Patent ID: 6527223
Filing Date: 2003-03-04
Classification: B64B

Abstract:
An airship for lifting, transporting and depositing loads comprising:a lower substantially horizontal platform having parallel upper and lower planar surfaces and a periphery; an upper substantially horizontal platform substantially similar in size and shape to the lower horizontal platform, and having parallel upper and lower planar surfaces and a periphery; a plurality of platform connecting means connecting the upper and lower platforms and maintaining the platforms parallel and the platforms' peripheries parallel; located between the platforms, a plurality of gasbags, each having a horizontal top and bottom both having parallel planar upper and lower exterior and interior surfaces and each gasbag also having substantially vertical sides having exterior and interior surfaces, a means of inflation of each gasbag by a gas of lower-than-air density to lift the connected platforms, and a means of deflation of each gasbag to lower the connected platforms, the gasbags when inflated each having a height equal to the maximum distance between the upper and lower platforms, the plurality of bags being so disposed that when all are inflated the upper surfaces thereof are in contact with and occupy substantially all of the lower surface of the upper platform; means of propelling and steering the lifted connected platforms; and means of controlling the means of propelling and steering, for navigating the lifted connected platforms on a predetermined course; means of anchoring the connected platforms to stationary, substantially immoveable objects and of releasing the connected platforms therefrom; means of attaching to the connected platforms loads required to be lifted and transported.