US 12,312,062 B2
Tactical hybrid stratospheric airship
Giuseppe Persechino, Capua (IT); Vincenzo Rosario Baraniello, Capua (IT); and Roberto Borsa, Capua (IT)
Assigned to C.I.R.A. (Centro Italiano Ricerche Aerospaziali)—S.C.P.A., Capua (IT)
Appl. No. 18/011,987
Filed by C.I.R.A. (CENTRO ITALIANO RICERCHE AEROSPAZIALI)—S.C.P.A., Capua (IT)
PCT Filed Jun. 16, 2021, PCT No. PCT/IB2021/055320
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Dec. 21, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/003468, PCT Pub. Date Jan. 6, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 102020000015880 (IT), filed on Jul. 1, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0234693 A1, Jul. 27, 2023
Int. Cl. B64B 1/20 (2006.01); B64B 1/08 (2006.01); B64B 1/32 (2006.01)
CPC B64B 1/20 (2013.01) [B64B 1/08 (2013.01); B64B 1/32 (2013.01); B64B 2201/00 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A hybrid stratospheric airship configured for the combined and optimized use of aerostatic and aerodynamic force, the hybrid stratospheric airship comprising:
an inflatable central body;
a first and a second inflatable wing which each extend from the central body protruding laterally from two opposite sides of said central body, each of said wings having a portion which is proximal to the central body, an end portion which is distal from said central body, a leading edge, and an trailing edge;
an outer shell having a central shell portion associated with said central body, and a first and a second side shell portion associated with said first and second wing, respectively;
at least one main spar extending transversely to said central body, wherein the at least one main spar is an inflatable spar, which structurally supports said first and second wings and crosses said central body, said at least one main spar being a rectilinear spar that is interposed between the leading edge and the trailing edge of said first and second wings, and that is connected to said distal end portions of said first and second wings,
wherein said first and second wings each comprise at least one planar wing rib made of fabric which is crossed by said at least one main spar, wherein the first and second side shell portions each comprise an upper surface and an opposite lower surface, wherein said at least one wing rib joins said upper and lower surfaces of each of said side shell portions so as to allow a preset aerodynamic profile of said wings to be obtained, once pressurized,
wherein the central body comprises at least one central body rib which is crossed by said at least one main spar, said at least one central body rib being planar in shape and being made of fabric, wherein the central shell portion comprises an upper surface and an opposite lower surface, wherein said at least one central body rib joins said upper and lower surfaces of the central shell portion so as to allow a preset aerodynamic profile of said central body to be obtained, once pressurized,
wherein said at least one main spar is connected with rib interfaces to said at least one central body rib and said at least one wing rib of said first and second wings, wherein said at least one main spar is further connected to said central shell portion by central body interfaces, wherein said rib interfaces allow the passage of gas, and wherein said central body interfaces are such as to allow a structural connection and a pressurized sealing connection between said central shell portion and said at least one main spar.