Apparatus and method utilizing cells to provide lift in lighter-than-air airships
First Claim
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1. A method of providing lift in a lighter-than-air airship disposed in surrounding air, said air having a volume density, comprising the steps of:
- providing an expandable cell having an inside, said cell disposed within said airship, said cell having an internal microwave-reflective coating on the inside thereof;
providing an microwave-absorbing fluid within said cell;
generating microwaves within said cell;
heating said microwave-absorbing fluid by said microwaves within said cell;
vaporizing said fluid by said heat generated by said microwaves and forming steam within said cell;
expanding the volume of said cell by said created steam to a volume density less than that of the air surrounding said airship; and
providing lift to said airship by said steam within said cell.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for floating such apparatus in the air, such apparatus having at least one cell containing air and a fluid. The fluid in one embodiment is heated to create steam which, in turn, makes the cell lighter than the surrounding air, thereby providing lift to the apparatus.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of providing lift in a lighter-than-air airship disposed in surrounding air, said air having a volume density, comprising the steps of:
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providing an expandable cell having an inside, said cell disposed within said airship, said cell having an internal microwave-reflective coating on the inside thereof;
providing an microwave-absorbing fluid within said cell;
generating microwaves within said cell;
heating said microwave-absorbing fluid by said microwaves within said cell;
vaporizing said fluid by said heat generated by said microwaves and forming steam within said cell;
expanding the volume of said cell by said created steam to a volume density less than that of the air surrounding said airship; and
providing lift to said airship by said steam within said cell. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
providing in addition to said fluid within said cell an additional lighter-than-air gas therein.
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3. The method of claim 1 further including the step of:
venting said steam from said cell to provide thrust to said airship.
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4. The method of claim 2 further including the step of:
venting said steam and said lighter-than-air gas from said cell to provide thrust to said airship.
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5. The method of claim 1 further including the step of:
insulating said cell against heat loss to aid in maintaining said heat creating said steam with a lightweight, thermally insulative aerogel foam.
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6. The method of claim 4 further including the step of:
insulating said cell against heat loss to aid in maintaining said heat creating said steam.
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7. The method of claim 1 further including the step of:
utilizing water as said microwave-absorbing fluid.
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8. The method of claim 7 further including the step of:
providing a fluid reservoir to replenish said water after said water has been turned to steam.
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9. The method of claim 1 further including the step of:
providing an outer thermally insulative chamber disposed around said expandable cell.
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10. A method of providing lift in a lighter-than-air airship disposed in surrounding air, said air having a volume density, comprising the steps of:
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providing an expandable cell having an inside within said airship, said cell having an internal microwave-reflective coating on the inside thereof;
providing a fuel and an oxidizer within the interior of said cell;
combusting said fuel and oxidizer to produce gaseous products of combustion;
generating microwaves within said cell;
maintaining said products of said combustion at a temperature at which its density is lighter than that of the surrounding air by heating said products of combustion by said microwaves;
expanding the volume of said cell by said gaseous combustion products to a volume density less than that of the air surrounding said airship; and
providing lift to said airship by said lighter-than-air gas within said cell. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
providing a nozzle in said cell;
venting said products of combustion through said nozzle to provide thrust for movement of said lighter-than-air airship.
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12. The method of claim 11 further including the step of:
insulating said cell with a lightweight thermally insulative aerogel foam insulation.
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13. The method of claim 10 further including the step of:
providing an outer thermally insulative chamber around said expandable cell.
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14. A lighter-than air airship disposed in surrounding air, said air having a volume density, comprising:
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at least one cell having an expandable cell wall, said wall having an inside, said inside of said cell having a microwave-reflective coating;
a microwave-absorbing fluid disposed within said cell;
means to generate microwaves within said cell to heat said microwave-absorbing fluid to vaporize said fluid by said heat and form steam;
said steam expanding said cell to contain a volume density less than that of said surrounding air. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
a vent defined in said cell wall to allow venting of said steam for thrust to said airship.
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17. The airship of claim 14 wherein said cell wall is insulated against heat loss by a lightweight thermally insulative aerogel foam.
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18. The airship of claim 17 further including:
an insulative chamber surrounding said expandable cell.
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19. A lighter-than-air airship disposed in surrounding air, said air having a volume density, comprising:
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at least one cell having an expandable cell wall, said wall having an inside, said inside of said cell having a microwave-reflective coating;
means to create combustion between a fuel and an oxidizer in said cell to produce gaseous products of combustion in order to expand the volume of said cell by said gaseous combustion products to a volume density less than that of the air surrounding said airship; and
means to heat said combustion products by microwaves provided within said cell. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
a vent defined in said cell wall to allowing venting of said combustion products for thrust to said airship.
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21. The airship of claim 19 further including:
a microwave-absorbing fluid within said cell, said fluid heated by said microwaves to vaporize said fluid into a gas having a volume density less than that of the surrounding air.
Specification