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US 11,591,104 B2Granted
Tanker aircraft comprising a referencing system
AssigneeAirbus Defence and Space, S.A.U.
InventorsMartin Espinosa Sánchez, Javier Valdeolmos Traba
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A referencing system to assist a receiver aircraft in relative positioning during in-flight refueling operation that includes an array of references congregated on a spot of the tanker aircraft, wherein the array of references provide a distinguishable visual indicator depending on the sector where the receiver aircraft positions.
Claims14
A tanker aircraft comprising:
- an inflight refueling system including a hose and drogue;
- a referencing system including an array of references congregated on a spot of a rear part of the tanker aircraft,
- wherein the array of references defines a plurality of sectors originated from the spot and projecting rearward of the tanker aircraft into airspace, wherein each of the plurality of sectors is defined by a corresponding amplitude in an angle of the sector with respect to the spot;
- wherein the array of references of the referencing system comprises an array of lights with n light sources, and n is a natural number greater than or equal to three, and each of the light sources projects a light beam that provides a distinguishable visual indicator and each of the n light sources has a corresponding projection orientation (αn), and the array of references is adjustable with respect to the projection orientation (αn) for each of the n light sources,
- wherein, the array of references provides a distinct visual indicator for each of the sectors, and
- wherein the array of references is adjustable with respect to at least one flight parameter of the tanker aircraft, and at least one in-flight refueling operation parameter.
3 more elements
A tanker aircraft comprising:
- an inflight refueling system including a hose deployable from the tanker aircraft;
- a referencing system mounted to the tanker aircraft and proximate to an outlet on the tanker aircraft for the hose, wherein the referencing system includes an array of visual references each visible to a receiver pilot of a receiver aircraft approaching the tanker aircraft for refueling;
- wherein a first visual reference in the array of visual references is visible to the receiver pilot along a line of sight of the receiver pilot while the receiver aircraft is in a first sector of airspace behind the tanker aircraft;
- wherein a second visual reference in the array of visual references is visible to the receiver pilot along the line of sight of the receiver pilot while the receiver aircraft is in a second sector of airspace behind the tanker aircraft, and
- wherein the referencing system is adjustable to adjust the first sector orientation with respect to the tanker aircraft and/or adjust the second sector orientation with respect to the tanker aircraft.
2 more elements
A method to assist in relative positioning a receiver aircraft with respect to a tanker aircraft during an in-flight refueling operation, the method including:
- adjusting an array of visual references in a referencing system mounted to the tanker aircraft and proximate an outlet for a hose wherein the array of visual references is visible to a receiver pilot of a receiver aircraft approaching the tanker aircraft for refueling,
- wherein the adjustment of the referencing system includes adjusting the referencing system such that a first visual reference in the array of visual references will be visible along a line of sight of a receiver pilot while the receiver aircraft is in a first sector of airspace behind the tanker aircraft, and the adjustment moves a relative orientation of the first sector with respect to the tanker aircraft,
- wherein the adjustment of the referencing system includes adjusting the referencing system such that a second visual reference in the array of visual references will be visible along the line of sight of a receiver pilot while the receiver aircraft is in a second sector of airspace behind the tanker aircraft, and the adjustment moves a relative orientation of the second sector with respect to the tanker aircraft,
- wherein the adjustment of the referencing system includes adjusting the referencing system such that a third visual reference in the array of visual references will be visible along a line of sight of a receiver pilot while the receiver aircraft is in a third sector of airspace behind the tanker aircraft, and the adjustment moves a relative orientation of the third sector with respect to the tanker aircraft, and
- wherein the adjustment of the referencing system is based on at least one flight parameter of the tanker aircraft and at least one in-flight refueling operation parameter.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.