Tip with nozzle load sensing and wireless communication functionality for refueling boom

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9840336-B2
Application number	US-201414163515-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 24, 2014
Priority date	Jan 24, 2013
Publication date	Dec 12, 2017
Grant date	Dec 12, 2017

Abstract

A Wireless Communication and Sensor System (WSCC) serving a refueled entity and a refueling entity, the system comprising nozzle load sensing functionality for a nozzle Boom Tip Unit; and apparatus for wirelessly transmitting loads sensed by the nozzle load sensing functionality to at least one of a boom operator and a boom flight control computer.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A wireless communication and sensor system serving a refueled entity and a refueling entity, the system comprising:
a nozzle boom tip unit;
nozzle load sensor disposed on the nozzle boom tip unit to sense loads on the nozzle boom tip unit, wherein the load sensor senses at least one of shear, bending and torque stresses exerted on the load sensor to estimate forces exerted on the nozzle boom tip unit; and
apparatus for wirelessly transmitting loads sensed by said nozzle load sensor to at least one of a boom operator and a boom flight control computer, wherein data, received from load sensor units which are located on a boom telescope having telescopic motion relative to a surrounding external tube, is transmitted to a point located on the external tube.

2. A system according to claim 1 , wherein the system includes:
a boom forward unit disposed about the boom tip unit, and
wherein said loads are transmitted wirelessly from the boom tip unit to at least one of a boom operator and a boom flight control computer via the boom forward unit.

3. A system according to claim 2 , wherein the boom forward unit is disposed at a location unaffected by telescopic motion of the boom telescope having telescopic motion relative to the surrounding external tube during refueling.

4. A system according to claim 2 , wherein the boom tip unit is operative to digitally process boom contact signals, lock detection signals, and audio transmission signals, and generating processed digital data for direct transmission to tanker systems of at least one of the refueled entity and refueling entity.

5. A system according to claim 4 , wherein the boom tip unit is operative to perform digital signal processing to generate at least one of lock detection and audio transmission data based on a refueling coil's signal and transmits the at least one of lock detection and audio transmission data to at least one tanker system directly.

6. A system according to claim 2 wherein the boom tip unit is operative to digitally obtain signal samples of boom contact signals, lock detection signals, and audio transmission signals, transmit the digital signal samples to said boom forward unit, and wherein said boom forward unit converts the digital signal samples to an analog signal for processing by analog boom signal amplifiers that feed the signals to tanker systems of at least one of the refueled and refueling entities.

7. A system according to claim 6 , wherein the boom tip unit is operative to:
sample a refueling coil's raw signal, and
digitally transmit the sampled raw signal to the boom forward unit,
wherein the boom forward unit is operative to convert the transmitted signal to said analog signal, and feed said analog signal to said boom signal amplifiers which output to at least one tanker system at least one of: contact status and an audio signal.

8. A system according to claim 2 , wherein the load sensor is configured to measure side loads with strain gauges, drive a signal coil, monitor the signal coil, and transmit and receive signals to and from the boom flight control computer.

9. A system according to claim 1 , which provides wireless voice communication between the refueled entity and the refueling entity.

10. A system according to claim 9 , wherein said voice communication between the refueled entity and the refueling entity passes through the boom tip unit.

11. A system according to claim 1 , wherein said refueled entity and refueling entity comprise aircraft.

12. A system according to claim 11 , wherein any two of the following:
boom tip loads, voice, “contact made” signal, and “disconnect” command, all travel through a single wireless channel.

13. A system according to claim 1 , wherein the load sensor is configured to communicate a sensed load to an air refueling boom system.

14. A system according to claim 1 , wherein said load sensor comprises a mechanical loads sensor which is operative to generate a signal representative of loads exerted on the nozzle, and to transmit the loads signals and a coil signal including voice communication between the refueled entity and the refueling entity and a “contact made” signal provided from the nozzle and a “disconnect” command signal directed to the nozzle.

15. A system according to claim 14 , wherein the load sensor comprises strain gauges operative to measure the at least one of shear and torque stresses exerted on the nozzle.

16. A system according to claim 14 , wherein the load sensor comprises strain gauges operative to measure the at least one of bending and torque stresses exerted on the nozzle.

17. A system according to claim 1 , wherein said signals are transmitted wirelessly using Bluetooth wireless technology.

18. A system according to claim 1 , wherein said signals are transmitted wirelessly using ZigBee wireless technology.

19. A system according to claim 1 , wherein said signals are transmitted wirelessly using Free Space Optical wireless technology.

20. A system according to claim 1 , wherein a range of telescopic boom motion of the boom telescope having telescopic motion relative to the surrounding external tube occurs during refueling of an aircraft and wherein transmission power is configured to a minimum required given the range of said telescopic motion, so as to reduce the aircraft electromagnetic signature and provide for operation in radio silence.

21. A system according to claim 1 , wherein the apparatus for wirelessly transmitting loads is operative to dynamically change transmission frequency of the wireless transmission.

22. A system according to claim 1 , comprising a plurality of redundant channels, each of said plurality of redundant channels having independent load sensors.

23. A method for providing a legacy air refueling boom with a nozzle load sensing capability, the method comprising:
providing a nozzle boom tip unit, serving a nozzle which does not have nozzle load sensing and sensed nozzle load communication capabilities, with a nozzle load sensor to sense loads on the nozzle boom tip unit, wherein the load sensor senses at least one of shear, bending and torque stresses exerted on the load sensor to estimate forces exerted on the nozzle boom tip unit; and
providing an apparatus for wirelessly transmitting loads sensed by said nozzle load sensor to a boom forward unit and then to at least one of a boom operator and a boom flight control computer, wherein data, received from load sensor units which are located on a telescope having telescopic motion relative to a surrounding external tube, is transmitted to a point located on the external tube.

24. A method according to claim 23 , wherein said nozzle comprises a Military Standard MS27604 Nozzle.

25. A method according to claim 23 , further comprising using said nozzle boom tip unit for wireless transmission of sensed nozzle loads.

26. A method according to claim 23 , further comprising using said nozzle boom tip unit for establishing wireless voice communication between a receiver and a tanker.

27. A method according to claim 23 , further comprising using said nozzle boom tip unit for wirelessly transmitting at least one of a “contact made” signal created at the nozzle and a “disconnect” command signal directed to the nozzle.

28. A method according to claim 23 , wherein said boom tip unit comprises a plug to be installed betwe

Assignees

• Israel Aerospace Ind Ltd

Inventors

• Barsheshet Moshe
• Herzig Yoav
• Koskas Elie
• Litvak Michael
• Frydman Daniel

Classifications

• B64D39/04 Primary

  Adaptations of hose construction · CPC title