Load patch for airships
AssigneeLockheed Martin Corporation
InventorsJonathan Peritt, Dennis L. Carter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A load patch for attaching concentrated loads to a flexible inflated structure such as a high-altitude airship is stiff in the direction of the applied load so as to carry the load, and is attached to the inflated structure for a very short distance through T-tape so as to minimize strain concentration in the inflated structure due to the stretching of the inflated structure. Since the load patch must be attached for a long length transverse to the load to distribute the applied load, it is transversely compliant to minimize strain concentration in the inflated structure due to stretching of the inflated structure.
Claims19
A load patch used to interconnect a load component to an elastic surface of a pressurized airship, the load patch and the pressurized airship comprising:
- a fabric skin of a pressurized airship, said fabric skin comprising an elastic surface;
- and
- a load patch comprising:
- a first elastic sheet having a first and a second surface, and
- a second elastic sheet having a first and a second surface, wherein
- said first and second elastic sheets are secured to said elastic surface, and wherein said elastic sheets expand and contract in substantially the same manner as said elastic surface, said elastic sheets having a rear edge and angled edges, wherein said angled edges intersect at an apex which is adapted to be secured to the load component;
- and
- a plurality of substantially inelastic filaments disposed substantially transversely on said elastic sheets and interposed between said first surface of said first and second elastic sheets, said plurality of filaments having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end of said filaments are collected together at said apex, and said second end of said filaments radiate outwardly from said apex to said rear edge of said elastic sheets;
- said plurality of substantially inelastic filaments extending from said apex toward said rear edge wherein only said rear edge is attached to said fabric skin such that said plurality of substantially inelastic filaments are disposed substantially transversely to the expansion and contraction forces exerted on said elastic surface when the pressurized airship expands and contracts and wherein said substantially inelastic filaments are aligned on said elastic sheet to transfer any load applied to the load component;
- an attachment assembly attached to said plurality of said filaments;
- and
- an attachment tape having:
- a base, and
- an arm section extending from said base and away from said fabric skin,
- wherein only said rear edge of said first and second elastic sheets are attached to said arm section of said attachment tape, wherein said elastic sheets and said attachment tape expand and contract in substantially the same manner, and wherein said plurality of filaments are disposed substantially transversely to the expansion and contraction forces exerted along said attachment tape.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.