Stabilized air supported structure
OwnerDonald E. Burginventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Presented is a way to stabilize and support a secondary structure, such as a passenger compartment in a moving vehicle, so that the supported or secondary structure remains substantially level and stable and mostly free of primary or parent structure undesired motions. Application can be to stationary parent structures or to vehicular parent structures such as boats, trains, aircraft, and the like. The secondary structure is stabilized and supported by a pressurized gas cushion. The pressurized gas cushion can be used in combination with gyrostabilizers and/or connectors that may be in the form of active or passive systems. Connectors may be in the form of simple ball and socket or hinge arrangements. The latter would preferably be positioned proximal the most stable and motion free part of the parent structure.
Claims96
Apparatus to provide support for and stabilization of a secondary structure relative to a parent structure comprising:
- a secondary structure supporting gas cushion disposed, at least in part, between the secondary and parent structures, said secondary structure supporting gas cushion in communication with the secondary and the parent structures, and an upper surface area of said secondary structure supporting gas cushion equals a majority of a secondary structure lower surface area;
- and
- a gyrostabilizer in communication with the secondary structure wherein said gyrostabilizer stabilizes, at least partially, said secondary structure when said secondary structure is, at least in part, supported by said secondary structure supporting gas cushion and wherein orientation of said gyrostabilizer is directed by outputs from a controller based, at least in part, on inputs of secondary structure orientation to the controller.
In an improved apparatus for supporting and stabilizing a secondary structure relative to a parent structure that includes a connector in communication with the secondary structure and the parent structure, wherein said connector provides at least partial stabilization means for said secondary structure, the improvement comprising:
- a secondary structure supporting gas cushion disposed, at least in part, between the secondary and parent structures and said secondary structure supporting gas cushion is restrained, at least in part, by portions of the secondary and the parent structures wherein a majority of a lower surface of said secondary structure comprises an upper boundary of said secondary structure supporting gas cushion, a seal terminating proximal to an extending proximal a majority of a length of an outer periphery of said secondary structure lower surface that is in communication with said secondary structure supporting gas cushion, said seal being in communication with said parent structure and wherein said secondary structure supporting gas cushion supports, at least in part, a weight of said secondary structure.
In an improved apparatus for supporting and stabilizing a secondary structure relative to a parent structure that includes a connector in communication with the secondary structure and the parent structure, wherein said connector provides at least partial support for the secondary structure, the improvement comprising:
- a gyrostabilizer in communication with the secondary structure wherein said gyrostabilizer orients and stabilizes, at least in part, said secondary structure relative to the parent structure when said secondary structure is supported, at least in part, by a secondary structure supporting gas cushion and wherein orientation of said gyrostabilizer is directed by outputs from a controller based, at least in part, on inputs of secondary structure orientation to the controller.
In an improved apparatus for supporting and stabilizing a secondary structure relative to a parent structure that includes a connector in communication with the secondary structure and the parent structure, wherein said connector provides at least partial stabilization means for said secondary structure, the improvement comprising:
- a secondary structure supporting gas cushion disposed, at least in part, between the secondary and parent structures and said secondary structure supporting gas cushion is restrained, at least in part, by a portion of the parent structure and wherein a parent structure supporting gas cushion is positioned, at least in part, in an underside of the parent structure and wherein said parent structure supporting gas cushion is restrained, at least in part, by the parent structure and a supporting medium of said parent structure and wherein one of said supporting gas cushions is supplied with gas from a pressurized gas supply device and wherein pressurized gas can pass between the secondary structure supporting gas cushion and the parent structure supporting gas cushion.
Apparatus to provide support for and stabilization of a secondary structure relative to a parent structure comprising:
- a pivoting connector connecting said secondary structure and the parent structure, said pivoting connector allowing fore and aft tilting of said secondary structure about a substantially transverse centerline of said pivoting connector, a secondary structure supporting gas cushion disposed, at least in part between the secondary and parent structures and said secondary structure supporting gas cushion is in communication with the secondary and the parent structures;
- and
- said secondary structure supporting gas cushion equals at least a majority of a secondary structure lower surface area.
Apparatus to provide support for and stabilization of a secondary structure relative to a parent structure comprising:
- a pivoting connector connecting said secondary structure and the parent structure, said pivoting connector allowing fore and aft tilting of said secondary structure about a substantially transverse centerline of said pivoting connector, said pivoting connector positioned proximal a minimum movement portion of said parent structure, a second connector connecting said secondary structure and the parent structure, said second connector capable of, at least partially, orienting said secondary structure relative to the parent structure, and a secondary structure supporting gas cushion disposed, at least in part, between the secondary and parent structures and said secondary structure supporting gas cushion is in communication with the secondary and the parent structures.
Apparatus to provide support for and stabilization of a secondary structure relative to a parent structure comprising:
- a pivoting connector connecting said secondary structure and the parent structure, said pivoting connector allowing fore and aft tilting of said secondary structure about a substantially transverse centerline of said pivoting connector, a gyrostabilizer in communication with the secondary structure wherein said gyrostabilizer stabilizes, at least partially, said secondary structure and wherein orientation of said gyrostabilizer is directed by outputs from a controller based, at least in part, on inputs of secondary structure orientation to the controller, and a secondary structure supporting gas cushion disposed, at least in part, between the secondary and parent structures and said secondary structure supporting gas cushion is in communication with the secondary and the parent structures.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.