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US 8,505,847 B2Granted
Lighter-than-air systems, methods, and kits for obtaining aerial images
AssigneeJohn Ciampa
InventorsJohn A. Ciampa, Bertrand Dano
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Lighter-than-air systems, methods, and kits for obtaining aerial images are described. For example, various methods for determining planned ascent, drift, and/or descent of a lighter-than-air system are described. In addition, various structural arrangements of lighter-than-air systems for accomplishing planned ascent, drift, and/or descent and obtaining aerial images are described.
Claims20
A lighter-than-air system comprising:
- an airship comprising a first balloon and a second balloon, the first balloon movable between a deflated configuration and an inflated configuration, the first balloon comprising a wall defining a first balloon chamber, the second balloon disposed within the first balloon chamber, the second balloon movable between a deflated configuration and an inflated configuration, the second balloon comprising a wall defining a second balloon chamber;
- and
- a thruster attached to the airship, the thruster comprising a thruster body and a container, the thruster body defining a cavity, a first passageway, and a second passageway, the container attached to the thruster body and comprising a wall defining a container chamber, wherein the cavity is in communication with the first balloon chamber, wherein the first passageway is in communication with the second balloon chamber, and wherein the second passageway is in communication with the container chamber.
A lighter-than-air system comprising:
- an airship comprising a first balloon and a second balloon, the first balloon movable between a deflated configuration and an inflated configuration, the first balloon comprising a wall defining a first balloon chamber, the second balloon disposed within the first balloon chamber, the second balloon movable between a deflated configuration and an inflated configuration, the second balloon comprising a wall defining a second balloon chamber;
- and
- a thruster attached to the airship, the thruster comprising a thruster body, container, and a first valve, the thruster body defining a cavity, a first passageway, a second passageway, the container attached to the thruster body, the container comprising a wall defining a container chamber, the cavity in communication with the first balloon chamber, the first passageway in communication with the second balloon chamber, the second passageway in communication with the container chamber, the first valve in communication with the first passageway and configured to have a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein in the first configuration the first valve holds fluid within the second balloon chamber, and wherein in the second configuration the first valve releases fluid held within the second balloon chamber.
A lighter-than-air system comprising:
- an airship comprising a first balloon and a second balloon, the first balloon movable between a deflated configuration and an inflated configuration, the first balloon comprising a wall defining a first balloon chamber, the second balloon disposed within the first balloon chamber, the second balloon movable between a deflated configuration and an inflated configuration, the second balloon comprising a wall defining a second balloon chamber;
- and
- a thruster attached to the airship, the thruster comprising a thruster body, container, first valve, and a second valve, the thruster body defining a cavity, a first passageway, and a second passageway, the container attached to the thruster body, the container comprising a wall defining a container chamber, the cavity in communication with the first balloon chamber, the first passageway in communication with the second balloon chamber, the second passageway in communication with the container chamber, the first valve in communication with the first passageway and configured to have a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein in the first configuration the first valve holds fluid within the second balloon chamber, wherein in the second configuration the first valve releases fluid held within the second balloon chamber, the second valve in communication with the second passageway and configured to have a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein in the first configuration the second valve holds material within the container chamber, and wherein in the second configuration the second valve releases material held within the container chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.