Systems and methods for a hose reel
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorElias Roger Kennedy
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method, an apparatus, and an aircraft may include a hose reel configured to attach to a first end of a hose, wherein the hose may be further configured to wrap around the hose reel, and wherein the hose reel may be configured to spin. A drogue may be configured to attach to a second end of the hose. At least one spring coupled to the hose reel may be configured to provide a constant force, wherein the hose reel spins in a first direction to allow the hose to protract when the drogue receives a first force that is greater than the constant force of the at least one spring, and wherein the hose reel spins in a second direction to allow the hose to retract when the drogue receives a second force that is less than the constant force of the at least one spring.
Claims20
An apparatus comprising:
- a hose reel configured to attach to a first end of a hose, wherein the hose is further configured to wrap around the hose reel, and wherein the hose reel is configured to spin;
- a drogue configured to attach to a second end of the hose;
- and
- at least one spring coupled to the hose reel configured to provide a constant force, wherein the at least one spring comprises one or more portions that are coaxial with the hose reel, wherein the one or more portions of the at least one spring spin along with the hose reel, wherein the hose reel spins in a first direction to allow the hose to protract when the drogue receives a first force that is greater than the constant force of the at least one spring, and wherein the hose reel spins in a second direction to allow the hose to retract when the drogue receives a second force that is less than the constant force of the at least one spring.
An aircraft comprising:
- a hose reel configured to attach to a first end of a hose, wherein the hose is further configured to wrap around the hose reel, and wherein the hose reel is configured to spin;
- a drogue configured to attach to a second end of the hose;
- and
- at least one spring coupled to the hose reel configured to provide a constant force, wherein the at least one spring comprises one or more portions that are coaxial with the hose reel, wherein the one or more portions of the at least one spring spin along with the hose reel, wherein the hose reel spins in a first direction to allow the hose to protract when the drogue receives a first force that is greater than the constant force of the at least one spring, and wherein the hose reel spins in a second direction to allow the hose to retract when the drogue receives a second force that is less than the constant force of the at least one spring.
A method of manufacturing a hose reel comprising:
- attaching a hose reel to a first end of a hose, wherein the hose is configured to wrap around the hose reel, and wherein the hose reel is configured to spin;
- attaching a drogue to a second end of the hose;
- and
- attaching at least one spring to the hose reel to provide a constant force, wherein the at least one spring comprises one or more portions that are coaxial with the hose reel, wherein the one or more portions of the at least one spring spin along with the hose reel, wherein the hose reel spins in a first direction to allow the hose to protract when the drogue receives a first force that is greater than the constant force of the at least one spring, and wherein the hose reel spins in a second direction to allow the hose to retract when the drogue receives a second force that is less than the constant force of the at least one spring.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.