Devices, systems and methods for refueling air vehicles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11180262-B2
Application number	US-201916537084-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 9, 2019
Priority date	Jan 4, 2012
Publication date	Nov 23, 2021
Grant date	Nov 23, 2021

Abstract

A variety of refueling devices, systems and methods are disclosed for use in in-flight refueling. In one example one such device is towed by a tanker aircraft via a fuel hose at least during in-flight refueling, and has a boom member with a boom axis. The boom member enables fuel to be transferred from the fuel hose to a receiver aircraft along the boom axis during in-flight refueling. The device maintains a desired non-zero angular disposition between the boom axis and a forward direction at least when the refueling device is towed by the tanker aircraft in the forward direction via the fuel hose.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A refueling device for use in in-flight refueling operation, the refueling device comprising:
a body;
a boom member; and
a coupling, wherein:
(a) the body has a longitudinal axis and is configured for enabling towing of the refueling device by a tanker aircraft via a flexible fuel hose at least during the in-flight refueling operation, and comprising a fuel delivery lumen configured for fluid communication with said flexible fuel hose at least during the in-flight refueling operation, said boom member having a boom axis and accommodating at least a part of said lumen, wherein said lumen is configured to enable transfer of fuel from the flexible fuel hose to a receiver aircraft during said in-flight refueling operation; and
(b) said coupling having a hose interface configured for connecting said lumen to the flexible fuel hose, said coupling configured for allowing relative rotation between the flexible fuel hose and said body in at least one degree of freedom while maintaining said fuel communication;
wherein said boom member is pivotably movable with respect to said body independently of said coupling.

2. The refueling device according to claim 1 , wherein said coupling is configured for allowing relative rotation between the flexible fuel hose and said body in at least two degrees of freedom.

3. The refueling device according to claim 1 , wherein said coupling is configured for allowing relative rotation between the flexible fuel hose and said body in three degrees of freedom.

4. The refueling device according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one degree of freedom has the respective axis of rotation generally orthogonal to said boom axis.

5. The refueling device according to claim 1 , wherein said coupling comprises a universal coupling.

6. The refueling device according to claim 1 , wherein at least during said in flight refueling operation the boom axis is at a non-zero angular displacement with respect to the longitudinal axis of the body.

7. The refueling device according to claim 1 , wherein said boom member is pivotably mounted with respect to said body, and wherein said boom member is pivotable between a retracted position and a deployed position, wherein in said retracted position said boom axis is at a smaller angular disposition with respect to said longitudinal axis than in said deployed position.

8. The refueling device according to claim 7 , wherein in said deployed position said boom axis is at an angular disposition with respect to said longitudinal axis between 20° to 40°.

9. The refueling device according to claim 7 , wherein said boom member is in said deployed position during said in-flight refueling operation.

10. The refueling device according to claim 1 , wherein said the boom member includes a fuel delivery nozzle, configured for engaging with a fuel receptacle of the receiver aircraft to enable refueling of the receiver aircraft.

11. The refueling device according to claim 1 , further, comprising a spatial control system configured for selectively steering said refueling device.

12. The refueling device according to claim 11 , wherein said spatial control system is configured for selectively providing control moments in at least one of pitch, yaw and roll wherein to enable flight of the refueling device while towed by the tanker aircraft in a forward direction via said flexible fuel hose.

13. The refueling device according to claim 11 , wherein said spatial control system is configured for enabling steering of the refueling device in one, or two, or three degrees of freedom in translation, and in one, or two, or three degrees of freedom in rotation, independently of the tanker aircraft or of the refueling aircraft.

14. The refueling device according to claim 11 , wherein said spatial control system comprises selectively controllable aerodynamic control system.

15. The refueling device according to claim 14 , wherein said selectively controllable aerodynamic control system comprises a forward set of aerodynamic control surfaces mounted to said body, and an aft set of aerodynamic control surfaces mounted to said body in longitudinally aft spaced relationship with respect to said forward set of aerodynamic control surfaces.

16. The refueling device according to claim 1 , further comprising an aerodynamic stabilizer arrangement, distinct from the spatial control system.

17. The refueling device according to claim 16 , wherein said aerodynamic stabilizer arrangement is in the form of a drogue structure having a stowed configuration, in which drogue structure generates a minimum drag, and a deployed configuration in drogue structure generates greater drag than in the inactive configuration.

18. The refueling device according to claim 1 , further comprising a force generating arrangement configured for selectively generating a force along said boom axis in a direction towards said fuel delivery nozzle.

19. The refueling device according to claim 1 , further comprising a data acquisition system configured for providing spatial data relating to a relative spatial disposition between said fuel delivery nozzle and said fuel receptacle, to enable selectively controlling the refueling device to provide automatic or autonomous or manual engagement of the fuel delivery nozzle to the fuel receptacle of the receiver aircraft.

20. The refueling device according to claim 1 , further comprising a controller for controlling operation of the refueling device.

21. A refueling system for use in in-flight refueling operation, the refueling system comprising:
a refueling fuel reservoir connected to a refueling device via a flexible fuel hose, the refueling device including a body, a boom member, and a coupling, wherein:
(a) the body has a longitudinal axis and is configured for enabling towing of the refueling device by a tanker aircraft via the flexible fuel hose at least during in-flight refueling operation, and comprising a fuel delivery lumen configured for fluid communication with said flexible fuel hose at least during the in-flight refueling operation, said boom member having a boom axis and accommodating at least a part of said lumen, wherein said lumen is configured to enable transfer of fuel from the flexible fuel hose to a receiver aircraft during said in-flight refueling operation; and
(b) said coupling having a hose interface configured for connecting said lumen to the flexible fuel hose, said coupling configured for allowing relative rotation between the flexible fuel hose and said body in at least one degree of freedom while maintaining said fuel communication;
wherein said boom member is pivotably movable with respect to said body independently of said coupling.

22. A tanker aircraft, comprising:
at least one refueling system including a refueling fuel reservoir connected to a refueling device via a flexible fuel hose, said refueling device including a body, a boom member, and a coupling, wherein:
(a) the body has a longitudinal axis and is configured for enabling towing of the refueling device by the tanker aircraft via the flexible fuel hose at least during the in-flight refueling operation, and comprising a fuel delivery lumen configured for fluid communication with said flexible fuel hose at least during the in-flight refueling operation, said boom member having a boom axis and accommodating at least a part of said lumen, wherein said lumen is configured to enable transfer of fuel from the flexible fuel hose to a receiver aircra

Assignees

• Israel Aerospace Ind Ltd

Inventors

• Rix Ohad
• Gur Joshua
• Litvak Michael
• Koskas Elie

Classifications

• G05D1/0094

  involving pointing a payload, e.g. camera, weapon, sensor, towards a fixed or moving target · CPC title

• B64D39/04

  Adaptations of hose construction · CPC title

• B64D39/06 Primary

  Connecting hose to aircraft; Disconnecting hose therefrom · CPC title

• B64D39/00

  Refuelling during flight · CPC title

• B64D3/00

  Aircraft adaptations to facilitate towing or being towed · CPC title