Aircraft aerial refuelling system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016355274-A1
Application number	US-201615176809-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 8, 2016
Priority date	Apr 28, 2011
Publication date	Dec 8, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An aircraft aerial refuelling system including at least one pressure controlled fuel pump having a control system adapted to regulate the pump outlet fuel pressure using an outlet fuel pressure signal as control feedback. Also, methods of operating an aircraft aerial refuelling system.

First claim

1 . An aircraft aerial refuelling system including at least one pressure controlled fuel pump having a control system adapted to regulate the pump outlet fuel pressure using an outlet fuel pressure signal as control feedback.

2 . An aircraft aerial refuelling system according to claim 1 , wherein the pump outlet includes a pressure sensor configured to transmit the outlet fuel pressure signal.

3 . An aircraft aerial refuelling system according to claim 1 , wherein the pump control system is adapted to receive a demand fuel pressure signal.

4 . An aircraft aerial refuelling system according to claim 3 , wherein the pump control system is adapted to compare the demand fuel pressure signal with the outlet fuel pressure signal, and to provide a pump drive signal to the pump based upon the demand fuel pressure input signal and any difference between the demand fuel pressure signal and the outlet fuel pressure signal.

5 . An aircraft aerial refuelling system according to claim 4 , wherein the pump control system includes a proportional-integral-differential (PID) controller for comparing the demand fuel pressure input signal with the outlet fuel pressure signal.

6 . An aircraft aerial refuelling system according to claim 1 , further comprising a Fuel Quantity and Management System (FQMS) adapted to provide the demand fuel pressure signal to the pump control system.

7 . An aircraft aerial refuelling system according to claim 1 , wherein the demand fuel pressure signal is dependent upon the ambient air pressure outside the aircraft.

8 . An aircraft aerial refuelling system according to claim 6 , wherein the FQMS is adapted to receive an ambient air pressure signal and to modify the demand fuel pressure signal according to the ambient air pressure value.

9 . An aircraft aerial refuelling system according to claim 8 , further comprising a Air Data System (ADS), wherein the ADS is adapted to provide the ambient air pressure signal to the FQMS.

10 . An aircraft aerial refuelling system according to claim 1 , wherein the pump includes a motor adapted to receive a pump drive signal from the control system.

11 . An aircraft aerial refuelling system according to claim 1 , wherein the pump is a centrifugal pump including an impeller.

12 . An aircraft aerial refuelling system according to claim 1 , including a plurality of the pressure controlled fuel pumps, and a plurality of fuel tanks fluidically connected to at least one aerial refuelling dispense station, wherein at least one of the pressure controlled fuel pumps is associated with each of the tanks.

13 . An aircraft aerial refuelling system according to claim 12 , further comprising computer readable storage media containing a set of instructions for controlling the pressure controlled fuel pumps individually.

14 . An aircraft aerial refuelling system according to claim 13 , wherein the set of instructions includes a set of nominal pump outlet pressure settings for the plurality of pressure controlled fuel pumps depending on the status of the aerial refuelling dispense station(s).

15 . An aircraft aerial refuelling system according to claim 14 , wherein the set of instructions further includes a set of pump outlet pressure setting adjustments for the plurality of pressure controlled fuel pumps depending on a fuel volume within each tank.

16 . An aircraft aerial refuelling system according to claim 15 , further comprising a Fuel Quantity and Management System (FQMS) configured to measure the fuel level within each tank.

17 . An aircraft aerial refuelling system according to claim 15 , wherein the set of pump outlet pressure setting adjustments are configured to automatically adjust the aircraft weight balance to within predetermined limits.

18 . A method of operating an aircraft aerial refuelling system including at least one pressure controlled fuel pump, the method comprising controlling the pump outlet fuel pressure using an outlet fuel pressure signal as control feedback.

19 . A method of operating an aircraft aerial refuelling system according to claim 18 , wherein the controlling step includes comparing a demand fuel pressure signal with the outlet fuel pressure signal, and automatically controlling the pump to ensure that the outlet fuel pressure does not exceed the demand fuel pressure.

20 . A method according to claim 18 , further comprising automatically regulating the maximum pump outlet fuel pressure depending on the ambient air pressure outside the aircraft.

21 . A method of operating an aircraft aerial refuelling system including a plurality of fuel tanks, a plurality of aerial refuelling dispense stations, and at least one pressure controlled fuel pump associated with each of the fuel tanks, and the method comprising automatically substantially maintaining fuel balance between the tanks during a high flow rate fuel dispense from the plurality of fuel tanks simultaneously via one or more of the aerial refuelling dispense stations by controlling the outlet pressure of each fuel pump.

22 . A method of operating an aircraft aerial refuelling system including a plurality of fuel tanks, a plurality of aerial refuelling dispense stations, and at least one pressure controlled fuel pump associated with each of the fuel tanks, and the method comprising automatically substantially maintaining aircraft lateral and/or longitudinal weight balance during a high flow rate fuel dispense from the plurality of fuel tanks simultaneously via one or more of the aerial refuelling dispense stations by controlling the outlet pressure of each fuel

23 . A method according to claim 21 , wherein controlling the outlet pressure of each fuel pump includes setting a nominal outlet pressure for each fuel pump depending on the fuel system architecture and/or performance, and the status of the one or more aerial refuelling dispense stations.

24 . A method according to claim 23 , wherein controlling the outlet pressure of each fuel pump further includes monitoring a fuel level within each fuel tank and adjusting the outlet pressure for each fuel pump depending on the measured fuel levels.

Assignees

• Airbus Operations Ltd

Inventors

• Tichborne Franklin
• Lawson Mark
• Freeman Hugh
• Epifanie Arnaud
• Edwards Adrian

Classifications

• F04D29/22

  specially for centrifugal pumps · CPC title

• B64D39/00 Primary

  Refuelling during flight · CPC title

• B64D37/16

  Filling systems (ground installations for fuelling aircraft B64F1/28) · CPC title

• B64C17/10

  Transferring fuel to adjust trim · CPC title