GB233021A - Improvements in or relating to the framework of rigid airships - Google Patents

Abstract

233,021. Airship Guarantee Co., Ltd., and Wallis, B. N. Jan. 26, 1924. Airships; aerostats; cabins. - A rigid airship has transverse frames of hollow formation built up from ring members each of which is itself of hollow construction, the ring members being connected together by bracing wires, struts &c. The longitudinal members have parts built into the transverse frames the intermediate portions being detachable therefrom for replacement. The hollow transverse frames may be of triangular, rectangular. circular or polygonal form in cross section, those described being of triangular cross section with the apex inwards and of polygonal outline comprising the exterior shape of the airship. Fig. 1 shows a cross section of the airship and Fig. 6 a cross section of one of the frame rings at its junction with a longitudinal girder B. The inner ring a of the frame ring is of hollow triangular construction and the two outer rings a<1> are of rectangular section built up from four tubular members a<6>. The connecting struts a<3> are also of built up triangular section. At the angles of the polygonal frames where the longitudinal girders are situated the members a<6> are splayed apart to increase the section of the outer rings and two parallel strut members b<1> of triangular section are secured to the outside of the frame. The longitudinal girders B are of triangular section the booms b<z>, b<3> of which may also be built up girders of triangular section. The booms b<2> are connected to the strut members b<1> and the booms b<3> to the rings a<1> at b' by bolted flange joints or by pin joints to enable them to be readily detached and replaced. Struts b<5> are similarly secured between the rings a<1> opposite the booms b<3>. The sections of the polygonal frame also may be connected together by pin joints. The mesh wiring H between the gas bags which may be slack or in initial tension, is constructed as described in Specification 233,020 as also is the mesh wiring connected to the outer edges of the frame rings for enclosing the gas bags. The cars are located at the side of the airship between the frames and outer cover and are connected to a saloon at the fore end of the airship by a gangway suspended between the frame and outer cover by cateneries from the transverse frames. The cars on opposite sides of the airship are connected together by a staircase formed in the lower half of one of the transverse frames. The gas bags have valves at the sides discharging directly into trunks contained in the upper halves of the transverse frames, these trunks discharging through hoods at the top of the airship.