Flexible vessel
AssigneeThin Red Line Aerospace Ltd
InventorMaxim De Jong
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A flexible vessel includes a restraint structure and a barrier structure. The restraint structure further includes a first portion, and a second substantially rounded end cap portion that is attached to the first portion. The restraint structure also includes an array of tendons. The barrier structure is positioned within the restraint structure. When the barrier contains a fluid, a portion of the load is carried by the restraint structure and another portion of the load is carried by the barrier structure. The flexible vessel is collapsible to occupy a first volume and distended to occupy a second volume. The flexible vessel is part of a system when used in various applications with respect to a craft.
Claims18
An apparatus comprising:
- a restraint structure including a meridional array of tendons structurally connected to at least one polar end structure;
- and
- a barrier structure positioned within the restraint structure and substantially impervious to a fluid contained within an enclosed volume of the barrier structure, the barrier structure oversized with respect to the restraint structure thereby substantially limiting a load on the barrier structure to local stresses generated where the barrier structure bulges outwards between the tendons, the barrier structure having radius rf at a perimeter when fully distended and having an initial two dimensional planar circle in which the perimeter has radius ri before inflation, wherein rf and ri are centered about an axis of rotation passing through the at least one polar end structure, whereby ri is greater than rf.
A system comprising:
- a restraint structure including a meridional array of tendons structurally connected to at least one polar end structure;
- and
- a barrier structure positioned within the restraint structure and substantially impervious to a fluid contained within an enclosed volume of the barrier structure, the barrier structure oversized with respect to the restraint structure thereby substantially limiting a load on the barrier structure to local stresses generated where the barrier structure bulges outwards between the tendons, the barrier structure having radius rf at a perimeter when fully distended and having an initial two dimensional planar circle in which the perimeter has radius ri before inflation, wherein rf and ri are centered about an axis of rotation passing through the at least one polar end structure, whereby ri is greater than rf;
- and
- a craft having an opening therein configured for enclosing the restraint structure and the barrier structure when the barrier structure is collapsed.
A method comprising:
- providing a restraint structure including a meridional array of tendons structurally connected to at least one polar end structure;
- and
- providing a barrier structure for positioning within the restraint structure, the barrier structure substantially impervious to a fluid contained within an enclosed volume of the barrier structure, the barrier structure oversized with respect to the restraint structure thereby substantially limiting a load on the barrier structure to local stresses generated where the barrier structure bulges outwards between the tendons, the barrier structure having radius rf at a perimeter when fully distended and having an initial two dimensional planar circle in which the perimeter has radius ri before inflation, wherein rf and ri are centered about an axis of rotation passing through the at least one polar end structure, whereby ri is greater than rf.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.