Non-rigid

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Non-rigid in this context refers to an airship with flexible exterior, in contrast to a rigid airship like a Zeppelin.

The envelope of the non-rigid airship is, unlike the rigid, a single gas container, and its shape is kept by internal pressure. For this reason non-rigids are sometimes referred to as pressure airships. They are equipped with one or more ballonets. These are internal air bags made of fabric and have a capacity equal to from one-quarter to one-third of the envelope. Their purpose is to prevent the envelope from losing its shape as the airbag ascends or descends. When the airship is in flight the air enters the ballonets through ducts from a scoop in the propeller stream, or by the action of a blower. As the airship rises, the expansion of the gas drives some of the air out of the ballonets; when the ship descends, contraction of the gas is made good by the expansion of the ballonets. A pressure-gauge records these movements for the pilot.[1]

References

This wiki has 13 patents in category "Non-rigid". Other techtypes related to Non-rigid: Blimp

Patents in category Non-rigid

Publications referring to Non-rigid

Enclosing categories LTA
Subcategories
Keywords LTA, Balloon, Ballonet
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