GB290716A - Improvements in or relating to aerostats - Google Patents

Abstract

290,716. Scott, G. H., and Rope, F. M. Feb. 16, 1927. Aerostats.-An automatic gas valve for an aerostat gas bag is constructed and arranged so as to be approximately balanced as regards directly-transmitted gas pressure from the gas bag, but so as to have a small resultant positive tendency to close; improved control means are also provided for opening the gas valve in a decisive manner and to the full extent under a predetermined maximum pressure in the gas bag. The automatic valve B is fitted to the gas bag A, preferably above the highest level to which the bottom of the gas bag can rise, and comprises an outer stiff diaphragm B having a conical central portion and a cylindrical peripheral portion, which carries a valve face F in the form of an annular plate adapted to engage a seating E formed on a cylindrical member fixed in the gas bag aperture. The valve B slides on a tubular axial guide M supported by a spider M<1> fixed in the gas bag aperture. A stiff diaphragm G of conical form is fixed to the hub of the spider M<1>, and is connected to the movable valve face F by a collapsable bellows H. The pressure from the gas bag passes through the central opening Y of the valve into a chamber F bounded on the outside by the bellows, and holds the valve face on its seating E. A chamber J bounded by the diaphragm B, the bellows H, and the diaphragm G communicates through the tubular guide M and a connection C<1> with the gas bag, preferably through a siphon pipe, which is connected to the gas bag near the valve and has its bend at or slightly below the bottom of the gas bag when full, so that when the gas pressure reaches its maximum the pressure on the diaphragm B rapidly lifts the valve face F from the seating E to the full extent of the movement of the valve along its guide M. A leak is provided to bring the pressure back to atmospheric, and a spring K then returns the valve to its seating. Alternatively, a relay valve set to operate at a predetermined pressure in the gas bag may admit gas pressure to the operating- chamber J. An auxiliary hand-operated valve may be provided to operate the automatic valve for manoeuvring and other purposes. Further detail modifications are described.