) * 1964-07-23 1967-10-10 Desmarteau Paul Airship

Cited By (26)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3844507A (en) * 1969-09-09 1974-10-29 H Papst Process for the transportation of impellent gases, for example natural gas, and apparatus for carrying out the process
US3897032A (en) * 1970-02-26 1975-07-29 Hermann Ernst Robert Papst Method for operating airships, particularly by means of hydrocarbon gas or hydrogen
US3791611A (en) * 1972-09-11 1974-02-12 L Babbidge Captive inflated lighter-than-air structures
US4032085A (en) * 1973-03-21 1977-06-28 Papst Hermann E R Dirigible, especially non-rigid dirigible
US3972492A (en) * 1975-01-29 1976-08-03 Milne William G Airship for transporting gas
US3972493A (en) * 1975-01-29 1976-08-03 Milne William G Docking device for a dirigible
US4055316A (en) * 1976-04-07 1977-10-25 John Lester Chipper Method and equipment for aerial transport
US4696444A (en) * 1985-04-25 1987-09-29 Centre National D'etudes Spatiales (C.N.E.S.) Device for coupling a balloon envelope with an element external to the envelope
US4640474A (en) * 1985-08-05 1987-02-03 Manseth Robert A Method and apparatus for aerially transporting loads
US5743786A (en) * 1996-05-30 1998-04-28 Lindsey; Alan Balloon face polyhedra
US6119979A (en) * 1997-09-15 2000-09-19 Sky Station International, Inc. Cyclical thermal management system
WO1999026839A2 (en) 1997-09-15 1999-06-03 Sky Station International, Inc. Cyclical thermal management system
US5890676A (en) * 1997-11-21 1999-04-06 Coleman; Richard Airship with neutral buoyancy fuel bladder
US6641083B2 (en) 2001-08-08 2003-11-04 The Director-General Of The Institute Of Space And Astronautical Science Balloon
US20070075186A1 (en) * 2005-09-30 2007-04-05 Marimon Thomas L Airship with lifting gas cell system
US7500637B2 (en) * 2005-09-30 2009-03-10 Lockheed Martin Corporation Airship with lifting gas cell system
WO2007079788A1 (de) * 2006-01-10 2007-07-19 Kamal Alavi Unbemanntes luftfahrzeug für telekommunikative oder für andere wissenschaftliche zwecke
US20100288875A1 (en) * 2009-05-15 2010-11-18 Lockheed Martin Corporation External pressurization system for lighter than air vehicles
US8459589B2 (en) * 2009-05-15 2013-06-11 Lockheed Martin Corporation External pressurization system for lighter than air vehicles
US20110062289A1 (en) * 2009-09-14 2011-03-17 Chu Adam N Envelope With Gas Management System For Lighter-Than-Air Aircraft
WO2011154797A3 (en) * 2010-06-07 2012-04-12 Hans Georg Kraus Super -rigid hybrid airship and method of producing
CN103079952A (zh) * 2010-06-07 2013-05-01 汉斯·格奥尔·克劳斯 超硬混合飞艇和其制造方法
RU2541587C2 (ru) * 2010-06-07 2015-02-20 Ханс Георг Краус Сверхжесткий комбинированный аэростатический летательный аппарат и способ его изготовления
CN103079952B (zh) * 2010-06-07 2015-07-29 汉斯·格奥尔·克劳斯 超硬混合飞艇和其制造方法
US20170096209A1 (en) * 2014-06-18 2017-04-06 Nikolai Borisowich SHULGIN "vestaplan" gliding helistat
FR3120798A1 (fr) * 2021-03-16 2022-09-23 Safran Nacelles Structure treillis d’aéronef permettant d’éviter la propagation d’un feu et aéronef

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS4886297A (xx) 1973-11-14
IL27731A (en) 1971-06-23
SE347711B (xx) 1972-08-14
JPS4886298A (xx) 1973-11-14
AT294589B (de) 1971-11-25
SU520896A3 (ru) 1976-07-05
NL152804B (nl) 1977-04-15
DE1481222A1 (de) 1970-01-15
SE363072B (xx) 1974-01-07
AT300581B (de) 1972-07-25
DK133186C (da) 1976-09-06
DK123578B (da) 1972-07-10
SE357523B (xx) 1973-07-02
NL6704983A (xx) 1967-10-10
BE696793A (xx) 1967-10-09
NO119396B (xx) 1970-05-11
LU53360A1 (xx) 1967-10-05
DK133186B (da) 1976-04-05
FI49947B (xx) 1975-07-31
AT293886B (de) 1971-10-25
SE328193B (xx) 1970-09-07
GB1191322A (en) 1970-05-13
GB1191321A (en) 1970-05-13
ES338923A1 (es) 1968-09-01
CH475125A (de) 1969-07-15
SU558632A3 (ru) 1977-05-15
DE1481222C3 (de) 1975-01-23
FI49947C (fi) 1975-11-10
DE1481222B2 (de) 1974-05-30

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