Aeronautics and astronautics – Aircraft – lighter-than-air – Airships
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-24
2001-02-20
Eldred, J. Woodrow (Department: 3644)
Aeronautics and astronautics
Aircraft, lighter-than-air
Airships
C244S024000, C244S031000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06189829
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The apparatus and method of this invention reside in the area of lighter-than-air airships such as those used in blimps and dirigibles and more particularly relate to a system of cells having steam or heated combustion byproducts generated therein to provide lift to such airships.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Airships, such as blimps and dirigibles, have long been in use, and lighter-than-air gases such as hydrogen or helium typically have been utilized to cause the craft to be lighter than air. However, helium gas is expensive, and hydrogen gas is highly flammable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to utilize steam or heated combustion byproducts generated in a single cell or a plurality of cells in an airship to provide the necessary lift for the apparatus of this invention.
It is a further object of this invention to provide means for transforming water contained within cells in the envelope of an airship into steam by use of microwaves. The cells can also contain a percentage of volume of lighter-than-air gases such as helium.
One embodiment of this invention utilizes multiple cells contained within an airship, within each of which steam is generated. Each cell is made of a lightweight, durable outer skin which forms the side walls. Such durable outer skin can be made of plastic, plastic film, metal, ceramic or equivalent material. The walls of the cells, depending on the embodiment, can be rigid, flexible or elastic. In one embodiment shown herein the cell's side walls are in a collapsed bellows shape, and the cells have a top and bottom attached, respectively, to the tops and bottoms of the side walls. The side walls in a collapsed mode can fold in accordion fashion. Within each cell is some fluid, such as water, and connected to each cell is a heating means to turn such fluid to steam. A microwave heater can be used in some embodiments to heat the fluid, such as water, to turn it to steam. When, for example, the water contained in each cell is sufficiently heated, it is transformed into steam, resulting in increased internal pressure in the cell and forcing its top to move in an upward direction. The generation of heated steam within a cell, when combined with heated steam production in the other cells and the expansion of the cells by such heated steam, results in each cell becoming lighter than air, thereby providing the lift to be imparted to the airship. A magnetron, klystron or infrared heater can be provided for the production of heat to create the steam within each cell.
The cells can have many shapes as long as they allow for expansion to take place. Some cells can be substantially circular with curved sides. Insulation can be provided to the cell to reduce heat loss.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4032085 (1977-06-01), Papst
patent: 5890676 (1999-04-01), Coleman et al.
patent: 450815 (1948-08-01), None
Eldred J. Woodrow
Nitkin William
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