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US 8,459,593 B2Granted
Aerial refueling drogue deployment system
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorForrest Eugene Richardson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods provide for a drogue deployment system that may be removably attached to a non-tanker aircraft to modify the aircraft for providing aerial refueling operations. Aspects of the disclosure provide a drum unit that may be secured in a cargo area of the non-tanker aircraft and connected to the fuel system of the aircraft. A drogue deployment unit may be removably attached to an external surface of the aircraft fuselage and includes a drogue extension tube that may be selectively deployed outward from the fuselage to provide separation between a refueling drogue and the aircraft. The drogue and corresponding refueling hose may be deployed from a drogue container attached to the drogue extension tube and extended rearward for providing fuel to a receiving aircraft.
Claims18
A drogue deployment system for providing a non-tanker aircraft with aerial refueling capabilities, comprising:
- a drum unit configured for removable coupling to a fuel system of the non-tanker aircraft, the drum unit comprising a drum configured to rotate in a first direction to receive a refueling hose and to rotate in a second direction to deploy the refueling hose;
- and
- an actuator operative to rotate a drive screw,
- at least one guide rod positioned substantially parallel to the drive screw;
- a carriage assembly configured to translate along the at least one guide rod in a first linear direction upon activation of the actuator to rotate the drive screw in a first rotational direction, and to translate along the at least one guide rod in a second linear direction opposite the first linear direction upon activation of the actuator to rotate the drive screw in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction,
- a drogue extension tube rotatably coupled to a fixed structure at a fixed pivot end,
- at least one extension rod coupled at a first end to the carriage assembly and at a second end to the drogue extension tube such that translation of the carriage assembly along the at least one guide rod rotates the drogue extension tube around the fixed pivot end, and
- a drogue container rotatably coupled to the drogue extension tube at a distal end opposite the fixed pivot end,
- wherein the drogue extension tube and the drogue container are configured to receive the refueling hose and to guide the refueling hose from the drum unit to a deployed position external to the non-tanker aircraft.
6 more elements
A method for providing aerial refueling operations with a non-tanker aircraft, the method comprising:
- rotating a drive screw of a drogue deployment unit;
- in response to rotating the drive screw, translating a carriage assembly along at least one guide rod positioned substantially parallel to the drive screw to rotate a drogue extension tube downward around a fixed pivot end from a stowed position substantially parallel with a fuselage of the non-tanker aircraft to a deployed position via at least one extension rod, wherein the at least one extension rod is coupled at a first end to the carriage assembly and at a second end to the drogue extension tube such that translation of the carriage assembly along the at least one guide rod rotates the drogue extension tube around the fixed pivot end;
- extending a refueling hose from a drum unit secured within a cargo area of the non-tanker aircraft through the drogue extension tube and through a drogue container attached to a distal end of the drogue extension tube such that a drogue attached to an end of the refueling hose extends rearward from the drogue container to a deployed position behind the non-tanker aircraft;
- and
- transferring fuel from a fuel tank of the non-tanker aircraft through the refueling tube to the drogue for receiving by a refueling probe of a receiving aircraft.
2 more elements
An aircraft configuration, comprising:
- a fuselage comprising a pressurized cargo area;
- wings coupled to the fuselage;
- a fuel system comprising a plurality of fuel tanks disposed within the fuselage or the wings;
- a drum unit removably coupled to the fuel system, the drum unit comprising a drum configured to rotate in a first direction to receive a refueling hose and to rotate in a second direction to deploy the refueling hose;
- a drogue deployment unit, the drogue deployment unit comprising
- an actuation mechanism housing removably coupled to an external surface of the fuselage,
- an actuator positioned within the actuation mechanism housing and operative to rotate a drive screw,
- at least one guide rod positioned substantially parallel to the drive screw;
- a carriage assembly configured to translate along the at least one guide rod in a first linear direction upon activation of the actuator to rotate the drive screw in a first rotational direction, and to translate along the at least one guide rod in a second linear direction opposite the first linear direction upon activation of the actuator to rotate the drive screw in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction,
- a drogue extension tube rotatably coupled to the actuation mechanism housing at a pivot end,
- at least one extension rod coupled at a first end to the carriage assembly and at a second end to the drogue extension tube such that translation of the carriage assembly along the at least one guide rod rotates the drogue extension tube around the fixed pivot end, and
- a drogue container rotatably coupled to the drogue extension tube at a distal end opposite the pivot end,
- wherein the drogue extension tube and the drogue container are configured to receive the refueling hose and to guide the refueling hose from the drum unit to a deployed position beneath and rearward of the fuselage;
- the refueling hose;
- a drogue attached to an end of the refueling hose and configured to receive a refueling probe of a receiving aircraft;
- and
- a control unit, the control unit operative to control deployment and retraction of the drogue extension tube and of the refueling hose.
14 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.