GB2275036A

GB2275036A - Balloon/airship.

Info

Publication number: GB2275036A
Application number: GB9303066A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roman Stoklosinski; Margaret Stoklosinski
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-02-16
Filing date: 1993-02-16
Publication date: 1994-08-17
Anticipated expiration: 2013-02-16
Also published as: GB9303066D0; GB2275036B

Abstract

An balloon/airship embodying a double envelope consisting of the inner envelope 2 enclosed by the outer envelope 1, both the envelopes forming an integrally functioning double envelope, containing an enclosed gas/air space or passages 6 into which gas/air is pumped under a small pressure which in turn acts on the outer envelope 1 which expands and displaces the surrounding air and simultaneously is prevented from entering the created vacuum in the space 7, inside the inner envelope 2 which expands together as one body with the outer envelope 1. Various constructions of the double envelope are described (Figs 3 - 6). <IMAGE>

Description

3ALL ooN/ LIRSEIP The present invention relates to a balloon/airship.

There are in the main two tropes of balloons/airships in use at present, which differ in the method of providing the necessary lift for a given balloon/airship.

The balloon/airship belonging to the first type employ hot gases with which a balloon/airship is filled and thus, owing to the lighter density of these hot gases than the relatively cool surrounding air, the necessary lift is provided for the weight of the balloon/airship itself and for the ballast. These hot gases are obtained as products of combustion of air and fuel. As the hot gases continuouslylose their heat to the surrounding atmosphere and cool down so should the firing be either continuous or intermittent in order to maintain the lift.

The balloon/airship belonging to the second type employ gases lighter than air such as hydrogen or helium. These gases are enclosed in a gastight balloon envelope. They do not require any heating and they assume the temperature of the surrounding air.

There are obvious disadvantages associated with these two types.

The first type has at least four disadvantages: 1) Fusel has to be provided for firing and its weight will halve to be added to the total weight of the balloon/airship.

2) The stored fuel and the burners occupy valueable space in the busket.

3) The fact that fuel is required for firing imposes a constraint on the distance a balloon/airshipican fly before it has to land.

4) Frequent attention has to be-paid to the firing and the maintenance of the lift.

The second type has at least two disadvantages: 1) The low density gases which are employed are expensive.

2) Hydrogen and some other low density gases present explosion hazards.

According to the present invention there is provided a balloon/airship embodying two envelopes which are so constructed that one envelope, the inner one, is enclosed by another envelope, the outer one, both the envelopes forming an integrally functioning double envelope of the balloonZairship and having an enclosed cas/2ir space within it into which gas/air is admitted in order to inflate the balloon/airship.

A specific embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying dralfinD in which: Figure 1 depicts the outside view of the balloon/airship.

Figure 2 depicts the cross-section of the balloon/airship along the plane including its a=ds.

Figures 3 and 4 depict the cross-sections of the two envelopes at right angle to their surfaces.

Figure 5 depicts a different construction of the inner envelope.

Figure 6 depicts a different construction of the double envelope.

Referring to the araling: In figure 1 the balloon/airship is depicted in its inflated state as seen from the outside. The balloon/airship can assume different shapes of the outer envelope 1 other than spherical which is shown here.

In figure 2 the cross- section of the balloon/airshi + along the plane including its axis, depicts it in the inflated state and shows the relative positions of the inner envelope 2 and the outer envelope 1 with gas/air space 6 as an integral part of the double envelope.

The points at which the two envelopes are connected together are not shorn here for clarity. The purpose of the double envelope is to provide a gas/air space 6 to trap and -contain compressed gas/air within it.

The compressed gas/air acts on the outer envelope 1, which pushes back the atmosphere assuming its normal shape, and is prevented by the inner envelope 2 from entering the vacuum created inside the inner envelope 7 :-tzen the inner envelope 2 expand together with the outer envelope 1.

In figures 3 and 4 to methods of connecting together the two envelopes so that interconnected gas/air passages or spaces 6 are formed into which gas/air is to be admitted are depicted.

In figure 5 a different design for the construction of the inner envelope 2 consisting of a helical tube is depicted. The helical tube need not be connected turn by turn to form an airtight envelope.

In figure 6 a double envelope constructed from a helical tube is depicted, however, the turns of the helix have to be so connected as to form an airtight envelope.

In order to inflate the balloon/airship, which, when not in use, has its double envelope flat and folded, gas/air is pumped into gas/air passages 6 via the non-return valve 3 until the balloon/airship becomes inflated and assumes its normal shape, and eventually becomes lighter than air by virtue of the fact that a vacuum is created in the space 7 inside the inner envelope 2 and the weight of the balloon/airship becomes lighter than the weight of the volume of the air which has been displaced by the expanding double envelope. At the end of a flight and in order to bring the balloon/airship down to earth, the valve 5 is opened and a sufficient volume of air is admitted into the space 7 inside the inner envelope 2 until the balloon/airship becomes heavier than air and sinks down to earth. In order to deflate the balloon/airship, both the valves 4 and 5 are fully opened, the air trapped in the space 7 inside the inner envelope 2 and the gas/air passages 6 is pushed out into the surrounding atmosphere and finally the balloon/airship is flattened and folded.

The present invention does not possess any of the disadvantages mentioned above and, furthermore, possesses the following advantages; 1) The balloon/airship can be kept airborne for all practical purposes indefinetly.

2) The balloonlairship can be easily inflated by means of, for example, a simple air pump.

3) The balloon/airship can be easily deflated.

4) While the balloon/airship is airborne there will hardly be any need to attend to and maintain its lift.

Claims

1 A balloon/airship embodying two envelopes which are so constructed that one envelope, the inner oneS is enclosed by another envelope, the outer one, both the envelopes forming an integrally functioning double envelope of the balloon/airship and having an inclosed as/air space within it into which gas/air is awnitted in order to inflate the balloon/airskip.

2 - balloon/airship as claimed in claim 1 wherein a non-return valve is provided as a means of inflating the balloon/airship.

3 d balloon/airship as claimed in claim 1 wherein a valve is provided and connected to the inner envelope as a means of bringing the balloon/ airship to land, and expelling the gas/air from the balloon/airship.

4 A balloon/airship as claimed in claim 1 wherein a valve is provided and connected to the outer envelope as a means of expelling the gas/air from the double envelope.