Space Elevator

Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to space elevators and more particularly to a space
elevator that is supported by its base.

Background

The concept for a space elevator was first published in 1895 by Konstantin Tsiolkovsky.
His proposal was for a free-standing tower reaching from the surface of Earth to the
height of geostationary orbit. Like all buildings, Tsiolkovsky's structure would be
under compression, supporting its weight from below. However, since 1959, most ideas
for space elevators have focused on purely tensile structures, with the weight of the
system held up from above. In the tensile concepts, a space tether reaches from a large
mass (the counterweight) beyond geostationary orbit to the ground. This structure is held
in tension between Earth and the counterweight like an upside-down plumb bob. Space
elevators have also sometimes been referred to as beanstalks, space bridges, space
lifts, space ladders, skyhooks, orbital towers, or orbital elevators.
This invention relates to a design wherein a plurality of telescoping tubes form a vertical
stand alone structure when extended by a central shaft which provides upward force to
lift the tubes.
Summary of the Invention
A space elevator is provided comprising; a plurality of telescoping tubes capable of being
extended to a predetermined height;
an inner shaft disposed within the telescoping tubes wherein the inner shaft is formed of
members which in a first position are capable of being wound by a controllable motor on
a spool, and wherein in a second position when unwound form a relatively rigid shaft
when under compression;
stay cables for providing support to the extended telescoping tubes;
means for moving the inner shaft from the first position to the second position.
Description of the Drawings
Fig4. The Inner Shaft Forms a vertical or a stand-alone structure providing upward
propulsion or movement when interlocked or assembled or uncoiled to extend vertically.
The Inner Shaft provides lift to the space elevators over structure thus extending the
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overall structure vertically towards any specified elevation or lower Earth orbit. The
Inner Shaft is separated and coiled when descended or unassembled or lowered. The
Inner Shaft is propelled by a machine to extend it vertically and located or hosted inside
the Telescopic Exo Shell or Exo Shell.
Fig1. Machine is used to propel vertically the Inner Shaft structure while stacking and
locking the Inner Shaft into place to maintain a secured and solid mass or an ascending
vertical structure. The Inner Shaft is stored above or underground in a coil or stacking
structure providing access to the Machine that propels the Inner Shaft to ascend, descend
or stack up vertically or get separated or to be coiled.
Fig2.Telescopic Exo Shell supports the Inner Shaft structure from the inside to further
add close proximity or exo skeletal support to manages extension and stability or
elevation of overall structure. The Telescopic Exo Shell provides wind drag resistant
material and is supported by Stay Cables
Fig2,3. Stay cables are winding and unwinding structure hosted or mounted inside or
outside the Structure Supporting Stay Cables platform and is coiled when overall
structure has descended and uncoiled when over structure has ascended. The Stay Cables
supports the Inner Shaft and Telescopic Exo Shell or Exo Shell and provides stability
while in synchronously rotation towards or away from the overall structure as required.
The Stay Cables are independently coiled as an individual unit into position or are
supported autonomously by an overall coiling and uncoiling system for all the cables to
work synchronously within the Structure Supporting Stay Cables.
Fig1,3. Stay Cable Structure Or Structure Supporting Stay Cables a star like or cross
like platform that supports Stay Cables while it is being coiled or uncoiled within the
Stay Cable Structure, that consists of rails that are propelled by autonomous machinery to
wind and unwind and host the Stay Cables on rails or platforms to synchronously coil or
uncoil and providing support to The Inner Shaft and Telescopic Exo Shell or Exo Shell
structure.
Fig1. Platform or the top section or top end of the space elevator is supported by the
Inner Shaft and Telescopic Exo Shell or Exo Shell. This section allows structures or
payloads or people to be elevated to the highest level and moved vertically into lower
Earth orbit or space or any level of elevation in space.
Fig. 5 illustrates how the inner shaft is formed as it is extended into a support for the
outer telescopic shell.

The base size would be 50% of the overall height so if the structure extends up 99 miles
or 160 km, then it would be required that the base half of that.
The material used in the Inner Shaft needs to be stronger than 170,000 to 200,000 or PSI
or greater.. Titanium or other strong relatively light weight materials can be used.
The Inner Shaft has an interlocking mechanism that forms a rod so that once its stacked
its a sold mass. This is shown in Fig. 5.
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Fig 5