Systems and methods provide for a drogue deployment system that may be removably attached to a non-tanker aircraft to modify the aircraft for providing aerial refueling operations. Aspects of the disclosure provide a drum unit that may be secured in a cargo area of the non-tanker aircraft and connec
Systems and methods provide for a drogue deployment system that may be removably attached to a non-tanker aircraft to modify the aircraft for providing aerial refueling operations. Aspects of the disclosure provide a drum unit that may be secured in a cargo area of the non-tanker aircraft and connected to the fuel system of the aircraft. A drogue deployment unit may be removably attached to an external surface of the aircraft fuselage and includes a drogue extension tube that may be selectively deployed outward from the fuselage to provide separation between a refueling drogue and the aircraft. The drogue and corresponding refueling hose may be deployed from a drogue container attached to the drogue extension tube and extended rearward for providing fuel to a receiving aircraft.
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1. A drogue deployment system for providing a non-tanker aircraft with aerial refueling capabilities, comprising: a drum unit configured for removable coupling to a fuel system of the non-tanker aircraft, the drum unit comprising a drum configured to rotate in a first direction to receive a refuelin
1. A drogue deployment system for providing a non-tanker aircraft with aerial refueling capabilities, comprising: a drum unit configured for removable coupling to a fuel system of the non-tanker aircraft, the drum unit comprising a drum configured to rotate in a first direction to receive a refueling hose and to rotate in a second direction to deploy the refueling hose; andan actuator operative to rotate a drive screw,at least one guide rod positioned substantially parallel to the drive screw;a carriage assembly configured to translate along the at least one guide rod in a first linear direction upon activation of the actuator to rotate the drive screw in a first rotational direction, and to translate along the at least one guide rod in a second linear direction opposite the first linear direction upon activation of the actuator to rotate the drive screw in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction,a drogue extension tube rotatably coupled to a fixed structure at a fixed pivot end,at least one extension rod coupled at a first end to the carriage assembly and at a second end to the drogue extension tube such that translation of the carriage assembly along the at least one guide rod rotates the drogue extension tube around the fixed pivot end, anda drogue container rotatably coupled to the drogue extension tube at a distal end opposite the fixed pivot end,wherein the drogue extension tube and the drogue container are configured to receive the refueling hose and to guide the refueling hose from the drum unit to a deployed position external to the non-tanker aircraft. 2. The drogue deployment system of claim 1, further comprising: a drogue coupled to the refueling hose and configured to receive a refueling probe of a receiving aircraft and to provide fuel from the refueling hose to the refueling probe. 3. The drogue deployment system of claim 2, further comprising: the refueling hose configured for coupling at one end to a fuel line fitting of the drum unit and at an opposing end to the drogue. 4. The drogue deployment system of claim 1, wherein the drum unit further comprises a housing encompassing the drum and configured for stowage on an aircraft pallet. 5. The drogue deployment system of claim 1, wherein the drum unit further comprises a drum actuation mechanism operative to selectively rotate the drum in the first direction and in the second direction, and wherein the actuator of the drogue deployment unit is operative to selectively rotate the drogue extension tube downward to a deployed configuration and upward to a stowed configuration. 6. The drogue deployment system of claim 5, further comprising a control unit, the control unit operative to selectively activate and deactivate the drum actuation mechanism and the actuator of the drogue deployment unit. 7. The drogue deployment system of claim 1, wherein the drogue deployment unit further comprises: a drogue container rod rotatably attached at a first end to the fixed structure and at a second end to an aft pivot fitting; andthe aft pivot fitting fixedly attached to the drogue container such that when the drogue container rod rotates downward around the first end, the drogue container rod rotates the aft pivot fitting and attached corresponding drogue container at a rate that substantially maintains an orientation of the drogue container with respect to an ambient airflow. 8. The drogue deployment system of claim 1, wherein the drum unit being configured for removable coupling to the fuel system of the non-tanker aircraft comprises the drum unit having an attached double-walled fuel manifold that is configured to be removably coupled to a single-walled fuel manifold of the fuel system of the non-tanker aircraft. 9. The drogue deployment system of claim 1, further comprising: the fuselage of the non-tanker aircraft;the refueling hose; anda drogue attached at an end of the refueling hose and configured to receive a refueling probe of a receiving aircraft,wherein the drum unit is secured within a cargo space of the fuselage, and wherein the fuel system comprises at least one fuel tank such that the fuel system and drogue deployment system provide a fuel pathway from the at least one fuel tank to the drogue for transfer to the receiving aircraft. 10. A method for providing aerial refueling operations with a non-tanker aircraft, the method comprising: rotating a drive screw of a drogue deployment unit;in response to rotating the drive screw, translating a carriage assembly along at least one guide rod positioned substantially parallel to the drive screw to rotate a drogue extension tube downward around a fixed pivot end from a stowed position substantially parallel with a fuselage of the non-tanker aircraft to a deployed position via at least one extension rod, wherein the at least one extension rod is coupled at a first end to the carriage assembly and at a second end to the drogue extension tube such that translation of the carriage assembly along the at least one guide rod rotates the drogue extension tube around the fixed pivot end;extending a refueling hose from a drum unit secured within a cargo area of the non-tanker aircraft through the drogue extension tube and through a drogue container attached to a distal end of the drogue extension tube such that a drogue attached to an end of the refueling hose extends rearward from the drogue container to a deployed position behind the non-tanker aircraft; andtransferring fuel from a fuel tank of the non-tanker aircraft through the refueling tube to the drogue for receiving by a refueling probe of a receiving aircraft. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein rotating the drogue extension tube downward, extending the refueling hose from the drum unit, and transferring fuel from the fuel tank are initiated via a portable control unit positioned within the non-tanker aircraft. 12. The method of claim 10, further comprising: stopping fuel transfer;retracting the refueling hose; androtating the drogue extension tube upward around the fixed pivot end from the deployed position to the stowed position. 13. The method of claim 10, further comprising: coupling the drum unit to the fuel tank of the non-tanker aircraft, the drum unit comprising a drum configured to rotate in a first direction to retract the refueling hose and to rotate in a second direction to extend the refueling hose;coupling a drogue deployment unit to an external surface of the fuselage of the non-tanker aircraft, the drogue deployment unit comprising the drogue extension tube and the drogue container;positioning the refueling hose around the drum and through the drogue extension tube;attaching the drogue to the refueling hose; andcoupling a portable control unit to the drum unit and to the drogue deployment unit, the control unit configured to control deployment and retraction of the drogue extension tube and the refueling hose and to control fuel flow from the fuel tank of the non-tanker aircraft to the drogue. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein coupling the drum unit to the fuel tank of the non-tanker aircraft comprises removably coupling a double-walled fuel manifold attached to the drum unit to a single-walled fuel manifold attached to the fuel tank of the non-tanker aircraft. 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising securing the drum unit within the cargo area of the non-tanker aircraft. 16. An aircraft configuration, comprising: a fuselage comprising a pressurized cargo area;wings coupled to the fuselage;a fuel system comprising a plurality of fuel tanks disposed within the fuselage or the wings;a drum unit removably coupled to the fuel system, the drum unit comprising a drum configured to rotate in a first direction to receive a refueling hose and to rotate in a second direction to deploy the refueling hose;a drogue deployment unit, the drogue deployment unit comprising an actuation mechanism housing removably coupled to an external surface of the fuselage,an actuator positioned within the actuation mechanism housing and operative to rotate a drive screw,at least one guide rod positioned substantially parallel to the drive screw;a carriage assembly configured to translate along the at least one guide rod in a first linear direction upon activation of the actuator to rotate the drive screw in a first rotational direction, and to translate along the at least one guide rod in a second linear direction opposite the first linear direction upon activation of the actuator to rotate the drive screw in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction,a drogue extension tube rotatably coupled to the actuation mechanism housing at a pivot end,at least one extension rod coupled at a first end to the carriage assembly and at a second end to the drogue extension tube such that translation of the carriage assembly along the at least one guide rod rotates the drogue extension tube around the fixed pivot end, anda drogue container rotatably coupled to the drogue extension tube at a distal end opposite the pivot end,wherein the drogue extension tube and the drogue container are configured to receive the refueling hose and to guide the refueling hose from the drum unit to a deployed position beneath and rearward of the fuselage;the refueling hose;a drogue attached to an end of the refueling hose and configured to receive a refueling probe of a receiving aircraft; anda control unit, the control unit operative to control deployment and retraction of the drogue extension tube and of the refueling hose. 17. The aircraft configuration of claim 16, wherein the drogue deployment unit further comprises: a drogue container rod rotatably attached at a first end to the fixed structure and at a second end to an aft pivot fitting; andthe aft pivot fitting fixedly attached to the drogue container such that when the drogue container rod rotates downward around the first end, the drogue container rod rotates the aft pivot fitting and attached corresponding drogue container at a rate that substantially maintains an orientation of the drogue container with respect to an ambient airflow. 18. The aircraft configuration of claim 16, wherein the drum unit comprises a double-walled fuel manifold that is configured to be removably coupled to a single-walled fuel manifold of the fuel system.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (7)
Alden Ralph E. (Torrance CA) Vennero Guy G. (Ventura CA), Aerial refueling system.
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