Internally tensioned inflatable structures

US10687634B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC · US

Inventors

• Wonhee M. Kim · Royal Oak, US
• Paul W. Alexander · Ypsilanti, US
• Nancy L. Johnson · Northville, US
• Nilesh D. Mankame · Ann Arbor, US
• Daniel W. Booth · Troy, US
• Paul E. Krajewski · Troy, US
• Taeyoung Han · Bloomfield Hills, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 10, 2019
• Grant date: Jun 23, 2020
• Expiry date: Sep 10, 2039

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02E10/50
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

An inflatable system includes a bladder configured to contain fluid, a first plurality of tethers disposed within a first region of the bladder, and a second plurality of tethers disposed within a second region of the bladder. The first plurality of tethers has a first tether length, a first tether spacing, a first tether angle relative to one wall of the bladder, and a first tether stiffness. The second plurality of tethers has a second tether length, a second tether spacing, a second tether angle relative to the one wall, and a second tether stiffness. At least one of: the second tether length is different than the first tether length; the second tether spacing is different than the first tether spacing; the second tether angle is different than the first tether angle; and the second tether stiffness is different than the first tether stiffness.