Hybrid airship with a flexible compartmented exterior envelope

US10343760B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• SONACA S.A. · BE

Inventors

• Alexandre Simonis · Flémalle, BE
• Yann Gonze · Belgrade, BE
• Etienne Bargeton · Forest, BE

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 27, 2016
• Grant date: Jul 9, 2019
• Expiry date: Feb 19, 2038

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B64B2201/00
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A hybrid airship has both aerostatic and aerodynamic lift comprising: an engine, a flexible external envelope (2) and at least one primary enclosure Ep filled with lifting gas (G). The primary enclosure Ep having an elastic wall P1 separating this enclosure from compartment C1, the latter having an elastic wall Pi separating compartment C1 from compartment Ci, the latter having an elastic wall Pi+1 separating the compartment Ci from compartment Ci+1, and so on up until elastic wall PJ+1 separating compartment CJ from compartment CJ+1 where J corresponds to a whole number greater than or equal to 1, each compartment Ci being equally delimited by the flexible exterior envelope. The hybrid airship includes a) a valve Vi between each compartment Ci and its adjacent compartment Ci+1, and b) a controller (22) for the valve Vi.