System and method for identifying a receiving aircraft during airborne fueling
First Claim
1. A system for identifying a receiving aircraft receiving fuel from a fuel delivery apparatus of a delivering aircraft during an airborne fueling operation;
- the system comprising;
a fuel receiving structure provided on said receiving aircraft and configured to couple with said duel delivery apparatus, said fuel receiving structure positionable between an open position during the airborne fueling operation and a closed position when not engaged in the airborne fueling operation;
at least one identifying indicia disposed on said receiving aircraft proximate to said fuel receiving structure so as to be exposed when said fuel receiving structure is in said open position and to be disposed in a protected environment when said fuel receiving structure is in said closed position, said at least one identifying indicia uniquely indicating individual identity of said receiving aircraft;
at least one identity recognizing unit coupled to said delivering aircraft, said at least one identity recognizing unit automatically recognizing data provided by said at least one identifying indicia within a predetermined distance;
a processing unit coupled with at least one of said delivering aircraft and said receiving aircraft, said processing unit cooperating with said at least one identity recognizing unit to ascertain said individual identity during said airborne fueling, wherein said identifying indicia is exposed for interrogation by said identity recognizing unit when the fuel receiving structure is in the open position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for effecting automatic identifying of a receiving aircraft receiving fuel from a fuel delivery apparatus in a delivering aircraft during an airborne fueling operation includes: (a) a first unit coupled with the receiving aircraft; (b) a second unit coupled with the delivering aircraft; and (c) a processing unit coupled with at least one of the first unit and the second unit. The first and second units cooperate to effect communicative coupling for conveying identifying information between the receiving aircraft and the delivering aircraft. The processing unit cooperates with at least one of the first unit and the second unit for employing the identifying information to effect the identifying.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A system for identifying a receiving aircraft receiving fuel from a fuel delivery apparatus of a delivering aircraft during an airborne fueling operation;
- the system comprising;
a fuel receiving structure provided on said receiving aircraft and configured to couple with said duel delivery apparatus, said fuel receiving structure positionable between an open position during the airborne fueling operation and a closed position when not engaged in the airborne fueling operation; at least one identifying indicia disposed on said receiving aircraft proximate to said fuel receiving structure so as to be exposed when said fuel receiving structure is in said open position and to be disposed in a protected environment when said fuel receiving structure is in said closed position, said at least one identifying indicia uniquely indicating individual identity of said receiving aircraft; at least one identity recognizing unit coupled to said delivering aircraft, said at least one identity recognizing unit automatically recognizing data provided by said at least one identifying indicia within a predetermined distance; a processing unit coupled with at least one of said delivering aircraft and said receiving aircraft, said processing unit cooperating with said at least one identity recognizing unit to ascertain said individual identity during said airborne fueling, wherein said identifying indicia is exposed for interrogation by said identity recognizing unit when the fuel receiving structure is in the open position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
- the system comprising;
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8. A method for identifying a receiving aircraft receiving fuel from a fuel delivery apparatus in a delivering aircraft during an airborne fueling operation;
- the method comprising;
actuating a fuel receiving structure on the receiving aircraft from a closed position, in which the fuel receiving structure has a more aerodynamic profile, to an open position, in which the fuel receiving structure receives the fuel delivery apparatus; locating at least one identifying indicia proximate the fuel receiving structure so as to be exposed when said fuel receiving structure is in said open position and to be disposed in a protected environment when said fuel receiving structure is in said closed position, said at least one identifying indicia uniquely indicating individual identity of said receiving aircraft; and when the fuel receiving structure is in the open position, using a processing unit to automatically recognize data provided by said at least one identifying indicia when at least one identity recognizing unit on said delivering aircraft is within a predetermined distance of said at least one identifying indicia. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
- the method comprising;
Specification