REFUELING BOOMS WITH MULTIPLE COUPLINGS AND ASSOCIATED METHODS AND SYSTEMS
First Claim
1. An in-flight refueling system, comprising:
- a deployable boom carrying a refueling passage;
a first coupler carried by the boom and operatively coupleable to the refueling passage, the first coupler being configured to be releasably connected to a receiver aircraft during refueling; and
a second coupler carried by the boom and operatively coupleable to the refueling passage, the second coupler being configured to be releasably connected to a receiver aircraft during refueling.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Refueling booms with multiple couplings, and associated methods and systems, are disclosed. A system in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes a deployable boom carrying a refueling passage. A first coupler carried by the boom can be operatively coupleable to the refueling passage. The first coupler can be configured to be releasably connected to a receiver aircraft during refueling. A second coupler can be carried by the boom and can be operatively coupleable to the refueling passage, with the second coupler being configured to be releasably connected to a receiver aircraft during refueling. In particular embodiments, the first and second couplers can have different configurations so as to be compatible with aircraft having different refueling arrangements.
-
Citations
25 Claims
-
1. An in-flight refueling system, comprising:
-
a deployable boom carrying a refueling passage;
a first coupler carried by the boom and operatively coupleable to the refueling passage, the first coupler being configured to be releasably connected to a receiver aircraft during refueling; and
a second coupler carried by the boom and operatively coupleable to the refueling passage, the second coupler being configured to be releasably connected to a receiver aircraft during refueling. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. An in-flight refueling system, comprising:
-
a deployable boom carrying a refueling passage and being elongated along a boom axis, the boom having an external contour, and wherein a cross-sectional shape of the external contour is elongated along a contour axis extending generally transverse to the boom axis; and
at least one coupler carried by the boom and configured to be releasably connected to a receiver aircraft during refueling. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A method for refueling aircraft in flight, comprising:
-
deploying a generally rigid boom from a refueling aircraft;
releasably connecting a first coupler carried by the boom to a first receiver aircraft;
refueling the first receiver aircraft via the first coupler;
releasing the connection between the first coupler and the first receiver aircraft;
releasably connecting a second coupler carried by the boom to a second receiver aircraft;
refueling the second receiver aircraft via the second coupler; and
releasing the connection between the second coupler and the second receiver aircraft. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
-
Specification