GB2264092A - Airships. - Google Patents

Abstract

A dirigible comprises plural sections A, B, C separable from each other and each having an inner gas bag. Each section is provided with flexible connecting means J. The sections are connected together simply by coupling the flexible connecting means provided on each section with corresponding flexible connecting means on an adjacent section or sections. The end sections A, C each house a gas bag 6, 12 and a ballonet 7, 13. Gondola sections 3, 10, 13 each carry ducted fan propulsion units 4 and are connected together by passages K. <IMAGE>

Description

Dirigible FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a dirigible.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A dirigible developed from a balloon. Unlike the latter, the former has a streamlined shape so that it can fly smoothly.

In September 1852, Henri Giffard, a French engineer, successfully achieved the first straightaway flight from Hippodrome in Paris by a hydrogen-filled dirigible. This dirigible was equipped with a steam engine of three horsepower and a propeller. The flight was made for 27 kilometers at a speed of 8 kilometers per hour.

Three kinds of dirigibles have been developed: nonrigids (blimps), semirigids, and rigids (Zeppelins). Each kind has five principal parts: (1) a streamlined container (envelope) for the lifting gas; (2) a gondola suspended under the container; (3) one or more propellers to drive the dirigible forward; (4) lightweight engines to turn the propellers; and (5) rudders to steer up or down, right or left.

A nonrigid dirigible is simply a sausage-shaped balloon.

If the lifting gas escapes, the whole dirigible collapses into a shapeless heap of fabric.

A semirigid dirigible has a keel running from bow to stern to house the engines, crew, and cargo. The envelope is directly attached to the keel. Only the envelope collapses when it is deflated.

A rigid dirigible, on the other hand, keeps the same shape whether or not it is inflated with gas. Its main body is a light framework covered with fabric which is not gastight. Inside the outer cover is a series of gas cells. Each gas cell can be deflated without affecting the others.

With regard to rigid dirigibles, the Graf Zeppelin and the Hindenburg, manufactured in Germany around 1900, were famous.

The first airship transportation company in the world, which was formed in 1901, opened the way for the commercial aviation by dirigibles. Commercial aviation by dirigibles was made possible by their capability of travailing for long distances and their capacity to carry much load. Following Germany, dirigibles also spread to the United Kingdom and to the United States. There was a series of disasters due to bad weather, however. The most serious one happened in 1937, when the Hindenburg burst into flame as she was nosing up to her mooring mast at Lakehurst, New Jersey, after a flight from Germany. Thereafter rigid dirigibles were less and less used.

On the other hand, nonrigid dirigibles, though for special purposes, are still in practical use. In the United States, for example, they are used for antisubmarine patrols in coastal waters.

For the initial years all dirigibles were inflated with hydrogen or with illuminating gas, which contains a large proportion of hydrogen. Hydrogen is most suitable for dirigibles insofar as it is the lightest of all gases. Unfortunately, however, it catches fire easily and therefore it is very dangerous. Thus, dirigibles of our time (nonrigid dirigibles) use helium instead of hydrogen as the lifting gas, since helium, though heavier than hydrogen, cannot catch fire.

So dirigibles of our time are in safe use.

A dirigible is capable of flying at a low altitude for a long period of time. Also, it can stay aloft. In addition, its gondola can carry much load. Thus, it is most suitable for relaying television programs or for taking aerial photographs.

In fact, in the United States, it has been frequently used for the relaying of television programs on baseball games, car races, or yachting races for a long time.

One can put a big advertisement on the envelope. So the dirigible can also be used as very effective advertising means.

In addition, it can also be used for researches on the pollution of environmental pollution, for detection, for rescue, or for search.

In our time there are three dirigible manufacturers: Airship Industries, of the United Kingdom; WDL, of Germany; and Goodyear, of the United States. They have been manufacturing nonrigid dirigibles approximately 60 meters in overall length.

With regard to the engine, there are cases where a horizontal opposed type engine manufactured for use in a small airplane, such as one of Lycoming, of the U.S. or of Continental, is used.

However there is an increasing tendency to modify a lightweight, high-performance car engine, such as a horizontal opposed type 6-cylinder engine manufactured by Porsche.

The dirigibles produced by Airship Industries include the Skyship series. The Skyship series is a new generation of nonrigid dirigible. It has an envelope of polyester fiber coated with a special paint. Under the envelope is suspended a gondola of Kevlarss Thus it is very light in weight. On both sides of the rear portion of the gondola are provided ducted fans of fiberglass reinforced plastics. The ducted fans are employed as part of a vectored thrust system which enables the dirigible to nose up for 80 degrees or nose down for for 120 degrees.

The Skyship series include the Skyship 500 and the Skyship 600. The Skyship 500 is no longer in use. The Skyship 600 has a length of 50.01 meters and a height of 20.3 meters. Its envelope has a diameter of 15.2 meters and a volume of 6,666 cubic meters. Its gondola has a length of 11.83 meters and a width of 2.56 meters. The Skyship 600 has an overall weight of 3,664 kilograms. Its engine is a modification of a car engine produced by Porsche, and has the capacity of 255 h.p. Although the Skyship 600 has no transmission, the motive power produced by the engine is reduced by half in its speed before reaching the propeller shaft. Also, the Skyship 600 is capable of ascending up to a maximum height of 1,500 meters and flying at a speed of 90 to 110 kilometers per hour. It is not impossible for one pilot to steer the Skyship 600 single-handed.However, because the control system has no power-assisted control, the Skyship 600 is usually operated by two pilots.

Such a new generation of dirigible is thus superior to the past dirigibles. However, even the new generation is not free from an inherent drawback of a dirigible. That is, because a dirigible relies on gas for lift, it cannot avoid being large in size. For example, although the Skyship 500 is smaller than the dirigibles of old times (rigid dirigibles), even the former requires a hangar about the size of that for the Boeing 747.

With regard to the Skyship 600, it is longer than the Skyship 500, and there is no hangar available for the storage of it.

Thus, when not used, it must be connected outdoors to a mobile mooring mast. Then, the helium filling the dirigible is sensitive to changes in temperature, and so is very likely to change incessantly in its volume and lift. Thus it is necessary that at least two personnel keep watch on the dirigible at all times.

In addition, since the dirigible is only connected to the mooring mast, it moves every time the wind blows. So, when personnel repair the dirigible, they are forced to stop working when it begins to blow hard.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an objet of the invention to provide a dirigible comprising plural separable sections. Thus, according to the invention, if it is necessary to repair one of the sections, that section can be separated from the rest and removed into a relatively small hangar. So repair can be made without being affected by wind.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Fig. 1 is a partly-broken side view of a dirigible; and Fig. 2 is a front view of the dirigible.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A dirigible which embodies the invention in one preferred form will now be described in detail with reference to the drawing. As shown in Fig. 1, the dirigible of the invention comprises a front section A, a middle section B, and a rear section C. These sections A, B, and C are separable from each other, and are in the state of being separated from each other in Fig.

l. Each section is provided with a circular frame or frames F at its face or faces opposed directly to the adjacent section or sections. Each frame F is provided with plural flexible joints J. Each flexible joint J provided on each frame F is in alignment with one of the flexible joints J on the opposed frame F.

When the three sections are to be connected together, the corresponding joints J are coupled together.

The front section A is a semirigid construction. That is, it comprises an inner framework 1 and a fabric envelope 2 attached thereto. The envelope 2 is formed of polyester fiber coated with a special paint. A gondola 3 is fixed to the lower surface of the front section A. A cockpit, a steering equipment, a navigation system, an wireless installation, and the like (not shown) are located in the gondola 3. As shown in Fig.

1, ducted fan engines 4 are connected to both sides of the gondola 3 by means of shafts 4a. The ducted fan engines 4 and the shafts 4a constitute a vectored thrust system which enables the dirigible to nose up for 80 degrees or nose down for 120 degrees. The front end of the first section A is provided with an anchoring element 5. When the dirigible is on the ground, the anchoring element 5 can be connected to a mobile mooring mast.

In the upper space within the framework 1 is provided a gas cell 6 filled with helium. In the lower space within the framework 1 is provided a ballonet 7. Air is filled into, or discharged from, the ballonet 7, depending on the altitude of the dirigible. That is, when the dirigible is flying at a relatively low altitude, air is filled into the ballonet 7.

However, as it noses up, the ballonet 7 is deflated since the helium in the gas cell 6 increases in its volume.

The middle section B includes a cylindrical envelope 8 and a gas cell 9 located inside the envelope 9 and filled with helium. A gondola 10 is fixed to the lower surface of the middle section B, and accommodates passengers and cargo. The gondola 10 is provided with ducted fan engines 4 similar to those of 4 of the front section A.

An enclosed passage K is fixed to the rear end of the front gondola 4. Also, an enclosed passage K is fixed to the front end of the middle gondola 10. When the three sections A, B, and C are to be connected together, the two passages K are connected together. The pilots and passengers can walk through the passages K.

Like the front section A, the rear section C is a semirigid construction. That is, it comprises an inner framework (not shown) and a fabric envelope 11 attached thereto. Like the envelope 2 of the front section A, the envelope 11 is formed of polyester fiber coated with a special paint. As with the front section A, a gas cell 12 filled with helium is provided in the upper space within the framework, while a ballonet 13 is provided in the lower space within the framework. Vertical sta bilizers 14 are connected to the upper and lower surfaces of the envelope 11, respectively. A rudder 14a is connected to the rear end of each stabilizer 14. In addition, horizontal stabilizers 15 are connected to the sides of the envelope 11. An elevator 15a is connected to the rear end of each stabilizer 15.

Also, a gondola 16 is connected to the lower surface of the envelope 11, and accommodates an air conditioner, a generator, and the like. As with the first section, ducted fan engines 4 are connected to both sides of the gondola 16.

Enclosed passages K are connected to the rear end of the middle gondola 10 and the front end of the rear gondola 16, respectively.

The construction of the dirigible is as described above.

The three sections A, B, and C are coupled together simply by connecting the corresponding joints J and connecting the opposed passages K. Similarly, these sections can be separated from each other simply by disconnecting the joints J and the passages K. Thus, if it is necessary to repair one of the sections, that section can be separated from the rest and removed into a relatively small hangar. Therefore, repair can be made without being affected by wind.

If desired, plural middle sections may be provided to increase the capacity of the dirigible to accommodate passengers and cargo.

As described above, in the illustrated embodiment, each of the three sections A, B, and C is provided with ducted fan engines 4. However, > the engines 4 of the middle section B can be omitted without materially affecting the major functions of the dirigible.

Claims (1)

1. What is claimed is:

   1. In a dirigible comprising (i) a streamlined container for a lighter-than-air gas which lifts the dirigible, (ii) means for driving the dirigible forward in the air, (iii) means for steering the dirigible, and (iv) at least one gondola suspended under the container for accommodating human beings and cargo, the improvement wherein the gas container consists of plural envelopes separable from each other, so that the entire dirigible is divisible into the envelopes, each of the envelopes having an inner gas bag, and each of the envelopes is provided with flexible connecting means which are coupled with corresponding flexible connecting means provided on an adjacent envelope or envelopes, to couple the envelopes together.