Drogue control systems and apparatus
AssigneeAnalytical Mechanics Associates, Inc.
InventorsDaniel Allan Pruzan, Daniel Joseph Lesieutre
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems, apparatus, and methods may control movement of an object through a fluid. The systems, apparatus, and methods may utilize a rotatable control unit including a pair of fins to generate a control force at least partially perpendicular to a direction of travel of the object through the fluid. One fin may be configured to generate a different amount of rolling moment than the other fin to provide rotational acceleration and energy production.
Claims14
A system for controlling movement of a drogue refueling apparatus comprising:
- a rotatable control unit to controllably rotate about an axis to move the drogue refueling apparatus in a direction at least partially perpendicular to the axis, wherein the rotatable control unit comprises:
- a body portion rotatably couplable to the drogue refueling apparatus;
- and
- one or more resilient fins fixedly coupled to and extending from the body portion along one or more fin planes, wherein the one or more resilient fins are resilient to deflection to generate at least a rotational force about the axis in response to fluid flow as the drogue refueling apparatus moves along a direction of travel, wherein at least one resilient fin extends from the body such that the fin plane of the at least one resilient fin is non-coplanar with the axis.
A kit for retrofitting a drogue refueling apparatus comprising:
- an elongate member extending from a forward end region couplable to a fuel hose of a drogue refueling apparatus to a rearward end region couplable to a refueling coupling of the drogue refueling apparatus;
- and
- a rotatable control unit to controllably rotate about an axis to move the drogue refueling apparatus in a direction at least partially perpendicular to the axis, wherein the rotatable control unit comprises:
- a body portion rotatably couplable to the elongate member to controllably rotate about an axis to move the drogue refueling apparatus in a direction at least partially perpendicular to the axis;
- and
- one or more resilient fins fixedly coupled to and extending from the body portion, wherein the one or more resilient fins are resilient to deflection to generate rotational force about the axis in response to fluid flow as the drogue refueling apparatus moves along a direction of travel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.