GB266310A - Improvements in or relating to airships and methods of operating the same - Google Patents

Abstract

266,310. Luftschiffbau Zeppelin Ges., (Assignees of Lempertz, E.). Feb. 18. 1926, [Convention date]. Aerostats. - In order to avoid variations of buoyancy as fuel is consumed, an airship is provided, in addition to the lifting gas cells, with cells for a fuel gas of substantially the same density as air so that no static forces are imposed on the airship by reason of its fuel, the amount of lifting gas being sufficient only to support the useful load and the aircraft structure. Ethylene or mixtures of other gaseous hydrocarbons may be used as fuel gas. The volume of the lifting gas cells is distributed along the airship in direct proportion to the loading of the structure and the fuel gas cells are disposed in the remaining spaces within the hull. The necessity for the provision of special parts for supporting the fuel load from the upper part of the airship is obviated. The fuel gas may be contained in cells e beneath the lifting gas cells d at normal pressure or it may be maintained at a higher pressure by air ballonete or by the pressure of the gas cells, particularly when a gas slightly lighter than air is employed. When not under initial pressure the fuel gas is fed to the engines by suction. The fuel gas chambers are arranged to provide additional expansion space for the lifting gas with the progressive consumption of fuel. A gas heavier than air may be employed if stored under appropriately reduced pressure. Means for burning small quantities of liquid fuel or lifting gas may be provided in order to compensate for accidental variations of buoyancy.