Continuous fuel management system for automatic control of aircraft center of gravity
AssigneeEmbraer S.A.
InventorRubens Domecildes Neto
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Fuel transference between aircraft fuel tanks, disposed in different locations, is used to maintain the aircraft Center of Gravity close to the aft limit of the certified Center of Gravity versus weight envelope. Continuous fuel transfer decreases the control band thus enhancing aircraft performance.
Claims20
On an aircraft, an onboard active center of gravity control system with continuous fuel transference between fuel tanks, comprising:
- at least one variable flow control element that is fluid-coupled between said fuel tanks, said flow control element capable of providing a variable flow rate of fuel between said fuel tanks;
- and
- an electronic controller coupled to electronically control said at least one flow control element, said electronic controller dynamically controlling said variable flow rate of fuel transfer between said fuel tanks to optimize aircraft center of gravity.
A method of providing continual transference of fuel between fuel tanks on board an aircraft at a rate commensurate with fuel burn during cruise flight operation, said method comprising:
- sensing at least one flight parameter;
- estimating current aircraft center of gravity at least in part in response to said sensed flight parameter and stored data;
- and
- in response to said estimating, automatically actuating a variable flow element that is fluid-coupled between a main tank and an auxiliary tank to maintain the current aircraft center of gravity within a pre-selected aft center of gravity envelope during flight.
A system for providing continual transference of fuel between fuel tanks on board an aircraft at a rate commensurate with fuel burn during cruise flight operation, said system comprising:
- means for sensing at least one flight parameter;
- means for estimating current aircraft center of gravity at least in part in response to said sensed flight parameter and stored data;
- and
- means responsive to said estimating for automatically actuating a variable flow element between a main tank and an auxiliary tank to shift fuel between the main tank and the auxiliary tank and thereby maintain aircraft center of gravity within a pre-selected aft center of gravity envelope during flight.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.