System and method of airplane conversion for in-flight refueling
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
B64D-039/00
B64D-045/00
B64F-005/00
출원번호
US-0387491
(2013-03-21)
등록번호
US-10099798
(2018-10-16)
국제출원번호
PCT/IL2013/050285
(2013-03-21)
국제공개번호
WO2013/153549
(2013-10-17)
발명자
/ 주소
Lupu, Abraham
출원인 / 주소
ISRAEL AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES LTD.
대리인 / 주소
Dorsey & Whitney LLP
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
0인용 특허 :
11
초록▼
A refueling airplane converted from a non-refueling airplane having an original tail section and an original tail-strike pitch attitude. The refueling airplane comprises the original tail section and a recess formed therein, both constituting a modified tail section. The recess is configured to at l
A refueling airplane converted from a non-refueling airplane having an original tail section and an original tail-strike pitch attitude. The refueling airplane comprises the original tail section and a recess formed therein, both constituting a modified tail section. The recess is configured to at least partially accommodate therewithin a refueling boom. The refueling boom is configured to be mounted to the modified tail section, such that a tail-strike pitch attitude of the refueling airplane, when said refueling boom is mounted thereto, is equal to or greater than the original tail-strike pitch attitude of the non-refueling airplane.
대표청구항▼
1. A refueling airplane converted from a non-refueling airplane having an original tail section and an original tail-strike pitch attitude, said refueling airplane comprising: said original tail section having a cutout formed therein, both of which constitute a modified tail section, said cutout ext
1. A refueling airplane converted from a non-refueling airplane having an original tail section and an original tail-strike pitch attitude, said refueling airplane comprising: said original tail section having a cutout formed therein, both of which constitute a modified tail section, said cutout extending inwardly from an outside of said original tail section, said cutout at least partially defined by a flat bottom surface and at least one sidewall that is formed by a portion of at least one rib of a fuselage of the refueling airplane, the portion of the at least one rib extending below the flat bottom surface, said flat bottom surface constituting at least a portion of an outermost surface of the modified tail section, said flat bottom surface extending along said modified tail section directly underneath at least a portion of a vertical stabilizer of said refueling airplane, said cutout being configured to at least partially accommodate therewithin a refueling boom such that said refueling boom at least partially extends out of said cutout, said refueling boom being configured to be mounted to the modified tail section via a pivot mechanism protruding out of said modified tail section through said flat bottom surface, such that a tail-strike pitch attitude of the refueling airplane, when said refueling boom is mounted thereto, is equal to or greater than the original tail-strike pitch attitude of the non-refueling airplane. 2. The refueling airplane according to claim 1, wherein said non-refueling airplane has an original minimum tail clearance and said refueling airplane has a modified minimum tail clearance when said refueling boom is mounted thereto; wherein a space provided by the cutout for the refueling boom is configured for compensating a decrease in the modified minimum tail clearance of the refueling airplane relative to the original minimum tail clearance of the non-refueling airplane. 3. The refueling airplane according to claim 2, wherein said modified minimum tail clearance is equal to or greater than the original minimum tail clearance of the non-refueling airplane. 4. The refueling airplane according to claim 2, wherein said non-refueling airplane, in a tail-strike position thereof, is characterized by an original vertical distance between a ground line and a set of lowermost points along the periphery of said original tail section, and said refueling airplane, in a tail-strike position thereof, is characterized by a modified vertical distance between the ground line and the lower most points along the periphery of said modified tail section, such that at the region of said cutout, said modified vertical distance is greater than or equal to the original vertical distance. 5. The refueling airplane according to claim 4, wherein the difference between the original vertical distance and the modified vertical distance at the region of said cutout is corresponding to the compensation of the distance decrease in the modified minimum tail clearance of the refueling airplane relative to the original minimum tail clearance. 6. The refueling airplane according to claim 1, wherein said original tail section comprises an original tail-portion, and said modified tail section comprises a modified tail-portion including said cutout, said modified tail-portion including substitute structural elements replacing original structural elements of the original tail-portion. 7. The refueling airplane according to claim 6, wherein said cutout is defined by a bottom surface and a side surface, and an angle therebetween. 8. The refueling airplane according to claim 1, wherein said cutout provides space to the refueling boom so as to preserve flight performance and operation procedures of the non-refueling airplane, including at least: a take-off attitude, a landing attitude, a pitch rate, a decision speed (V1), a rotation speed (VR) and a take-off speed (VLOF). 9. A method of converting a non-refueling airplane to an airplane suitable for constituting a refueling airplane, said non-refueling airplane having an original tail section and an original tail-strike pitch attitude, said method comprising: providing said original tail section with a cutout, the original tail section and cutout both constituting a modified tail section, said cutout extending inwardly from an outside of said original tail section, said cutout at least partially defined by a flat bottom surface and at least one sidewall that is formed by a portion of at least one rib of a fuselage of the refueling airplane, the portion of the at least one rib extending below the flat bottom surface, said flat bottom surface constituting at least a portion of an outermost surface of the modified tail section, said flat bottom surface extending along said modified tail section directly underneath at least a portion of a vertical stabilizer of said refueling airplane;at least partially accommodating a refueling boom within the cutout such that said refueling boom at least partially extends out of said cutout; andmounting the refueling boom to the modified tail section via a pivot mechanism protruding out of said modified tail section through said flat bottom surface, to thereby obtain, in the refueling airplane, a tail-strike pitch attitude that is equal to or greater than the original tail-strike pitch attitude of the non-refueling airplane. 10. The method according to claim 9, wherein said providing said original tail section having a cutout formed therein is performed by forming said cutout in said original tail section. 11. The method according to claim 9, wherein said providing said original tail section having a cutout formed therein is performed by replacing an original tail portion of the original tail section with a modified tail portion including said cutout. 12. The method according to claim 10, wherein said providing said original tail section having a cutout formed therein is performed by replacing original structural elements of the original tail section with substitute structural elements forming said cutout. 13. The method according to claim 12, wherein said original structural elements and said substitute structural elements are at least one of: ribs, stringers, or an airplane envelope enclosing the same. 14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the envelope volume of the modified tail-portion is less than the envelope volume of the original tail-portion. 15. The method according to claim 9, wherein said non-refueling airplane has an original minimum tail clearance and said refueling airplane has a modified minimum tail clearance when said refueling boom is mounted thereto; wherein a space provided by the cutout for the refueling boom is configured for compensating a decrease in the modified minimum tail clearance of the refueling airplane, relative to the original minimum tail clearance of the non-refueling airplane. 16. The method according to claim 15, wherein said modified minimum tail clearance is equal to or greater than the original minimum tail clearance of the non-refueling airplane. 17. The method according to claim 15, wherein said non-refueling airplane, in a tail-strike position thereof, is characterized by an original vertical distance between a ground line a set of the lowermost points along the periphery of said original tail section, and said refueling airplane, in a tail-strike position thereof, is characterized by a modified vertical distance between the ground line and the lower most points along the periphery of said modified tail section, such that at the region of said cutout, said modified vertical distance is greater than or equal to the original vertical distance. 18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the difference between the original vertical distance and the modified vertical distance at the region of said cutout is corresponding to the compensation of the distance decrease in the modified minimum tail clearance of the refueling airplane relative to the original minimum tail clearance. 19. The method according to claim 9, wherein said cutout is defined by a bottom surface and a side surface, and an angle therebetween. 20. The method according to claim 19, wherein said angle is obtuse.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (11)
Weiland ; Richard H., Aerial refueling boom articulation.
Von Thal,German; Slusher,Harry W.; Stecko,Stephen M., In-flight refueling system and method for extending and retracting an in-flight refueling device.
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