Guiding method and device for in-flight-refuelling line
US6324295A · kind A · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 10, 1998 |
| Grant date | Nov 27, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 10, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB64D39/00
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The invention relates to the in-flight refuelling of aircraft. To facilitate coupling between a refuelling line carried by an orientable boom at the rear of a tanker aircraft and a coupling receptacle on a receiving aircraft, means of automatic guidance are provided, which comprise: PA1 a camera (40) borne by the end of the boom and providing an image in the form of an electronic signal, PA1 shape-recognition means (56, 58, 60) coupled to the camera for recognizing, in the image provided by the camera, characteristic elements associated with the receptacle, PA1 position-calculation means for determining, by calculation in the image provided by the camera, the difference between the position of the characteristic elements or the image at a given instant and a reference position originating from an image, stored in memory, of the line and of the receptacle when they are coupled, PA1 means (62) for deducing from the actual size of the receptacle, from the size and from the position of its projection in the image, the depth-wise distance between the end of the line and receptacle, PA1 and means for controlling the orientation of the boom and deploying the line on the basis of the diffe…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.