Apparatus for generation and use of lift gas

Details Apparatus for generation and use of lift gas Apparatus for generation and use of lift gas

2006-06-06

2010-06-15

Ellis, Christopher P (Department: 3644)

Aeronautics and astronautics

Aircraft control

Airship control

C244S031000, C244S033000, C446S220000

Reexamination Certificate

active

07735777

ABSTRACT:
A balloon launch unit produces lift gas to enable balloon launch or to allow the prolongation of balloon flight. A method of using the balloon launch unit includes reforming a fuel source by reaction with water to generate hydrogen-rich lift gas mixtures, and injecting the lift gas into a balloon. The reforming operation includes causing the combustion of a combustible material with ambient oxygen for the release of energy; and heating a reforming combination of reaction fuel and water with the energy released from the combustion of the combustible material, to a temperature above that required for the reforming reaction wherein the fuel and water sources are reformed into lift gas. The amount of the combustible material combusted is sufficient to result in the release of enough energy to heat an amount of the reforming reaction fuel and water sources to the temperature above that required for the reforming reaction.

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Notification of Transmittal of the International Search Report and the Written Opinion of the International Searching Authority, or the Declaration.
Notification of the International Application Number and of the International Filing Date.

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