Captive Patents (Class 244/33)
  • Patent number: 4350898
    Abstract: A lighter-than-air (LTA) wind energy conversion system (WECS) wherein the LTA envelope carries a main rotor and electrical generator to take advantage of high wind speeds available at high altitudes. The LTA envelope is tethered to a ground based mooring system designed to provide self-orientation for the LTA envelope. In a preferred embodiment, heavy mechanical transmissions are eliminated by providing a radial disk diffuser coupled to a main rotor which, upon rotation, drives an induction turbine positioned within a substantially linear duct which is, in turn, preferably located along the longitudinal axis of the LTA envelope. The output of the induction turbine is coupled to an electrical generator whose output is, in turn, transmitted to the ground via the tethering system. In an alternate embodiment, the main rotor may itself be ducted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1980
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1982
    Inventor: William R. Benoit
  • Patent number: 4350897
    Abstract: A lighter-than-air (LTA) wind energy conversion system (WECS) wherein the LTA envelope carries a main rotor and electrical generator to take advantage of high wind speeds available at high altitudes. The LTA envelope is tethered to a ground based mooring system designed to provide self-orientation for the LTA envelope. In a preferred embodiment, heavy mechanical transmissions are eliminated by providing a hollow bladed main rotor which drives an induction turbine positioned within a substantially linear duct which is, in turn, preferably located along the longitudinal axis of the LTA envelope. The output of the induction turbine is coupled to an electrical generator whose output is, in turn, transmitted to the ground via the tethering system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1980
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1982
    Inventor: William R. Benoit
  • Patent number: 4313567
    Abstract: A retractable nozzle assembly for a rocket has an extendable nozzle section which is concentric with the main nozzle and is movable telescopically from a retracted position to an extended position. A drive assembly moves the nozzle section into the extended position in which it forms an extension of the main nozzle. Cam members, movable by the same drive assembly after the nozzle is moved to its extended position, wedge detent members radially into a detent groove, providing a positive lock between the two nozzle sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1979
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1982
    Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
    Inventor: Robert A. Feight
  • Patent number: 4309006
    Abstract: A generally toric lighter-than-air gas bag-type airfoil is tethered to the ground at a plurality of angularly widely distributed points about the periphery of the gas bag. A wind turbine is mounted at the entrance to the axially central vent. The tether lines are entrained about individually operable power winches, preferably controlled by a microprocessor which takes in wind direction and tether line tension data and operates the winches and inflation gas inlet and outlet valves to orient the wind turbine into the wind for maximum power output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1979
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1982
    Inventor: Lloyd I. Biscomb
  • Patent number: 4296704
    Abstract: This invention relates to an improved spinnaker which is lighter-than-air and designed to float ahead of the boat and to retain its shape when subject to wind variations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1979
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1981
    Inventor: John G. Bridge
  • Patent number: 4285481
    Abstract: A plurality of wind turbines are supported aloft on the same tethered airfoil which is provided with devices for orienting the wind turbines into the wind. Various ways and devices are described for converting the wind energy into electrical power and for connecting and providing the plural outputs to the same electrical power grid. The principles are applicable whether there are a small number of relatively large wind turbines, a large number of relatively small wind turbines or some of each.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1979
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1981
    Inventor: Lloyd I. Biscomb
  • Patent number: 4228973
    Abstract: An infantry projectile includes an elongated projectile body having a cylindrical or frusto-conical surface concentrically arranged about its longitudinal axis. The projectile body has a leading end and a trailing end each extending transversely of the longitudinal axis. The leading end is disposed at an oblique angle to the longitudinal axis for affording a trimming action on the projectile when it is in flight. A flow control projection is provided on the surface of the projectile body between its ends so that the aerodynamic center of the projectile is located below its center of gravity when the flow control projection is located on the lower surface of the projectile body and in a vertical plane extending through the longitudinal axis of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1975
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1980
    Assignee: Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm GmbH
    Inventor: Peter Klein
  • Patent number: 4178867
    Abstract: A rescue signal device of this invention can be used on a life boat and on other objects for rescue, here more concerned about the use on a life boat. The device consists of a signal balloon which can float in the air high above the boat or object when the balloon is inflated with hydrogen in an emergency. The balloon used on a life boat is made of foldable, semi-transparent, red color and air proof material in cone shape having one end flat like a cut football. A circular board serving as a sail is attached to the flat end of the balloon. The balloon is linked to the life boat by several cables tied to the periphery of the circular board. Wind force acting on the face of the circular board gives power to sail the boat for saving the refugee's physical strength. The circular board can change the angle of attack of the wind by operating the cables to co-operate with rudder for proper heading of the boat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1979
    Assignee: Yin-Lung Yang
    Inventor: Ji Y. Shyu
  • Patent number: 4166596
    Abstract: Power is mechanically transmitted from a tethered airship carrying wind turbines to electrical generators on the ground at the anchor point of the tether, by the use of endless power-transmission cables bridging between drive sheaves at the turbine wheels and driven sheaves at the generators. Tether adjustments, cable tensioning, and wind direction changes are provided for the ground apparatus. A tubular aircraft with recess in the tube wall, carrying bearings on which the rims of the turbine wheels ride, is also claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1978
    Date of Patent: September 4, 1979
    Inventors: William J. Mouton, Jr., David F. Thompson
  • Patent number: 4126850
    Abstract: Warning lights are releasably secured, by means of clamps, along the length of a cable employed as a tether for a balloon. The cable passes through a relatively stationary, conically shaped cam at the base of the cable. As the balloon is winched back to earth, a cam follower on each clamp is forced into engagement with the cam, causing the jaws of the clamp to open and the clamp and its indicator automatically to be released from the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1977
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1978
    Assignee: RCA Corporation
    Inventor: Julie K. Randolph
  • Patent number: 4125233
    Abstract: A non-rigid aerodynamic balloon having integral stabilizing tail fins is provided. The balloon is most useful in tethered applications, such as for advertising. The balloon is formed from a plurality of flexible skin-like gores which are joined together with a plurality of longitudinal seams running lengthwise of a main body of the balloon. Each gore is a continuous piece of flexible skin-like material which forms a portion of the body and a side wall of one of the stabilizing fins. The longitudinal seams join adjacent gores along outer edges of the stabilizing fins so that seams are not required to join the stabilizing fins to the main body of the balloon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1977
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1978
    Assignee: Raven Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Winker, Kenneth L. Tekrony
  • Patent number: 4112843
    Abstract: The invention disclosed relates to a Modular Practice Bomb which closely simulates the horizontal range of a wide variety of actual bombs, within acceptable limits, while maintaining flight stability. By suitable modification of a standard configuration practice bomb, its coefficient of drag may be varied in order to match the ballistic coefficient of the Modular Practice Bomb with that of a predetermined actual bomb. This is conveniently done by attaching an appropriate tail-mounted module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1977
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1978
    Assignee: Her Majesty the Queen in right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of National Defence
    Inventor: Maurice A. Laviolette
  • Patent number: 4102519
    Abstract: A variable lift inflatable airfoil for tethered balloons having a horizontal fin made up of two inflatable chambers. The primary or lower chamber is normally maintained at a greater pressure than the secondary or upper chamber. Proper inflation and deflation of the secondary chamber will stabilize the pitch attitude of the balloon at some desirable low, positive angle for any wind velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1977
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1978
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventor: Edward L. Crosby, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4094299
    Abstract: A system for harnessing solar energy utilizing an inflated balloon having a light transmitting portion and a lower portion thereof lined with a reflecting surface for concentrating the insident reflected solar radiation onto a solar boiler disposed within the balloon. The solar boiler includes a plurality of nested heating stages for progressively increasing the temperature and/or pressure of a working fluid. Each stage includes an outer light transmitting wall with the innermost stage having disposed therein a solar radiation absorption material. The nested stages in turn are enclosed by a light transmitting, low solar absorptive, thermal insulated jacket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1975
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1978
    Inventor: Percy Voelker
  • Patent number: 4092827
    Abstract: Apparatus for rain water conservation and sub-sea transport thereof, by means of funnels supported above the terrain and sea by balloon tethered to moored reservoirs with a duct fed penstock to a turbine driven generator for electrical power to drive submersible pumps that return the collected rain water to sea level from a well at the remote end of an aqueduct leading therefrom to the destination of use for said collected rain water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1977
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1978
    Inventor: Gerald J. Schneider
  • Patent number: 4084771
    Abstract: An aerostat comprising a closed envelope carrying a nacelle which accomodates a ventilator for driving in air through an appropriate device is disclosed. A burner is movably placed inside the envelope, together with an ignition device and a shield, the envelope further including a valve operable from the nacelle which is fitted with railings so that a cable and various other components can be attached to the aerostat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1976
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1978
    Inventor: Robert Armand Creuzet
  • Patent number: 4073516
    Abstract: A tethered wind-driven floating power plant which includes a support body carrying at least one rotor assembly, a current generator coupled to the rotor and alignment assembly for aligning the rotor to face into the wind, a ground anchor and at least one captivating stay connecting the floating power plant to the anchor. The support body is hollow and gas-filled to carry its own weight as well as the weight of the rotor assembly, current generator and alignment assembly. The support body is connected to the captivating stay through a joint connection having three degrees of freedom. The rotors are gimbal-mounted, at a variable relative position with respect to the support body but in fixed positions relative to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1975
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1978
    Inventor: Alberto Kling
  • Patent number: 4071124
    Abstract: A land vehicle such as an electric motor-operated power shovel working on the floor of an open pit mine is supplied with electrical power from a remote source by a flexible electric power cable. To prevent vehicles working within and moving along the floor and terraced sides of the mine pit from being obstructed by or traveling over and damaging the power cable, such cable is suspended between its ends from a lighter-than-air balloon tethered at an elevation above the shovel and terrain between the power source and the shovel. The balloon is tethered to a support cable anchored at one end near the power source and at the other end to the shovel. Connectors placed at intervals along the support cable interconnect the support cable and the power cable while enabling the power cable to slide in opposite directions along the support cable. The support cable is connected to the shovel in a manner enabling the shovel to rotate while working without twisting the cables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1976
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1978
    Inventor: Donald L. Price
  • Patent number: 4055316
    Abstract: Method and equipment to aerially transport loads between two sites. A winch is provided at each site and a load carrying balloon is coupled by cables to each winch. Auxiliary balloons are provided to maintain the cables at a height above objects in the line of travel of the balloon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1976
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1977
    Inventors: John Lester Chipper, Donald Bruce Owner
  • Patent number: 3993269
    Abstract: A tethered aeroform balloon having an inflated toroid tail structure secured to the balloon hull by means of a plurality of rope lines for supporting the drag forces and the weight and steering forces of the tail structure. The inflated tail structure has a substantially symmetrical air foil section with support diaphragms secured inside the tail structure. The tail structure is inflated by an electric motor powered fan supported on the tail structure. A pressure switch prevents over inflation of the tail structure. A check valve prevents the escape of air from the tail structure when the fan is not running.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1975
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1976
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventor: Edward Lewis Crosby, Jr.
  • Patent number: 3957228
    Abstract: A thermodynamic kite comprising a non-rigid inflatable body member, a partially rigid helium storage envelope, and a rigid housing. The rigid housing being attached to the underside of the body member contains equipment for maintaining the kite at a preselected altitude as well as safety devices. Attached to the surface of the body member are an interconnected series of inflatable tubes which provide controlled rigidity to the inflatable body member. A radome containing a radar antenna is attached to the body member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1975
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1976
    Inventor: Guy H. Kennedy, Jr.
  • Patent number: 3933326
    Abstract: An integrated all-weather observation/interpretation system in which a lighter-than-air vehicle ascends to a stationary position above the surface with a suspended gondola which carries passengers so that they can observe the surrounding area and experience a directly related interpretation program. The gondola includes a suitable observation window as well as a slide or motion-picture projection device, with audio and olfactory accompaniment, to provide a juxtaposed interpretation. The vehicle is raised, lowered and rotated through strategically placed electrically powered rotors and/or ground-based electric winches and elevation lines and/or a pantograph operating from a turntable inside the vehicle's ground nest. Screens on the ground are also provided for slide or motion-picture projection to simulate the view under weather conditions when the vehicle cannot be elevated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1975
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1976
    Inventor: Peter P. Schauffler