High-altitude long-endurance airship
US7887007B2 · kind B2 · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 8, 2008 |
| Grant date | Feb 15, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 21, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB64B1/04
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A high-altitude long-endurance airship with a top surface that is highly emissive of infrared radiation and a bottom surface that is highly absorptive of infrared radiation. Movable displacer blankets inside the airship separate the upper and lower portions of the airship. Lifting gas in the airship is warmed by radiation from the earth when the displacer blankets are in their upper position. Lifting gas is cooled by radiation to space when the displacer blankets are in their lower position. The whole airship is a heat engine. By expanding the volume of lifting gas when it is relatively warm and compressing the lifting gas when it is relatively cold, net power output can be recovered in the form of electric power. The overall configuration of the preferred airship is a variable-thickness flying wing. If the whole airship is alternately expanded and compressed, imbalance between its weight and buoyancy allow gliding flight.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.