Hybrid winged airship (dynastat)

• US 6,581,873 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2002
• Issued: 06/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Patrick P. Mcdermott
• Original Assignee: Patrick P. Mcdermott
• Inventors: McDermott, Patrick P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jordan, Charles T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOLZEN, STEPHEN A
• Application Number:
  US10/050,934
• Publication Number:
  US 20020096599A1
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• Field of Search: 244/25, 244/24
• US Class Current: 244/25
• CPC Class Codes: B64B 1/08 Framework construction
• CPC Class Codes: B64B 1/20 provided with wings or stabilising surfaces tail unit construction B64B1/10; movable control surfaces B64B1/12
• CPC Class Codes: B64B 1/60 Gas-bags surrounded by separate containers of inert gas
• CPC Class Codes: B64B 2201/00 Hybrid airships, i.e. airships where lift is generated aerodynamically and statically
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 27/24 using steam or spring force jet aircraft B64D27/16
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 27/353 using solar cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/042 PV modules or arrays of single PV cells supporting structures for PV modules H02S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/30 Supporting structures being movable or adjustable, e.g. for angle adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/50 On board measures aiming to increase energy efficiency
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/60 Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft

Abstract

A winged hybrid airship (dynastat) combining the advantages of lighter-than-air (LTA) and heavier-than-air (HTA) aircrafts is disclosed. By combining the dynamic lift of low drag, high aspect ration airfoils (e.g., length over chord >10) with the static lift of low drag, laminar-airflow airships, a platform is formed which is capable of prolonged high altitude flight, maintaining station over a given point on the earth, carrying a payload of communications, reconnaissance or meteorological equipment. Solar collection cells and microwave antennas allow for recharging of on board batteries/fuel cells for powering both the airship and on board avionics computers and reconnaissance or meteorological equipment. An alternate embodiment, having strengthened structural members, is able to provide low altitude heavy cargo lift in remote regions regions or cross country transport of goods.

Claims

1. A hybrid winged airship (dynastat) comprising:

a plurality of lighter-than-air (LTA) laminar air flow airships, each airship having a length, a fore end and an aft end, and internal support structures, and

a plurality of airfoils, each of said airfoils having a length, a first end and a second end, and internal support structures,

a first of said airships being attached, proximate said fore end, to said first end of a first of said airfoils and proximate said aft end to said first end of a second of said airfoils, and

a second of said airships being attached, proximate said fore end, to said second end of said first airfoil and at said aft end to said second end of said second airfoil,

a point of juncture being formed at each connection of said airships and said airfoils,

said first and second airships being substantially parallel to one another and spaced apart by substantially the length of said airfoils, and

said first and said second airfoils being substantially parallel to one another and spaced apart by substantially the length of said airships;

a plurality of outer airfoil segments, each of said outer airfoil segments having a proximal end, and a distal end, a first of said outer airfoil segments joined at said proximal end thereof to said first end of one of said first and second airfoil, extending outboard of said first airship, and a second of said outer airfoil segments joined said the proximal end thereof to said second end of said one of said first and second airfoil, extending outboard of said second airship;

tensioning means for maintaining rigidity of said dynastat;

energy acquisition means for acquiring energy for the operation of said dynastat;

energy storage means for storing acquired energy;

propulsion means;

steering means for controlling the direction and attitude of flight of said dynastat;

sensing means for sensing position, altitude and attitude of said dynastat relative to the earth and the sun;

controlling means for controlling adjustments in position, altitude and attitude of said dynastat relative to the earth and the sun, and on board payload equipment.

2. A dynastat, as defined in claim 1, wherein said internal support structures of said airfoils and said aerostats are of a light weight composit composition.

3. A dynastat, as defined in claim 1, wherein said plurality of outer airfoil segments further comprises a third and a fourth of said outer airfoil segment joined, one at each end, as an extension of a second of said first and second airfoil, extending outboard of said first and second airship, respectively.

4. A dynastat, as defined in claim 3, wherein each of said outer airfoil segments further comprise a hinged connection with said airfoil such that said outer airfoil may be lowered to a position substantially normal to said airfoil, the distal end of each of said airfoil thereby forming a point of contact for said dynastat when in contact with the ground.

5. A dynastat, as defined in claim 4, wherein said outer airfoil segments further comprise one of the group:

a lightweight wheel assembly at an end opposite said hinged connection, and

a skid assembly at an end opposite said hinged connection.

6. A dynastat, as defined in claim 4, wherein said tensioning means comprises:

a vertical stabilizer normal to and extending through a plane formed by said airships and said airfoils,

said vertical stabilizer having a height, a lower end and an upper end, and

said vertical stabilizer being suspended between said airships and said airfoils by

a plurality of cables, one of said cables extending from each of said lower end and said upper end of said vertical stabilizer to each of said points of juncture of said airfoils and said airships,

thereby forming a tetrahedral, tensioning structure;

said lower end of said vertical stabilizer further comprising a point of contact for said winged dynastat when said airship is in contact with the ground.

7. A dynastat, as defined in claim 1, wherein said energy acquisition means comprise at least one of the group:

solar collection cells, said solar collection cells being adapted for converting energy from a solar source into electrical energy, and

microwave antennas, said microwave antennas being adapted for receiving radio frequency (RF) waves transmitted from earth based transmitter sources and converting said RF waves into electrical energy.

8. A dynastat, as defined in claim 7, wherein said energy acquisition means is mounted on at least one of the group:

outer surfaces of said airfoils and outer surfaces of said airships.

9. A dynastat, as defined in claim 8, wherein said airships may be rotated around a longitudinal axis thereof, thereby adjusting alignment of said energy acquisition means with at least one of the group:

the sun and said earth based transmitters.

10. A dynastat, as defined in claim 7, wherein said acquisition means is mounted on at least one of the group:

outer surfaces of said airfoils and rotatable arrays within said airships, said rotatable arrays being further mounted on a rotatable central beam, said central beam being coincidental with a longitudinal axis of said airship, the compounded rotation of said arrays and said central beam allowing alignment of said acquisition means with said energy sources.

11. A dynastat, as defined in claim 10, wherein exterior surfaces of said airships are formed of one of the group:

transparent materials and highly translucent materials.

12. A dynastat, as defined in claim 1, wherein said energy storage means comprises at least one of the group:

storage batteries and fuel cells.

13. A dynastat, as defined in claim 1, wherein said propulsion means comprises at least one electrically powered engine, said at least one engine being mounted on at least one of the group:

a forward edge of at least one of said airfoils, a rear edge of at least one of said airfoils, a forward edge of said vertical stabilizer, a rear edge of said vertical stabilizer, said fore end of each of said airships, and said aft end of each of said airships.

14. A dynastat, as defined in claim 13, wherein said engines mounted on said front edge of said airfoils, said front edge of said vertical stabilizer, and said fore ends of said airships are puller engines, and said engines mounted no said rear edges of said airfoils, said rear edge of said vertical stabilizer, and said aft ends of said airships are pusher engines.

15. A dynastat, as defined in claim 14, wherein said steering means comprises at least one of the group:

variously adjusting said tensioning means, thereby adjusting the center of gravity of said dynastat and creating torque within said dynastat, such that said airship will gradually turn into said center of gravity and said torque, and

applying varying amounts of electrical energy to selected of said engines such that unequal thrust will cause said airship to gradually turn in the direction of said engines receiving a lesser amount of electrical energy.

16. A dynastat, as defined in claim 1, wherein said sensing means comprises sensors adapted to receive and process input data from at least one source from the group:

a solar energy source, a microwave source, a radio frequency (RF) energy source, and a Global Positioning System source.

17. A dynastat, as defined in claim 1, wherein said controlling means comprises an avionics computer programed to receive data from said sensing means, process said data, and controlling operations of at least said tensioning means, said energy acquisition means, said energy storage means, said propulsion means, and said steering means.

18. A dynastat, as defined in claim 1, wherein said airfoils comprise “

bi-wing”

airfoils for increased dynamic lift.