Mass transfer system for stabilizing an airship and other vehicles subject to pitch and roll moments
US7185848B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 21, 2004 |
| Grant date | Mar 6, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 21, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB64B1/70
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The invention relates to a mechanism to control the pitch and/or roll and/or center of gravity of a vehicle. The first embodiment is a track-based mass transfer system in which pathways are positioned along or radially terminate at a central horizontal plane of the vehicle to move one or more mass transfer devices to a desired location to control the pitch and/or roll and/or center of gravity of the vehicle. A second embodiment is a fluid mass distribution system in which one or more conduits selectively distribute a fluid to one or more tanks positioned near a central horizontal plane of the vehicle to control the pitch and/or roll and/or center of gravity of the vehicle.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.