阅读说明：本技术 具有局部气囊的平流层提升系统 (Stratospheric lift system with partial air pockets ) 是由 E·杜蓬塔维斯 L·格朗泽 于 2021-04-08 设计创作，主要内容包括：公开了具有局部气囊的平流层提升系统。本发明涉及一种可变提升装置(1),其特征在于,该可变提升装置(1)包括：容纳空气的加压密闭壳体(2)；设置在所述加压密闭壳体(2)内部的第一密闭气囊(3),所述第一密闭气囊(3)容纳密度低于空气密度的加压气体,所述第一密闭气囊(3)包括用于对所述第一密闭气囊(3)进行穿孔的穿孔装置。(A stratospheric lift system having a partial bladder is disclosed. The invention relates to a variable lifting device (1), characterized in that the variable lifting device (1) comprises: a pressurized airtight casing (2) containing air; a first containment bladder (3) disposed within the pressurized containment vessel (2), the first containment bladder (3) containing a pressurized gas having a density less than that of air, the first containment bladder (3) including a perforation device for perforating the first containment bladder (3).)

1. A variable lifting device (1), characterized in that the variable lifting device (1) comprises:

-a pressurized hermetic shell (2), said pressurized hermetic shell (2) containing air;

-a first airtight bladder (3), said first airtight bladder (3) being arranged inside said pressurized airtight housing (2), said first airtight bladder (3) containing a pressurized gas having a density lower than air density, said first airtight bladder (3) comprising perforating means (34) for perforating said first airtight bladder (3), said first airtight bladder (3) being configured to release said pressurized gas having a density lower than air density into said pressurized airtight housing (2).

2. The variable lifting device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the variable lifting device (1) comprises a second airtight bladder (4), the second airtight bladder (4) being arranged inside the pressurized airtight housing (2) and being fluidly connected to the first airtight bladder (3).

3. Variable lift device (1) according to claim 2, wherein the pressure tight housing (2) comprises a top surface (22), the second pressure tight bladder (4) being arranged against the top surface (22) of the pressure tight housing (2).

4. A variable lifting device (1) according to any of claims 1-3, wherein the pressure tight housing (2) comprises a bow (5), the first pressure tight bladder (3) being arranged against an inner face (52) of the bow (5) of the pressure tight housing (2).

5. Variable lift device (1) according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the pressure containment casing (2) comprises a stern (6), at least one exhaust valve (62) being arranged against the stern (6) of the pressure containment casing (2).

6. The variable lifting device (1) according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first airtight bladder (3) is made of a plastic material.

7. Variable lift device (1) according to claim 4, wherein the pressurized containment casing (2) comprises a retraction device (26) for the first containment bladder (3), the retraction device (26) for the first containment bladder (3) comprising a winder (262) in direct contact with the inner face (52) of the bow (5) of the pressurized containment casing (2), the retraction device (26) for the first containment bladder (3) comprising a wired connection (264), a first end (e1) of the wired connection (264) being in contact with the winder (262) and a second end (e2) of the wired connection (264) being in contact with the first containment bladder (3).

8. Variable lift device (1) according to any of the claims 1 to 7, wherein the variable lift device (1) extends along a first longitudinal axis (A1), the variable lift device (1) comprising an additional tilting device (7) arranged against the variable lift device (1).

9. Variable lift device (1) according to claim 8, wherein the additional tilt device (7) has a lateral mobility along the longitudinal axis (A1) from an equilibrium position (P1) to a retracted position (P2).

10. Variable lift device (1) according to one of the claims 1 to 9, wherein the perforation means (34) for perforating the first airtight bladder (3) are actuated using a controller.

11. Variable lift device (1) according to one of the claims 1 to 10, wherein the first airtight bag (3) is replaceable.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of variable lift devices that use lighter-than-air gases for lifting into the atmosphere. More particularly, the present invention relates to lift and fly-up phase strategies for variable lift devices having one tank for storing pressurized air and another tank for storing pressurized gases lighter than air (e.g., helium, neon, methane, ethane, and hydrogen). Hereinafter, the gas having a density lower than that of air will be referred to as lift gas.

Background

A variable lift device may be interpreted as a stratospheric airship platform (referred to as an "airship") having a pressurized flexible outer shell (jack).

Traditionally, during the takeoff phase, the variable lift devices are filled mainly with air, the lift gas being separate from the air and occupying less than 20% of the volume. In the rise phase, air is expelled and the lift gas expands to fill all the volume of the variable lift device.

Currently, this ramp-up phase can be achieved in three ways:

-a deflated lift technique (deflated lift technique) which provides a variable lift device containing only lift gas at takeoff. The total weight of the variable lift device is greatly reduced due to the absence of an air reservoir. The method is particularly popular in the field of meteorology. However, the bleed air lift method is not suitable for variable lift devices that include equipment (e.g., an engine or solar generator) on the housing that requires a relatively rigid support of the stationary system.

The air bladder method (air bladder method) which provides a variable lifting device provided with a main casing intended to contain a lifting gas and a closed bladder, intended to contain air, contained inside the main casing. In the ascent phase, the closed cells evacuate the air they contain to the outside environment, and the lifting gas expands, thus occupying the volume released by the closed cells. However, the air bladder method is a relatively heavy method since the variable lift device must include two tanks. In addition, this method also presents certain risks, for example the risk of air contaminating the lift gas in the case of leaks in the closed bladder, or even of disturbing the maneuverability (manoeuvrability) in the case of the presence of an empty closed bladder not fixed to the main casing.

The lift gas balloon method (lift gas balloon method) which provides a variable lifting device provided with a main housing intended to contain air and a closed balloon contained inside the main housing intended to contain a lifting gas. However, problems with the layout of the variable lifting device have arisen and some risks may be pointed out, such as the risk of leaks associated with possible damage to the closed air bag. Although this method is popular in the aviation field, it is still a relatively heavy method, as is the air bag method.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention aims to alleviate all or some of the above problems by proposing a variable lifting device comprising a main casing intended to contain air and one or two closed airbags contained in the main casing intended to contain a lifting gas. In case two closed cells are used, they are fluidly connected to each other in order to allow exchange of lift gas.

To this end, the subject of the invention is a variable lifting device, characterized in that it comprises:

-a pressurized containment vessel containing air;

-a first airtight bladder arranged inside the pressurized airtight housing, the first airtight bladder containing a pressurized gas having a density lower than that of air, the first airtight bladder comprising perforating means for perforating the first airtight bladder.

According to one aspect of the invention, the variable lift device includes a second containment bladder disposed within the pressurized containment vessel and fluidly connected to the first containment bladder.

According to one aspect of the invention, the pressurized containment vessel includes a bow and the first containment bladder is disposed against an inner face of the bow of the pressurized containment vessel.

According to an aspect of the invention, the pressurized containment housing includes a top surface and the second containment bladder is disposed against the top surface of the pressurized containment housing.

According to an aspect of the invention, the containment vessel comprises a stern, and the at least one exhaust valve is arranged against the stern of the pressurized containment vessel.

According to one aspect of the invention, the first airtight bladder is made of a plastic material.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the pressurized hermetic case includes a retracting means for the first hermetic bladder, and the retracting means for the first hermetic bladder includes a winder directly contacting an inner face of the bow of the pressurized hermetic case, the retracting means for the first hermetic bladder includes a wired connection, a first end e1 of the wired connection is in contact with the winder, and a second end e2 is in contact with the first hermetic bladder.

According to one aspect of the invention, the variable lifting device extends along a first longitudinal axis a1 and includes an additional tilting device disposed against the variable lifting device.

According to one aspect of the invention, the additional tilting means has a lateral mobility along the longitudinal axis a1 from the equilibrium position P1 to the retracted position P2.

According to one aspect of the invention, the puncturing device for puncturing the first obturator balloon is actuated using a controller.

According to one aspect of the invention, the first inflatable bladder is replaceable.

Drawings

The invention will be better understood and other advantages will appear from a reading of the detailed description of an embodiment given by way of example, illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1 shows a schematic view of a variable lift device according to the present invention;

figure 2 shows a schematic view of a variable lift device according to the invention at the beginning of the ascent phase;

FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of a variable lift apparatus according to the present invention in an advanced lift phase;

figure 4 shows a schematic view of a variable lift device according to a variant of the invention;

figure 5 shows a schematic view of a retracting device for the first enclosing bladder inside the variable lift device according to the present invention.

For purposes of clarity, the same elements in different drawings will have the same reference numbers.

Detailed Description

In this specification, the term "lift gas" means any gas having a density lower than that of air. By way of example, it may be helium, neon, methane, ethane or hydrogen.

In this specification, the term "bow (bow)" may be interpreted as the nose or front of the variable lift device. In contrast, the term "stern" denotes the tail or rear of the variable lift device.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a variable lifting device 1 according to the invention. In the aeronautical field, the weight, which is directly linked to the overall mass of the variable lift device, is one of the forces that the pilot must resist. This is especially true for the rise phase of the variable lift device.

The variable lifting device 1 according to the invention consists of a closed housing 2. The closed housing 2 is completely filled with air. Further, the hermetic case 2 includes a first hermetic bladder 3 and a second hermetic bladder 4 disposed inside the hermetic case 2 so as to contain the pressurized lift gas. The first airtight bag 3 is disposed against the inner face 52 of the bow 5 of the airtight housing 2. In practice, the variable lifting device 1 comprises a bow 5 and a stern 6, the bow 5 being defined as the front portion in the direction of flow of the air flow (i.e. parallel to the longitudinal axis a1 of the variable lifting device), the stern 6 being defined as the portion opposite to the pulling direction, or in other words, the rear portion in the direction of flow of the air flow considered parallel to the longitudinal axis a 1. Therefore, the first airtight bag 3 abuts against the inner face 52 of the bow 5 and is provided inside the airtight housing 2. The second airtight bladder 4 is disposed against the top surface 22 of the airtight housing 2.

The second airtight bag 4 provided inside the airtight housing 2 is fluidly connected to the first airtight bag 3. In fact, the joint 32 ensures a fluid connection between the first airtight bladder 3 and the second airtight bladder 4. In this way, the lift gas contained in the second airtight bag 4 can flow to the first airtight bag 3 through the joint portion 32.

The first and second enclosing bladders 3, 4 each have a volume of compressed lifting gas that will allow a slightly larger volume than the volume of the enclosing housing 2 to be filled under stratospheric pressure and temperature conditions.

Furthermore, at the stern 6 at least one exhaust valve 62 is provided. This exhaust valve 62 allows the air contained inside the hermetic shell 2 to be exhausted to the environment outside the variable lift device 1.

Finally, in an advantageous embodiment, the variable lifting device 1 may comprise an additional tilting device 7 arranged against the variable lifting device 1. More specifically, the additional tilting means 7 are placed against the bottom surface 24 of the hermetic shell 2, outside the variable lifting device 1. The additional tilting means 7 comprise a displacement rail 72 fixed against the bottom surface 24 of the hermetic housing 2 and extending along a longitudinal axis a1, and a tilting mass 74 displaceable along the displacement rail 72. Thus, the tilting mass 74 has freedom of movement along the longitudinal axis a 1. Thus, with this freedom of movement along the longitudinal axis a1, the additional tilting means 7 allow control of the trim angle (trim angle) of the variable lifting device 1 (i.e. the angle between the horizontal plane and the longitudinal axis a1 of the variable lifting device 1).

Thus, as shown in fig. 1, the additional tilting device 7 is in a rest position P1 when it is not necessary to influence the pitch angle of the variable lifting device 1. In this equilibrium position P1, the overall center of mass of the variable lifting device 1 is centered and the variable lifting device 1 is held in a horizontal plane.

During the phase before the take-off of the variable lift device 1, only the second airtight airbag 4 is filled with a compressed volume of lift gas. Thus, the first airtight bag 3 is partially empty. In fact, this allows the variable lifting device 1 to be stabilized horizontally on the ground.

When take-off occurs and lifting is initiated, the variable lift device 1 is placed vertically as shown in fig. 2. The download (download) of the variable lift device 1 is created by tilting the centre of mass of the variable lift device 1 towards a more retracted position with respect to the centre of volume of the variable lift device 1, and thus by switching from a so-called horizontal position as shown in fig. 1 to a vertical position as shown in fig. 2. Then, in the vertical position, the bow 5 points in the rising direction, which is the rising direction of the variable lifting device 1, and the stern 6 points in the opposite direction, i.e. towards the ground. Further, the longitudinal axis a1 also makes a clockwise rotation so as to be parallel to and in the same direction as the direction of ascent.

Furthermore, in order to facilitate the process of placing the variable lifting device 1 in the vertical position, the additional tilting device 7 is then switched from the equilibrium position to the retracted position. In fact, as mentioned above, the additional tilting means 7 have a lateral mobility along the longitudinal axis a 1. Thus, the tilting mass 74 slides on the displacement track 72 to allow the additional tilting device 7 to switch from the equilibrium position P1 to the retracted position P2 shown in fig. 2. The retracted position P2 affects the overall center of mass of the variable lift device 1 by changing its position. In fact, the centre of mass moves backwards along the transverse axis a1 towards the stern 6, which promotes the vertical positioning of the variable lifting device 1. In practice, the lift gas contained in the second airtight bag 4 flows through the joint portion 32 so as to be positioned in the first airtight bag 3. Starting from the takeoff of the variable lift device 1, the second closed airbag 4 contains less and less lift gas, which is advantageous for the first closed airbag 3. Furthermore, once contained in the first closed airbag 3, the lift gas expands due to the rise in height of the lift device 1, and increases the volume of the first closed airbag 3. The first airtight bladder 3 is made of a deformable material (for example, plastic or other elastomer type). More specifically, the wall of the first closed cell 3 is made of plastic material.

The increase in volume of the first airtight bag 3 means a decrease in volume of the air contained inside the airtight housing 2. Now, in order to maintain a controlled overpressure level inside the variable lift device 1, the exhaust valve 62 exhausts air. Furthermore, such a discharge of the air contained in the hermetic case 2 causes a weight reduction of the air in the hermetic case 2, which allows the variable lifting device 1 to be lifted via buoyancy.

This is then reflected by the gradual rise phase of the variable lifting device 1.

Therefore, as the variable lift device 1 ascends, the lift gas contained in the first airtight bag 3 expands, which causes the volume of the first airtight bag 3 to increase. Now, in order to maintain a constant volume of the hermetic shell 2, the volume of air contained in the hermetic shell 2 must therefore be reduced. Therefore, the air release valve 62 continuously releases the air contained in the hermetic case 2 throughout the rising stage of the variable lift device 1.

In this way, the volume of air contained in the hermetic shell 2 is reduced, which is advantageous to the volume of the first hermetic bladder 3.

The reduction in the volume of the air contained in the hermetic case 2 continues in parallel with the increase in the volume of the first hermetic bladder 3 until the first hermetic bladder 3 opens, as shown in fig. 3. The dimensions of the first closed cell 3 are chosen such that its opening occurs after the most turbulent ascent phase. Thus, the opening of the first closed cell 3 may for example occur when rising halfway, or even when the external pressure has been divided by 3 with respect to the pressure on the ground, or even when the variable lifting device 1 has passed most turbulences. Advantageously, once the variable lifting device 1 is on the ground, the first airtight bag 3 is a replaceable bag, that is to say, when the first airtight bag 3 is open, it can be replaced by another airtight bag. This does not apply to the second enclosing chamber 4, which is a permanently enclosed chamber.

In practice, the first obturator bladder 3 comprises perforating means 34, which perforating means 34 are used to perforate the first obturator bladder 3, allowing the first obturator bladder 3 to open and release the lift gas into the obturator housing 2. Preferably, the perforating means 34 for perforating the first closed cell 3 may be an internal pressure generated by the inflation of the lift gas contained in the first closed cell 3. As the internal pressure generated by the inflation of the lift gas continues to increase, the elastic limit of the first closing airbag 3 is reached and the opening 36 of the first closing airbag 3 can be observed. The perforation means 34 for perforating the first airtight bladder 3 may be mechanical means actuated using a controller, for example, means comprising a needle or a sharp blade.

Then, the volume contained in the hermetic case 2 is no longer filled with only air, but is divided into three volumes. The first volume V1 represents the volume of air still contained in the hermetic shell 2. Since the density of the air is greater than that of the lift gas, this first volume V1 is located at the lowest point (at the stern 6) of the hermetic shell 2 along the longitudinal axis a 1. Advantageously, as the exhaust valve 62 is set against the stern 6 of the hermetic shell 2, it is possible to exhaust the first volume V1 of air as the variable lifting device 1 rises. Second volume V2 represents the volume of lift gas released from first airtight bag 3 through opening 34. In fact, although the first airtight bag 3 is open, the contained lift gas continues to inflate. Therefore, the second volume V2 increases as the variable lift device 1 rises, acting on the air of the first volume V1 that has to be discharged through the discharge valve 62. Since the density of the lift gas is lower than that of air, the second volume V2 is naturally located at the bow 5 where the first closed cell 3 initially contains the lift gas. Finally, a third volume V3 is inserted between the first volume V1 of air and the second volume V2 of lift gas. The third volume represents the mixture of lift gas released from the first closed cell 3 and air initially contained in the closed housing 2.

Throughout the ascent of variable lift device 1, second volume V2 of lift gas increases as lift gas expands, while first volume V1 decreases as exhaust valve 62 exhausts the air contained in first volume V1.

Furthermore, in another embodiment of the present invention, the hermetic case 2 includes a retracting means 26 for the first hermetic bladder 3 shown in fig. 5. The retraction device 26 allows the open first enclosing bladder 3 to abut against the inner face 52 of the bow 5 of the enclosing casing 2. In this way, the first airtight bag 3 is fixed against the inner face 52 of the bow 5 and does not displace in the airtight housing 2 (which could risk the manoeuvrability of the variable lifting device 1). Furthermore, the retraction of the first enclosing bladder 3 against the inner face 52 of the bow 5 allows all of the lift gas initially contained in the first enclosing bladder 3 to be released into the enclosing housing 2.

As shown in fig. 3, the vertical ascent continues until the first volume V1 and the third volume V3 are completely discharged, that is, until the hermetic shell 2 contains only the expanded lift gas. When the hermetic enclosure 2 contains only the second volume V2 of lift gas, the center of mass of the variable lift device 1 is re-centered, and then the variable lift device 1 switches from the vertical position shown in fig. 3 to the horizontal position shown in fig. 1.

To facilitate the counter clockwise rotation of the variable lift device 1, the additional tilt device 7 is switched from the retracted position P2 shown in fig. 3 to the equilibrium position P1 shown in fig. 1. In this way, the overall center of mass of the variable lift device 1 returns to its equilibrium position, and the variable lift device 1 switches back to the horizontal plane.

The variable lifting device 1 does not have to be switched from the vertical position shown in fig. 3 to the horizontal position shown in fig. 1 using an additional tilting device 7. In fact, the variable lifting device 1, which is only filled with lifting gas, will naturally resume an equilibrium position on the horizontal plane. However, the additional tilting means 7 may be regarded as a safety measure to ensure correct placement of the variable lifting device 1 on a horizontal surface.

Fig. 4 shows a schematic view of a variable lifting device 1 according to a variant of the invention. According to a variant of the invention, the variable lift device 1 comprises a pressurized hermetic shell 2 containing air and a first hermetic bladder 3 arranged inside the hermetic shell 2, the first hermetic bladder 3 containing a pressurized gas or lift gas having a density lower than that of air. As previously mentioned, the first airtight bladder 3 is obtained from an elastic material (for example, plastic or other elastomer type) and comprises perforating means 34 for perforating the first airtight bladder 3.

As described above, the variable lift apparatus 1 includes: an exhaust valve 62, the exhaust valve 62 being placed at the stern 6 so as to allow the air contained inside the hermetic case 2 to be exhausted into the environment outside the variable lift device 1; and an additional tilting means 7, which additional tilting means 7 is placed against the bottom surface 24 of the hermetic shell 2 outside the variable lifting device 1.

Unlike the invention shown in fig. 2, the closed envelope 3 is initially filled with lift gas during the phase preceding the takeoff of the variable lift device 1. Thus, when take-off takes place and the lift starts, lift gas is already contained in the first closed airbag 3 and the variable lift device 1 is placed in the vertical position more quickly.

However, during take-off of the variable lift device 1, the switching from the horizontal position to the vertical position must be controlled in order to avoid ground damage or even destruction of the tail unit 11 of the variable lift device 1.

When take-off occurs and lifting is initiated, the variable lift device 1 is placed vertically. Then, the lift gas expands and increases the volume of the first airtight bag 3.

As previously mentioned, the increase in volume of the first hermetic bladder 3 means a decrease in the volume of air contained inside the hermetic shell 2, which is reflected by the discharge of air to the external environment by the discharge valve 62.

Then, in the vertical position, the bow 5 points in the rising direction, which is the rising direction of the variable lifting device 1, and the stern 6 points in the opposite direction, i.e. towards the ground.

The volume reduction of the air contained in the airtight housing 2 continues in parallel with the volume increase of the first airtight bag 3 until the first airtight bag 3 opens. When the variable lifting device 1 reaches a height that is considered to be close to the final height of the variable lifting device 1, the opening of the first airtight bag 3 in the airtight housing 2 is completed.

Then, the volume contained in the hermetic case 2 is no longer filled with only air, but is divided into three volumes. Then, as previously described, the hermetic case 2 includes: a first volume V1 representing the volume of air still contained in the hermetic shell 2; a second volume V2 representing the volume of lift gas released from the first closed airbag 3; and a third volume V3 is interposed between the first volume V1 of air and the second volume V2 of lift gas, representing the mixture of lift gas released from first sealed bladder 3 and the air initially contained in sealed enclosure 2. Then, the second volume V2 increases as the variable lift device 1 rises, thus acting on the first volume V1 of air that must be expelled by the exhaust valve 62.

The containment casing 2 also comprises retraction means 26 for the first containment bladder 3. The retraction device 26 allows the open first enclosing bladder 3 to abut against the inner face 52 of the bow 5 of the enclosing casing 2. In this way, the first airtight bag 3 is fixed against the inner face 52 of the bow 5 and is not displaced in the airtight housing 2.

Fig. 5 shows a schematic view of a retracting means 26 according to the invention for the first enclosing bladder 3 inside the variable lift device 1. The retracting device 26 for the first airtight bag 3 comprises: a winder 262 directly contacting the inner surface 52 of the bow 5 of the sealed casing 2; a wired connection 264, a first end e1 of the wired connection 264 being in contact with the winder 262, and a stop 268 being positioned at the second end e 2. Channel interfaces 266 are placed and aligned along horizontal axis a1 against first obturator bladder 3 such that wired connections 264 pass through each channel interface 266. When first closed air bag 3 is open and lift gas escapes from the opening, winder 262 is activated and winds wired connection 264. The wired connection 264 is thus pulled toward the winder 262, just like the stop 268. The stop 268 is sized larger than the orifice of the channel interface 266. In other words, the channel interface 266 is configured to allow the wired connection 264 to slide through and block the stop 268. Then, the passage interface 266 that does not allow the passage of the stopper 268 is pulled one by one toward the winder 262 after the action of the stopper 268 itself being pulled by the winder 262. When the stop 268 comes into contact with the winder 262, the winder 262 stops pulling the wired connection 264 and the first airtight bag 3 retracts against the inner face 52 of the bow 5.