IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0831185
(2010-07-06)
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등록번호 |
US-8317136
(2012-11-27)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Kirkland, William L.
- Reed, Eric
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출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
0 인용 특허 :
2 |
초록
▼
The stabilized controllable drogue for an inflight aerial refueling system includes a reception coupling, a paradrogue frame, a drogue canopy, and a plurality of actuators for moving the drogue canopy in a desired direction to control, steer and stabilize the stabilized controllable drogue during tu
The stabilized controllable drogue for an inflight aerial refueling system includes a reception coupling, a paradrogue frame, a drogue canopy, and a plurality of actuators for moving the drogue canopy in a desired direction to control, steer and stabilize the stabilized controllable drogue during turbulent conditions.
대표청구항
▼
1. A stabilized controllable drogue assembly for an inflight aerial refueling system, comprising: a reception coupling having a forward portion and a trailing edge portion, said forward portion of said reception coupling being configured to be connected to a fuel supply hose trailed from a tanker ai
1. A stabilized controllable drogue assembly for an inflight aerial refueling system, comprising: a reception coupling having a forward portion and a trailing edge portion, said forward portion of said reception coupling being configured to be connected to a fuel supply hose trailed from a tanker aircraft during aerial refueling, and said trailing edge portion of said reception coupling including an open rearward throat section configured to connect with a refueling probe of a receiver aircraft that is refueling;a paradrogue frame including a plurality of leading edge struts and a plurality of leading edge positioning arms, said plurality of leading edge struts each having a leading end and a trailing end, said plurality of leading edge struts being pivotally mounted to the trailing edge portion of the reception coupling, each of said plurality of leading edge positioning arms including a radially inner end and a radially outer end, said radially inner end of the leading edge positioning arms being pivotally connected to a corresponding one of said plurality of leading edge struts near or at a trailing end of said corresponding one of said plurality of leading edge struts, said radially outer end of the plurality of leading edge positioning arms is rotatably movable between a relatively radially inward position and a relatively radially outward position;a drogue canopy having a leading edge and a trailing edge, said drogue canopy being fixedly attached between the trailing ends of the leading edge struts and the radially outer ends of the leading edge positioning arm;at least one actuator mounted on said reception coupling;a control cable having an aft end, said aft end of said control cable being connected to a control portion of a corresponding one of said plurality of leading edge positioning arms, said control cable having a forward end connected to said at least one actuator operative to move the control cable to cause the leading edge positioning arm and the leading edge of the drogue canopy to move radially outwardly, and to thereby cause a portion of the stabilized controllable drogue assembly to move radially outward. 2. The stabilized controllable drogue assembly of claim 1, wherein said reception coupling comprises an outer cover that protects components mounted on the reception coupling. 3. The stabilized controllable drogue assembly of claim 1, wherein said plurality of leading edge struts are pivotally mounted to the trailing edge portion of the reception coupling by an attachment ring. 4. The stabilized controllable drogue assembly of claim 1, wherein said relatively radially inward position of said plurality of leading edge positioning arms is a default position of said plurality of leading edge positioning arms. 5. The stabilized controllable drogue assembly of claim 1, wherein said trailing ends of the leading edge struts include a hook for attaching the drogue canopy. 6. The stabilized controllable drogue assembly of claim 1, wherein said radially outer ends of the leading edge positioning arms include a hook for attaching the drogue canopy. 7. The stabilized controllable drogue assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one actuator is positioned about a longitudinal central axis of the reception coupling and are located substantially equidistant from the longitudinal central axis and approximately 90° apart from each other. 8. The stabilized controllable drogue assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one actuator is positioned about a longitudinal central axis of the reception coupling and are located substantially equidistant from the longitudinal central axis and approximately 120° apart from each other. 9. The stabilized controllable drogue assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one actuator is operative to pull at least one of said plurality of control cables to cause the leading edge of the drogue canopy to move radially outward, to thereby cause a portion of the leading edge of the stabilized controllable drogue assembly to move radially outward. 10. The stabilized controllable drogue assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one actuator is operative to push at least one of said plurality of control cables to cause the leading edge of the drogue canopy to move radially inward, to thereby cause a portion of the leading edge of the stabilized controllable drogue assembly to move radially inward. 11. The stabilized controllable drogue assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one actuator comprises a plurality of actuators and said at least one control cable includes a plurality of control cables, and wherein each of said plurality of control cables is separately and independently connected to a corresponding one of said plurality of actuators, respectively, whereby each of said plurality of said leading edge positioning arms can be manipulated independently by said plurality of actuators or in a blended manner to cause the entire drogue canopy to steer in a desired direction. 12. The stabilized controllable drogue assembly of claim 1, wherein said control cable comprises a plurality of control cables, and wherein a subset of said plurality of said control cables is connected to one of said plurality of actuators, whereby a plurality of said leading edge positioning arms corresponding to said subset of said plurality of control cables can be manipulated simultaneously by the same actuator to cause the drogue canopy to steer in a desired direction. 13. The stabilized controllable drogue assembly of claim 11, further comprising a control system operative to sense turbulence and operate at least one of said actuators connected to at least one of said positioning arm control cables to move said drogue canopy in a desired direction and to stabilize the stabilized controllable drogue assembly and reception coupling assembly during turbulent conditions. 14. A stabilized controllable paradrogue assembly for an inflight aerial refueling system, comprising: a reception coupling having a forward portion and a trailing edge portion, said forward portion of said reception coupling being configured to be connected to a fuel supply hose trailed from a tanker aircraft during aerial refueling, and said trailing edge portion of said reception coupling including an open rearward throat section configured to connect with a refueling probe of a receiver aircraft that is refueling;a paradrogue frame including a plurality of leading edge struts and a plurality of leading edge positioning arms, said plurality of leading edge struts each having a leading end and a trailing end, said plurality of leading edge struts being pivotally mounted to the trailing edge portion of the reception coupling, each of said plurality of leading edge positioning arms including a radially inner end and a radially outer end, said radially inner end of the leading edge positioning arms being pivotally connected to a corresponding one of said plurality of leading edge struts near or at a trailing end of said corresponding one of said plurality of leading edge struts, said radially outer end of the plurality of leading edge positioning arms is rotatably movable between a relatively radially inward position and a relatively radially outward position;a drogue canopy having a leading edge and a trailing edge, said drogue canopy being fixedly attached between the trailing ends of the leading edge struts and the radially outer ends of the leading edge positioning arm;a plurality of actuators mounted on said reception coupling;a plurality of control cables each having a forward end and an aft end, each said aft end connected to a control portion of a corresponding one of said plurality of leading edge positioning arms, respectively, each said forward end connected to at least one of said plurality of actuators, respectively, whereby a plurality of said leading edge positioning arms corresponding to said at least one of said plurality of control cables are configured to be moved simultaneously by said at least one actuator to cause the drogue canopy to steer in a desired direction. 15. The stabilized controllable paradrogue assembly of claim 14, wherein said relatively radially inward position of said plurality of leading edge positioning arms is a default position of said plurality of leading edge positioning arms. 16. The stabilized controllable paradrogue assembly of claim 14, wherein said plurality of actuators are positioned about a longitudinal central axis of the reception coupling and are located substantially equidistant from the longitudinal central axis and approximately 90° apart from each other. 17. The stabilized controllable paradrogue assembly of claim 14, wherein said plurality of actuators are positioned about a longitudinal central axis of the reception coupling and are located substantially equidistant from the longitudinal central axis and approximately 120° apart from each other. 18. The stabilized controllable paradrogue assembly of claim 14, wherein said plurality of actuators are operative to pull at least one of said plurality of control cables to cause the leading edge of the drogue canopy to move radially outward, to thereby cause a portion of the leading edge of the stabilized controllable paradrogue assembly to move radially outward. 19. The stabilized controllable paradrogue assembly of claim 14, wherein said actuators are operative to push at least one of said plurality of control cables to cause the leading edge of the drogue canopy to move radially inward, to thereby cause a portion of the leading edge of the stabilized controllable paradrogue assembly to move radially inward. 20. The stabilized controllable paradrogue assembly of claim 14, further comprising a control system operative to sense turbulence and operate at least one of said plurality of actuators connected to at least one of said positioning arm control cables to move said drogue canopy in a desired direction and to stabilize the stabilized controllable paradrogue assembly and reception coupling assembly during turbulent conditions. 21. The stabilized controllable paradrogue assembly of claim 14, wherein said reception coupling comprises an outer cover that protects components mounted on the reception coupling.
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