Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
1139287
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The present invention discloses a mooring sytem for
aerostats. The mooring system can either be fixed at a permanent
location or movable on a trailer.
Prior Art
A mooring system for a gas filled dirigible is shown
in U.S. Patent 3,972,493 to ~Jilliam G. Milne. The mooring system
of this patent is not movable on a trailer and does not disclose
any means for tethering the dirigible by the mooring system during
flight,
A mooring sytem is disclosed in U.S. Patent 3,976,268
to Edward L. Crosby, Jr. The mooring system of this patent does
not disclose means for aligning the mooring system and winch
with prevailing wind conditions during flight.
Neither of the above systems show nor teach the mast
structure or platform of the present invention.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention discloses a mooring system for an
aerostat comprising a platform means supported on a bearing, a
mast structure extending from the platform means, a main winch
system mounted on the platform means for releasing and retrieving
the aerostat, means for securing the aerostat to the mast struc-
ture after the main winch system has retrieved the aerostat, and
means for rotating the platform on the bearing.
One object of the present invention is to disclose a
mooxing system for an aerostat which can be easily aligned with
prevailing wind directions.
Another object of the present invention is to provide
a mooring system for an aerostat which is easily transported from
one location to another.
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~139287
1 A further object of the present invention is to provide
a mooring system for an aerostat which increases the load carry-
ing capacity of the aerostat by removing items normally fastened
to the front end of the aerostat and incorporating these items as
part of a nose receptacle carried ~y the mooring system.
Still another object of the present invention is to
provide a mooring system for an aerostat which has a single prime
mover supplying power to operate all of the components of the
system.
A still further o~ject of the present invention is to
provide a mooring system for an aerostat which has a means for
varying the distance between the confluence point, at which the
main tether line from the aerostat attaches to the main winch
system.
Another o~ject of the present invention is to provide
a mooring system which has means for varying the pvint at which
the nose line attaches to the mast structure to accommodate var-
ious sizes of aerostats.
Additional o~jects and advantages of the present inven-
tion ~ill ~e ob~ious to those skilled in the art from reading the
following written description and claims in conjunction with thedrawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGURE 1 is a schematical drawing of the pxesent invent-
ion with an aerostat secured to the mooring system.
FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the mooring system in Figure
l with the aerostat partially shown in dotted lines.
FIGURE 3 is a parially cut away view in elevation along
line 3-3 of Figure 2 showing an outrigger of the mooring system
in Figure l extending from the platform,
1139Z~37
EIGURE 4 is a cut away plan view along line 4-4 of
Figure 1 showing a nose line winch carried on the vertical sec-
tion of the mast structure.
FIGURE 5 is a schematical drawing, partially in ele-
vation and partially in section, showing the platform, bearing,
and foundation for the mooring system of Figure 1.
FIGURE 6 is a plan view along lines 6-6 of Figure 5
showlng the prime mover and main winch system located on the plat-
form.
FIGURE 7 is a cut away view partially in section and
partially in elevation showing the means for rotating the platformon the ~earing.
FIGURE 8 is a schematic drawing showing the mooring
system of the present invention on a mo~ile trailer with the aero-
stat partially cut away. The outrigger nearest the viewer is not
shown.
FIGURE 9 is a plan view of the mooring system configured
for transport on a mo~ile trailer,
FIGURE 10 is an elevational view of the mooring system
of Figure 9.
FIGURE 11 is a plan of the trailer shown in Figure 9.
FIGVRE 12 is an elevational view of the trailer shown
in F.igure 11~
FIGURE 13 is a partially cut away drawing in elevation
showing supports for the trailer in Figure 11.
FIGVRE 14 is a plan view partially cut away showing the
mooring system of Figure 8 with the aerostat aligned with the pre-
vailin~ wind direction.
FIGURE 15 is a front view of the nose receptacle with
the vertical section not shown.
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1139287
1 FIGURE 16 is a side view of the nose receptacle with
the vertical section partially cut away.
FIGURE 17 is an enlarged view of the vertical section
and sheaves for guiding the nose line. The nose receptacle is
partially shown in dotted lines. Figure 17 appears on the same
page as Figure 8.
FIGURE 18 is a schematical drawing of a hydraulic fluid
distribution system for operating the mooring system.
WRITTEN DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to the drawings and particularly Figures 1,
2, 3, and 4, the large, fixed land based embodiment of the pre-
sent invention is shown. Aerostat 31, a tethered balloon is
shown secured to mooring system 30. Platform means 32 is rotat-
ably mounted on bearing 33. The remaining components of mooring
system 30 are supported by and attached to platform means 32.
Bearing 33 is prefera~ly a large heavy duty crane bearing,
A large mast structure extends radially from platform
means 32 to provide locations for securing aerostat 31 to mooring
system 30. The mast structure has three major component parts,
main boom 34 and outriggers 35 and 36. Each outrigger has a
close haul winch 37 near the end opposite platform means 32.
Mooring lines 38, attached to opposite sides of aerostat 31, can
be engaged with a respective close haul winch 37 to maintain the
centerline oE aerostat 31 aligned with main boom 34 after aero-
stat 31 has been retrieved by mooring system 30.
Main boom 34 has three major sections. One section 34a
extends essentially horizontally from platform means 32. A con-
trol station 39 is located near the end of section 34a opposite
platform means 32. As will be explained later, control station
3~ contains all of the controls necessary to operate mooring
.
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1~39287
1 system 30. A transition section 34b joins horizontal section
34a with vertical section 34c.
Vertical section 34c has a nose line winch 40 located
near the junction of sections 34b and 34c. A nose receptacle
41, sized to receive the front end of aerostat 31, is mounted at
the top of vertical section 34c. Nose receptacle 41 will be
described later in more detail. Nose line 42 can be threaded
from the front end of aerostat 31 through nose receptacle 41 and
engaged with nose line winch 40. When mooring system 30 has re-
trieved aerostat 31, nose line winch 40 and close haul winches37 provide means for securing aerostat 31 to the mast structure.
Main boom 34 has the necessary catwalks and ladders to provide
personnel access to control station 39, nose line winch 40, and
nose receptacle 41.
As ~est shown in Figures 5 and 6, bearing 33 is pre-
ferably fixed to a reinforced concrete foundation 50, A prime
mover 51 and main winch system 52 are mounted on platform 32. A
cylindrical housing 53 with a smooth, flat roof 54 encloses the
equipment located on platform 32 preventing damage to aerostat 31
from contacting this equipment. Opening 55 and steps 56 are pro-
vided to allow personnel access to the equipment located on plat-
form means 32 and to main ~oom section 34a.
Main winch system 52 contains a traction unit 57, spool-
ing unit 58 and automatic level wind means 59. Traction unit 57
pays out and retrieves line 60 which controls aerostat 31 during
flight. Line 60 is stored by spooling unit 58 when not in use,
A guide tube 67 projects through roof 54 to provide an opening
for line 60. Also, fairlead support or boom 68 projects from
roof 54 with fairlead sheave 69 attached thereto. As shown in
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~39~87
1 Figure 5 by dotted lines, the position of fairlead sheave 69 rel-
ative to traction unit 57 can be varied. This is an important
advantage of the present invention to allow varying the conflu-
ence point at which line 60 attached to aerostat 31 first engages
mooring system 30. Varying the confluence point is an important
feature of the present invention to accommodate various, different
aerostat configurations.
Prime mover 51 comprises an internal conbustion engine
70 which powers various hydraulic pumps 71 to operate all of the
~inch systems and hydraulic components. Figure 18 is a schematic
of a typical hydraulic fluid distribution system and will be
described later.
Hydraulic fluid is also supplied to turning motor and
reduction gears 72 mounted on platform 32. Operating shaft 73
with drive gear 74 extends from turning motor and reduction gears
72. The teeth in drive gear 74 engage matching teeth on the out-
side diameter of bearing 33. Turning motor and reduction gears
72 and drive gear 74 comprise means for rotating the platform
means 32 on bearing 33.
~O Lightning protection for mooring system 30 i5 provided
by two concentric shields 78 and 79. Shield 78 extends downwardly
from platform 32, and shield 79 extends upwardly from foundation
50, A small cap is provided between the two concentric shields
to encourage lightning to flow through the shields to ground
rather than through bearing 33. A brush 80 is proivded to main-
tain electrical contact between the two shields to prevent the
buildup of a static electrical charge,
Referring to Figures 8 through 14, the present invention
can be readily adapted to provide a mooring system 85 mounted on
a mobile trailer 86. Mooring system 85 could also be mounted on
a railroad car or water~orne vessel.
1139287
1 Trailer 86, as best shown in Figures ll and 12, has a
removable gooseneck 87 which allows a standard tractor to move
trailer 86 over highways. When trailer 86 with mooring system
85 arrives at a desired location for flying the aerostat, four
jacks 88 are activated to lift trailer 86 removing the load from
wheels 89. As shown ~y dotted lines in Figure 12, goosenec~. 87
can be removed to allow unrestricted rotation of mooring system
85,
Supporting arms or stabilizers 90, 91, 92 and 93 are
each respectively attached ~y a separate pivot pin asse~bly 94 to
the side of trailer 86. As shown by dotted lines in Figure ll,
each arm 90-93 can be pivoted to an extended position perpendi-
cular to the centerline of trailer 86. A manual jack 95 can be
positioned under the outer end of each arm ~0-~3. The manual
jacks 95 and arms 90-93 cooperate to provide lateral stability
for trailer 86 while mooring system 85 controls an aerostat. Guy
wires 15Q are also fixed from the end of each arm 90-93 to the
ground. Gu~ wires 150 counter forces generated by aerostat 31
which ~ould tend to lift trailer 86.
A large bearing 96 is located on the centerline of
trailer 86 approximately equal distance between the four jacks 88.
Platform means lOQ is rotatably attached to bearing 96. The re-
maining components of mooring system 85 are in turn mounted on
and/or attached to platform means 100. Mast structure 103 extends
horizontally from the rear of platform 100. OutriggerslOl and 102
are rotatably attached to mast structure 103 by pivot assemblies
lQ4. Close haul winches 105 and 106 are positioned near the out-
er end of outriggers lO1 and 102 respectively. These close haul
winches serve the same function as winches 37-in mooring system
30~ If desired, outriggers lO1 and 102 can be telescoping
booms to accommodate aerostats of various sizes.
3 139287
1 For clarity, outrigger 101 and winch 105 are not shown in Figure
8.
A main winch system 107 is located on platform 100 com-
prising traction unit 110 and spooling unitlll~ A prime mover
112, preferably a gasoline or diesel powered internal combustion
engine, is also located on platform 100 along with a central con-
trol station 113 and hydraulic power unit 114.
Mooring system 85 varies from mooring system 30 because
vertical section 115 can be telescoped to a retracted positiGn
and then rotated to a horizontal position parallel with the
centerline of trailer 86. This is required to make mooring
system 85 fully mobile on standard highways. The one portion of
mast structure 34, verical section 34c, is fixed in its relation-
ship to platform 32. ~s best shown in Figures 10 and 8, vertical
section 115 can be pivoted around pin 116 by hydraulic cylinder
117 and ram 118. The supply of hydraulic fluid to cylinder 117
is controlled from central station 113. A hydraulic cylinder
(not shown~ can be contained within vertical section 115 to ex-
tend nose receptacle 41 relative to platform means 100.
Mooring system 85 also varies from mooring system 30
because aerostat 31 does not have a confluence point directly
above traction unit 100. Mast structure 103 has a tailpiece or
fairlead boom 119 which can ~e extended horizontally by a hydrau-
lic cylinder (not shown). Fairlead sheave 120 is attached to -the
outer end of tailpiece 11~ and provides the conEluence point for
line 60 attached to aerostat 31.
~oth mooring systems use a nose receptacle 41 which can
be varied in size to conform to the geometry of the front end of
the aerostat being flown by the particular mooring system. The
nose receptacle can be covered by a heavy, flexible cloth (not
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~139Z~7
1 shown) to prevent the metal portions of the receptacle from dam-
aging the aerostat. Some aerostats have metal support members
built into their front end to protect the aerostat and support
the nose section while moored. Using a nose receptacle as part
of the mooring system reduces the weight of the aerostat and
allows a larger payload. As shown in Figure 10, nose receptacle
41 can ~e detached and stored while transporting mooring system
~5.
Nose receptacle 41 is best shown in Figures 15 and 16.
It is generally conical with a circular opening defined by ring
121. Spokes 122 extend between ring 121 and hub 123. Hub 123
forms the apex of the cone and has a circular opening 124 there-
through. Both vertical sections 115 and 34c have a sheave 126
mounted ad~acent to opening 124. Sheave 126 is preferably con-
tained within a housing 127 which can rotate with respect to
either vertical sections 115 and 34c. Rotation is allowed by
bearing assembly 128. Nose line 42 is directed through hollow
guide tube 129 to prevent fouling the nose line when nose recept-
acle 41 rotates. Nose receptacle 41 can ~e permanently fixed
with relation to the respective vertical section. However, a
rotating nose receptacle is preferred to compensate for any sud-
den cross winds while docking aerostat 31.
As shown in Figure 14 mooring system 85 can rotate 360
with respect to trailer 86. Also, short tethering lines 130 can
be used to attach aerostat 31 to the mast structure allowing the
lines connected to the various winches to be disengaged for main-
tenance. Nose line 42 can be permanently attached to the front
end of aerostat 31 and threaded through nose receptacle 41, sheave
126 and onto the nose line winch. Alternatively, an automatic
~uick release shackle could be used to engage nose line 42 with a
~13g~
1 short line hanging from the front end of aerostat 31. This latter
alternative would result in aerostat 31 having to carry less
weight because most of nose line 42 would remain on the mooring
system.
Figure 18 is a s~hematic drawing of a typical hydraulic
system to operate either mooring system 30 or 85. Wide varia-
tions are available ~ecause hydraulic winches could be replaced
by manual or electric winches. The portion of the drawing en-
closed by dotted lines 151 represents components of mobile moor-
ing system 85. These components are not usually included on the
fixed mooring system 30. Hydraulic cylinders 154 and 155 were
not shown in previous drawings and can be used to extend long-
itudinally outriggers 101 and 102 respectively. Hydraulic
cylinder 153 is used to extend tailpiece or fairlead boom 119.
Hyhraulic cylinder 152 is contained within vertical section 115
and is used to extend nose receptacle 41. All control valves,
such as four-way two position spring centered valve 156, can be
located within control station 39 and/or 113 along with pressure
gauges such as 157. Standard hydraulic symbols are used to de-
signate the various components of the hydraulic fluid distribut-
ion system.
The present invention can be used with various typesof mooring systems, The previous description is illustrative of
only two general mooring systems. Those s~illed in the art will
readily see other variation for a mooring system, Changes and
modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the
invention which is defined in the claims.
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