Lighter-than-air gas handling system and method
First Claim
1. A lighter-than-air gas handling system for an airship capable of operating at a plurality of altitudes each characterized by a plurality of environmental conditions, the system comprising:
- a structure including a first envelope and a flexible volume portion in fluid communication with the first envelope, the first envelope capable of containing a volume of lighter-than-air gas disposed within the first envelope at a pressure in substantial equilibrium with an ambient pressure external to the first envelope when the airship is operating at a first altitude of the plurality of altitudes; and
a lighter-than-air gas transfer mechanism coupled with the first envelope and the flexible volume portion and operative to allow the lighter-than-air gas to flow into the flexible volume portion as the lighter-than-air gas expands when the airship ascends to a second altitude higher than the first altitude and before the expanded lighter-than-air gas exceeds the containment capability of the first envelope, the flexible volume portion operative to expand to accommodate the lighter-than-air gas flowing thereto from the first envelope.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A lighter-than-air gas handling method and system for an airship capable of operating at a plurality of altitudes each characterized by a plurality of environmental conditions comprises a structure including a first envelope and a flexible volume portion in fluid communication with the first envelope. The first envelope capable of containing a volume of lighter-than-air gas disposed within the first envelope at a pressure in substantial equilibrium with an ambient pressure external to the first envelope when the airship is operating at a first altitude of the plurality of altitudes. A lighter-than-air gas transfer mechanism is coupled with the first envelope and the flexible volume portion and operative to allow the lighter-than-air gas to flow into the flexible volume portion as the lighter-than-air gas expands when the airship ascends to a second altitude higher than the first altitude and before the expanded lighter-than-air gas exceeds the containment capability of the first envelope. The flexible volume portion is operative to expand to accommodate the lighter-than-air gas flowing thereto from the first envelope wherein expansion of the flexible volume portion does not substantially affect the capability of the airship to operate in the plurality of environmental conditions of the second altitude. The lighter-than-air gas is transferred from the flexible volume portion into the first envelope as the airship descends from the second altitude to a third altitude lower than the second altitude.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. A lighter-than-air gas handling system for an airship capable of operating at a plurality of altitudes each characterized by a plurality of environmental conditions, the system comprising:
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a structure including a first envelope and a flexible volume portion in fluid communication with the first envelope, the first envelope capable of containing a volume of lighter-than-air gas disposed within the first envelope at a pressure in substantial equilibrium with an ambient pressure external to the first envelope when the airship is operating at a first altitude of the plurality of altitudes; and a lighter-than-air gas transfer mechanism coupled with the first envelope and the flexible volume portion and operative to allow the lighter-than-air gas to flow into the flexible volume portion as the lighter-than-air gas expands when the airship ascends to a second altitude higher than the first altitude and before the expanded lighter-than-air gas exceeds the containment capability of the first envelope, the flexible volume portion operative to expand to accommodate the lighter-than-air gas flowing thereto from the first envelope. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A lighter-than-air gas handling system for an airship capable of operating at a plurality of altitudes each characterized by a plurality of environmental conditions, the system comprising:
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a structure including a first envelope and a flexible volume portion in fluid communication with the first envelope, the flexible volume portion capable of containing a volume of lighter-than-air gas disposed within the flexible volume portion at a pressure in substantial equilibrium with an ambient pressure external to the flexible volume portion when the airship is operating at a first altitude of the plurality of altitudes; and a lighter-than-air gas transfer mechanism coupled with the first envelope and the flexible volume portion and operative to transfer the lighter-than-air gas into the first envelope as the lighter-than-air gas contracts when the airship descends to a second altitude lower than the first altitude and before the pressure of the contracted lighter-than-air gas falls substantially below the ambient pressure, the first envelope operative to accommodate the lighter-than-air gas flowing thereto from the flexible volume portion. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method of handling a lighter-than-air gas system for an airship capable of operating at a plurality of altitudes each characterized by a plurality of environmental conditions, the method comprising:
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containing a volume of lighter-than-air gas at a pressure in substantial equilibrium with an ambient pressure external to a first envelope when the airship is operating at a first altitude of the plurality of altitudes; and allowing the lighter-than-air gas to flow into a flexible volume portion, in fluid communication with the first envelope, as the lighter-than-air gas expands and before the expanded lighter-than-air gas exceeds the containment capability of the first envelope. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A lighter-than-air gas handling system for an airship capable of operating at a plurality of altitudes each characterized by a plurality of environmental conditions, the system comprising:
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means for containing a volume of lighter-than-air gas at a pressure in substantial equilibrium with an ambient pressure external to the means for containing when the airship is operating at a first altitude of the plurality of altitudes; and means for allowing the lighter-than-air gas to flow into a flexible volume means, in fluid communication with the means for containing, as the lighter-than-air gas expands and before the expanded lighter-than-air gas exceeds the containment capability of the means for containing, the flexible volume means comprising means for expanding to accommodate the lighter-than-air gas flowing thereto from the means for containing. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40)
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Specification