The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 26, 2003
Filed:
May. 23, 2001
William Dean Perry, San Antonio, TX (US);
Thomas Howard Jaeckle, San Antonio, TX (US);
Allan Bernard Black, San Antonio, TX (US);
Lawrence Ernest Epley, San Antonio, TX (US);
Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, TX (US);
Abstract
A high-altitude airship has a non-rigid hull. On launch, the airship is partially inflated with a lifting gas. The partially inflated hull is less susceptible to buffeting and turbulence from lower atmosphere air currents during ascent. A ballast rotates the airship into a flight attitude (e.g., near horizontal) upon reaching a desired altitude. A low-powered propulsion system may be included to propel the airship at the desired altitude. Upon completion of its mission, the airship may be deflated and returned using aerodynamic deceleration such as a parachute, a parafoil and a ballute.