Attached to the hull was a V-shaped keel composed of tubes with
suitable wire bracings, and in it a greater part of the strength
of the structure lay. It was designed to withstand the vertical
forces and bending moments which resulted from the lift given by
the gasbags and the weights of the car and the cabin. The keel
also provided the walking way from end to end of the ship, and
amidships was widened out to form a cabin and wireless
compartment.
The wiring of the transverse frames was radial and performed
similar functions to the spokes of a bicycle wheel. These wires
could be tightened up at the centre at a steel ring through which
they were threaded and secured by nuts.
In addition to the radial wires were the lift wires) which were
led to the two points on the transverse frames which were
attached to the keel; on the inflation of the gasbags, the bags
themselves pressed upon the longitudinal girders on the top of
the ship, which pressure was transferred to the transverse frames
and thence by means of the several lift wires to the keel. In
this way all the stresses set up by the gas were brought finally
to the keel in which we have already said lay the main strength
of the ship.
The hull was divided by the transverse frames into seventeen
compartments each containing a single gasbag.
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