FR2612485A1 - Dirigible balloon with on-board helium reserve - Google Patents

Dirigible balloon with on-board helium reserve Download PDF

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Publication number
FR2612485A1
FR2612485A1 FR8703905A FR8703905A FR2612485A1 FR 2612485 A1 FR2612485 A1 FR 2612485A1 FR 8703905 A FR8703905 A FR 8703905A FR 8703905 A FR8703905 A FR 8703905A FR 2612485 A1 FR2612485 A1 FR 2612485A1
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France
Prior art keywords
envelope
balloon
helium
volume
nacelle
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Granted
Application number
FR8703905A
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French (fr)
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FR2612485B1 (en
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Individual
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Individual
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Priority to FR8703905A priority Critical patent/FR2612485B1/en
Publication of FR2612485A1 publication Critical patent/FR2612485A1/en
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Publication of FR2612485B1 publication Critical patent/FR2612485B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B64AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
    • B64BLIGHTER-THAN AIR AIRCRAFT
    • B64B1/00Lighter-than-air aircraft
    • B64B1/02Non-rigid airships
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B64AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
    • B64BLIGHTER-THAN AIR AIRCRAFT
    • B64B1/00Lighter-than-air aircraft
    • B64B1/58Arrangements or construction of gas-bags; Filling arrangements

Abstract

The balloon includes a flexible envelope 10 at least partially inflated with helium and a gondola 11 suspended from the envelope. This balloon is characterised in that the volume of the envelope 10 is variable and that the gondola 11 comprises a helium storage assembly with a tank 14 made of light composite material and a compressor 16, this assembly being linked to the envelope by a sleeve 20, a boom 12 for rolling up the envelope being provided at the lower part of the latter. The composite material may be of kevlar.

Description

BALLON DIRIGEABLE A RESERVE D'HéLIUM EMBARQUEE
DESCRIPTION
La présente invention a pour objet un ballon dirigeable.
AIRBORNE BALLOON WITH HELIUM RESERVE ON BOARD
DESCRIPTION
The present invention relates to an airship.

-Les ballons dirigeables, creés il y a plus d'un siècle, n'ont toujours pas connu un déveLoppement industriel important. -The airships, created more than a century ago, have still not experienced significant industrial development.

Leur premier handicap a été d'être très dangereux car ils étaient gonflés à L'hydrogène. Par la suite, ce gaz hautement inflammable a éte remplacé par L'hélium, mais le prix de revient de ce gaz reste très élevé.Their first handicap was to be very dangerous because they were inflated with Hydrogen. Subsequently, this highly flammable gas was replaced by helium, but the cost price of this gas remains very high.

Le second handicap des ballons dirigeables dans une exploitation commerciale est leur prise au vent. Celle-ci est due au volume de l'enveloppe. Or ce volume, qui est naturellement fonction de la charge utile, est encore augmenté par la nécessité de permettre au gaz de se dilater quand le ballon monte. The second handicap of airships in a commercial exploitation is their catch in the wind. This is due to the volume of the envelope. However, this volume, which is naturally a function of the payload, is further increased by the need to allow the gas to expand when the balloon rises.

Il faut, au cours d'un même vol, permettre au gaz de se dilater sans Le laisser s'échapper et lui permettre de se rétracter sans modifier La forme aérodynamique du ballon nécessaire à son pilotage. It is necessary, during the same flight, to allow the gas to expand without letting it escape and to allow it to retract without modifying the aerodynamic shape of the balloon necessary for its piloting.

Pour cela, on utilise deux méthodes, selon que le ballon est rigide (type Zeppelin) ou souple (type Santos Dumont). For this, we use two methods, depending on whether the ball is rigid (Zeppelin type) or flexible (Santos Dumont type).

Dans les ballons de type Zeppelin, une enveloppe rigide sert de cage à des petits ballons gonflés aux huit dixièmes de leur capacité environ. Quand le ballon s'élève, les petits ballons se dilatent jusqu'à remplir- l'enveloppe rigide. In Zeppelin type balloons, a rigid envelope serves as a cage for small balloons inflated to about eight tenths of their capacity. When the balloon rises, the small balloons expand until they fill the rigid envelope.

L'altitude est donc limitée par la taille de l'enveloppe rigide.The altitude is therefore limited by the size of the rigid envelope.

Dans Les ballons de type Santos Dumont, on maintient l'enveloppe sous pression pour qu'elle ne se déforme pas. Ce rôle est assuré par des ballonnets placés à l'intérieur de l'enveloppe et maintenus gonflés d'air grâce à un ventilateur. In Santos Dumont type balloons, the envelope is kept under pressure so that it does not deform. This role is ensured by balloons placed inside the envelope and kept inflated with air thanks to a fan.

Dans ces deux cas, le volume du ballon, donc sa prise au vent, est augmenté par rapport à ce qu'il devrait être d'un point de vue purement aérostatique.  In these two cases, the volume of the balloon, therefore its catch in the wind, is increased compared to what it should be from a purely aerostatic point of view.

La présente invention a justement pour but de remédier à cet inconvénient. The object of the present invention is precisely to remedy this drawback.

A cette fin elle propose un ballon dirigeable dont le volume extérieur de l'enveloppe peut varier tout en gardant une forme aérodynamique convenable. Il est particulierement intéressant de reduire le volume du ballon lorsque celui-ci est anime d'une vitesse importante par rapport à la masse d'air, car il devient possible d'utiliser la portance aérodynamique du ballon et donc de diminuer le volume du gaz nécessaire à la portance aérostatique. To this end, it offers an airship whose external volume of the envelope can vary while keeping a suitable aerodynamic shape. It is particularly advantageous to reduce the volume of the balloon when it is driven at a high speed relative to the air mass, because it becomes possible to use the aerodynamic lift of the balloon and therefore to decrease the volume of the gas. necessary for aerostatic lift.

De façon précise, L'invention a pour objet un ballon dirigeable comportant une enveloppe souple au moins partiellement gonflée à l'hélium et une nacelle suspendue à l'enveloppe, ce ballon étant caractérisé par le fait que le volume de l'enveloppe est variable et que la nacelle comprend un ensemble de stockage d'hélium avec un réservoir en matériau composite léger et un compresseur, cet ensemble étant relié à l'enveloppe par une manche. Specifically, the invention relates to an airship comprising a flexible envelope at least partially inflated with helium and a nacelle suspended from the envelope, this balloon being characterized in that the volume of the envelope is variable and that the nacelle comprises a helium storage assembly with a tank of light composite material and a compressor, this assembly being connected to the envelope by a sleeve.

De préférence, le matériau composite Léger est le kevlar. Preferably, the light composite material is kevlar.

Il est aujourd'hui possible, grâce aux nouveaux matériaux composites légers comme le kevlar de réaliser des réservoirs de stockage légers permettant de garder à bord une partie de l'hélium excédentaire. Les variations de volume du ballon seront donc réversibles. Today, thanks to new lightweight composite materials such as kevlar, it is possible to make light storage tanks that keep some of the excess helium on board. The variations in volume of the balloon will therefore be reversible.

A titre explicatif, on peut noter qu'un réservoir 3 3 d'hélium de 5 m à une pression de 200 kg représente 1000 m d'hélium à la pression normale, un tel volume étant capable d'enlever une charge d'environ une tonne. Autrefois, un tel réservoir aurait pesé environ 2 tonnes. Cette solution n'était donc pas viable. Aujourd'hui, avec les matériaux légers et résistants comme le kevlar, un tel réservoir pese environ 150 kg. By way of explanation, it can be noted that a reservoir 3 3 of 5 m helium at a pressure of 200 kg represents 1000 m of helium at normal pressure, such a volume being capable of removing a charge of approximately one tonne. In the past, such a tank would have weighed about 2 tonnes. This solution was therefore not viable. Today, with light and resistant materials like kevlar, such a tank weighs around 150 kg.

Il reste ainsi 850 kg pour la charge utile.This leaves 850 kg for the payload.

Le réservoir peut être constitué par une enveloppe légère rigide autour de laquelle est bobiné un fil de kevlar. Des matériaux composites carbone-carbone peuvent également entre utilisés dans L'invention. The tank can be constituted by a rigid rigid envelope around which a kevlar wire is wound. Carbon-carbon composite materials can also be used in the invention.

Une autre caractéristique de l'invention est d'utiliser une bôme sur laquelle, d'une part, s'enroule le bas de l'enveloppe et, d'autre part, est accrochée La nacelle. Le fait d'enrouler la toile de L'enveLoppe sur La bôme permet de réduire le volume intérieur de L'enveloppe et donc de maintenir la pression interne du gaz dans une plage compatible avec la solidité de l'enveloppe et la nécessaire rigidité aérodynamique du ballon en déplacement par rapport à L'air ambiant. Another characteristic of the invention is to use a boom on which, on the one hand, is wound at the bottom of the envelope and, on the other hand, is hooked The nacelle. The fact of winding the fabric of the envelope on the boom makes it possible to reduce the internal volume of the envelope and therefore to maintain the internal pressure of the gas within a range compatible with the solidity of the envelope and the necessary aerodynamic rigidity of the balloon moving in relation to ambient air.

La variation de pression interne du gaz qu; permet d'obtenir L'enroulement de l'enveloppe sur la bôme par un moyen complémentaire permet de réguler le pesage du ballon. Ce moyen permet de limiter les échanges entre le réservoir de stockage de l'hélium et l'enveloppe. The variation in internal pressure of the gas that; allows the wrapping of the envelope on the boom by additional means to regulate the weighing of the balloon. This means limits the exchanges between the helium storage tank and the envelope.

En outre, dans L'invention, c'est la toile de l'enveloppe qui supporte Le poids de la nacelle, sans qu'il soit nécessaire d'utiliser des suspentes, car la bome permet de repartir les contraintes sur une grande longueur. In addition, in the invention, it is the canvas of the envelope which supports the weight of the nacelle, without the need to use hangers, because the boom allows the stresses to be distributed over a great length.

De toute façon, L'invention sera mieux comprise à la lumière de la description qui suit, d'un exemple de réalisation. In any case, the invention will be better understood in the light of the description which follows, of an exemplary embodiment.

Cette description se réfère à une figure unique annexée qui représente schématiquement un ballon dirigeable selon l'invention.This description refers to a single appended figure which schematically represents an airship according to the invention.

Le ballon représenté sur La figure comprend - une enveloppe 10, éventuelLement remplie de ballonnets sous
gonfLés destinés à assurer La sécurité, - une nacelle Il suspendue au ballon, - une bôme 12 sur laquelle s'enroule le bas de l'enveloppe
lorsque l'on souhaite réduire son volume en maintenant la
rigidité, - un ensemble de stockage de gaz comprenant des bouteilles 14 en
matériau composite et un compresseur 16, - une manche 20 reliant Le compresseur à l'enveloppe du ballon, - un organe général de commande 18.
The balloon shown in the figure includes - an envelope 10, possibly filled with balloons under
inflated intended to ensure safety, - a nacelle suspended from the balloon, - a boom 12 on which the bottom of the envelope is wound
when you want to reduce its volume by maintaining the
rigidity, - a gas storage assembly comprising cylinders 14 in
composite material and a compressor 16, - a sleeve 20 connecting the compressor to the envelope of the balloon, - a general control member 18.

Une voilure permet d'utiliser et de réguler la portance aérodynamique. Un calculateur peut contrôler cette régulation.  A wing makes it possible to use and regulate the aerodynamic lift. A computer can control this regulation.

Claims (3)

REVENDICATIONS 1. Ballon dirigeable comportant une enveloppe souple (10) au moins partiellement gonflée à l'hélium et une nacelle (11) suspendue à L'enveLoppe, caractérisé par le fait que le volume de l'enveloppe (10) est variable et que la nacelle (11) comprend un ensemble de stockage d'hélium avec un réservoir t14) en matériau composite léger et un compresseur (16), cet ensemble étant relié à l'enveloppe par une manche (20).  1. Airship comprising a flexible envelope (10) at least partially inflated with helium and a nacelle (11) suspended from the envelope, characterized in that the volume of the envelope (10) is variable and that the nacelle (11) comprises a helium storage assembly with a tank t14) made of light composite material and a compressor (16), this assembly being connected to the envelope by a sleeve (20). 2. Ballon dirigeable selon la revendication 1, caractérisé par le fait que le matériau composite léger est le kevlar. 2. Airship according to claim 1, characterized in that the light composite material is kevlar. 3. Ballon dirigeable selon la revendication 1, caractérisé par le fait que la rigidité de L'enveloppe est maintenue en adaptant son volume au gaz contenu et à la pression extérieure par enroulement de L'enveloppe sur une bme (12) qui permet en outre de répartir le poids de la nacelle sur 3. Airship according to claim 1, characterized in that the rigidity of the envelope is maintained by adapting its volume to the gas contained and to the external pressure by winding the envelope on a bme (12) which also allows to distribute the weight of the nacelle over L'enveloppe et de régler partiellement la portance aérostatique du ballon. The envelope and partially regulate the balloon's aerostatic lift.
FR8703905A 1987-03-20 1987-03-20 AIRSHIP BALLOON WITH ON-BOARD HELIUM RESERVE Expired - Lifetime FR2612485B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR8703905A FR2612485B1 (en) 1987-03-20 1987-03-20 AIRSHIP BALLOON WITH ON-BOARD HELIUM RESERVE

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR8703905A FR2612485B1 (en) 1987-03-20 1987-03-20 AIRSHIP BALLOON WITH ON-BOARD HELIUM RESERVE

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FR2612485A1 true FR2612485A1 (en) 1988-09-23
FR2612485B1 FR2612485B1 (en) 1992-02-14

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Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5449130A (en) * 1994-09-30 1995-09-12 Huntington; Mary K. Hot air balloon amusement ride
FR2780024A1 (en) * 1998-06-23 1999-12-24 Yves Barbarie Lighter-than-air aircraft for the transport of freight and passengers
WO2003049998A1 (en) * 2001-12-06 2003-06-19 Information Systems Laboratories Aerostat deployment apparatus
US20210179247A1 (en) * 2019-12-13 2021-06-17 Loon Llc Vertical fill method

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN108750067B (en) * 2018-06-06 2020-10-13 中国人民解放军国防科技大学 Aerostatics exhibition book becomes volume device and aerostatics

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1755359A (en) * 1926-05-29 1930-04-22 Herbert B Moses Reserve and conservation of inflatants
US3151824A (en) * 1963-12-02 1964-10-06 Jr Arthur D Struble Compact balloon system
EP0033020A1 (en) * 1980-01-04 1981-08-05 Centre National D'etudes Spatiales Process and device for launching and inflating a space balloon

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1755359A (en) * 1926-05-29 1930-04-22 Herbert B Moses Reserve and conservation of inflatants
US3151824A (en) * 1963-12-02 1964-10-06 Jr Arthur D Struble Compact balloon system
EP0033020A1 (en) * 1980-01-04 1981-08-05 Centre National D'etudes Spatiales Process and device for launching and inflating a space balloon

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
NAVY TECHNICAL DISCLOSURE BULLETIN, vol. 4, no. 6, juin 1979, pages 17-20; N.T. KJOME: "Wyoming balloon launching apparatus" *

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5449130A (en) * 1994-09-30 1995-09-12 Huntington; Mary K. Hot air balloon amusement ride
FR2780024A1 (en) * 1998-06-23 1999-12-24 Yves Barbarie Lighter-than-air aircraft for the transport of freight and passengers
WO1999067129A1 (en) * 1998-06-23 1999-12-29 Yves Barbarie Aerostat for transporting equipment and passengers
US6715712B2 (en) 2001-05-18 2004-04-06 Information Systems Laboratories, Inc. Aerostat deployment apparatus
US6883749B2 (en) 2001-05-18 2005-04-26 Information Systems Laboratories, Inc. Aerostat deployment apparatus
WO2003049998A1 (en) * 2001-12-06 2003-06-19 Information Systems Laboratories Aerostat deployment apparatus
US20210179247A1 (en) * 2019-12-13 2021-06-17 Loon Llc Vertical fill method

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Publication number Publication date
FR2612485B1 (en) 1992-02-14

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