Aircraft and method of orienting an airframe of an aircraft
US-2017308101-A1 · Oct 26, 2017 · US
Actively Stabilized Drogue
US2017190440A1 · US · A1
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Publication number | US-2017190440-A1 |
| Application number | US-201614986934-A |
| Country | US |
| Kind code | A1 |
| Filing date | Jan 4, 2016 |
| Priority date | Jan 4, 2016 |
| Publication date | Jul 6, 2017 |
| Grant date | — |
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Abstract
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An actively stabilized refueling drogue including a drogue canopy, drogue straits extending from the drogue canopy, a coupling body, a coupling shroud, a system of fins, and actuators. The coupling body is for connecting a flexible refueling hose to a receiver aircraft fuel intake, so that in-air refueling may occur The drogue struts terminate at the coupling body. The coupling shroud covers the coupling body. The system of fins is for stabilization of the drogue and is attached to the coupling shroud. The actuators are for actuating the fins to achieve aerodynamic stabilization. The actuators are manufactured from a solid state shape memory alloy, such that the fins may be actuated by applying thermal energy to the actuators.
First claim
Opening claim text (preview).
1 . An actively stabilized refueling drogue, comprising: a drogue canopy; drogue struts extending from the drogue canopy; a coupling body for connecting a flexible refueling hose to a receiver aircraft fuel intake, so that in-air refueling may occur, the drogue struts terminating at the coupling body; a coupling shroud, the coupling shroud covering the coupling body; and, a system of fins for stabilization of the drogue, the fins being attached to the coupling shroud; and, actuators for actuating the fins to achieve aerodynamic stabilization, the actuators manufactured from a solid state shape memory alloy, such that the fins may be actuated by applying thermal energy to the actuators. 2 . The actively stabilized refueling drogue of claim 1 , wherein the actuators are torsion springs. 3 . The actively stabilized refueling drogue of claim 1 , wherein the actuators are compression springs. 4 . The actively stabilized refueling drogue of claim 1 , wherein the actuators are integrated within the fins, the actuators being shape memory alloy wires disposed within the fins.
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- What does patent US2017190440A1 cover?
- An actively stabilized refueling drogue including a drogue canopy, drogue straits extending from the drogue canopy, a coupling body, a coupling shroud, a system of fins, and actuators. The coupling body is for connecting a flexible refueling hose to a receiver aircraft fuel intake, so that in-air refueling may occur The drogue struts terminate at the coupling body. The coupling shroud covers th…
- Who is the assignee on this patent?
- Mclaughlin Steven, Us Navy
- What technology area does this patent fall under?
- Primary CPC classification B64D39/06. Mapped technology areas include Operations & Transport.
- When was this patent published?
- Publication date Thu Jul 06 2017 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) (A1). Legal status and post-grant events are not shown on this page.
- What related patents are in patentsdb?
- We list 8 related publications on this page (citations in our corpus or others sharing the same primary CPC).