US 5,393,015 A · Rotary wing aircraft in-flight refueling device

Abstract

An elongated, rigid boom for the in-flight refueling of rotary wing aircraft in which a forward end of the boom is adapted for attachment to the fuselage of a rotary wing tanker aircraft and is of sufficient length to extend rearwardly of the tanker aircraft for the rear end of the boom to be clear of the tanker aircraft rotor path. The forward end of a funnel refueling drogue configured to receive the fueling probe of an aircraft to be refueled is swivelly attached to the rear end of the rigid boom and a fuel line supported by the boom extends from a connection into the tanker aircraft refueling tanks to a female refueling aircraft probe connection in the drogue. Pressurized air flowing within the boom is discharged from a downwardly directed nozzle and selectively from outwardly facing nozzles on each side of the boom adjacent the boom rear end with the nozzles being configured to establish a volume rate discharge as creates a vertical lifting force on the boom compensating for gravity and rotor downwash and boom side forces selectively directed horizontally outwardly in either direction for establishing yaw control of the boom.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A fuel transfer device for in-flight refueling of a rotary wing aircraft from a rotary wing tanker aircraft comprising:

an elongated, rigid boom having a forward end and a rear end,
said boom forward end being adapted for connection to fuselage structure of said tanker aircraft with said boom projecting exteriorly of said tanker aircraft and supported as a cantilever,
a funnel refueling drogue having an interior configured to receive a fueling probe of said refueling aircraft,
swiveling means connecting a forward portion of said drogue to said boom rear end,
fuel conduit means supported by and extending along said boom between a forward end portion of said conduit means adapted for connection to a fuel system of said tanker aircraft and a rear end portion contained within said drogue coterminous with a female connection for said fueling aircraft probe,
means establishing a gaseous jet discharge directed outwardly from and transversely of said boom adjacent said boom rear end and
means controlling the volume rate of said gaseous jet discharge, whereby a controllable position stabilizing force is applicable to said cantilever supported boom.

4 more elements

A fuel transfer device for in-flight refueling of a rotary wing aircraft from a rotary wing tanker aircraft comprising:

an elongated hollow boom having a forward end and a closed rear end,
said boom forward end being adapted for connection to fuselage structure of said tanker aircraft with said boom projecting exteriorly of said tanker aircraft and supported as a cantilever,
a funnel refueling drogue having an interior configured to receive a fueling probe of said refueling aircraft,
swiveling connecting means connecting a forward portion of said drogue to said boom rear end,
fuel conduit means supported by and extending along said boom between a forward end portion of said conduit means adapted for connection into a fuel system of said tanker aircraft and a rear end portion contained within said drogue coterminous with a female connection for said fueling aircraft probe,
a bladed fan mounted for rotation concentrically within said hollow boom interior rearwardly of an opening into said hollow boom forward end,
means rotating said bladed fan establishing a source of high pressure air contained within said boom interior,
an orifice opening in a bottom section of said boom adjacent said boom rear end and configured to discharge said boom contained pressurized air at a volume rate as establishes a vertically upwardly directed force on said boom and
means controlling the volume rate of air discharged through said bottom orifice.

6 more elements

A fuel transfer device for in-flight refueling of a rotary wing aircraft from a rotary wing tanker aircraft comprising:

an elongated hollow boom having a forward end and a closed rear end,
said boom forward end being adapted for connection to fuselage structure of said tanker aircraft with said boom projecting exteriorly of said tanker aircraft and supported as a cantilever,
a funnel refueling drogue having an interior configured to receive a fueling probe of said refueling aircraft,
swiveling connecting means connecting a forward portion of said drogue to said boom rear end,
fuel conduit means supported by and extending along said boom between a forward end portion of said conduit means adapted for connection into a fuel system of said tanker aircraft and a rear end portion contained within said drogue coterminous with a female connection for said fueling aircraft probe,
a bladed fan mounted for rotation concentrically within said hollow boom interior rearwardly of an opening into said hollow boom forward end,
means rotating said bladed fan establishing a source of high pressure air contained within said boom interior,
an orifice opening in a bottom section of said boom adjacent said boom rear end and configured to discharge said boom contained pressurized air at a volume rate as establishes a vertically upwardly directed force on said boom,
an orifice opening in each opposite side portion of said hollow boom adjacent said boom rear end and configured to discharge said boom contained pressurized air at a volume rate as establishes a horizontally extending force directed outwardly and transversely of said boom,
means selectively opening and closing said oppositely located side orifice openings and
means controlling the volume rate of air discharge from said orifice openings.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Rotary wing aircraft in-flight refueling device

Life of this patent

Rotary wing aircraft in-flight refueling device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18