A vacuum airship includes an envelope and means for creating and controlling vacuum pressure within the envelope. The envelope includes skin and a frame for supporting the skin such that the frame is under compression and the skin is in tension during operation of the airship. The frame includes a plurality of rigid tube-like frame elements.

The purpose of this invention, which is referred to as a vacuustat, is to generate buoyancy in the atmosphere by means of an evacuated or partially evacuated container, rather than by using a lighter-than-air lifting gas such as hydrogen or helium. This particular vacuustat design comprises a flexible airtight membrane supported by a fractal tensegrity internal structure consisting of a relatively small mass of compressive members forced into higher-order buckling modes through use of tension members. The advantages of such a design over conventional aerostats include superior buoyancy control for ascent and descent, greatly increased flight endurance, and cost-effectiveness in operation. This particular vacuustat design has a much greater lifting efficiency than previous designs, and should also be easier and more cost-effective to manufacture.

The purpose of this invention, which is referred to as a vacuustat, is to generate buoyancy in the atmosphere by means of an evacuated or partially evacuated container, rather than by using a lighter-than-air lifting gas such as hydrogen or helium. This particular vacuustat design comprises a flexible airtight membrane supported by a fractal tensegrity internal structure consisting of a relatively small mass of compressive members forced into higher-order buckling modes through use of tension members. The advantages of such a design over conventional aerostats include superior buoyancy control for ascent and descent, greatly increased flight endurance, and cost-effectiveness in operation. This particular vacuustat design has a much greater lifting efficiency than previous designs, and should also be easier and more cost-effective to manufacture.

Attachment device including: a conical insert in the form of a truncated cone, an internal ring which is provided with a recess in the form of a truncated cone the diameter of which narrows in the direction of the interior of the tube and the angle of which is equal to the angle of the truncated cone of the conical insert, and an external ring comprising a cylindrical portion the internal diameter of which is substantially equal to the external diameter of the tube, the external ring comprising a shoulder which partially closes an end of the external ring and which has a circular opening, the shoulder comprising an annular internal face which is intended to abut the end face of the tube and the transverse end face of the internal ring located at the side of the end of the tube.

Attachment device including: a conical insert in the form of a truncated cone, an internal ring which is provided with a recess in the form of a truncated cone the diameter of which narrows in the direction of the interior of the tube and the angle of which is equal to the angle of the truncated cone of the conical insert, and an external ring comprising a cylindrical portion the internal diameter of which is substantially equal to the external diameter of the tube, the external ring comprising a shoulder which partially closes an end of the external ring and which has a circular opening, the shoulder comprising an annular internal face which is intended to abut the end face of the tube and the transverse end face of the internal ring located at the side of the end of the tube.

The present invention is realized by apparatus and methods for harvesting, storing, and generating energy by permanently placing a large rigid buoyant platform high in the earth's atmosphere, above clouds, moisture, dust, and wind. Long, strong and light tethers can connect the buoyant structure to the ground which can hold it in position against wind forces. Weights suspended from the buoyant platform with cables are raised and lowered by electric winches to store and release gravitational potential energy. High voltage transmission lines electrically connect the platform to the earth's surface. Electrical energy from the high voltage transmission lines or from photovoltaic arrays on the platform can be stored as gravitational potential energy and subsequently released as electricity from generators driven from the stored gravitational potential energy and used on the platform or transmitted via the high voltage transmission lines.

An airship may include a plurality of struts and a plurality of hubs joined to form a geodesic frame. A material may at least substantially enclose the frame. The material may be configured to contain a gas within a volume enclosed by the material, and may also be configured to absorb solar radiation for heating the gas. The airship may include a vent configured to selectively open and close to regulate one or more of a temperature and a pressure of the gas. When the vent is open, the volume enclosed by the material may be in fluid communication with an exterior of the material. When the vent is closed, the volume enclosed by the material may be at least substantially hermetically sealed from the exterior of the material. Also disclosed are methods of carrying a payload with the airship.

An airship may include a plurality of struts and a plurality of hubs joined to form a geodesic frame. A material may at least substantially enclose the frame. The material may be configured to contain a gas within a volume enclosed by the material, and may also be configured to absorb solar radiation for heating the gas. The airship may include a vent configured to selectively open and close to regulate one or more of a temperature and a pressure of the gas. When the vent is open, the volume enclosed by the material may be in fluid communication with an exterior of the material. When the vent is closed, the volume enclosed by the material may be at least substantially hermetically sealed from the exterior of the material. Also disclosed are methods of carrying a payload with the airship.

A lighter-than-air airship has an exoskeleton constructed of spokes and hubs to create a set of connected hexagrams comprised of isosceles triangles wherein the spokes flex and vary in length to produce the slope of said airship's surface. In one embodiment, the exoskeleton connects to a nose cone that includes a cockpit cabin for controlling the airship's operation from a single location that can be physically separated from the exoskeleton in response to catastrophic events and for autonomous and/or remotely piloted operation. An improved means is also provided for landing and unloading cargo, and through use of unmanned aerial vehicles in another embodiment, the airship is configured for remote pickup, transport, delivery and return of payloads such as packages. In yet another embodiment, the airship provides a communications platform for beam form transmission and satellite signal relay, including in combination with the foregoing disclosed attributes.

A lighter-than-air airship has an exoskeleton constructed of spokes and hubs to create a set of connected hexagrams comprised of isosceles triangles wherein the spokes flex and vary in length to produce the slope of said airship's surface. In one embodiment, the exoskeleton connects to a nose cone that includes a cockpit cabin for controlling the airship's operation from a single location that can be physically separated from the exoskeleton in response to catastrophic events and for autonomous and/or remotely piloted operation. An improved means is also provided for landing and unloading cargo, and through use of unmanned aerial vehicles in another embodiment, the airship is configured for remote pickup, transport, delivery and return of payloads such as packages. In yet another embodiment, the airship provides a communications platform for beam form transmission and satellite signal relay, including in combination with the foregoing disclosed attributes.