US3957228A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thermodynamic kite
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-02-10
•
Granted: 1976-05-18
•
Expires: 1995-02-10
Abstract
Abstract A thermodynamic kite comprising a non-rigid inflatable body member, a partially rigid helium storage envelope, and a rigid housing. The rigid housing being attached to the underside of the body member contains equipment for maintaining the kite at a preselected altitude as well as safety devices. Attached to the surface of the body member are an interconnected series of inflatable tubes which provide controlled rigidity to the inflatable body member. A radome containing a radar antenna is attached to the body member.
Inventors
- 👤 Guy H. Kennedy, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 07:02
CPC Classifications
B; B64; B64B; B64B1/00; B64B1/40; B64B1/44
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
200 words
A tethered thermodynamic kite comprising: a. a non-rigid, gas-inflatable body member, said member having a front portion; b. a rigid housing structure attached to said body member, said rigid housing structure having a tether line attached thereto; c. a partially non-rigid envelope containing a first gas located inside said body member; d. means for inflating said inflatable body member with a heated second gas causing said first gas to expand, thereby increasing the buoyancy of said kite, said inflating means located within said housing structure but communicating with said body member; e. means for increasing the rigidity of said body member, said means being attached to said body member; f. a body member gas outlet valve having a variable orifice; g. An aneroid barometer located in said housing structure, said aneroid barometer being preset for a specific altitude; and h. a computer located in said housing structure communicating with said body member gas outlet valve and said aneroid barometer, said computer being programmed to receive signals from said aneroid barometer and actuate said variable orifice of said body member outlet valve, thereby maintaining said kite at a preselected altitude by controlling the amount of gas escaping from said body member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
200 words
A tethered thermodynamic kite comprising: a. a non-rigid, gas-inflatable body member, said member having a front portion; b. a rigid housing structure attached to said body member, said rigid housing structure having a tether line attached thereto; c. a partially non-rigid envelope containing a first gas located inside said body member; d. means for inflating said inflatable body member with a heated second gas causing said first gas to expand, thereby increasing the buoyancy of said kite, said inflating means located within said housing structure but communicating with said body member; e. means for increasing the rigidity of said body member, said means being attached to said body member; f. a body member gas outlet valve having a variable orifice; g. An aneroid barometer located in said housing structure, said aneroid barometer being preset for a specific altitude; and h. a computer located in said housing structure communicating with said body member gas outlet valve and said aneroid barometer, said computer being programmed to receive signals from said aneroid barometer and actuate said variable orifice of said body member outlet valve, thereby maintaining said kite at a preselected altitude by controlling the amount of gas escaping from said body member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said rigidity increasing means comprises a series of interconnecting inflatable tubes attached to said body member and means located in said housing structure for providing a third inflation gas to said tubes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said inflatable tubes are disposed parallel to the line of flight of said kite except on said front portion where said tubes are disposed both parallel and perpendicular to the line of flight of said kite.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said third gas providing means includes a gas compressor connected to said inflatable tubes by a gas conduit, a compressed air regulator overpressure valve for controlling the gas pressure in said inflatable tubes being connected to said gas conduit, thereby determining the rigidity of said kite.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said third gas providing means includes a safety regulator valve connected to said gas conduit, said safety regulator valve protecting said kite from catastrophic structural failure should said compressed air regulator overpressure valve malfunction.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said third gas providing means further includes means responsive to the drag on said kite for reducing the gas pressure in said inflatable tubes when the drag reaches unsafe levels, thereby reducing the surface area of said kite striking the wind.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
98 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said gas pressure reducing means comprises: a. a ram air sensor located in said rigid housing structure; b. a compressed air regulator release valve connected to said gas conduit, said compressed air regulator release valve reducing pressure in said inflatable tubes; c. said computer, further communicating with said ram air sensor and said compressed air regulator release valve, said computer being programmed to receive signals from said ram air sensor and actuate said comressed air regulator release valve when said signals from said ram air sensor indicate excessive drag on said kite.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
135 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said inflation means comprises: a. a gas compressor having an exhaust; b. a gas conduit connecting said gas compressor exhaust to said body member, said exhaust supplying heated gas to said body member; c. a waste gas gate valve connected to said gas conduit, said waste gas gate valve diverting exhaust gases from said gas compressor from said member; d. body member pressure and temperature sensors located in said body member; and e. said computer, further communicating with said body member pressure and temperature sensors and said waste gas gate valve, said computer being programmed to receive signals from said body member pressure and temperature sensors and actuate said waste gas gate valve when said signals from said body member pressure and temperature sensors indicate an excessive pressure-temperature relationship.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said non-rigid, inflatable body member is v-shaped similar to an airplane-wing shaped such that it achieves dynamic lift, thereby producing a variable displacement kite capable of vertical flight.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1364596A
Cited
US1720382A
Cited
US1653904A
Cited
US1687204A
Cited
US1682961A
Cited
US2180036A
Cited
US2742246A
Cited
US2740598A
Cited
US3079106A
Cited
US3096047A
Cited
GB1117054A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-05-18 | 1979-11-17 | 1980-05-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-05-18 | 1983-11-17 | 1984-05-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-05-18 | 1987-11-17 | 1988-05-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |