Abstract: The invention relates to the manufacturing of structural members which are extremely light but can be highly stressed and are designed as a framework, mainly in the field of aviation but also in other technical fields where the framework supports, as large-volume components, are to have a weight that is as light as possible. Sleeve connectors are provided which are designed so that the tubes to be connected to a framework node are covered in a form-locking manner by means of sleeve parts of a sleeve connector which can be glued adjacent to one another on the nodal point, the whole nodal point with all tubes entering at this point being enclosed by the parts of the sleeve connector.

Abstract: A landing and anchoring mechanism for an airship takes advantage of the ship's supporting frame that has a row of cross-ribs interconnected by lengthwise beams arranged between neighboring ribs. In order to make it possible to land on any landing field even without conventional and costly apparatus, and to anchor the airship against the effects of wind and weather, a bi-pod landing gear is combined with an anchoring device. The landing gear is articulately connected to the supporting frame on the one hand and to the airship gondola by respective landing gear lateral rocker arms on the other hand. The bi-pod landing gear is arranged in a crosswise plane in front of the aerodynamic center of wind pressure of the airship. At least a portion of the anchoring device is provided on the floor of the airship gondola in the area of the attachment of the landing gear lateral rocker arms to the gondola floor.

Abstract: An airship has a carrier frame with triangular cross-ribs arranged so that an apex faces upwardly and a base faces downwardly, whereby longitudinal beams at the corners of the triangles interconnect the cross-ribs. The carrier frame is enclosed by an envelope including at least three skin segments joined to each other along seams coinciding with the longitudinal frame beams. Each skin segment extends entirely from the bow to the stern and may include several strips. At least two steering air chambers are provided, one near the bow, the other near the stern for trimming purposes. The seams or at least one of the seams, is so constructed that it is readily openable and closable for providing access to the interior of the airship.

Abstract: A rigid airship has a carrier frame with trianguar cross-ribs interconnected by longitudinal beams, one connectd to each corner of the triangle. Thus, prism-type frame sections are formed which are stiffened by diagonal tensioning members (D). The prism of each frame section (A) has two lateral sides and a base side. Each of the three sides is stiffened with two diagonal tensioning members. Junctions between neighboring frame sections are formed at the triangle corners. Carrier gas cells, the skin of which forms at least part of the airship skin, are secured in the frame sections. The base of each triangle cross-rib forms the base of the frame. One or more air chambers are formed in the belly of the airship below the base of the frame.