초록 ▼

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 method of the present invention provide

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 method of the present invention provide a signal emitted from a positioning device carried by the first aircraft, wherein the signal defines a signal envelope containing the in-flight refueling position. The signal is adapted to be receivable by the second aircraft such that the signal may guide the second aircraft to the in-flight refueling position relative to the first aircraft.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A positioning system adapted to facilitate in-flight spatial positioning of a first aircraft with respect to a second aircraft, the positioning system comprising: a transmitter carried by the first aircraft and configured to wirelessly provide a radio signal receivable by the

What is claimed is: 1. A positioning system adapted to facilitate in-flight spatial positioning of a first aircraft with respect to a second aircraft, the positioning system comprising: a transmitter carried by the first aircraft and configured to wirelessly provide a radio signal receivable by the second aircraft, the transmitter being further configured such that the radio signal is adapted to define a signal envelope that contains an in-flight refueling position, so as to guide the second aircraft to the in-flight refueling position relative to the first aircraft, the transmitter comprising: a first guiding device configured to provide a first radio signal component in a first frequency range defining a vertical plane coincident with a predefined portion of the first aircraft, the first guiding device being further configured to provide a signal defining a lateral position of the second aircraft relative to the vertical plane; and a second guiding device configured to provide a second radio signal component in a second frequency range defining a glide slope extending below and aft of the first aircraft, the second guiding device being further configured to provide a signal defining a vertical position of the second aircraft relative to the glide slope. 2. A positioning system according to claim 1, further comprising a receiver device carried by the second aircraft, the receiver device being configured to be responsive to the radio signal so as to guide the second aircraft to the in-flight refueling position. 3. A positioning system according to claim 2, wherein the transmitter is configured to provide the radio signal at a selectable frequency and wherein the receiver device comprises a receiver comprising a frequency selector configured to tune the receiver device to receive the radio signal at the selectable frequency. 4. A positioning system according to claim 1, wherein the second guiding device is further configured to provide a glide slope that extends about three degrees down from the centerline of the fuselage of the first aircraft. 5. A positioning system according to claim 1, wherein the receiver device is configured to manipulate the radio signal so as to provide a visual indicia in response to the radio signal, and wherein the receiver device further comprises a display such that the visual indicia is adapted to be viewed by an operator of the second aircraft so as to advice the operator to guide the second aircraft to the in-flight refueling position. 6. A positioning system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one lighting device for generating a visual indicia adapted to be viewed by an operator of the second aircraft so as to advice the operator to guide the second aircraft to the in-flight refueling position. 7. A positioning system according to claim 6, wherein the at least one lighting device further comprises a split-beam lighting device, the split-beam lighting device being configured to provide color-coded visual indicia adapted to be viewed by an operator of the second aircraft so as to advice the operator to guide the second aircraft to the in-flight refueling position. 8. A positioning device adapted to facilitate in-flight spatial positioning of a first aircraft with respect to a second aircraft, the positioning device being carried by the first aircraft and comprising: a transmitter configured to provide a radio guidance signal, the radio guidance signal being adapted to be received by the second aircraft, the transmitter being further configured such that the radio guidance signal is adapted to define a signal envelope that contains an in-flight refueling position, so as to guide the second aircraft to the in-flight refueling position relative to the first aircraft, the transmitter comprising: a first guiding device configured to provide a first radio signal component in a first frequency range defining a vertical plane coincident with a predefined portion of the first aircraft, the first guiding device being further configured to provide a signal defining a lateral position of the second aircraft relative to the vertical plane; and a second guiding device configured to provide a second radio signal component in a second frequency range defining a glide slope extending below and aft of a rear portion of the fuselage of the first aircraft, the second guiding device being further configured to provide a signal defining a vertical position of the second aircraft relative to the glide slope. 9. A positioning device according to claim 8, wherein the second guiding device is further configured to provide a glide slope that extends about three degrees down from the centerline of the fuselage of the first aircraft. 10. A positioning device according to claim 8, wherein the transmitter is further configured to provide the radio guidance signal at a selectable frequency. 11. A method for facilitating in-flight spatial positioning of a first aircraft with respect to a second aircraft, the method comprising: transmitting a lateral positioning radio signal in a first frequency range defining a vertical plane coincident with a predefined portion of the first aircraft, the lateral positioning radio signal also defining a lateral position of the second aircraft relative to the vertical plane; and transmitting a glide slope positioning radio signal in a second frequency range defining a glide slope extending below and aft of a rear portion of the fuselage of the first aircraft, the glide slope positioning radio signal also defining a vertical position of the second aircraft relative to the glide slope; receiving the lateral positioning radio signal and the glide slope positioning radio signal at the second aircraft; and guiding the second aircraft, in response to the lateral positioning radio signal and the glide slope positioning radio signal, to the in-flight refueling position relative to the first aircraft. 12. A method according to claim 11, further comprising transmitting visible light from a lighting device carried by the first aircraft. 13. A method according to claim 11, further comprising transmitting color-coded visual indicia from a split-beam lighting device carried by the first aircraft.