Patent · US Expired

Flight direction control system for blimps

US5906335A · kind A · utility

49Cited by
26References
20Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateApr 10, 1997
Grant dateMay 25, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 10, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB64B1/32
  • WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A method and apparatus for controlling the flight direction of a blimp. The blimp includes an elongate fuselage for containing a lighter-than-air gas, a movable rudder located toward a tail end of the fuselage, and at least one propeller mounted on a side of the fuselage. The propeller is attached to the blimp by a connection that provides two axes of movement. The propeller connection can be rotated or pivoted (1) about a first axis which is a horizontal axis that is perpendicular to a direction of the longitudinal axis of the elongate fuselage, and/or (2) about a second axis which is a vertical axis that is perpendicular to the direction of the longitudinal axis of the fuselage.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.