JP2629090B2 - Soft airship - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a lightweight airship having a large lift.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a flexible airship has a laminate of a vinyl chloride resin sheet, a urethane resin sheet, a neoprene rubber sheet or the like on both sides of a reinforcing cloth, and a plurality of layers of a film such as polyester or polyvinylidene chloride on the inner surface. The hull was constructed by using a multilayer sheet joined to the hull as an envelope membrane, and a gondola equipped with a propulsion mechanism was provided below the hull. In order to reduce the cost of manufacturing airships, strong fabrics are cut into hull shapes and sewn to create the outer shell of the hull body, and gas-impermeable plastic sheet materials such as vinyl chloride resin sheets and polyester films are used. An airship made by inserting one layer of the endothelium into the body of the hull is proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 2-20495.

[0003]

However, in the conventional airship, the hull is made of a membrane in which a vinyl chloride resin sheet is bonded to a heavy cloth, and further, a gas bag made of a vinyl chloride resin sheet or a synthetic rubber sheet is used. Because it is built into the hull, not only the manufacturing cost is high, but the hull weight is heavy,
There were problems such as low lift per volume of the airship.

An object of the present invention is to provide a soft airship that is lightweight, has high lift, and is excellent in propulsion.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an airship in which a catenary curtain is stretched inside a double membrane structure hull having an envelope membrane and an inner membrane in which a plurality of sheets are joined. The film is a film obtained by laminating an elastic polymer film on at least a fiber sheet obtained by resin processing a fabric, and the inner film is a film obtained by laminating at least an ethylene / vinyl alcohol copolymer film and an elastic polymer film. Further, the airship is characterized in that the envelope membrane and the inner membrane are joined at least partially at the junction of the envelope membrane, and a catenary curtain is stretched from the junction to the inside of the hull. .

[0006] The envelope membrane of the present invention can be used in the form of a fibrous sheet obtained by resin-treating a fabric to impart strength, or an elastic polymer film (a) or, if necessary, an elastic polymer film to protect the fibrous sheet. Multi-layer film (b) laminated with ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer film
Are laminated. The resin-processed fiber sheet is selected from wholly aromatic polyester fibers, meta-based and para-aramid fibers, polyvinyl alcohol-based fibers, polyimide fibers, polyamide fibers, polyester fibers, high-strength polyethylene fibers, carbon fibers, glass fibers, and the like. Using a high-strength fiber, preferably a filament yarn having a cutting strength of 15 g / denier or more, more preferably 17 g / denier or more and a cutting elongation of 15% or less, a multiaxial cloth such as a triaxial cloth or a quadriaxial cloth, or a plain weave Cloth, woven cloth, leno woven cloth, etc.
It is obtained by processing the fabric with resin. The weight of the fabric is appropriately determined from the size of the airship (gas volume),
Usually, it is in the range of 5 to 80 g / m ² .

[0007] The resin used for the resin processing is, for example, one or more resins selected from acrylic resins, urethane resins, epoxy resins, phenolic resins, urea resins, vinyl chloride resins, and the like. A composition.
The resin is in the form of a liquid such as a solution, a dispersion, or a paste, and is usually added to the cloth in an amount of 10 to 50% by weight based on the weight of the cloth which is necessary and sufficient to fix the cloth structure. This is applied to form a resin-processed fiber sheet. 50% by weight of resin
Granting more than will lead to an increase in the weight of the airship,
Not preferred. If the amount of the resin is small, the fixing of the cloth structure may not be sufficient.

An elastic polymer film is laminated on the resin-processed fiber sheet in order to improve durability such as weather resistance and abrasion resistance and waterproofness. The thickness of the elastic polymer film is usually from 10 to 200 μm. Examples of the elastic polymer used include a polyurethane polymer, a fluorine polymer, and a polymer obtained by polymerizing a predetermined composition of a polymer diol having a number average molecular weight of 500 to 3,000, a polyisocyanate, a polyol having a molecular weight of 400 or less and / or a polyamine. Examples include halogenated hydrocarbon-based polymers, polyester-based elastic polymers, polyamide-based elastic polymers, and ethylene / vinyl alcohol-based polymers. Further, various additives selected from colorants, flame retardants, light stabilizers, antioxidants and the like may be added to the elastic polymer as needed.

The laminating method of the resin-processed fiber sheet and the elastic polymer film is a method in which a solution or dispersion of the elastic polymer is directly applied to the resin-processed fiber sheet to form the elastic polymer film on the resin-processed fiber sheet. Adhering an elastic polymer film made by casting an elastic polymer solution or dispersion into a single layer or multilayer by forming a film by a casting method or forming an elastic polymer into a single layer or a multilayer by a melt film forming method It is performed by a method of bonding with an agent or heat. At least one layer of an elastic polymer film is laminated on one or both sides of the resin-processed fiber sheet to form an envelope film. The strength of this membrane depends on the size of the airship, but assuming that the envelope membrane is spherical, the strength between the burst pressure P (mmAq) of the membrane and the tensile strength S (Kg / 3cm) of the membrane is as follows. Satisfies Equation 1 below.

[0010]

(Equation 1)

The tensile strength calculated by Equation 1 is, for example, 13 kg / cm or more for an airship with a diameter of 20 m, 35 kg / cm or more for an airship with a diameter of 50 m, and 60 kg / 3 cm or more for an airship with a diameter of 80 m. It is preferable that the film satisfy the above conditions. The film obtained in this manner is a lightweight envelope film that is easily heat-fused, has high burst strength, and is lightweight.

[0012] The inner film of the present invention comprises an ethylene / vinyl alcohol copolymer film having gas barrier properties or, if necessary, an elastic polymer on at least one surface of a laminated film obtained by laminating another thermoplastic polymer film on the film. Laminate the film. A laminated film of an ethylene / vinyl alcohol copolymer film and another thermoplastic polymer film can be produced, for example, by a method in which each polymer is melted and extruded simultaneously from a composite die to form a film. The ethylene / vinyl alcohol copolymer film is preferably used by stretching to improve the strength. More preferably, it is a biaxially stretched film. The thickness of the film is usually preferably 7 to 50 μm from the viewpoint of gas barrier properties, handleability, strength and the like. Further, the thickness of the elastic polymer film to be used is preferably from 10 to 50 μm from the viewpoints of abrasion resistance, morphological stability and strength of the film. If the film is too thick, the weight increases, which is not preferable.

The ethylene / vinyl alcohol copolymer (hereinafter abbreviated as "EVA") is obtained by saponifying a polymer obtained by copolymerizing ethylene and vinyl acetate, and having a saponification degree of 98.
In this case, vinyl alcohol of at least mol% is used. The ethylene content in the copolymer is preferably from 5 to 50 mol%,
Outside this range, the barrier properties against helium gas are reduced, and the adhesion to polyurethane polymers and the like is deteriorated. The elastic polymer has, for example, a number average molecular weight of 5
A polymer diol having a molecular weight of 400 to 3000, a polyisocyanate, a bifunctional tetrafunctional polyol having a molecular weight of 400 or less, or /
And a polyurethane-based polymer, a fluorine-based elastic polymer, a polyester-based elastic polymer, a polyamide-based elastic polymer and the like obtained by polymerizing a polyamine as a predetermined composition. Particularly, a polyurethane polymer is preferable because of its excellent low-temperature characteristics. It is preferable that the weight of the inner membrane be reduced as a laminate as thin as possible within a range in which the loss of gas permeability is small and wear resistance is obtained.

Next, the assembling of the airship of the present invention will be described. The sheet to be the envelope film is cut into a boat shape, and the cut pieces are joined to each other by a sewing method using a sewing machine, a heat fusion method such as a high frequency method or an ultrasonic method, or an adhesive method using an adhesive to prepare a hull. When the hull is joined by a sewing method, it is preferable to protect the sewing thread from ultraviolet rays by bonding a fluoropolymer film to the sewn portion or forming a fluoropolymer film on the sewn portion.

A gas bag made of an intimal body in a hull is obtained by cutting the intimal body into a hull form, and cutting the cut pieces by an adhesive, a heat fusion method such as a high frequency method or an ultrasonic method, or an adhesive method using an adhesive. To form a highly airtight gas bag. The envelope membrane and the inner membrane are fixed at least partially at the junction of the envelope membrane, thereby fixing the envelope membrane and the inner membrane and forming a catenary curtain from the junction. By stretching, the catenary curtain can be stretched using the strength of the envelope membrane.

Next, the film for baronet is used for protecting an unstretched EVA film having a gas barrier property or a multilayer film where another thermoplastic polymer film is laminated on the unstretched EVA film if necessary. It is a film with excellent wear resistance and low temperature expansion and contraction properties, which is formed by laminating an elastic polymer film on the film. The reason why the unstretched EVA film is used is that it is excellent in gas barrier properties, bending fatigue resistance, stretchability, and the like. A stretched film having a percentage remaining of 40% or more is preferred. The thickness of the elastic polymer film to be laminated is preferably 10 to 50 μm in terms of abrasion resistance, morphological stability, strength, low-temperature stretchability and the like. As the elastic polymer, a polymer used for the inner membrane can be used, but since it has excellent properties at low temperatures, a polymer diol having a number average molecular weight of 500 to 3,000, a polyisocyanate, and a polymer having a molecular weight of 400 or less having a molecular weight of 400 or less. A polyurethane polymer obtained by polymerizing a functional polyol and / or a polyamine as a predetermined composition is preferable. Film made of the polyurethane polymer, -20 measured initial elastic modulus at ℃ is 45 Kg / mm ² or less, preferably from the viewpoint 25 Kg / mm ² following are less temperature dependent elasticity. In particular, it is preferable that the initial elastic modulus is small for those used for high-rise flight. It is preferable that the film for baronet is made as thin and light as possible as long as loss of gas permeability is small and wear resistance is obtained.

In the airship of the present invention, for example, a boom or a shaft is provided on a central axis of a hull in a major diameter direction, and at least a part of a catenary curtain attached to the hull has the boom or the shaft fixed to the center. Furthermore,
The catenary curtain is combined with the envelope membrane at the side or lower part of the hull as required, and is used for mounting a gondola or external accessories. The catenary curtain was selected from wholly aromatic polyester fibers, meta- and para-aramid fibers, polyvinyl alcohol-based fibers, polyester fibers, polyamide fibers, acrylic fibers, high-strength polyethylene fibers, etc., to reduce the weight of the airship. A rope made of high-strength fiber, preferably a filament yarn having a cut strength of 15 g / denier or more, more preferably 17 g / denier or more, and a cut elongation of 15% or less is preferable.

The airship according to the present invention can be a soft airship with good flight performance by attaching a cockpit and the like to the front and a propulsion mechanism to the rear. However, as in the conventional case, the propulsion mechanism is provided below the airship. You may attach a gondola provided. Further, a solar cell may be mounted on the upper part of the hull to reduce the photo-deterioration of the envelope film body, and furthermore, the power generated by the solar cell may be used as the propulsion energy of the airship.

Hereinafter, a flexible airship according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic side view illustrating an airship according to the present invention, in which one end of a catenary curtain 3 is fixed to an upper part of a hull 2 having a double membrane structure of a laminated membrane, and the other end of a part of the catenary curtain 3 is shown. Is attached to the center axis boom or shaft 4 to fix the boom or shaft, and a baronette 6 for controlling the attitude of the hull is built in the gas chamber 5 of the hull,
The airship 1 has a cockpit 7 at the front of the hull and a propulsion mechanism 8 at the rear.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the airship XX ′ of FIG. 1, wherein the hull 2 is composed of an envelope membrane 9 and an inner membrane 10.
A double membrane structure, which is at least partially joined to the inner membrane at the envelope membrane joint 11, and one end of a catenary curtain is fixed to the joint at the upper part of the hull. At least a part of the catenary curtain 3 is stretched and fixed to the boom or shaft 4.

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the envelope film body. The envelope film body 9 is formed on both surfaces of a resin-processed fiber sheet F by a flexible adhesive such as a polyurethane adhesive or an acrylic adhesive. An elastic polymer film A-1, such as a polyurethane polymer, is formed through the layers B-1 and B-2.
It is a laminated film body obtained by laminating A-2. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the envelope membrane of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the envelope film. The envelope film 9 is formed on one surface of a resin-processed fiber sheet F via a flexible adhesive layer C containing a coloring agent. An EVA stretched film D is laminated, and an elastic polymer film A-1 such as a highly light-resistant polyurethane polymer is laminated via a flexible adhesive layer B-1 to form a surface side, and to another surface. An elastic polymer film A-2 such as a polyurethane polymer is laminated via a flexible adhesive layer B-2 such as a polyurethane adhesive or an acrylic adhesive to form a laminated film body on the back side. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the envelope membrane of FIG.

[0023]

According to the present invention, a film obtained by laminating an elastic polymer film on a thin fiber sheet obtained by resin-processing a high-strength fiber cloth is used as an envelope film, and the elastic polymer film is formed on an EVA stretched film. By forming the hull as a gas bag using the inner membrane body obtained by lamination and using a rope made of high-strength fiber as a catenary curtain, a lightweight and high-strength hull can be formed.

[0024]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to examples. In the examples, parts and% relate to weight unless otherwise specified.

Example 1 Warp yarns and weft yarns were prepared by using a 200dr-40fil multifilament yarn of a wholly aromatic polyester fiber (trade name "Vectran" Kuraray Co., Ltd.) having a cutting strength of 27 g / dr and an elongation of 3.8%. A plain woven fabric having an average weight of 60 g / m ² is produced by weaving at a density of 34 yarns / inch, and then the plain woven fabric is treated with an acrylic resin liquid containing a curing agent, dried, and then dried.
Heat treatment was performed at 0 ° C. for 2 minutes to obtain a resin-processed fiber sheet. Next, a polyurethane obtained by polymerizing a composition comprising a polyhexamethylene carbonate diol having a number average molecular weight of 2,000, a diisocyanate compound mainly composed of isophorone diisocyanate and a chain extender mainly composed of isophorone diamine, a light stabilizer and a coloring agent. The polyurethane composition liquid prepared by adding the agent was formed into a film on release paper to obtain a polyurethane film having an average thickness of 20 μm. The polyurethane film was bonded to both surfaces of the resin-processed fiber sheet obtained above using a polyurethane adhesive colored with carbon black to obtain an envelope film having an average weight of 160 g / m ² . The physical properties of this film measured according to the JIS L-1096 method are as follows: Tensile breaking strength 170 kg / 3c
m, elongation at break was 3.3%.

The inner film was made of an EVA film prepared by a melt extrusion method (ethylene content: 44 mol%, saponification degree of vinyl acetate component: 99.5 mol%) and biaxially stretched to an average thickness of 10 μm. As an elastic polymer film, a composition comprising a polyhexamethylene carbonate diol having a number average molecular weight of 2,000, a diisocyanate compound mainly composed of isophorone diisocyanate, and a chain extender mainly composed of isophorone diamine was obtained. Using a film of polyurethane having an average thickness of 13 μm (initial modulus of elasticity at −20 ° C .: 8.5 kg / mm ² ) formed on a release paper, the elasticity of the polyurethane film was measured by using a polyurethane adhesive on both sides of the EVA film. The combined film was adhered to obtain a laminate having an average weight of 55 g / m ² . The helium gas permeation amount of this membrane is about 20 cc / m ² · 24 hr · atm · 20
° C.

The baronet film was formed on both sides of an unstretched EVA film having an average thickness of 13 μm (ethylene content: 44% by mole, saponification degree of vinyl acetate component: 99.5% by mole) prepared by melt extrusion. Polyurethane obtained by polymerizing a composition comprising a chain extender mainly composed of polyoxytetramethylene glycol having a molecular weight of 2100, dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate and ethylene glycol, and having an average thickness of 15 μm (a film having an average elastic modulus of −3 at -20 ° C. 7 kg / mm ² ) was bonded with a polyurethane adhesive. The average weight of this membrane was 65 g / m ² . The helium gas permeation amount of this membrane is about 23 cc / m ² · 24 hr ·
atm.20 ° C., excellent in low-temperature characteristics and rich in elasticity.

First, the sheet used for the envelope membrane is cut into a boat shape, and the cut pieces are sewn with a sewing machine to form a hull.
For the seam, a fluoropolymer film was adhered to protect the sewing thread to form an envelope film. In addition, a gas bag made of an inner membrane body was produced by cutting the membrane body into a boat shape and sewing a cut piece with a high-frequency sewing machine. Next, a double membrane structure was formed with the envelope membrane on the outside and the gas bag on the inside, and the seam of the inner membrane was partially joined to the seam of the envelope membrane. Next, a 5 mm-thick rope made of a multifilament yarn of 1000 dr-200 fil of wholly aromatic polyester fiber (trade name "Vectran" Kuraray Co., Ltd.) having a cutting strength of 27 g / dr and an elongation of 3.8% was used. One end was fixed to the junction between the envelope membrane and the inner membrane at the upper part of the hull as a catenary curtain, and the other end was fixed to a shaft and accessories provided at the center. And the baronette in the hull, the cockpit in the front,
An airship having the structure illustrated in FIG. 1 was manufactured by providing a propulsion mechanism at the rear.

This airship has an envelope and a gas bag made by applying a vinyl chloride resin or a vinylidene chloride resin to a conventional polyester fiber base cloth.
The weight is reduced by about half compared to the airship of the same volume,
Manufacturing costs have also been reduced to about 2/3.

Example 2 A grid composed of 100 dr-20 fil multifilament yarn of a wholly aromatic polyester fiber having a cutting strength of 27 g / dr and an elongation of 3.8% (trade name of "Vectran" Kuraray Co., Ltd.) A triaxial fabric having a thickness of 5 mm and a weight of 5 g / m ² was treated with a curing agent-containing acrylic resin solution to prepare a resin-processed fiber sheet having an average resin weight of 4 g / m ² .

Next, on one side of the resin-processed fiber sheet,
A polyurethane adhesive colored with carbon black.
A stretched EVA film having an average thickness of 12 μm (ethylene content: 44 mol%, saponification degree of vinyl acetate component: 99.5 mol%) was adhered.

Further, on the EVA film side of this sheet, polyhexamethylene carbonate diol having a number average molecular weight of 2,000, dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate,
It was prepared by adding a light stabilizer and a white colorant to a polyurethane (initial elastic modulus at -20 ° C: 21.5 kg / mm ² ) obtained by polymerizing a composition comprising a chain extender mainly composed of isophoronediamine. A polyurethane film having an average thickness of 20 μm obtained by forming a film of the polyurethane composition liquid was adhered with a polyurethane-based adhesive to form a surface side. on the other hand,
On the other side of the resin-processed fiber sheet, a polyurethane composition liquid prepared by adding a light stabilizer to the above polyurethane,
A polyurethane film having an average thickness of 15 μm obtained by forming a film is bonded with a polyurethane adhesive to form an inner surface,
An envelope membrane was made. This film has an average weight of 95 g
/ M ² . The physical properties of the film were a unidirectional tensile breaking strength of 15.5 kg / 3 cm and a breaking elongation of 3.1%.

The inner membrane is made of a biaxially stretched E having an average thickness of 10 μm.
On both sides of a VA film (ethylene content: 44 mol%, degree of saponification of vinyl acetate component: 99.5 mol%), polycaprolactone diol having a number average molecular weight of 2,000, dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate / xylylene diisocyanate and 1,4-butanediol were added. Average thickness of polyurethane film obtained by polymerizing main chain extender 1
5μm of the (initial elastic modulus 18.5 kg / mm ² at -20 ° C.) elastic polymer film was prepared by bonding a polyurethane-based adhesive. This inner membrane had an average weight of 58 g / m ² . The helium gas permeation amount of this inner membrane is about 19 cc / m ² ·
The temperature was 24 hr · atm · 20 ° C.

Next, the envelope membrane and the inner membrane are
Processing was carried out in the same manner as in Example 1 to produce a hull having a double membrane structure, and further an airship was produced in the same manner as in Example 1. This airship was lightweight and highly burstable.

[0035]

The airship of the present invention has a high bursting strength,
Light weight, large lift, and low production cost.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a schematic cross-sectional view of the side of an airship of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the airship XX ′ of FIG. 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of one embodiment of an envelope membrane constituting the hull of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the envelope membrane of FIG. 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the envelope membrane constituting the hull of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the envelope membrane of FIG. 5 of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 airship, 2 hull, 3 catenary curtain, 4 central shaft, 5 gas chamber, 6 baronette, 7 cockpit, 8 propulsion mechanism, 9 envelope membrane, 10 inner membrane, 11 joint, A-1 surface resin layer A-2 back resin layer, B-1 adhesive layer, B-2 adhesive layer, C adhesive layer, D high gas barrier resin layer, F resin processed fiber sheet.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] An airship in which a catenary curtain is stretched inside a double membrane structure hull having an envelope membrane body and an inner membrane body joined with a plurality of sheets. The film is a film obtained by laminating an elastic polymer film on at least a fiber sheet obtained by resin-treating a cloth, and the inner film is formed by laminating at least an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer film and an elastic polymer film. A membrane,
The envelope membrane and the inner membrane are joined at least partially at the joint of the envelope membrane, and a catenary curtain is stretched from the junction to the inside of the hull. Airship.