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US 10,518,861 B2Granted
Continuous fiber reinforcement for airship construction
AssigneeLockheed Martin Corporation
InventorJohn P. Morehead
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An airship hull is disclosed. The airship hull comprises a gas-tight shape fabricated from a membrane. The airship hull comprises one or more fibers applied to an outer surface of the gas-tight shape in a continuous manner such that a particular one of the one or more fibers wraps around a circumference of the gas-tight shape multiple times, wherein the applied one or more fibers are affixed to the outer surface of the gas-tight shape.
Claims15
An airship hull, comprising:
- a gas-filled shape fabricated from a membrane;
- one or more fibers applied to an outer surface of the gas-filled shape in a continuous manner such that a particular one of the one or more fibers wraps around a circumference of the gas-filled shape multiple times, wherein the applied one or more fibers are:
- applied in a helical pattern, the helical pattern having a helical angle within a range of 40 degrees to 60 degrees when measured relative to a forward direction of the gas-filled shape;
- affixed to the outer surface of the gas-filled shape using polyimide tape;
- mechanically anchored to an end of the gas-filled shape;
- and
- coated with one of a film or spray coating.
4 more elements
A method, comprising:
- fabricating an airship hull comprising a gas-filled shape formed from a membrane;
- suspending the gas-filled shape in the air;
- applying one or more fibers to an outer surface of the gas-filled shape in a continuous manner such that a particular one of the one or more fibers wraps around a circumference of the gas-filled shape multiple times, wherein the one or more fibers are mechanically anchored to an end of the gas-filled shape;
- and
- affixing the applied one or more fibers to the outer surface of the gas-filled shape.
2 more elements
An airship hull, comprising:
- a gas-tight shape fabricated from a membrane;
- and
- one or more fibers applied to an outer surface of the gas-tight shape in a continuous manner such that a particular one of the one or more fibers wraps around a circumference of the gas-tight shape multiple times, wherein the applied one or more fibers are:
- affixed to the outer surface of the gas-tight shape using polyimide tape;
- and
- mechanically anchored to an end of the gas-tight shape.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.