Airship Ground Handling via Track-Mounted Docking Carts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional airship ground handling systems using mooring masts, nose cones, and battens create unwanted air disturbances on low-drag airships, increasing drag and requiring multiple attachment points, which are not suitable for high-altitude airships.
Innovation Solution
A ground handling system comprising a first and second track system and a plurality of docking carts, with mooring structures that move on these tracks to position the airship without external attachments, allowing for smooth orientation and handling without mooring masts, nose cones, or battens.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional mooring devices with handling lines and nose cones are used, then the airship can be maneuvered on the ground, but the attachment points create increased air drag and disrupt the laminar air stream
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the conventional mooring device components (nose cone, battens, handling lines) from the airship system. Instead of attaching these structures to the airship hull, the invention extracts these functions and implements them through a ground-based track system with docking carts that move along predetermined paths, eliminating the harmful attachment points on the airship surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a track system as an intermediary between the ground control vehicles and the airship. The track system with docking carts serves as a mediator that enables ground maneuvering without requiring direct attachment of mooring structures to the airship hull, thus avoiding the creation of harmful attachment points while maintaining ground control capability.
2Ease of operation
If mooring masts and battens are attached to the airship, then additional control over the airship is provided, but the envelope surface becomes discontinuous and uneven
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the control functions from the airship itself and relocates them to ground-based systems. The mooring masts and battens are removed from the airship, and control is achieved through ground vehicles moving along tracks and docking with the airship, maintaining control capability while preserving the envelope surface as smooth and uniform.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of attaching control structures to the airship (top-down approach), the invention inverts the approach by having the airship dock with ground-based control structures (bottom-up approach). The airship remains the clean, uniform object while the control mechanisms are positioned on the ground, reversing the traditional configuration.
3Ease of operation
If handling lines are attached to the airship hull, then the airship can be moved on the ground, but the attachment points create air disturbances in the laminar air stream
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the handling lines from the airship system and relocates them to ground-based docking carts. The handling lines are no longer attached to the airship hull but are instead carried by the mobile docking carts that move along the track system, eliminating the source of air disturbances while maintaining ground movement control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The docking carts serve as intermediaries that carry the handling lines and mooring equipment. Instead of the handling lines being directly attached to the airship, they are transmitted through the docking carts which interface with the track system, thus mediating the connection and eliminating harmful attachment points on the airship surface.
Data Source
AI summary
A ground handling system for an airship which comprises a first track system to allow a plurality of docking carts to move from a hangar to a weathervane/launching/landing ring R. The docking carts are configured to complete a second track system. Carried by each of the docking carts is a mooring cart that carries a mooring structure. Upon the completion of the second track system by each of the docking carts, the mooring carts are able to move about the second track system. Thereby allowing the airship to be oriented in a desired manner to facilitate its launch or landing.