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US3749332A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Space vehicle with artificial gravity and earth-like environment

Assignee: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
•
Filing: 1971-08-30
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Granted: 1973-07-31
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Expires: 1991-08-30
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Abstract

Abstract A space vehicle adapted to provide an artificial gravity and earthlike atmospheric environment for occupants is disclosed. The vehicle comprises a cylindrically-shaped, hollow pressure-tight body one end of which is tapered from the largest diameter of the body, the other end being flat and transparent to sunlight. The vehicle is provided with thrust means which rotates the body about its longitudinal axis, generating an artificial gravity effect upon the interior walls of the body due to centrifugal forces. Sunlight is directed into the interior of the body through the transparent end by means of a mirror which is oriented independently of the rotation of the body. The sunlight is dispersed to the internal surfaces of the body by means of a structure of concentric reflecting and deflecting rings. The walls of the tapered end of the body are maintained at a temperature below the dew point of water vapor in the body and lower than the temperature near the transparent end of the body. Due to the temperature differential between the two ends and rotation of the body, warm air and water vapor flow from near the transparent end towards the longitudinal axis of the body and towards the tapered end. The water vapor condenses on the walls of the tapered end and due to centrifugal force flows back towards the transparent end along the walls of the body. The cooled air flows back towards the transparent end adjacent the walls of the body. The walls of the body are lined with soil and provided with an initial supply of plants and livestock. Because of the controlled climate and sunlight, an earthlike environment is maintained wherein the carbon dioxide/oxygen balance is maintained, and food for the travelers is supplied through natural system of plant life which can be maintained in the spacecraft. Waste products are treated hygienically and returned to the soil to serve as fertilizers. A pleasant earthlike environment is provided for space travelers on voyages of years or possibly decades in duration.

Inventors

  • 👤 V Gray

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-02 09:08
CPC Classifications
B; B64; B64G; B64G1/00; B64G1/10; B64G1/12; B64G1/22; B64G1/46; B64G1/465

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim 209 words
A space vehicle adapted to provide an artificial gravity and atmospheric environment for occupants of the vehicle, said vehicle comprising a cylindrically shaped hollow pressure-tight body, a first end of said cylindrical body tapered from the largest diameter of said cylindrical body, thrust generating means mounted externally of said body for rotating said body about its longitudinal axis, a second end of said body, said second end transparent to sunlight, an atmosphere in said pressure tight body capable of sustaining human respiration and including water, means for controlling heat loss from said body at the tapered end of said body to thereby maintain the temperature of the internal walls of said body at said tapered end below the dew point of water vapor in said body, and at a temperature lower than that at the second end of said body, the temperature differential between said ends and the rotation of said body causing warm air and water vapor to flow from said second end towards said tapered end, centrally of said body, said water vapor being condensed on the tapered end walls, said water condensate and cool air then flowing outward from the central portion of the tapered end towards said second end along the wall of said body.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 209 words
A space vehicle adapted to provide an artificial gravity and atmospheric environment for occupants of the vehicle, said vehicle comprising a cylindrically shaped hollow pressure-tight body, a first end of said cylindrical body tapered from the largest diameter of said cylindrical body, thrust generating means mounted externally of said body for rotating said body about its longitudinal axis, a second end of said body, said second end transparent to sunlight, an atmosphere in said pressure tight body capable of sustaining human respiration and including water, means for controlling heat loss from said body at the tapered end of said body to thereby maintain the temperature of the internal walls of said body at said tapered end below the dew point of water vapor in said body, and at a temperature lower than that at the second end of said body, the temperature differential between said ends and the rotation of said body causing warm air and water vapor to flow from said second end towards said tapered end, centrally of said body, said water vapor being condensed on the tapered end walls, said water condensate and cool air then flowing outward from the central portion of the tapered end towards said second end along the wall of said body.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 27 words
A vehicle as claimed in claim 1 including means within said body for deflecting and reflecting sunlight to disperse sunlight to the interior surfaces of said body.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 29 words
A vehicle as claimed in claim 2 wherein said means for reflecting and deflecting said sunlight comprises reflective concentric louvred rings mounted about the longitudinal axis of said body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 21 words
A vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said temperature differential is maintained by insulation on the walls of said body.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 33 words
A vehicle as claimed in claim 4 wherein said temperature differential is maintained by insulation on the interior walls of said body and reflective surface coatings on the outer surface of said body.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 25 words
A vehicle as claimed in claim 1 having means for directing sunlight through said transparent portion and parallel to the longitudinal axis of said body.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 78 words
A vehicle as claimed in claim 2 wherein said means for directing sunlight comprises a mirror mounted on a shaft parallel to the axis of said body and external to said body at said second end, the orientation of said motor being independent of the rotation of said body normally facing the sun at an angle to direct sunlight through said transparent portion to the interior of said body and parallel to the longitudinal axis of said body.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 27 words
A vehicle as claimed in claim 7 including means within said body for deflecting and reflecting sunlight to disperse sunlight to the interior surfaces of said body.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 41 words
A vehicle as claimed in claim 8 wherein said means for reflecting and deflecting said sunlight comprises reflective concentric radially-spaced rings mounted about the longitudinal axis of said body, the surface of each ring being at an angle to said axis.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 27 words
A vehicle as claimed in claim 9 wherein the interior walls of said vehicle are covered with soil and growing chlorophyll-containing plants are planted in said soil.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US26887A Cited
US1514653A Cited
US2325765A Cited
US3053476A Cited
US3158337A Cited
US3358944A Cited
US3420739A Cited
US3362104A Cited
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1976-07-30 1977-01-29 1977-07-31 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1980-07-30 1981-01-29 1981-07-31 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1984-07-30 1985-01-29 1985-07-31 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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