WO1995004676A1

WO1995004676A1 - Rigid airship construction

Info

Publication number: WO1995004676A1
Application number: PCT/NZ1994/000068
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ian George Turner
Original assignee: Ian George Turner
Priority date: 1993-08-06
Filing date: 1994-07-01
Publication date: 1995-02-16
Also published as: AU7196494A

Abstract

A rigid airship which comprises a substantially rigid outer shell (1), which outer shell substantially seals the internal space of the airship form the external environment. The internal space is partitioned (2, 4) into compartments to provide at least one substantially sealed pressure cell (3), which may be filled with gas to provide buoyancy. The rigid airship may take different forms including mono- and multi-hulled structures in which the pressure cells are connected to one another. Temperature and pressure in the compartments may be maintained and controlled by control systems.

Description

RIGID AIRSHIP CONSTRUCTION

BACKGROUND TO THE AIR TRANSPORTATION MEANS

This invention relates to rigid airships containing pressure cells. However, the invention may have application wherever this technology may have an application.

To the present time, many airships have relied on the use for purposes of buoyancy on a fabric gas bag arrangement wherein the density of the gas in the bag is lower than the density of the surrounding atmosphere. Such fabric bag arrangements require a supporting framework often constructed out of metal rings. Where maintenance was required, the airship had to be hung by its metal ring supports during deflation of the fabric gas bags in order to reduce likelihood of damage to the bags.

The gas bags are also susceptible to damage from other sources and being prone to leaks, make the functional operation of the pressure cells within the ai ship difficult to maintain.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a rigid airship containing pressure cells which will go at least some way towards avoiding the above disadvantages or at least provide the public with a useful choice.

HEET The term "pressure cell" is used throughout this specification to include any cell being filled with gas which is substantially sealed from the external environment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an air transportation means which comprises a substantially rigid outer shell which is substantially sealed from the external environment, the internal space of said air transportation means being partitioned to form compartments to provide at least one substantially sealed pressure cell, with said pressure cell compartment being filled with gas to provide the air transportation means with buoyancy.

Further aspects of this invention, which should be considered in all its novel aspects, will be apparent from the following description given by way of six possible embodiments thereof and in which reference will be made to the accompanying drawings:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

Figure 1: Shows a diagrammatic representation of a perspective view of a longitudinal cut¬ away section of one possible embodiment of the invention. Figure 2: Shows a diagrammatic representation of a cross-sectional view of the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, taken through line AA;

Figure 3: Shows a diagrammatic representation of a cross-sectional perspective view of the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 at lines BB and CC;

Figure 4 Shows a diagrammatic representation of a plan view of a second embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 5: Shows a diagrammatic representation of a side view of the second embodiment illustrated in Figure 4;

Figure 6: Shows a diagrammatic representation of a front view of the embodiment illustrated in Figures 4 and 5;

Figure 7 Shows a diagrammatic illustration of a further embodiment of the invention as seen in a perspective view;

Figure 8: Shows a diagrammatic representation of the embodiment illustrated in Figure 7 as seen in the front view;

Figure 9: Shows a diagrammatic representation of a front view of a still further embodiment of the invention not unlike the embodiment illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 but which is triple hulled; Figure 10: Shows a diagrammatic representation of a perspective view of a still further embodiment of the present invention; Figure 11: Shows a diagrammatic representation of the side view of the embodiment illustrated in Figure 10; Figure 12: Shows a diagrammatic representation of a front view of a still further embodiment of the invention; Figure 13: Shows a diagrammatic representation of the side view of the embodiment shown in

Figure 12.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS:

The present invention relates to an air transportation means wherein an outer rigid shell is divided by means of partitions or internal bulkheads or load bearing means into spaces at least one of said spaces being a pressure cell filled with gas to provide the airship with buoyancy.

One embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in Figure 1. In this embodiment the air transportation means takes the form of a traditional mono- hull design referenced generally as 1. Figure 1 illustrates the partitioning of the internal space of the airship. A partition 2, which may take the form of a reinforced bulkhead or load bearing means separates the compartments 3. Each compartment 3 may also be a pressure cell which may be in communication with other pressure cells 3. Alternatively, each compartment being a pressure cell may be sealed off from adjacent pressure cells so that the environment of one pressure cell can be controlled independently of other pressure cells. The closing off of the pressure cells one from another may be provided by a sealing means (not shown) .

In areas such as the bow, nose cone and stern tail sections of the air transportation means, where engine mountings may be located or special strengthening structures required, bulkhead or load bearing means may be required. In these areas the bulkhead or load bearing means 4 may be provided in a structured form, the components of the structure being in a spaced apart arrangement. The load bearing means 4 may take the form of sheets of material which are arranged in a substantially horizontal plane or alternatively, the bulkhead or load bearing means 4 may be arranged to provide a multi-cavity effect. The bulkhead or load bearing means 4 in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, are located at the bow, referenced generally as A and the stern, referenced generally by B. In both the bow and the stern areas the bulkhead or load bearing means 4 consists of horizontal sheets, spaced apart to provide multiple cavities £>. A cross-sectional view at line AA of the airship illustrated in Figure 1 is shown in Figure 2. The hull of the airship 1 takes the form of a substantially rigid outer shell which may be provided with insulation material 6. The internal surface 7 of the rigid outer shell may provide a substantially airtight seal. The rigid outer shell including the insulation material 6 and the internal surface of the airship's hull 7 may provide the airship a barrier to the influences of the external environment such as variations in pressure and temperature. The internal compartments of the air transportation means may have a deck 8, which is supported through to the rear of the airship by load bearing means 4a which in this area consist of a series of vertical struts.

In Figure 3, semi-circle A represented a perspective view from the front of the aircraft representing a cross- section at the line BB at the bow A in Figure 1, with the second semi-circle, labelled B, being a perspective view from the rear of the aircraft representing a cross- sectional view at line CC in the rear of the airship. Figure 3 shows the load bearing means 4 in the bow and rear section of the airship as horizontal sheets; however, other reinforcing means may also be provided.

UTE SHEET A further embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figures 4, 5 and 6. In this embodiment, the airship is of a Delta-winged type, with a similar arrangement of partitions or bulkheads or load bearing means providing pressure cells 3 in a series, as in the previous embodiment illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3. The difference with the embodiment represented in Figures 4, 5 and 6 compared with that in Figures 1, 2 and 3 is that the overall shape of the aircraft may make it preferable for performing certain tasks, due to its broader, flatter shape and shorter length. In Figures 4, 5 and 6, the airship is shown with a propulsion means, such as a propeller 10.

In Figures 7 and 8, a still further embodiment of the invention is illustrated. In this particular embodiment, the airship is twin-hulled. Each hull 1 may be provided with a series of partitions 2 or bulkheads or load bearing means providing one or more pressure cells 3 typical of the present invention. In this embodiment, the two hulls 1 are joined by a platform 11 which may for instance be used for a landing area for aircraft whilst the airship is airborne.

The twin-hulled airship as illustrated in Figure 7, is represented in Figure 8 as seen from the front of the airship. In Figure 9, a similar air transportation means to that of the embodiment illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 is shown, but instead of two hulls, the airship is provided with three hulls. Each of the hulls 1 may be provided with one or more partitions or bulkheads or load bearing means providing pressure cells 3. The central hull 12, may also be provided with a deck 8 being a partition or bulkhead or load bearing means 4a.

In Figures 10 and 11, there is shown a further embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the air transportation means takes the form of a sky crane. As with the previous embodiments, the internal space of the airship may be divided into compartments by partitions or bulkheads or load bearing means 2 such that the pressure cell 3 is bounded and supported by one or more partitions 2 or bulkheads or load bearing means. In this embodiment, the airship is a doughnut shape and is provided with an attachment means 13, which may be mounted centrally of the airship. The airship illustrated in Figures 10 and 11 may be used as a semi-stationary lifting means, with the airship being positioned substantially over the object to be lifted. The airship may be provided with propulsion means such as on board motors or alternatively, the airship could be towed into position by a helicopter or other aircraft and then locked into position using guide wires or other means to secure the airship to the ground. In Figures 12 and 13, there is illustrated a further embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, there is presented the combination of the present invention as well as powered aircraft systems having aero¬ dynamic wings 14. This particular embodiment has advantages in the aviation area, as it may enable short take-offs and landings, previously not possible with many known aircraft. Although this airship is not abj.e to fly as high as known aircraft, it may be cheaper to operate than a normal aircraft and may require shorter air strips, due to its slow landing and take-off speeds. In operation this airship may use partitions or bulk heads or load bearing means to provide pressure cells in order to provide the air transportation means with buoyancy, with the balance of the requirement for short take-off to be provided by its aero-dynamic wings.

It will be

that the hull 1 of each of the embodiments may be moulded out of fibreglass or other material suitable for the purpose. The fibreglass material may then be backed with insulation material 6, so that the internal environment of each compartment and/or pressure cell 3, will not be unduly influenced by the environment outside the compartment. The insulation material is then provided with an internal layer of fibreglass material or other material suitable for the purposes of providing an airtight seal. In each embodiment, the hull 1 of the air transportation means is divided by means of partitions so that there may be a series of compartments in which said compartments may be pressure cells 3, separated by bulkheads or load bearing means 2 being structures filled with cavities being reinforcing means. The bulkheads or load bearing means 2 may be evenly spaced throughout the length of the airship and function as a support for the hull 1, and as a system for providing partitions for the internal space of the air transportation means. Although the pressure cells 3 may be communicating, they may also be isolated from each other in the case of a fault, where normal atmospheric air pressure enters a pressure cell 3 as a result of a leak. In this way, the integrity of the airship may be maintained, if for any reason, one pressure cell 3 fails.

The pressure cells 3 in use are filled with a favoured gas providing buoyancy to the air transportation system. Such gas may be helium or other gas suitable for the purpose. In use the pressure cells are filled to the desired pressure according to the buoyancy required. The location of temperature sensing and controlling means inside the pressure cells 3, enables a temperature controlled environment to be achieved. The gas pressure may be monitored by a sensor in each individual pressure cell 3 so that the optimum pressure can be maintained and providing means for automatically isolating any disfunctioning pressure cell 3. Compartments other than pressure cells may also be provided with temperature and pressure detecting and controlling means such that the internal environment of these compartments may be adjusted depending upon the external environment.

Thus it can be seen that an air transportation means is provided in which rigidity in structure of the air transportation system provides for ease of maintenance and negates the need for deflatable fabric gas bags.

Whilst the invention has been described to be referenced to a preferred embodiment and reference has been made to alternative embodiments, the invention is not limited to the prevalent embodiment and modifications and developments are envisaged and can be incorporated without departing from the invention as described in the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. An air transportation means which comprises a substantially rigid outer shell said outer shell substantially sealing the internal space of the said air transportation means from the external environment, and said internal space of said air transportation means being partitioned into compartments to provide at least one substantially sealed pressure cell with said pressure cell being filled with gases to provide the air transportation means with buoyancy.

2. An air transportation means according as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the rigid outer shell is moulded as a single structure.

3. An air transportation means as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the rigid outer shell is constructed of interconnected reinforced panels.

4. An air transportation means as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the rigid outer shell includes an insulation layer.

5. An air transportation means according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the partitions constitute bulkheads or load bearing means.

6. An air transportation means as claimed in Claim 5 in which the bulkheads or load bearing means consist of constructions providing multiple cavities.

7. An air transportation means as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein there occurs a plurality of pressure cells said pressure cells being interconnected by a closeable communication system.

8. An air transportation means as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the air transportation means includes a deck.

9. An air transportation means as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the construction of the air transportation means is as a mono-hull.

10. An air transportation means as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 8 wherein the construction of the air transportation means is twin-hulled.

11. An air transportation means as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 8 in which the air transportation means consists of three or more hulls.

12. An air transportation means as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the air transportation means comprises a powered aircraft provided with aero-dynamic wings.

13. An air transportation means as claimed in Claim 1 in which the rigid outer shell is moulded out of fibreglass material.

14. An air transportation means as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which at least one pressure cell is provided with control means for controlling gas pressure.

15. An air transportation means as claimed in Claim 1 in which at least one pressure cell is supplied with sensing means for monitoring temperature.

16. An air transportation means as claimed in Claim 15 in which at least one pressure cell is provided with control means for controlling temperature.

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17. An air transportation means as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.