Hybrid winged airship (dynastat)
First Claim
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.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
-
Citations
18 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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
Specification