AERIAL REFUELING BOOM WITH PRESSURE LIMITING VALVE

• US 20150284106A1
• Filed: 02/26/2015
• Published: 10/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Eaton Corp. (Wisconsin) (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Eaton Corp. (Wisconsin) (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Reinholdt, James William
• Application Number:
  US14/632,038
• Publication Number:
  US 20150284106A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 39/04 Adaptations of hose construction pipes in general F16L
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 39/06 Connecting hose to aircraft; Disconnecting hose therefrom

Abstract

A refueling boom is provided for use in an aerial refueling system. The refueling boom may include a boom section configured to extend from a tanker aircraft. A pressure limiting valve may be provided downstream of the boom section. A boom nozzle may be provided downstream of, or integral with, the pressure limiting valve.

Claims

1. A refueling boom for use in an aerial refueling system, the refueling boom comprising:

a boom section configured to extend from a tanker aircraft;

a pressure limiting valve provided downstream of the boom section; and

a boom nozzle provided downstream of, or integral with, the pressure limiting valve.

2. The refueling boom of claim 1, wherein the pressure limiting valve is attached to a distal end of the boom section.

3. The refueling boom of claim 2, further including an indexing unit provided downstream of the pressure limiting valve.

4. The refueling boom of claim 3, wherein the indexing unit is attached to a distal end of the pressure limiting valve, and the boom nozzle is attached to a distal end of the indexing unit.

5. The refueling boom of claim 1, further including an indexing unit provided downstream of the boom section, and the pressure limiting valve is provided downstream of the indexing unit.

6. The refueling boom of claim 5, wherein the indexing unit is attached to a distal end of the boom section, and the pressure limiting valve is attached to a distal end of the indexing unit.

7. The refueling boom of claim 6, wherein the boom nozzle is attached to a distal end of the pressure limiting valve.

8. The refueling boom of claim 1, wherein the boom nozzle is attached directly to a distal end of the pressure limiting valve.

9. The refueling boom of claim 1, wherein the boom nozzle and the pressure limiting valve are integrated together as a single component.

10. The refueling boom of claim 1, wherein the pressure limiting valve includes a valve member that is automatically movable between an opened position and a closed position in response to fluid pressure within the pressure limiting valve.

11. The refueling boom of claim 10, wherein the valve member automatically moves from the opened position toward the closed position when fluid pressure within the pressure limiting valve reaches a predetermined pressure.

12. An aerial refueling system comprising:

a tanker aircraft having a fuselage and a supply of fuel;

a refueling boom connected or attached to the tanker aircraft and in fluid communication with the supply of fuel, wherein the refueling boom comprises;

a boom section connected or attached to the fuselage of the tanker aircraft and in fluid communication with the supply of fuel;

a pressure limiting valve provided downstream of and in fluid communication with the boom section; and

a boom nozzle provided downstream of, or integral with, and in fluid communication with the pressure limiting valve.

13. The aerial refueling system of claim 12, wherein the pressure limiting valve is attached to a distal end of the boom section.

14. The aerial refueling system of claim 13, further including an indexing unit provided downstream of the pressure limiting valve.

15. The aerial refueling system of claim 14, wherein the indexing unit is attached to a distal end of the pressure limiting valve, and the boom nozzle is attached to a distal end of the indexing unit.

16. The aerial refueling system of claim 12, further including an indexing unit provided downstream of the boom section, and the pressure limiting valve is provided downstream of the indexing unit.

17. The aerial refueling system of claim 16, wherein the indexing unit is attached to a distal end of the boom section, and the pressure limiting valve is attached to a distal end of the indexing unit.

18. The aerial refueling system of claim 17, wherein the boom nozzle is attached to a distal end of the pressure limiting valve.

19. The aerial refueling system of claim 12, wherein the pressure limiting valve includes a valve member that is automatically movable between an opened position and a closed position in response to fluid pressure within the pressure limiting valve.

20. The refueling boom of claim 19, wherein the valve member automatically moves from the opened position toward the closed position when fluid pressure within the pressure limiting valve reaches a predetermined pressure.