# US 12,759,704 B2 · Advanced control system for replenishing an aerial application aircraft using electric actuation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,759,704 B2 - Document ID: US12759704B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/965,862 - Filed: 2024-12-02 - Published: 2025-06-05 - Granted: 2026-10-13 - Earliest claimed: 2023-11-30 - Assignees: Texas Transland LLC - Applicants: Texas Transland LLC - Inventors: Calvin L. Kroes - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12759704B2 ## CPC - B64D 1/02: Dropping, ejecting, or releasing articles (jettisonable fuel reservoirs B64D37/12) - B64D 1/16: Dropping or releasing powdered, liquid, or gaseous matter, e.g. for fire-fighting (jettisoning fuel B64D37/26) - B65D 88/68: using rotating devices - E05B 77/22: Functions related to actuation of locks from the passenger compartment of the vehicle - E05B 81/04: Electrical (electrical circuits E05B81/54) - E05B 81/16: operating on locking elements for locking or unlocking action - E05B 83/00: Vehicle locks specially adapted for particular types of wing or vehicle (locks specially adapted for bicycles E05B71/00; locking arrangements for non-fixed vehicle roofs B60J7/185; latching means for sideboards or tailgates of open load compartments B62D33/037) - B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES - E05B: LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS ## Abstract In one embodiment, a system for an aerial application aircraft includes a hopper and advanced control system. The hopper includes a hopper cover to retain the application materials within the hopper, an electric actuator coupled to the hopper cover that is operable to open and close the hopper cover, an auger operable to rotate and disperse the application materials within the hopper, and an electric actuator coupled to the auger and operable to automatically rotate the auger upon actuation in a direction. The advanced control system includes a safety indicator and is communicatively coupled to the hopper and operable to control the electric actuators from a cockpit of the aerial application aircraft. When actuated, the advanced control system causes the hopper cover to move and causes the electric actuator to engage the auger. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for an aerial application aircraft, comprising: a hopper coupled to the aerial application aircraft and operable to hold application materials, wherein the hopper comprises: a hopper cover coupled to a top side of the hopper, the hopper cover configured to retain the application materials within the hopper; a first electric actuator coupled to the hopper cover operable to open and close the hopper cover; an auger operable to rotate and disperse the application materials within the hopper; and a second electric actuator coupled to the auger and operable to automatically rotate the auger upon actuation in a direction; and an advanced control system comprising a safety indicator and is communicatively coupled to the hopper and operable to control the first electric actuator and the second electric actuator from a cockpit of the aerial application aircraft, wherein the advanced control system when actuated causes the first electric actuator to engage the hopper cover and causes the second electric actuator to engage the auger. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein when the advanced control system is actuated, the hopper cover opens to a position roughly perpendicular to a closed position of the hopper cover. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein when the advanced control system is actuated, the hopper cover opens and the second electric actuator automatically causes the auger to rotate. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the auger comprises auger blades having a concave curvature. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the safety indicator indicates a temperature within the hopper and the safety indicator indicates when the temperature exceeds a predefined threshold. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the safety indicator indicates a moisture level within the hopper and the safety indicator indicates when the moisture level exceeds a predefined threshold. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the safety indicator indicates an electrical surge, and wherein the advanced control system is operable to control a flow of electrical current in response to the electrical surge. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the auger comprises a first set of auger blades, a second set of auger blades, and a gap between the first set of auger blades and the second set of auger blades. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein when the advanced control system is actuated, the hopper cover closes and the second electric actuator automatically disables the auger from rotating. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the hopper cover comprises a first latch pin and a second latch pin. ### Claim 11 A method for replenishing an aerial application aircraft with application materials, comprising: engaging an advanced control system when application materials are to be added to a hopper of the aerial application aircraft; activating, using the advanced control system, a first electric actuator coupled to a hopper cover, the hopper cover coupled to a top side of the hopper, the first electric actuator configured to open the hopper cover; activating, using the advanced control system, a second electric actuator coupled to an auger to rotate the auger in a direction and disperse application materials within the hopper; and activating, using the advanced control system, the first electric actuator coupled to the hopper cover to close the hopper cover. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein activating, using the advanced control system, the first electric actuator coupled to the hopper cover to open the hopper cover, further comprises activating, using the advanced control system, the first electric actuator coupled to the hopper cover to open the hopper cover to a position roughly perpendicular to a closed position of the hopper cover. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising automatically activating the second electric actuator coupled to the auger to rotate the auger in a direction and disperse application materials within the hopper when the advanced control system activates the first electric actuator coupled to the hopper cover to open the hopper cover. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising automatically activating the second electric actuator coupled to the auger to disable the auger from being able to rotate when the advanced control system activates the first electric actuator coupled to the hopper cover to close the hopper cover. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising monitoring, using the advanced control system, a safety indicator. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising: setting, using the advanced control system, a predefined threshold for the safety indicator; and detecting, using the advanced control system, whether a measurement exceeds the predefined threshold. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising activating, using the advanced control system, the safety indicator to alert a pilot of the aerial application aircraft when the advanced control system detects the predefined threshold has been exceeded. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the predefined threshold is one or more of a temperature or moisture threshold. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further comprising automatically controlling, using the advanced control system, the hopper of the aerial application aircraft to jettison the application materials upon detecting the one or more predefined thresholds have been exceeded. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the predefined threshold is an electrical surge threshold and the method further comprises automatically controlling, using the advanced control system, a flow of electrical current upon detecting the electrical surge threshold has been exceeded.