US4215834A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Compound aerostat of controllable altitude
Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
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Filing: 1978-12-15
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Granted: 1980-08-05
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Expires: 1998-12-15
Abstract
Abstract A compound aerostat employing a primary lifting mixture of helium and methanol in a first enclosure and a secondary lifting mixture of ammonia in a second enclosure. Both enclosures are contained within a single envelope. The methanol in the primary enclosure gradually condenses out as the altitude increases yielding a decreasing lift with altitude up to the stratosphere to provide passive altitude stability to the system. An absorbent, metallic lithium is provided within a separate container and connected to controllably absorb the ammonia and thereby control the displacement of the secondary enclosure. The process is reversible with the application of heat by means of propane combustion or solar heating. Other absorbents are LiNO3, LiCl and CaCl2. This controllable displacement system can compensate for solar superheat and snow and ice accumulation and facilitate long endurance flights, especially in the troposphere.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard M. Dunlap
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 03:10
CPC Classifications
B; B64; B64B; B64B1/00; B64B1/58; B64B1/62
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
90 words
A controllable altitude lifting system for an aerostat comprising: a passive altitude lifting control system including a first enclosure containing a primary gaseous fluid, said primary gaseous fluid having solely passive condensing and vaporizing means controlled by ambient conditions for providing altitude stability, said condensing and vaporizing means comprises methanol; and an active altitude lifting control system including a second enclosure having a secondary gaseous fluid within, absorbing means connected to controllably absorb said secondary gaseous fluid and dissociation and vaporization means for dissociating and vaporizing the absorbed secondary fluid.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
90 words
A controllable altitude lifting system for an aerostat comprising: a passive altitude lifting control system including a first enclosure containing a primary gaseous fluid, said primary gaseous fluid having solely passive condensing and vaporizing means controlled by ambient conditions for providing altitude stability, said condensing and vaporizing means comprises methanol; and an active altitude lifting control system including a second enclosure having a secondary gaseous fluid within, absorbing means connected to controllably absorb said secondary gaseous fluid and dissociation and vaporization means for dissociating and vaporizing the absorbed secondary fluid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A controllable altitude lifting system for an aerostat according to claim 1 having a single envelope containing said first and second enclosures.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
90 words
A controllable altitude lifting system for an aerostat comprising: a passive altitude lifting control system including a first enclosure containing a primary gaseous fluid, said primary gaseous fluid having passive condensing means for providing altitude stability, said primary gaseous fluid comprises helium and methanol; and an active altitude lifting control system including a second enclosure having a secondary gaseous fluid within, absorbing means connected to controllably absorb said secondary gaseous fluid and dissociation and vaporization means for dissociating and vaporizing the absorbed secondary fluid, said secondary gaseous fluid comprises ammonia.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
90 words
A controllable altitude lifting system for an aerostat comprising: a passive altitude lifting control system including a first enclosure containing a primary gaseous fluid, said primary gaseous fluid having passive condensing means for providing altitude stability, said primary gaseous fluid comprises helium and methanol; and an active altitude lifting control system including a second enclosure having a secondary gaseous fluid within, absorbing means connected to controllably absorb said secondary gaseous fluid and dissociation and vaporization means for dissociating and vaporizing the absorbed secondary fluid, said secondary gaseous fluid comprises ammonia.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A controllable altitude lifting system for an aerostat according to claim 3 having a single envelope containing said first and second enclosures.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
75 words
A controllable altitude liting system for an aerostat according to claim 3 wherein said active altitude lifting control system further comprises: a third enclosure connected to said second enclosure, said third enclosure containing an absorbent for absorbing said ammonia; heating means for providing heat to said third enclosure for dissociating said ammonia from said lithium and vaporizing said ammonia; and an agitator located within said third enclosure for enhancing the absorption, dissociation and vaporizing processes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
A controllable altitude lifting system for an aerostat according to claim 5 having a single envelope containing said first and second enclosures, and said third enclosure is located outside of said single envelope.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A controllable altitude lifting system for an aerostat according to claim 6 wherein said absorbent is selected from the group consisting of lithium, calcium chloride, lithium nitrate and lithium chloride.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
A controllable altitude lifting system for an aerostat according to claim 6 wherein said absorbent is lithium.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
75 words
An envelope for a limp aerostat comprising: first and second enclosures; a primary gaseous fluid contained within said first enclosure, said primary gaseous fluid having solely passive condensing and vaporizing means controlled by ambient conditions for providing altitude stability, said condensing and vaporizing means comprises methanol; and a secondary gaseous fluid located within said second enclosure capable of being absorbed by one of the group consisting of lithium, calcium chloride, lithium nitrate and lithium chloride.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
75 words
An envelope for a limp aerostat comprising: first and second enclosures; a primary gaseous fluid contained within said first enclosure, said primary gaseous fluid having solely passive condensing and vaporizing means controlled by ambient conditions for providing altitude stability, said condensing and vaporizing means comprises methanol; and a secondary gaseous fluid located within said second enclosure capable of being absorbed by one of the group consisting of lithium, calcium chloride, lithium nitrate and lithium chloride.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
75 words
An envelope for a limp aerostat comprising: first and second enclosures; a primary gaseous fluid contained within said first enclosure, said primary gaseous fluid having passive condensing means for providing altitude stability, said primary gaseous fluid comprises helium and methanol; and a secondary gaseous fluid located within said second enclosure capable of being absorbed by one of the group consisting of lithium, calcium chloride, lithium nitrate and lithium chloride, said secondary gaseous fluid comprises ammonia.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
75 words
An envelope for a limp aerostat comprising: first and second enclosures; a primary gaseous fluid contained within said first enclosure, said primary gaseous fluid having passive condensing means for providing altitude stability, said primary gaseous fluid comprises helium and methanol; and a secondary gaseous fluid located within said second enclosure capable of being absorbed by one of the group consisting of lithium, calcium chloride, lithium nitrate and lithium chloride, said secondary gaseous fluid comprises ammonia.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
62 words
An envelope for a limp aerostat comprising; first and second enclosures; a primary gaseous fluid contained within said first enclosure, said primary gaseous fluid having solely passive condensing and vaporizing means controlled by ambient conditions for providing altitude stability, said condensing and vaporizing means comprises methanol; and a secondary gaseous fluid located within said second enclosure capable of being absorbed by lithium.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
62 words
An envelope for a limp aerostat comprising; first and second enclosures; a primary gaseous fluid contained within said first enclosure, said primary gaseous fluid having solely passive condensing and vaporizing means controlled by ambient conditions for providing altitude stability, said condensing and vaporizing means comprises methanol; and a secondary gaseous fluid located within said second enclosure capable of being absorbed by lithium.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
62 words
An envelope for a limp aerostat comprising: first and second enclosures; a primary gaseous fluid contained within said first enclosure, said primary gaseous fluid having passive condensing means for providing altitude stability, said primary gaseous fluid comprises helium and methanol; and a secondary gaseous fluid located within said second enclosure capable of being absorbed by lithium, said secondary gaseous fluid comprises ammonia.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
62 words
An envelope for a limp aerostat comprising: first and second enclosures; a primary gaseous fluid contained within said first enclosure, said primary gaseous fluid having passive condensing means for providing altitude stability, said primary gaseous fluid comprises helium and methanol; and a secondary gaseous fluid located within said second enclosure capable of being absorbed by lithium, said secondary gaseous fluid comprises ammonia.
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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) | 1983-08-05 | 1984-02-04 | 1984-08-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-08-05 | 1988-02-04 | 1988-08-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-08-05 | 1992-02-04 | 1992-08-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |