Ship or air deployable automated buoy refueling station for multiple manned or unmanned surface vessels
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
B65B-003/04
B67D-007/42
B67D-007/04
출원번호
US-0096926
(2013-12-04)
등록번호
US-8991447
(2015-03-31)
발명자
/ 주소
Petersen, Scott M.
출원인 / 주소
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
대리인 / 주소
Ghatt, Dave A.
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
3인용 특허 :
18
초록▼
A fueling system including a ship or air deployable automated fueling station and one or more sea surface water vessels. The fueling station including a ballast arrangement to maintain an optimal freeboard for fueling the one or more water vessels, the fueling station and the one or more water vesse
A fueling system including a ship or air deployable automated fueling station and one or more sea surface water vessels. The fueling station including a ballast arrangement to maintain an optimal freeboard for fueling the one or more water vessels, the fueling station and the one or more water vessels including a communication arrangement for communications between the fueling station and the one or more water vessels. The fueling station including a plurality of nozzles for simultaneously fueling a plurality of water vessels.
대표청구항▼
1. A fueling system for securing and fueling a plurality of water vessels at a fueling station, the fueling system comprising: a fueling station comprising; a fuel receptacle therein,a plurality of fuel nozzles, each of the plurality of fuel nozzles having a probe receiving area for receiving a prob
1. A fueling system for securing and fueling a plurality of water vessels at a fueling station, the fueling system comprising: a fueling station comprising; a fuel receptacle therein,a plurality of fuel nozzles, each of the plurality of fuel nozzles having a probe receiving area for receiving a probe therein,a plurality of conduits, wherein each of the plurality of conduits has an end in the fuel receptacle and another end connected to one of the fuel nozzles,a fuel sensor positioned within the fuel receptacle for determining the level fuel therein;a GPS receiver that calculates the geographic position of the fueling station;a latching sensor at each of the plurality of nozzles for determining if a water vessel is attached thereto;a fuel station controller;a ballast arrangement for maintaining the fueling station at a predetermined freeboard, wherein the ballast arrangement comprises: a ballast tank;a water intake/outtake assembly to take in or expunge water from the ballast tank; anda ballast sensor for sensing the water level inside the ballast tank, wherein the fuel sensor, the ballast sensor, and the water intake/outtake assembly are connected to the fuel station controller; andwherein, in response to a change in fuel level determination by the fuel sensor, the controller provides signal controls that initiates the water intake/outtake assembly to either intake or expunge water to maintain the fueling station at the predetermined freeboard;a plurality of water vessels, each of the plurality of water vessels comprising a probe, each probe for positioning within a respective one of the probe receivers, wherein when each probe receiving fuel from the fuel receptacle via the fuel conduit. 2. The fueling system of claim 1 further comprising a communication system for communicating between the plurality of water vessels and the fueling station, the communication system comprising: a long range communication arrangement for communications starting from about 15 nautical miles;a medium range communication arrangement for communications starting from about 1,200 ft. to about 800 ft.; anda short range communication arrangement for communications starting from about 10 ft. for directing the water vessels into the fueling station so that the respective probe enters the respective receiver. 3. The fueling system of claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of water vessel comprise a vessel controller for controlling vessel operations, and wherein via the long range communication arrangement, the fueling station communicates station status data, said station status data comprising; GPS location data, fuel level data, and latched vessel data indicating the number of water vessels being fueled at the fueling station, and wherein based on the station status data, each said water vessel controller determines whether to proceed to the fueling station to receive fuel. 4. The fueling system of claim 3, wherein the fueling system comprises a plurality of guiding assemblies, each guiding assembly comprising a pair of guide arms, wherein one arm of the pair extends from one side of one of the plurality of nozzles, and the other arm of the pair extends from the other side of said one of the plurality of nozzles. 5. The fueling system of claim 4, wherein in the communication system, the long range communication arrangement is a wireless data link that comprises one of long range transponders, the medium range communication arrangement comprises a radar based system, and the short range communication arrangement comprises short ranged transponders. 6. The fueling system of claim 5, further comprising a wide flat base for storing the fueling station on a flat surface on a ship or aircraft, wherein each guide arm of the plurality of guiding assemblies pivots downwards to act as support legs when the fueling station is stored on a flat surface. 7. The fueling system of claim 6, further comprising a lift hook at the top of the fueling station for holding and deploying the fueling station from a ship or aircraft into the water. 8. The fueling system of claim 7, wherein the fueling station comprises four fuel nozzles. 9. A ship or air deployable automated fueling station comprising: a fuel receptacle therein,a plurality of fuel nozzles, each of the plurality of fuel nozzles having a probe receiving area for receiving a probe therein,a plurality of conduits, wherein each of the plurality of conduits has an end in the fuel receptacle and another end connected to one of the fuel nozzles,a fuel sensor positioned within the fuel receptacle for determining the level fuel therein;a GPS receiver that calculates the geographic position of the fueling station;a latching sensor at each of the plurality of nozzles for determining if a water vessel is attached thereto;a fuel station controller;a ballast arrangement for maintaining the fueling station at a predetermined freeboard, wherein the ballast arrangement comprises: a ballast tank;a water intake/outtake assembly to take in or expunge water from the ballast tank; anda ballast sensor for sensing the water level inside the ballast tank, wherein the fuel sensor, the ballast sensor, and the water intake/outtake assembly are connected to the fuel station controller; andwherein, in response to a change in fuel level determination by the fuel sensor, the controller provides signal controls that initiates the water intake/outtake assembly to either intake or expunge water to maintain the fueling station at the predetermined freeboard. 10. The ship or air deployable automated fueling station of claim 8, further comprising a communication system for communicating with a plurality of water vessels, the communication system comprising: a long range transponder for communications starting from about 15 nautical miles;a medium range radar for communications starting from about 1,200 ft. to about 1,000 ft.; anda short range transponder arrangement for communicating starting from about 10 ft. for directing water vessels into the fueling station. 11. The ship or air deployable automated fueling station of claim 10, and wherein via the long range transponder, the fueling station communicates station status data, said station status data comprising; GPS location data, fuel level data, and latched vessel data indicating the number of water vessels being fueled at the fueling station. 12. The ship or air deployable automated fueling station of claim 11, wherein the fueling station comprises a plurality of guiding assemblies, each guiding assembly comprising a pair of guide arms, wherein one arm of the pair extends from one side of one of the plurality of nozzles, and the other arm of the pair extends from the other side of said one of the plurality of nozzles. 13. The ship or air deployable automated fueling station of claim 12, further comprising a wide flat base for storing the fueling station on a flat surface on a ship or aircraft, wherein each guide arm of the plurality of guiding assemblies pivots downwards to act as support legs when the fueling station is stored on a flat surface. 14. The ship or air deployable automated fueling station of claim 13 wherein the fueling station comprises four fuel nozzles.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (18)
Gaston, Gregory V.; Phillips, John T.; Bagwell, Brandon R.; Moser, Ronald K., Arrangement for fueling a water vessel.
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