Systems and methods for air vehicles
US9150311B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 9, 2012 |
| Grant date | Oct 6, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 11, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG05D1/101
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A refueling device for use in in-flight refueling operation between a tanker aircraft and a receiver aircraft includes a selectively steerable body and a controller. The selectively steerable body configured for being towed by a tanker aircraft via a fuel hose at least during in-flight refueling, and includes a boom member having a boom axis and configured to enable fuel to be transferred from the fuel hose to a receiver aircraft along the boom axis during the in-flight refueling operation. The controller is configured for selectively steering the body to an engagement enabling position spaced with respect to the receiver aircraft and for aligning the boom axis in an engagement enabling orientation at the spaced position, and for subsequently moving the boom member along the boom axis towards the receiver aircraft for enabling fuel communication therebetween.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.