# US 10,308,341 B2 · Gas density control system

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- Number: US 10,308,341 B2
- Document ID: US10308341B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/417,925
- Filed: 2017-01-27
- Published: 2017-08-17
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2016-02-16
- Applicants: John Oliver Griffith
- Inventors: John Oliver Griffith
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10308341B2

## CPC

- B64B 1/62: Controlling gas pressure, heating, cooling, or discharging gas
- B64B 1/06: Rigid airships; Semi-rigid airships (B64B1/58 takes precedence)
- B64B 1/60: Gas-bags surrounded by separate containers of inert gas
- B64B 1/64: Gas valve operating mechanisms
- B64B: LIGHTER-THAN AIR AIRCRAFT

## Abstract

A gas density control system for airships is provide. The system embodies a hybrid ballonet and low pressure gas storage tank combination for regulating the density and volume of the airship lift gas, wherein the ballonet is fluidly connected to the storage tank by a transfer hose. The base of the ballonet is also sealed along an exterior surface of the length curvilinear geometric shaped storage tank so that as the storage tank selectively rotates the ballonet either wraps or unwraps around the length, whereby the lift gas transfer to and from the storage tank to the ballonet, respectively. A transfer hose reel is provided to rotate with the storage tank so that as the ballonet wraps about the storage tank the transfer hose winds about the transfer hose reel, and vice versa. Thereby the system precisely adjusts the ballonet's volume, which in turn controls its lifting force.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A device, comprising:
a drive motor;
a lift air storage tank rotatably connected to the drive motor; and
a ballonet extending from a base and a top edge, wherein the base is connected along an exterior surface of a length of the lift air storage tank so that a major portion of the ballonet wraps or unwraps directly around the rotating lift air storage tank.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, further comprising a transfer hose fluidly connecting the ballonet and the lift air storage tank.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The device of claim 2, further comprising a hose reel rotatably connected to the drive motor, wherein the hose reel is adapted so that the transfer hose winds about the hose reel when the ballonet wraps around the rotating lift air storage tank.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The device of claim 3, wherein the hose reel provides a chamber fluidly connecting to the transfer hose and the lift air storage tank, and further comprising an impeller housed in the chamber.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, further comprising a manual purge valve disposed along the top edge.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the lift air storage tank has a curvilinear geometric shape.

### Claim 7

A device, comprising:
a drive motor;
a curvilinear geometric shaped lift air storage tank rotatably connected to the drive motor;
a ballonet extending from a base and a top edge, wherein the base is connected along an exterior surface of a length of the lift air storage tank so that a major portion of the ballonet wraps or unwraps directly around the rotating lift air storage tank;
a transfer hose fluidly connecting the ballonet and the lift air storage tank;
a hose reel rotatably connected to the drive motor, wherein the hose reel is adapted so that the transfer hose winds about the hose reel when the ballonet wraps around the rotating lift air storage tank;
a chamber fluidly connecting to the transfer hose and the lift air storage tank;
an impeller housed in the chamber; and
a manual purge valve disposed along the top edge.