Class 244/135A - Aircraft refueling

Subclass of Class 244 - Aeronautics and astronautics
No. of patents: 187
Last issue date: 05/29/2012

Number	Title	Issue Date
8186623	Controllable drogue A refueling drogue assembly including a refueling drogue receptacle, a control unit including a duct, and a refueling hose connector adapted to rigidly couple the control unit to an aerial refueling hose. In some embodiments, the control unit is flexibly coupled to ...	05/29/2012
8162261	Self contained power system for controllable refueling drogues According to an embodiment, an aerial refueling drogue has a coupling having a channel formed there through. One end of the coupling is attached to a hose. A power generator unit is positioned in the channel of the coupling. ...	04/24/2012
8132759	System and method for facilitating aerial refueling A refueling system and method for use with a refueling tanker aircraft. The system and method involves the use of a camera system to provide imaging information concerning a receiver aircraft to the processor. The processor uses the imaging information to derive clo...	03/13/2012
8118261	Drogue deploying/retrieval method An in-flight refueling method may include deploying a fueling hose from a refueling aircraft. The fueling hose may have a drogue. The deployment of the fueling hose may include extending the drogue using a telescoping arm having a ring. The deployment of the fueling...	02/21/2012
8104716	Optical tracking system for airborne objects An airborne tracking system including a radiation emitter, a radiation receiver and a signal processor. The radiation emitter is adapted to direct radiation to a positioning area a defined distance from the radiation emitter, the radiation carrying a modulated locat...	01/31/2012
8074931	Drogue deploying/retrieval device, system, and method An in-flight refueling device includes an arm, ring and actuator. The arm has a proximate end and a distal end. The ring is secured to the distal end and is configured to releasably secure a drogue for a refueling hose. The actuator is secured to the proximate end a...	12/13/2011
8056860	Method and system for inflight refueling of unmanned aerial vehicles A system and method for refueling unmanned aerial vehicles. The system is adapted to refuel a first unmanned aerial vehicle from a second unmanned aerial vehicle and includes an arrangement for flying the first and second vehicles to proximity within a predetermined...	11/15/2011
8047471	Indication system and method for refuelling operations System (1) for providing indication of the position of a refuelling boom (2) in a tanker aircraft relative to a receptacle (17) in a receiver aircraft during refuelling operations, in particular in the approximation operation, the system (1	11/01/2011
8033506	Apparatus and method for refueling aircraft A method and apparatus for aiding pilots in aerial refueling comprises a primary auto-throttling system (ATS) disposed in a primary aircraft and a secondary ATS disposed in a secondary aircraft. The primary ATS includes logic which generates and transmits an anticip...	10/11/2011
7988095	Device, method, and aircraft for illuminating in-flight operations An device, method, and aircraft are provided for illuminating an in-flight operation, the device, method, and aircraft generating an electromagnetic radiation within the far-violet and ultraviolet spectrum, and thus being imperceptible to the naked eye, compatible w...	08/02/2011
7980512	System and method for displaying aerial refueling symbology In accordance with one or more embodiments, systems and methods for in-flight fuel delivery include an aerial refueling device adapted to provide fuel to a receiver aircraft, an optical component adapted to capture images of the aerial refueling device and the recei...	07/19/2011
7959110	Methods and apparatus for resisting torsional loads in aerial refueling booms A refueling boom for an aerial tanker includes an outer member operatively connected to the tanker, an inner member operatively and telescopically configured with the outer member, and one or more torque rollers. The torque roller is disposed on the outer member suc...	06/14/2011
7954764	Smart boom tip assembly A refueling apparatus for interconnecting a tanker aircraft (11) with a receiver aircraft in flight comprising a boom (21) joined to said tanker aircraft (11) by means of a mechanical articulation (41) having control means including a cen...	06/07/2011
7938369	Method and apparatus for aerial fuel transfer A method and apparatus for transferring fuel onto or off of an aircraft. A refueling transfer duct is deployed from an aft station of the aircraft being serviced while the aircraft is flying, wherein the transfer apparatus comprises a hose with a controllable drogue...	05/10/2011
7931236	Deflection device for a stream body The present application describes to a deflection device, for example, for a blunt stream body. The deflection device has an edge, which, for example, can be mounted to the stream body. In an advantageous manner, the deflection device allows an influencing of the sl...	04/26/2011
7887010	Controllable refueling drogues and associated systems and methods Controllable refueling drogues and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A system in accordance with one embodiment includes a fuel delivery device having a deployable portion configured to be deployed overboard an aircraft during aerial refueling. The deplo...	02/15/2011
7878455	Refueling boom with backup raising cable A backup device for raising a refueling boom interconnecting a tanker aircraft with a receiver aircraft in flight, the boom being joined to the tanker aircraft by a mechanical articulation and a hoist cable. The backup device includes a secondary cable fixed at one ...	02/01/2011
7850121	Enhanced ruddevator for improved air refueling boom flight control In-flight fuel transfer from one aircraft to another aircraft or aerial refueling can extend the flight duration of a receiver aircraft and thereby increase its operational range and/or effectiveness by enabling it to fly farther or for longer duration without retur...	12/14/2010
7837151	Method and apparatus for the hookup of unmanned/manned (“HUM”) multi purpose air vehicles with each other A system for the hookup of either a manned or unmanned air vehicle with a refueling air vehicle. A probe extending from an air vehicle being refueled is joined to a drogue at the end of a boom on a refueling air vehicle. In bringing the probe into the drogue an opti...	11/23/2010
7819361	Active stabilization of a refueling drogue A refueling drogue adapted to connect to a refueling hose extending from a refueling aircraft. The drogue may include an active stabilization system adapted to effectively stabilize the refueling drogue via control surfaces on the refueling drogue when the refueling...	10/26/2010
7798449	Method and system for inflight refueling of unmanned aerial vehicles A system and method for refueling unmanned aerial vehicles. The system is adapted to refuel a first unmanned aerial vehicle from a second unmanned aerial vehicle and includes an arrangement for flying the first and second vehicles to proximity within a predetermined...	09/21/2010
7793887	Interoperable aerial refueling methods An Interoperable aerial refueling method enables tanker aircraft configured with a boom and receiver refueling system to refuel an aircraft configured for the probe and drogue refueling system. In one embodiment, a receptacle, coupled to a refueling drogue, is confi...	09/14/2010
7726608	Device to reduce the lateral force generated by aerial refueling boom cross-section Device to reduce the lateral force generated by an aerial refueling boom (11) of an aircraft characterized in that it has at least one plate (31), the plate (31) has two cantilevered wings (32, 33), the wings (32, 33) have perforat...	06/01/2010
7690599	Method of illumination for in-flight refueling An illuminating system, device, and method are provided to illuminate an in-flight refueling operation involving a first aircraft, serving as a tanker aircraft and carrying the illuminating system of the present invention, and a second aircraft, entering an in-fligh...	04/06/2010
7686252	Optical tracking system for airborne objects An airborne tracking system including a radiation emitter, a radiation receiver and a signal processor. The radiation emitter is adapted to direct radiation to a positioning area a defined distance from the radiation emitter, the radiation carrying a modulated locat...	03/30/2010
7681839	Optical tracking system for refueling An aerial refueling system including a refueling drogue assembly including a refueling drogue and a refueling hose in captive relation with the refueling drogue and a drogue positioning system. The drogue positioning system including a radiation emitter, a radiation...	03/23/2010
7651054	Device, method, and aircraft for illuminating in-flight operations An device, method, and aircraft are provided for illuminating an in-flight operation, the device, method, and aircraft generating an electromagnetic radiation within the far-violet and ultraviolet spectrum, and thus being imperceptible to the naked eye, compatible w...	01/26/2010
7597288	In-flight refueling lightning protection system A lightning protection system, method and aircraft are provided for reducing the flammability of jet fuel spilled during an in-flight refueling operation between a supplying aircraft and a receiving aircraft. An inert gas is injected adjacent to a refueling interfac...	10/06/2009
7562847	Autonomous in-flight refueling system An autonomous in-flight refueling hose end unit includes a first end, a second end remote from the first end, one or more adjustable control surfaces and a flight control computer. The first end is configured to be coupled to a fuel hose of a tanker aircraft. The se...	07/21/2009
7516920	In-flight refueling system and method for facilitating emergency separation of in-flight refueling system components An in-flight refueling system and method for facilitating the emergency separation of the components of a probe and drogue in-flight refueling. The in-flight refueling system and method provides a fuse device capable of being installed between, for instance, an elon...	04/14/2009
7506840	Device for connecting in flight an aircraft to a refuelling device of a tanker aeroplane A connection device for in-flight connecting an aircraft to a refueling device of a tanker airplane has a support structure carrying a hollow connecting boom that is fixed to the fuselage structure. The support structure has a tubular cylindrical body with an intern...	03/24/2009
7475852	Illuminating system, device, and method for in-flight refueling An illuminating system, device, and method are provided to illuminate an in-flight refueling operation involving a first aircraft, serving as a tanker aircraft and carrying the illuminating system of the present invention, and a second aircraft, entering an in-fligh...	01/13/2009
7472868	Systems and methods for controlling an aerial refueling device Systems and methods for refueling aircraft in flight are disclosed herein. An aerial refueling system in accordance with one aspect of the invention includes a movable aerial refueling boom configured to be carried by an aerial refueling aircraft. The system can als...	01/06/2009
7469863	Systems and methods for automatically and semiautomatically controlling aircraft refueling Aerial refueling systems and associated methods are disclosed. A system in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes an operator input device configured to receive operator inputs and direct a first input signal corresponding to a target position for ...	12/30/2008
7458543	Aerial refueling system An aircraft aerial refueling system includes a fuel tank positioned in at least an aircraft wing to store fuel. At least two fuel pumps operate to transfer the fuel from the tank to a remotely located refueling connection. At least one electrically controlled valve ...	12/02/2008
7431241	Interoperable aerial refueling apparatus and methods Interoperable aerial refueling apparatus and methods. In one embodiment, a receptacle configured to fluidly receive a terminal portion of a refueling boom is coupled to a refueling drogue. A retainer is coupled to an aircraft that removably retains the receptacle wh...	10/07/2008
7422179	Apparatus for aerial refuelling Apparatus for aerial refuelling comprises a frame 2 for attaching around an aperture in an aircraft floor 3, and a movable hose drum housing 4 pivotally mounted on the frame. The hose drum 12 may be stowed within the aircraft, and moved i...	09/09/2008
7413144	Positioning system, device, and method for in-flight refueling A positioning system, device, and method are provided to facilitate the in-flight positioning of two aircraft relative to one another such that a second aircraft is guided to an in-flight refueling position relative to a first aircraft. The system, device, and metho...	08/19/2008
7404530	Control of a drogue body A refueling drogue adapted to connect to a refueling hose extending from a refueling aircraft. The refueling drogue may include an active control system, wherein, in an exemplary embodiment, the active control system is adapted to regulate the position of the drogue...	07/29/2008
7377468	Active stabilization of a refueling drogue A refueling drogue adapted to connect to a refueling hose extending from a refueling aircraft. The drogue may include an active stabilization system adapted to effectively stabilize the refueling drogue via control surfaces on the refueling drogue when the refueling...	05/27/2008

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Class 244/135A - Aircraft refueling