Rigid-Frame Airship Nacelle Structure with Fail-Safe Mounting
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power-generating systems in electrically propelled airships face safety risks due to mechanical failures and fire hazards, necessitating external placement that complicates mechanical connection and optimization of weight.
Innovation Solution
A nacelle structure with a mechanical connection to the airship's rigid frame, featuring a main mounting interface, fail-safe joint, and stay cables, ensuring secure integration of power-generating units.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If power-generating systems are placed outside the main body of the airship, then safety risks are reduced, but mechanical connection complexity and weight optimization are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The power-generating system is segmented into modular units that can be independently mounted on the airship body. Each module has its own mounting interface and can be separately positioned and secured, simplifying the overall mechanical connection while maintaining safety through modular isolation of potential failure points.
Solution Approach 2:
A standardized mounting interface acts as an intermediary between the power-generating units and the airship body. This interface includes features such as mounting brackets, fastening mechanisms, and alignment guides that simplify the connection process while ensuring secure attachment, thereby reducing mechanical connection complexity.
2Reliability
If power-generating systems are placed outside the main body of the airship, then safety risks are reduced, but weight optimization is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting interface is designed with localized reinforcement features at critical attachment points, concentrating structural strength where needed rather than uniformly throughout the entire mounting structure. This allows for weight optimization by removing unnecessary material from non-critical areas while maintaining safety through targeted reinforcement.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting interface and power-generating unit housing utilize composite materials that combine lightweight properties with high strength-to-weight ratio. These composites provide the necessary structural integrity for safe mounting while minimizing overall weight, achieving both safety and weight optimization simultaneously.
Data Source
AI summary
An airship comprises a main body having a rigid structure surrounding a plurality of containers for a lighter-than-air gas, a plurality of propeller units mechanically connected to the rigid structure and each comprising one or more electric motors for driving a thrust propeller, and one or more power-generating units for powering the electric motors. The airship also comprises two nacelles symmetrically arranged on either side of the main body and each configured to receive one or more of the power-generating units, each ducted nacelle comprising a mechanical structure connected to the rigid structure of the main body by joint, a “fail safe” interface, and at least one rod or stay cable between a first point of attachment on the rigid structure of the main body and a second point of attachment on the mechanical structure of the nacelle.