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US 3,957,232 AGranted
Inflatable wing
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the United States Energy Research and Development Administration
InventorWayne A. Sebrell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An inflatable structure for use as an aerodynamic surface. The structure is formed from a series of cylindrical pressure chambers which are inflated to deploy the structure from its stored condition. Varying cylinder sizes yield aerodynamically curved surfaces.
Claims12
An inflatable aerodynamic wing structure comprising:
- an airfoil having at least two airtight inflatable tubular enclosure means made of a flexible material and extending in a spanwise direction, said enclosure means are butted lengthwise together and bonded together at their lines of contact for essentially the entire length of the enclosures providing an inner inflatable support structure and airfoil definition to the airfoil;
- outer collapsible cover means forming a taut, smooth airfoil outer surface about the entire enclosure means when the enclosure means are inflated, and bonded along the lines of contact between the cover means and the enclosure means;
- inflation means for inflating the enclosure means to form the inflatable structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.