Fuel Systems and Methods for an Aerial Vehicle
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsBrian Tillotson, Charles B. Spinelli
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In an example, a drop tank for an aerial vehicle includes a body having an internal fuel reservoir configured to store fuel. The drop tank also includes an outlet coupled to the internal fuel reservoir for supplying the fuel from the internal fuel reservoir to a propulsion system of the aerial vehicle. Additionally, the drop tank includes a plurality of flight control surfaces extending outwardly from the body. The flight control surfaces are actuatable to adjust a flight attitude of the drop tank. The drop tank further includes a flight control system including a processor and configured to actuate the plurality of flight control surfaces to fly the drop tank to a target location when the drop tank is jettisoned from the aerial vehicle.
Claims20
A drop tank for an aerial vehicle, comprising:
- a body having an internal fuel reservoir configured to store fuel;
- an outlet coupled to the internal fuel reservoir for supplying the fuel from the internal fuel reservoir to a propulsion system of the aerial vehicle;
- a plurality of flight control surfaces extending outwardly from the body, wherein the flight control surfaces are actuatable to adjust a flight attitude of the drop tank;
- and
- a flight control system including a processor and configured to actuate the plurality of flight control surfaces to fly the drop tank to a target location when the drop tank is jettisoned from the aerial vehicle.
A method comprising:
- supplying fuel from a drop tank to a propulsion system of an aerial vehicle;
- after supplying the fuel, determining that the drop tank has been jettisoned from the aerial vehicle;
- responsive to determining that the drop tank has been jettisoned, actuating a plurality of flight control surfaces of the drop tank to fly the drop tank to a target location;
- and
- landing the drop tank at the target location.
A method comprising:
- coupling a drop tank to an aerial vehicle, wherein the drop tank comprises:
- a body having an internal fuel reservoir,
- a plurality of flight control surfaces extending outwardly from the body, wherein the plurality of flight control surfaces are actuatable to adjust a flight attitude of the drop tank, and
- a flight control system including a processor and configured to actuate the plurality of flight control surfaces;
- supplying fuel to the internal fuel reservoir of the drop tank;
- storing, in the flight control system, data relating to a target location;
- flying, using at least a portion of the fuel supplied to the internal fuel reservoir, the aerial vehicle to an aerial drop location, wherein the aerial drop location is less than a threshold distance of the target location, wherein the threshold distance is related to a maximum distance of flight for the drop tank;
- responsive to flying the aerial vehicle to the aerial drop location, jettisoning the drop tank from the aerial vehicle;
- after jettisoning the drop tank from the aerial vehicle, actuating the plurality of flight control surfaces to fly the drop tank to the target location;
- and
- landing the drop tank at the target location.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.