Airship

• US 6,648,272 B1
• Filed: 06/07/2002
• Issued: 11/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Keith L. Kothmann
• Original Assignee: Keith L. Kothmann
• Inventors: Kothmann, Keith L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Poon, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Collins, Timothy D.
• Application Number:
  US10/164,780
• Time in Patent Office: 529 Days
• Field of Search: 244/30, 244/31, 244/97, 244/98, 244/125, 244/128, 244/115
• US Class Current: 244/97
• CPC Class Codes: B64B 1/005 Arrangements for landing or taking-off, e.g. alighting gear
• CPC Class Codes: B64B 1/58 Arrangements or construction of gas-bags; Filling arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B64B 1/62 Controlling gas pressure, heating, cooling, or discharging gas

Abstract

An airship has a gas bag for containing lifting gas, which gas bag is located within an outer envelope. The envelope, made of flexible material, is made rigid by the pressure of the gas in the gas bag. A hollow ring surrounds the gas bag and is coupled to the envelope as well as support decking located below the gas bag. On one of the decks is located a propulsion unit and horizontal and vertical control surfaces. Vertical flight is controlled with the control surfaces as well as by moving gas in and out of the gas bag. The gas from the gas bag is stored within the hollow ring. Vertical flight is also controlled by an expandable diaphragm located below the gas bag; when inflated, the diaphragm compresses the gas bag. Vertical flight is also controlled by adjusting the top shape of the envelope so as to compress the gas bag. When the airship is on the ground, a suction between the deck and the ground maintains the airship in a parked condition.

Claims

1. An airship, comprising:

a) a gas bag for containing lifting gas, the gas bag being located within an outer envelope;

b) a reservoir of compressed lifting gas, the reservoir being in selective communication with the gas bag;

c) a compressor for compressing the lifting gas from the gas bag and providing it to the reservoir; and

d) a controller for moving the lifting gas from the reservoir to the gas bag;

e) the reservoir comprising a hollow horizontal ring located around the gas bag, the ring being coupled to the envelope, the ring supporting a deck located below the gas bag.

2. The airship of claim 1 wherein the deck comprises a propulsion unit and vertical and horizontal flight control surfaces.

3. The airship of claim 1 further comprising means for providing a suction between the deck and the ground for landing.

4. The airship of claim 1 wherein the envelope comprises a flexible sheet material.

5. The airship of claim 1, further comprising:

a) a rigid frame located below the gas bag;

b) an expandable diaphragm located between the rigid frame and the gas bag;

c) an air injector for expanding the diaphragm and compressing the gas bag.

6. The airship of claim 5 wherein the envelope is flexible, further comprising means for changing the shape of a top portion of the envelope.

7. The airship of claim 1 wherein the envelope is flexible, further comprising means for changing the shape of a top portion of the envelope.