Refueling device
AssigneeIsrael Aerospace Industries Ltd.
InventorsRami Skladman, Ilan Darmon
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Refueling devices for use in in-flight refueling operation are provided, including a body configured for being towed by a tanker aircraft and having a boom member that has a fuel delivery nozzle, a spatial control system and a longitudinal control system. The longitudinal displacement control system includes at least one panel element defining a front panel projected area orthogonal to a body longitudinal axis, each panel element being controllably and reversibly deployable incrementally to each one of a plurality of successive deployed positions between a fully retracted position and a fully deployed position, to provide a respective reversible incrementally increasing aft force to the refueling device at least during the in-flight refueling operation.
Claims22
A refueling device for use in in-flight refueling operation, the refueling device comprising:
- (a) a body configured for being towed by a tanker aircraft in a forward direction via a fuel hose at least during in-flight refueling operation, the body having a body longitudinal axis;
- (b) a boom member carried by the body, the boom member having a fuel delivery nozzle, the fuel delivery nozzle being configured for selectively engaging with a fuel receptacle in a receiver aircraft to enable fuel to be transferred from said fuel hose to the receiver aircraft during said in-flight refueling operation;
- (c) spatial control system configured for selectively providing stability and control to the refueling device;
- (d) a longitudinal displacement control system, comprising:
- at least one panel element defining a front panel projected area orthogonal to the body longitudinal axis, each said panel element being controllably and reversibly deployable incrementally to each one of a plurality of successive deployed positions between a fully retracted position and a fully deployed position, to provide a respective reversible incrementally increasing aft force to the refueling device at least during the in-flight refueling operation;
- wherein at least one said panel element is in the form of a curved plate having a concave cylindrical surface facing the forward direction, and a center of curvature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.