Illuminated hose
First Claim
1. An illuminated hose comprising:
- a) a combination including,1) a hose member having a first end and a second end, said hose member also having an interior wall and an exterior wall, and,2) a plurality of fiber-optic fibers embedded between said interior wall and said exterior wall of said hose member, a first end of said fiber-optics fibers extending from said exterior wall of said hose member substantially at said first end of said hose member, said fiber-optic fibers further being selectively exposed at predefined locations on said exterior wall of said hose member and structured to permit internally transmitted light within the fiber-optic fibers to escape from a portion of said fiber-optic fibers; and
,b) a light source emitting light, said light being focussed on said first end of said fiber-optic fibers for transmission of light into said fiber-optic fibers.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An enhanced hose for use in fuel transfer and the like. Embedded within the hose'"'"'s body are fiber-optic fibers in which light is transmitted. At predefined locations on the hose, selected portions of said fiber-optic fibers are exposed and structured to permit light to escape. Structuring of the fiber-optic fibers to permit light to escape is done by: terminating the fiber at that point, removing the cladding on the fiber at that point, or by creating a radical bend in the fiber. The intensity of the light escaping from the fiber-optic fibers is easily controllable by adjustment of the light source'"'"'s intensity which feeds the light into the fiber-optic fibers. Additionally, compensation is made so that elongation of the hose does not break the fibers. Since no electrical current is being used, the enhanced hose is particularly useful for illuminating the exterior of a hose which is conveying explosive materials such as fuel. The enhanced hose is particularly useful for aerial refueling; but, numerous other applications exist including ship-to-ship, ship-to-shore, and ship-to-shore fueling, as well as low visibility diving operations.
179 Citations
30 Claims
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1. An illuminated hose comprising:
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a) a combination including, 1) a hose member having a first end and a second end, said hose member also having an interior wall and an exterior wall, and, 2) a plurality of fiber-optic fibers embedded between said interior wall and said exterior wall of said hose member, a first end of said fiber-optics fibers extending from said exterior wall of said hose member substantially at said first end of said hose member, said fiber-optic fibers further being selectively exposed at predefined locations on said exterior wall of said hose member and structured to permit internally transmitted light within the fiber-optic fibers to escape from a portion of said fiber-optic fibers; and
,b) a light source emitting light, said light being focussed on said first end of said fiber-optic fibers for transmission of light into said fiber-optic fibers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An improved hose comprising:
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a) a hose member having a first end and a second end, said hose member also having an interior wall and an exterior wall; and
,b) a plurality of fiber-optic fibers embedded between said interior wall and said exterior wall of said hose member, a first end of said fiber-optics fibers extending from said hose member proximate to said first end of said hose member, said fiber-optic fibers further being selectively exposed at predefined locations on said exterior wall of said hose member and structured to permit an internally transmitted light within the fiber-optic fibers to escape from a portion of said fiber-optic fibers. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A fuel transfer system comprising:
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a) a reservoir containing fuel; b) a target vehicle having a fuel tank therein, said target vehicle being proximate to said reservoir; c) a hose extending from said reservoir to the fuel tank of said target vehicle, said hose having, 1) a hose member having a first end attached to said reservoir and a second end attachable,to said fuel tank of the target vehicle for passage of fuel therebetween, said hose member also having an interior wall and an exterior wall, and, 2) a plurality of fiber-optic fibers embedded in said hose member, a first end of said fiber-optic fibers extending from said hose member proximate to said first end of said hose member, said fiber-optic fibers further being selectively exposed through said exterior wall of said hose member at predefined locations and structured to permit internally transmitted light within the fiber-optic fibers to escape from a portion of said fiber-optic fibers; and
,d) a light source located proximate to said reservoir and for emitting light, said light being focussed on said first end of said fiber-optic fibers for transmission of light into said fiber-optic fibers. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification