Inflatable vessel and method

US6547189B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• The United States of America as represented by the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration · US

Inventors

• Jasen L. Raboin · League City, US
• Gerard D. Valle · Pearland, US
• Gregg A. Edeen · Friendswood, US
• Horacio M. de la Fuente · Friendswood, US
• William C. Schneider · Houston, US
• Gary R. Spexarth · Houston, US
• Shalini Gupta Pandya · Ithaca, US
• Christopher J. Johnson · London, GB

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 2, 2001
• Grant date: Apr 15, 2003
• Expiry date: May 26, 2021

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B64G1/465
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

An inflatable module comprising a structural core and an inflatable shell, wherein the inflatable shell is sealingly attached to the structural core. In its launch or pre-deployed configuration, the wall thickness of the inflatable shell is collapsed by vacuum. Also in this configuration, the inflatable shell is collapsed and efficiently folded around the structural core. Upon deployment, the wall thickness of the inflatable shell is inflated; whereby the inflatable shell itself, is thereby inflated around the structural core, defining therein a large enclosed volume. A plurality of removable shelves are arranged interior to the structural core in the launch configuration. The structural core also includes at least one longeron that, in conjunction with the shelves, primarily constitute the rigid, strong, and lightweight load-bearing structure of the module during launch. The removable shelves are detachable from their arrangement in the launch configuration so that, when the module is in its deployed configuration and launch loads no longer exist, the shelves can be rearranged to provide a module interior arrangement suitable for human habitation and work. In the preferred embodim…