초록 ▼

An in-flight refueling system, sensor system and method are provided for detecting and damping changes in the disposition of an elongate hose extending from a tanker aircraft during an in-flight refueling operation. The various embodiments provide a compact, lightweight, and low-profile sensor devi

An in-flight refueling system, sensor system and method are provided for detecting and damping changes in the disposition of an elongate hose extending from a tanker aircraft during an in-flight refueling operation. The various embodiments provide a compact, lightweight, and low-profile sensor device that may be fitted to the elongate hose so as to detect oscillations in the elongate hose and transmit a signal to a hose retracting device carried by the tanker aircraft such that the hose retracting device retracts the elongate hose in response to the signal so as to counteract the occurrence of oscillations within the elongate hose. Thus, these embodiments may minimize the effect of oscillations in the elongate hose by selectively retracting the elongate hose in response to oscillations detected therein as it extends from the tanker aircraft during an in-flight refueling operation.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An in-flight refueling system comprising: at tanker aircraft; an elongate hose having a first end carried by the tanker aircraft and an opposing second end configured to extend from the tanker aircraft; a retracting device carried by the tanker aircraft and configured to be c

What is claimed is: 1. An in-flight refueling system comprising: at tanker aircraft; an elongate hose having a first end carried by the tanker aircraft and an opposing second end configured to extend from the tanker aircraft; a retracting device carried by the tanker aircraft and configured to be capable of extending and retracting the elongate hose relative to the tanker aircraft; and a sensor device operably engaged with and carried by a portion of the elongate hose and capable of detecting a change in disposition of the portion of the elongate hose and transmitting a signal to the retracting device, the signal being related to the change in disposition such that the retracting device is capable of retracting the elongate hose in response to the signal, thereby resisting the change in disposition of the portion of the elongate hose. 2. An in-flight refueling system according to claim 1, wherein the portion of the elongate hose is proximate the second end of the elongate hose. 3. An in-flight refueling system according to claim 1, further comprising a drogue operably engaged with the second end of the elongate hose. 4. An in-flight refueling system according to claim 3, wherein the sensor device is operably engaged with the drogue and capable of detecting a change in disposition of the drogue and transmitting a signal to the retracting device, the signal being related to the change in disposition such that the retracting device is capable of retracting the elongate hose in response to the signal, thereby resisting the change in disposition of the drogue and the elongate hose operably engaged therewith. 5. An in-flight refueling system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor device further comprises an accelerometer. 6. An in-flight refueling system according to claim 1, further comprising: a transmitter device in communication with the sensor device and configured to be capable of transmitting the signal in response to the change in disposition detected thereby; and a receiver device in communication with the retracting device and configured to be capable of receiving the signal and communicating with the retracting device such that the retracting device is capable of retracting the elongate hose in response to the signal, thereby resisting the change in disposition of the portion of the elongate hose. 7. An in-flight refueling system according to claim 6 wherein the transmitter device comprises: a transducer configured to convert the change in disposition to a corresponding signal; and an optical source in communication with the transducer and configured to transmit an optical signal to the receiver device in response to the corresponding signal. 8. An in-flight refueling system according to claim 6, wherein the receiver device comprises: an optical receiver configured to be capable of receiving the signal; and a converter in communication with the optical receiver and the retracting device and configured to be capable of converting the signal into a control input and sending the control input to the retracting device such that the retracting device retracts the elongate hose in response to the signal, thereby damping the change in disposition of the portion of the elongate hose. 9. An in-flight refueling system adapted to be carried by a tanker aircraft comprising: an elongate hose having a first end carried by the tanker aircraft and an opposing second end configured to extend from the tanker aircraft; a retracting device carried by the tanker aircraft and configured to be capable of extending and retracting the elongate hose relative to the tanker aircraft; and a sensor device operably engaged with and carried by a portion of the elongate hose and capable of detecting a change in disposition of the portion of the elongate hose and transmitting a signal to the retracting device, the signal being related to the change in disposition such that the retracting device is capable of retracting the elongate hose in response to the signal, thereby resisting the change in disposition of the portion of the elongate hose. 10. An in-flight refueling system according to claim 9, wherein the portion of the elongate hose is proximate the second end of the elongate hose. 11. An in-flight refueling system according to claim 9, further comprising a drogue operably engaged with the second end of the elongate hose. 12. An in-flight refueling system according to claim 11, wherein the sensor device is operably engaged with the drogue and capable of detecting a change in disposition of the drogue and transmitting a signal to the retracting device, the signal being related to the change in disposition such that the retracting device is capable of retracting the elongate hose in response to the signal, thereby resisting the change in disposition of the drogue and the elongate hose operably engaged therewith. 13. An in-flight refueling system according to claim 9, wherein the sensor device further comprises an accelerometer. 14. An in-flight refueling system according to claim 9, further comprising: a transmitter device in communication with the sensor device and configured to be capable of transmitting the signal in response to the change in disposition detected thereby; and a receiver device in communication with the retracting device and configured to be capable of receiving the signal and communicating with the retracting device such that the retracting device is capable of retracting the elongate hose in response to the signal, thereby resisting the change in disposition of the portion of the elongate hose. 15. An in-flight refueling system according to claim 14 wherein the transmitter device comprises: a transducer configured to convert the change in disposition to a corresponding signal; and an optical source in communication with the transducer and configured to transmit an optical signal to the receiver device in response to the corresponding signal. 16. An in-flight refueling system according to claim 14, wherein the receiver device comprises: an optical receiver configured to be capable of receiving the signal; and a converter in communication with the optical receiver and the retracting device and configured to be capable of converting the signal into a control input and sending the control input to the retracting device such that the retracting device retracts the elongate hose in response to the signal, thereby damping the change in disposition of the portion of the elongate hose. 17. An in-flight refueling system adapted to be carried by a tanker aircraft comprising: an elongate hose having a first end carried by the tanker aircraft and an opposing second end configured to extend from the tanker aircraft; a retracting device carried by the tanker aircraft and configured to be capable of extending and retracting the elongate hose relative to the tanker aircraft; a sensor device operably engaged with a portion of the elongate hose and capable of detecting a change in disposition of the portion of the elongate hose and transmitting a signal to the retracting device; a transmitter device in communication with the sensor device and configured to be capable of transmitting a signal in response to the change in disposition detected thereby, the signal being related to the change in disposition, the transmitter device comprising: a transducer configured to convert the change in disposition to a corresponding signal; and an optical source in communication with the transducer and configured to transmit an optical signal to the receiver device in response to the corresponding signal; and a receiver device in communication with the retracting device and configured to be capable of receiving the signal and communicating with the retracting device such than the retracting device is capable of retracting the elongate hose in response to the signal, thereby resisting the change in disposition of the portion of the elongate hose. 18. An in-flight refueling system adapted to be carried by a tanker aircraft comprising: an elongate hose having a first end carried by the tanker aircraft and an opposing second end configured to extend flow the tanker aircraft; a retracting device carried by the tanker aircraft and configured to be capable of extending and retracting the elongate hose relative to the tanker aircraft; a sensor device operably engaged with a portion of the elongate hose and capable of detecting a change in disposition of the portion of the elongate hose and transmitting a signal to the retracting device; a transmitter device in communication with the sensor device and configured to be capable of transmitting a signal in response to the change in disposition detected thereby, the signal being related to the change in disposition, the transmitter device comprising: a transducer configured to convert the change in disposition to a corresponding signal; and an optical source in communication with the transducer and configured to transmit an optical signal to the receiver device in response to the corresponding signal; and a receiver device in communication with the retracting device, the receiver device comprising: an optical receiver configured to be capable of receiving the optical signal; and a converter in communication with the optical receiver and the retracting device and configured to be capable of converting the optical signal into a control input and sending the control input to the retracting device such that the retracting device retracts the elongate hose in response to the signal, thereby damping the change in disposition of the portion of the elongate hose.