Pneumatically supported towers for low gravity applications
US11702857B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 12, 2022 |
| Grant date | Jul 18, 2023 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 12, 2042 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB64G1/2227
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Pneumatically supported towers for low gravity applications are disclosed herein. In one aspect, an inflatable tower for use in vacuum environments can have a membrane configured to support a load when inflated with an inflation gas to a pressures less than 100,000 pascals and greater than 0.01 pascal. The inflation gas can be chosen to have a sufficiently low boiling temperature at the inflation pressure of the membrane that the gas will not condense to a liquid or solid within a defined range of temperatures in which the tower is designed to operate. The membrane can be configured to be packaged for transport in deflated condition and rolled onto cylinders from which the membrane can be later unfurled and inflated as part of the tower inflation process. The membrane can be further configured to progressively inflate beginning at a bottom or lowest level of the membrane during the tower inflation process. The membrane can be divided into a plurality of compartments by one or more diaphragms containing valves configured to regulate flow of the inflation gas between the compartments.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.