High-aspect ratio hybrid airship

• US 7,137,592 B2
• Filed: 05/24/2004
• Issued: 11/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Cassidy, Patrick F., Barocela, Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Palo, Frank
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOLZEN, STEPHEN A
• Application Number:
  US10/853,300
• Publication Number:
  US 20050269441A1
• Time in Patent Office: 911 Days
• Field of Search: 244 24- 33, 244/59, 244/123.11, 244/123.1, 244125-128, 244900-903, 244 93- 99
• US Class Current: 244/29
• CPC Class Codes: B64B 1/06 Rigid airships; Semi-rigid airships B64B1/58 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B64B 1/24 Arrangement of propulsion plant B64B1/34 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B64B 2201/00 Hybrid airships, i.e. airships where lift is generated aerodynamically and statically
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 27/353 using solar cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/50 On board measures aiming to increase energy efficiency

Abstract

In one aspect, a hybrid airship including an outer shell, a plurality of helium filled gas envelopes, and an all-electric propulsion system can have a high-aspect ratio wing shape. In some embodiments, the hybrid airship may be launched using buoyancy lift alone and aerodynamic lift may be provided by the all-electric propulsion system. In one aspect, a photovoltaic array and a high energy density power storage system may be combined to power the propulsion system making the propulsion system regenerative. The high-aspect ratio wing shape provides low drag, and can allow the hybrid airship to fly at an altitude of at least about 100,000 ft. By continuously recharging the power storage system, the hybrid airship in accordance with some embodiments can stay aloft for months or even years. The hybrid airship may function as a military intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance and communications relay platform.

Claims

1. A high-aspect ratio hybrid airship, comprising:

a single outer shell having a high-aspect ratio wing shape and a thick airfoil cross-section, wherein said outer shell has a constant wingspan that is at least eight times longer than the mean chord of said outer shell;

a plurality of independent gas envelopes within said outer shell, wherein said gas envelopes store helium and provide buoyancy lift to said hybrid airship;

wherein said gas envelopes are the only structural shell support elements contained within said outer shell; and

an all-electric propulsion system connected with said outer shell, wherein said all-electric propulsion system is operable to provide forward flight of said outer shell that generates aerodynamic lift of said hybrid airship.

2. The high-aspect ratio hybrid airship of claim 1, wherein said outer shell is made out of a semi-rigid material, is inflatable to a wing shape having a high-aspect ratio, and defines an internal volume when inflated.

3. The high-aspect ratio hybrid airship of claim 1, wherein said outer shell defines an internal volume and is made out of a rigid material, said rigid material maintaining said internal volume.

4. The high-aspect ratio hybrid airship of claim 1, wherein said outer shell includes an upper skin, a lower skin, a rounded leading edge, and a sharp trailing edge.

5. The high-aspect ratio hybrid airship of claim 4, further comprising a plurality of vertical tails located along said trailing edge.

6. The high-aspect ratio hybrid airship of claim 4, wherein said all-electric propulsion system includes a plurality of propulsion pods located along said trailing edge, a high energy density power storage system including lightweight capacitor banks, a photovoltaic array located on said upper skin, and a power conditioning unit.

7. The high-aspect ratio hybrid airship of claim 6, wherein each of said propulsion pods includes an electric motor and a propeller.

8. The high-aspect ratio hybrid airship of claim 7, wherein said propeller comprises a low Reynolds number propeller suitable to operate at cruise altitudes of about 100,000 ft.

9. The high-aspect ratio hybrid airship of claim 1, wherein said gas envelopes comprise conformal gas envelopes.

10. The high-aspect ratio hybrid airship of claim 1, wherein said gas envelopes comprise cylindrical gas envelopes.

11. The high-aspect ratio hybrid airship of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of reservoir tanks, wherein said helium is replenished from said reservoir tanks to compensate leakage losses in said gas envelopes.

12. A hybrid airship, comprising:

a single outer shell having a high-aspect ratio wing shape and a thick airfoil cross-section, wherein said aspect ratio is at least about 8, and wherein said cross-section has a maximum thickness that is at least about 14% of the chord of said outer shell;

a plurality of gas envelopes within said outer shell, wherein said gas envelopes store helium and provide buoyancy lift to said hybrid airship;

wherein said gas envelopes are the only structural shell support elements contained within said outer shell; and

an all-electric regenerative propulsion system connected with said outer shell, wherein said all-electric propulsion system includes lightweight capacitor banks and a photovoltaic array and is operable to provide forward flight of said outer shell that generates continuous aerodynamic lift of said hybrid airship; and

an electrically driven impeller, wherein said impeller provides pressurized air to keep said gas envelopes inflated after said helium is lost through leakage.

13. The hybrid airship of claim 12, wherein said outer shell has a wing area of at least about 130,000 sq. ft.

14. The hybrid airship of claim 12, wherein said all-electric regenerative propulsion system includes a plurality of propellers that are used to steer said hybrid airship through differential thrusting.

15. A hybrid airship, comprising:

a single outer shell having a high-aspect ratio wing shape and a thick airfoil cross-section, wherein said outer shell has a constant wingspan of about 1,065 ft, a root chord of about 125 ft, and an aspect ratio of about 8.52;

a plurality of gas envelopes within said outer shell, wherein said gas envelopes store helium and provide buoyancy lift to said hybrid airship;

wherein said gas envelopes are the only structural shell support elements contained within said outer shell; and

an all-electric regenerative propulsion system connected with said outer shell, wherein said propulsion system includes;

a plurality of propellers each driven by an electric motor;

a high energy density power storage system including lightweight capacitor banks as energy storage medium and providing electrical power to said electric motors during nighttime hours;

and a photovoltaic array providing electrical power to said electric motors and recharging said high energy density power storage system during daylight hours;

wherein said all-electric propulsion system is operable to provide forward flight of said outer shell that generates aerodynamic lift of said hybrid airship; and

wherein said propulsion system enables operation of said airship at cruise altitudes of about 100,000 ft.

16. The hybrid airship of claim 15, wherein said propulsion system enables said airship to cruise at a speed of about 105 kt while carrying a payload of about 1,000 lb.

17. The hybrid airship of claim 16, wherein said payload is integrated into said outer shell, and wherein said payload is selected from the group of transceiver elements that form a large phased array antenna, large area electromagnetic antennas, and high power directed energy devices.