Inflatable structure and method of making inflatable structure

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Authors
Sharma, Bhisham N.
Johnston, William
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Issue Date
2023-07-20
Type
Patent
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Sharma, B.N., & Johnston, W., inventors; Wichita State University, assignee. Inflatable structure and method of making inflatable structure. United States patent US 20230226748 A1. 2023, July 20.
Abstract

In an inflatable structure, a plurality of fibers is formed in a cavity of a flexible shell. When structure is inflated, the shell expands and the fibers are tensioned to constrain the flexible shell to have a fiber-constrained shape. When the structure is uninflated, the flexible shell is configured to collapse. The structure is formed by additive manufacturing. The fibers are fused to the shell and can run in various directions in relation to each other and the flexible shell. Fibers can extend obliquely to the shell when tensioned and at crosswise directions in relation to each other to form a nonwoven mesh.

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Description
WSU inventors: Bhisham Sharma, William Johnston, Dept. of Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering
Application No: 18/068301 filed December 19, 2022. Patent No: US 20230226748 A1 granted July 20, 2023.
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United States Patent and Trademark Office
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