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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AEROS GRANTED UTILITY PATENT FOR AEROSCRAFT CARGO AIRSHIP’S ‘AEROSTRUCTURE’
Patent Recognizes Lightweight Aeroshell that Supports Cargo Payloads, Structural Integrity and Aerodynamic Loading Capability, While Contributing Added Benefits of Aerodynamic Lift in Flight
LOS ANGELES (Mar 23, 2016) – Aeroscraft Corporation (Aeros), a manufacturer
of airships and aerostats operating with a FAA Type and Production Certificate,
announced today that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
has granted Aeros U.S. patent number (U.S. Pat. No. 9,266,597) for an
important sub-‐system empowering the innovative Aeroscraft cargo airship. The Utility Patent covers the multi-‐functional
‘Aerostructure for Rigid Body Airship,’ or ‘Aeroshell,’ which defines the outer shape of the lighter-‐than-‐air (LTA) vehicle, while
serving structural and operational functions as a unique internal truss system.
The Aeroscraft’s patented Aeroshell provides the major external frame of the vehicle, and includes three main structural
features: a rigid internal main frame which carries all primary moment and shear loads induced, the vehicle’s skin (or envelope)
which forms a semi-‐rigid membrane, and a rigid Aeroshell frame interposed between the main frame and the skin. The internal
main frame serves as the main load supporting structure of the vehicle, and is structurally capable of handling bending moment.
“Aeros’ Aeroshell is light, yet counteracts the loads imposed by cargo payloads, aerodynamic lift and pressure, static lift,
and shear loading/ movement,” explains Aeros’ Engineering Director, John Wertz. “The rigid structure design does not rely on
lifting gas pressure to maintain structural integrity; the Aeroshell maintains the aircraft hull’s shape under the stress imposed by
aerodynamic loads, for increased airspeed relative to traditional lighter-‐than-‐air (LTA) aircraft.”
The lightweight rigid structural Aeroshell design provides aerodynamic stability while increasing the aerodynamic lift
compared with the cigar shaped hulls of earlier zeppelins, increasing payload accommodation, airspeed and maneuverability,
particularly in high wind conditions. The Aeroshell also provides convenient attachment and support of aircraft engines, canards,
empennage structures, cockpit, and other auxiliary systems. It further functions as the lifting gas container of the airship, thus it
also carries static lift and hoop tension created by positive helium pressure. Finally, the lift producing rigid hull is advantageous
because it allows an airship to take off in a statically heavy condition, when required, a condition where the hull and payload
weight exceed the maximum buoyancy supplied solely by the helium lifting gas.
(L-‐R) Structural elements of the Aeroscraft Technology Demonstration Vehicle, built at roughly 1:2 scale of the larger, operational ML866 cargo airship now under construction: (L) truss component assembly (2009) (C) truss/ main frame assembly (2011) (R) Aeroshell frame under envelope during construction (2012)
About the Aeroscraft: An Aeroscraft is a new type of cargo airship or Rigid Variable Buoyancy Air Vehicle, designed to control lift in all stages of air or ground operations including the ability to off-‐load heavy payloads without the need for external ballast. The key features of the Aeroscraft include an onboard buoyancy management system, rigid structure, vertical takeoff and landing performance, and operational abilities at low speed, in hover, and from unprepared surfaces. About Aeros: Founded more than 28 years ago, the Aeroscraft Corporation (Aeros) is the world’s most innovative lighter-‐than-‐air, FAA-‐certified aircraft manufacturing company. Aeros has achieved multiple FAA airship type certificates and operates with an FAA Production Certificate, while featuring a product line that includes advanced airships, tethered aerostats and the Aeroscraft cargo airship. Learn more at www.aeroscraft.com CONTACT: [email protected]
WWW.AEROSCRAFT.COM [email protected]
