Navigating aircraft in a jetstream
OwnerJames C. Wang, Jane Wojcik +2inventors
InventorsJames C. Wang, Jane Wojcik, Michael Wojcik, Y.S. Hsu
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Abstract
An altitude movement device comprising of a ballonet within an outer envelope with the ballonet configured to control buoyancy and an apparent wind generating device combined with the altitude movement device to generate an apparent wind to propel the vehicle laterally with respect to the direction of the jet stream.
Claims13
A lighter-than-air vehicle for navigating a jet stream, the vehicle comprising:
- an altitude movement device comprising of a ballonet within an outer envelope with the ballonet configured to control buoyancy;
- an apparent wind generating device combined with the altitude movement device, wherein the apparent wind generating device is configured to generate an apparent wind, wherein the apparent wind generating device is one chosen from (i) a motorized propeller with a motorized stabilizing rotor combined to a tail extending from the motorized propeller and oriented to propel the vehicle in the direction of the jet stream to generate apparent wind from movement in the jet stream, and (ii) a drag balloon that extends at a higher altitude than the outer envelope;
- and
- a lateral movement device combined with the apparent wind generating device, wherein the lateral movement device is configured to move the vehicle laterally with respect to the jet stream.
A lighter-than-air vehicle navigable in a jet stream, the vehicle balloon comprising:
- an altitude movement device comprising a ballonet within an outer envelope, which is shaped as an airfoil with a leading edge and a trailing edge that are perpendicularly oriented, the ballonet configured to control buoyancy;
- an apparent wind generating device combined with the altitude movement device, wherein the apparent wind generating device is configured to generate an apparent wind relative to the outer envelope;
- and
- a lateral movement device coupled to the outer envelope to rotate the outer envelope with respect to the apparent wind to adjust an angle of attack of the airfoil, thereby moving the vehicle laterally with respect to a direction of the jet stream.
A lighter-than-air vehicle navigable in a jet stream, wherein the vehicle has an outer envelope shaped as an airfoil with a leading edge and a trailing edge that are perpendicularly oriented with respect to the ground, the vehicle comprising:
- an altitude movement device comprising of a ballonet within the outer envelope with the ballonet configured to control buoyancy;
- a means for generating apparent wind from forward or reverse movement in the direction of the jet stream;
- and
- a means for lateral movement with respect to the direction of the jet stream.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.