Modular refueling systems for aircraft

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10640215-B2
Application number	US-201815919459-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 13, 2018
Priority date	Sep 20, 2016
Publication date	May 5, 2020
Grant date	May 5, 2020

Abstract

A modular refueling system for an aircraft includes a modular bay recessed within the aircraft. The modular bay includes a modular bay interface. The modular refueling system includes a plurality of payload modules each having a respective function and a payload interface adapted to connect to at least a portion of the modular bay interface. The plurality of payload modules includes an aerial refueling module. The payload modules are interchangeably insertable into the modular bay to enable the modular bay to support the functions of the payload modules. The aerial refueling module is insertable into the modular bay to enable the aircraft to provide fuel to recipient aircraft during flight.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A modular refueling system for an aircraft having a fuselage, the system comprising:
a first modular bay recessed within the underside of the fuselage, the first modular bay including a first modular bay interface;
a second modular bay recessed within the underside of the fuselage, the second modular bay including a second modular bay interface;
a first plurality of payload modules each having a respective function and a first payload interface adapted to connect to at least a portion of the first modular bay interface; and
a second plurality of payload modules each having a respective function and a second payload interface adapted to connect to at least a portion of the second modular bay interface;
wherein, the first modular bay is a central modular bay disposed along a longitudinal centerline of the aircraft and flanked by the second modular bay;
wherein, the first plurality of payload modules are interchangeably insertable into the first modular bay to enable the first modular bay to support the functions of the first plurality of payload modules;
wherein, the second plurality of payload modules are interchangeably insertable into the second modular bay to enable the second modular bay to support the functions of the second plurality of payload modules; and
wherein, at least one of the payload modules inserted in the first or second modular bay is an aerial refueling module configured to enable the aircraft to provide fuel to recipient aircraft during flight.

2. The modular refueling system as recited in claim 1 wherein the aerial refueling module further comprises a hose and a drogue, the hose and the drogue extendable from the aircraft to enable a connection to the recipient aircraft.

3. The modular refueling system as recited in claim 2 wherein the aerial refueling module further comprises a reel, the hose adapted to wind around the reel such that the hose extends from the aircraft in response to the reel rotating a first direction and retracts toward the aircraft in response to the reel rotating a second, opposite direction.

4. The modular refueling system as recited in claim 3 wherein the aerial refueling module further comprises a reel motor adapted to rotate the reel.

5. The modular refueling system as recited in claim 2 wherein the aerial refueling module further comprises a drogue receiver adapted to receive the drogue when the hose is retracted.

6. The modular refueling system as recited in claim 5 wherein the drogue receiver protrudes from an exterior surface of the aerial refueling module.

7. The modular refueling system as recited in claim 1 wherein the aerial refueling module further comprises a fuel pump operable to pump fuel from the aircraft to the recipient aircraft.

8. The modular refueling system as recited in claim 1 wherein the aerial refueling module has an exterior surface; and
wherein at least a portion of the exterior surface of the aerial refueling module is substantially flush with the underside of the fuselage when the aerial refueling module is inserted into the first or second modular bay, thereby reducing drag of the aircraft.

9. The modular refueling system as recited in claim 1 wherein the aerial refueling module further comprises a central payload module adapted to be inserted into the first modular bay.

10. The modular refueling system as recited in claim 1 wherein the aerial refueling module further comprises a side payload module adapted to be inserted into the second modular bay.

11. The modular refueling system as recited in claim 1 wherein the payload interface of the aerial refueling module connects to at least a portion of the first or second modular bay interface in response to the aerial refueling module being inserted into the first or second modular bay.

12. An aircraft comprising:
a fuselage having an underside;
a first modular bay recessed within the underside of the fuselage, the first modular bay including a first modular bay interface;
a second modular bay recessed within the underside of the fuselage, the second modular bay including a second modular bay interface;
a first plurality of payload modules each having a respective function and a first payload interface adapted to connect to at least a portion of the first modular bay interface; and
a second plurality of payload modules each having a respective function and a second payload interface adapted to connect to at least a portion of the second modular bay interface;
wherein, the first modular bay is a central modular bay disposed along a longitudinal centerline of the aircraft and flanked by the second modular bay;
wherein, the first plurality of payload modules are interchangeably insertable into the first modular bay to enable the first modular bay to support the functions of the first plurality of payload modules;
wherein, the second plurality of payload modules are interchangeably insertable into the second modular bay to enable the second modular bay to support the functions of the second plurality of payload modules; and
wherein, at least one of the payload modules inserted in the first or second modular bay is an aerial refueling module configured to enable the aircraft to provide fuel to recipient aircraft during flight.

13. The aircraft as recited in claim 12 wherein the aircraft further comprises an unmanned aerial system.

14. The aircraft as recited in claim 12 wherein the aircraft further comprises a tiltrotor aircraft.

15. The aircraft as recited in claim 12 further comprising:
a fuel cell, the aerial refueling module adapted to provide fuel from the fuel cell to the recipient aircraft during flight.

16. The aircraft as recited in claim 15 wherein the payload interface of the aerial refueling module is adapted to connect to at least a portion of the first or second modular bay interface to establish fluid communication between the fuel cell and the aerial refueling module.

17. The aircraft as recited in claim 15 wherein at least one of the first or second modular bay interfaces further comprises a fuel line connector, the payload interface of the aerial refueling module adapted to connect to the fuel line connector to establish fluid communication between the fuel cell and the aerial refueling module.

18. The aircraft as recited in claim 15 further comprising:
a power source adapted to provide electrical energy;
wherein at least one of the first or second modular bay interfaces further comprises a power connector, the payload interface of the aerial refueling module adapted to connect to the power connector to establish electrical communication between the power source and the aerial refueling module.

19. The aircraft as recited in claim 15 wherein the fuel cell further comprises a fuselage fuel cell.

20. The aircraft as recited in claim 15 wherein the fuel cell further comprises a plurality of fuel cells including a fuselage fuel cell and a wing fuel cell, the aerial refueling module adapted to provide fuel from at least one of the plurality of fuel cells to the recipient aircraft during flight.

Assignees

• Textron Innovations Inc

Inventors

• Ivans Steven Ray

Classifications

• B64D39/06

  Connecting hose to aircraft; Disconnecting hose therefrom · CPC title

• B64D39/02

  Means for paying-in or out hose · CPC title

• B64D7/06

  movably mounted · CPC title

• B64D9/003 Primary

  Devices for retaining pallets or freight containers · CPC title

• B64C39/024

  of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV · CPC title