Inflatable wing flight vehicle
First Claim
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1. An aircraft comprising:
- a flexible gas envelope comprising a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a plurality of inflatable cells, wherein the inflatable cells are generally elongated and extend lengthwise in a direction from the leading edge to the trailing edge of the flexible gas envelope, wherein the flexible gas envelope forms an airfoil shape when the cells are inflated, with the airfoil shape configured to provide lift when the flexible gas envelope is in forward flight;
a base unit secured to the flexible gas envelope; and
a lifting gas source configured to provide lighter-than-air gas to the cells.
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Abstract
The invention is an aircraft having an inflatable wing connected to a base unit, with the inflatable wing inflated with a lifting gas such as helium. The inflatable wing has a series of cell structures, and may be configured with ballonets to selectively introduce and expel outside air within the inflatable wing to vary the buoyancy and/or airfoil properties of the inflatable wing. The aircraft is particularly useful at low speeds and in thin atmospheres (such as at high Earth altitudes and on Mars), and can be used for interplanetary missions to explore planetary bodies, such as moons and planets, having atmospheres.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An aircraft comprising:
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a flexible gas envelope comprising a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a plurality of inflatable cells, wherein the inflatable cells are generally elongated and extend lengthwise in a direction from the leading edge to the trailing edge of the flexible gas envelope, wherein the flexible gas envelope forms an airfoil shape when the cells are inflated, with the airfoil shape configured to provide lift when the flexible gas envelope is in forward flight; a base unit secured to the flexible gas envelope; and a lifting gas source configured to provide lighter-than-air gas to the cells. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of preparing a device for delivery from Earth to a planetary body having an atmosphere, comprising:
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providing a base unit; providing an inflatable airfoil configured to form a lifting body when inflated; flushing the inflatable airfoil with a lifting gas; restraining the inflatable airfoil in a collapsed configuration; and securing the inflatable airfoil to the base unit to thereby form an aircraft. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An aircraft comprising:
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a generally inflatable airfoil; a base unit; a lifting gas canister positioned on or in the base unit; a lifting gas supply line passing from the lifting gas canister to the airfoil; and a plurality of cords securing the base unit to the airfoil; wherein the aircraft is configured to selectively transition from a stored configuration to a deployed configuration, wherein in the stored configuration the plurality of cords surround and engage against the lifting gas supply line. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification