Configurable Buoyancy And Geometry (CBAG) Airship
OwnerCharles G Bagginventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A lighter-than-air semi-rigid airship has Configurable Buoyancy And Geometry (CBAG) allowing it to become short and plump for maximum buoyancy during takeoff and landing, but also allowing it to become long and slim for reduced drag (albeit less buoyancy) so that it may travel at high speed. It may be combined with a heavier-than-air structure having wings or rotors to form a hybrid aircraft whereby the wings or rotors provide enough lift to compensate for the reduced buoyancy during high-speed flight.
Claims12
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A Configurable Buoyancy And Geometry (hereinafter abbreviated CBAG) Airship comprising:
- a nose assembly and a tail assembly, said assemblies positioned at opposite ends of a geometric center axis;
- an array of springy longitudinal ribs arranged in a radial pattern about, and bowed outwardly from said center axis;
- said ribs having front ends fastened to said nose assembly and having back ends fastened to said tail assembly;
- a thin flexible lightweight gas-tight envelope formed by individual segments, each segment located between two adjacent ribs and attached thereto, said envelope forming an enclosed volume of space defined by said nose assembly, tail assembly, and ribs;
- said envelope containing a lighter-than-air gas, said gas being at a slight negative pressure relative to ambient atmosphere to increase its buoyancy and to keep the envelope tight against the ribs, with means to configure said buoyancy by adjusting the size of the enclosed volume of said envelope
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.