Abstract

An aerostat having an elongate hollow body having a length defining a local axis of the body, the hollow body being suitable for receiving sufficient lighter-than-air gas, such that the aerostat can become buoyant in air, the aerostat body comprising a sequence of a plurality of joined body portions, each body portion comprising an outer skin and a hollow internal space, wherein the joins are substantially perpendicular to the local axis of the body, the joined body portions comprising two end body portions, and a plurality of internal body portions, so that the joined body portions together form the elongate hollow body; and a method of manufacturing an aerostat according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising the steps of supporting a first body portion to form a first mounted hollow body portion, supporting a second body portion to form a second mounted hollow body portion, bringing the first and second mounted body portions to come into contact such that the outer skins of the first and second body portions come into alignment, followed by joining together the outer skins of the first and second body portions, followed by repeating the process with further body portions, thereby to produce the aerostat having an elongate hollow body.

IPC Classes  ?

• B64B 1/14 - Outer covering
• B64B 1/58 - Arrangements or construction of gas-bagsFilling arrangements
• B64B 1/06 - Rigid airshipsSemi-rigid airships
• B64B 1/08 - Framework construction
• B64B 1/10 - Tail unit construction
• B64B 1/50 - Captive balloons
• B64C 39/02 - Aircraft not otherwise provided for characterised by special use
• B64F 5/10 - Manufacturing or assembling aircraft, e.g. jigs therefor

Abstract

A vessel for containing hydrogen and/or helium, comprising an outer skin and a hollow internal space, the hollow internal space being suitable for receiving hydrogen and/or helium, the skin comprising a plurality of skin panels each comprising a layer of metal foil (201,202), sandwiched with a first layer (203) of unidirectional fibres embedded in a cured resin matrix and a second layer (204) of unidirectional fibres embedded in a cured resin matrix, wherein the second layer of unidirectional fibres are oriented at an angle to the first layer of unidirectional fibres.

IPC Classes  ?

• F17C 1/06 - Protecting sheatings built-up from wound-on bands or filamentary material, e.g. wires

Abstract

A tethered aerostat positioned at an elevated location in the atmosphere, the aerostat comprising sufficient lighter-than-air gas such that the aerostat is substantially buoyant in air, the tether comprising a first length of tether, connecting the aerostat to an anchor located at and resting on the surface of a first substantially ground level location, and wherein the anchor has a weight such that, in a first anchoring condition, the anchor remains in place on the surface of the first substantially ground level location, but also such that it can adopt a second relocating condition, wherein the anchor is also attached to a relocating aircraft, the anchor being lifted above the surface of the first substantially ground level location, and can thereby be relocated to a second substantially ground level location by the relocating aircraft; and a method of transporting at least one aerostat as described herein, from the first substantially ground level location to the second substantially ground level location, the method involving attaching a relocating aircraft to the anchor in its first anchoring condition, the relocating aircraft lifting the anchor from the surface of the first substantially ground level location, transporting the anchor, and thereby also the tethered aerostat, to a second substantially ground level location and depositing the anchor on the surface thereof, followed by disconnecting the relocating aircraft from the anchor.

IPC Classes  ?

• B64F 3/00 - Ground installations specially adapted for captive aircraft
• B64B 1/50 - Captive balloons
• B64D 5/00 - Aircraft transported by aircraft, e.g. for release or reberthing during flight

Abstract

An installation for a wireless communication system, comprising a radio frequency transceiver, for providing wireless communications to user equipment located within a wireless communication area, the transceiver being coupled to a communications signal processing facility, and comprising a data link to a wider communication network, the installation further comprising: a ground-based location comprising: an edge computing facility, the computing facility comprising a data link to a cloud computing network, and comprising data storage, processing and networking capability, and linked to the communications signal processing facility; and a source of electrical power; an elevated location comprising: an aerostat comprising the radio frequency transceiver, the aerostat being tethered to the ground-based location, wherein the tether comprises a data connection between the ground-based location and the radio frequency transceiver, and a power cable for providing electrical power from the source of electrical power to the radio frequency transceiver.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04B 7/185 - Space-based or airborne stations
• H04W 84/06 - Airborne or Satellite Networks

Abstract

A tethered aerostat (101, 201, 203, 205, 401, 601, 708) positioned at an elevated location in the atmosphere, the aerostat (101, 201, 203, 205, 401, 601, 708) having an elongate body (403) having a length extending between an upper end (207, 407) and a lower end (408) in use, the aerostat (101, 201, 203, 205, 401, 601, 708) comprising sufficient lighter-than-air gas such that the aerostat (101, 201, 203, 205, 401, 601, 708) is substantially buoyant in air, and defining a buoyancy force (108, 203, 431) acting through a centre of buoyancy (107, 108, 202), the aerostat (101, 201, 203, 205, 401, 601, 708) having a gravitational force (433) acting through a centre of mass (105, 204, 413), wherein the centre of mass (105, 204, 413) is closer to the lower end (408) than is the centre of buoyancy (107, 108, 202); the tethered aerostat (101, 201, 203, 205, 401, 601, 708) comprising a tether (113, 213, 215, 437, 607) connecting the aerostat (101, 201, 203, 205, 401, 601, 708) to a substantially ground level location, wherein the tether (113, 213, 215, 437, 607) defines a tether (113, 213, 215, 437, 607) line of action (114, 218), wherein the tether (113, 213, 215, 437, 607) line of action (114, 218) is a straight line that is coaxial to the tether (113, 213, 215, 437, 607) proximate the aerostat (101, 201, 203, 205, 401, 601, 708), and wherein, when the upper end (207, 407) is substantially vertically positioned above the lower end (408) in use: in the absence of any wind (104, 703), the moment about any point (109) on the tether (113, 213, 215, 437, 607) line of action (114, 218) produced by the gravitational force (433) and produced by the buoyancy force (108, 203, 431), are substantially equal and opposite to each other, thereby providing a stable vertical orientation in a no-wind condition in the atmosphere; and when wind (104, 703) is passing over the aerostat (101, 201, 203, 205, 401, 601, 708), the sum of the moments about any point (109) on the tether (113, 213, 215, 437, 607) line of action (114, 218) produced by the drag (209, 503) forces and any resulting additional forces induced by the wind (104, 703), also cancel out to provide a stable vertical orientation in a wind (104, 703) condition in the atmosphere.

IPC Classes  ?

• B64B 1/20 - Rigid airshipsSemi-rigid airships provided with wings or stabilising surfaces
• B64B 1/38 - Controlling position of centre of gravity
• B64B 1/50 - Captive balloons
• B64C 39/02 - Aircraft not otherwise provided for characterised by special use
• B64U 10/30 - Lighter-than-air aircraft, e.g. aerostatic aircraft
• B64U 10/60 - Tethered aircraft
• B64U 20/90 - Cooling
• B64U 101/21 - UAVs specially adapted for particular uses or applications for use as communications relays, e.g. high altitude platforms for providing Internet access
• B64U 101/23 - UAVs specially adapted for particular uses or applications for use as communications relays, e.g. high altitude platforms for providing telephone services