Patent ID: 8091826

Claim:
An aerostatic buoyancy control system for lighter-than-air or hybrid vehicles comprising: an outer pressure cell made of a high tensile strength air-impermeable membrane consisting of fabric, film, laminate or other materials, the outer pressure cell being permeable to lifting gas; an inner compression cell made of a flexible lifting-gas-impermeable membrane consisting of fabric, film, laminate or other materials and of only slightly smaller dimensions than the outer pressure cell, wherein the lifting gas of the buoyancy control system contained within the inner compression cell comprises either all or a part of the total lifting gas used for aerostatic lift by the vehicle; an airtight sealable means for insertion and/or removal of the inner compression cell into and out of the outer pressure cell; a gastight valve system for the inflation or deflation of the inner compression cell with lifting gas, such as helium or hydrogen; an airtight valve system on the outer pressure cell that can allow alternately the inflow of higher pressure air into the pressure cell without release of said air, controlled release of all or part of the stored higher pressure air from within the pressure cell, or free flow of air into and out of the pressure cell; an air compression means connected either directly or indirectly to the airtight valve system on the outer pressure cell, such as a mechanical or acoustic compressor or regenerative or centrifugal blower with accompanying or integral motor and power supply.