Pod mounted refueling system
First Claim
1. A refueling system for an aircraft, the aircraft having a fuselage, a main wing extending from opposite sides of the fuselage, a stabilizer extending from opposite sides of the fuselage aft of the main wing, and a fuel source disposed within the aircraft, the refueling system comprising:
- at least one pylon extending from a side of the fuselage at a position aft of the main wing and forward of the stabilizer;
said pylon having a refueling pod mounted thereon outboard of the fuselage;
a refueling hose disposed within and extendable from the at least one pod; and
means for transferring fuel from the fuel source to the refueling hose.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A refueling system mounted to an aircraft fuselage for transferring fuel from a tanker aircraft to a receiver aircraft. The refueling system including a pylon extending from the fuselage at a position aft of the main wing and having a refueling pod mounted thereto at an outboard location. A refueling hose is disposed within and extendable from the refueling pod and functions to transfer fuel from the refueling pod to the receiver aircraft. A means for transferring fuel from a fuel source, located within the aircraft, to the refueling hose is also provided. The pylon and refueling pod are configured so as to channel the refueling hose in a preferred direction to maximize safety during refueling. The channeling of the refueling hose is accomplished by mounting the refueling pod at an angle to the pylon, mounting the refueling pod at an angle to a horizontal plane, mounting the pylon at angle to the fuselage, or a combination of these mounting arrangements. The pylons are preferably supported by a sandwich-type reinforcement of the fuselage floor between the pylons.
47 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A refueling system for an aircraft, the aircraft having a fuselage, a main wing extending from opposite sides of the fuselage, a stabilizer extending from opposite sides of the fuselage aft of the main wing, and a fuel source disposed within the aircraft, the refueling system comprising:
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at least one pylon extending from a side of the fuselage at a position aft of the main wing and forward of the stabilizer; said pylon having a refueling pod mounted thereon outboard of the fuselage; a refueling hose disposed within and extendable from the at least one pod; and means for transferring fuel from the fuel source to the refueling hose. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 26)
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2. A refueling system for an aircraft, the aircraft having a fuselage, a main wing extending from opposite sides of the fuselage, a stabilizer extending from opposite sides of the fuselage aft of the main wing, and a fuel source disposed within the aircraft, the refueling system comprising:
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two pylons disposed on opposite sides of the fuselage, the pylons being positioned aft of the main wing and forward of the stabilizer; each pylon having a refueling pod mounted thereon outboard of the fuselage; a refueling hose disposed within and extendable from each pod; and means for transferring fuel from the fuel source to the refueling hose.
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19. A refueling system for an aircraft, the aircraft having a fuselage, a main wing extending from opposite sides of the fuselage, a stabilizer extending from opposite sides of the fuselage aft of the main wing, and an fuel source disposed within the aircraft, the refueling system comprising:
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at least one pylon extending from the fuselage at a position aft of the main wing and at an angle to a horizontal plane between about 20 degrees and about 40 degrees; said pylon having a refueling pod mounted thereon outboard of the fuselage; a refueling hose disposed within and extendable from the at least one pod; and means for transferring fuel from the fuel source to the refueling hose. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. An aircraft capable of dispensing fuel in-flight, the aircraft comprising:
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a fuselage; a main wing extending from opposite sides of the fuselage; an empennage mounted aft of the main wing and extending from opposite sides of the fuselage; at least one aerodynamic pylon extending laterally from the side of the fuselage, the pylon being mounted aft of the main wing and forward of the empennage; a refueling pod mounted on the pylon and having a refueling hose disposed in and extendable from the refueling pod; a fuel source located within the aircraft; means for transferring fuel from the fuel source to the refueling hose; and means for supporting the pylon on the fuselage. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. An aircraft capable of dispensing fuel in-flight, the aircraft comprising:
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a fuselage; a main wing extending from opposite sides of the fuselage; an empennage mounted aft of the main wing and extending from opposite sides of the fuselage; two aerodynamic pylons mounted on opposite sides of the fuselage, the pylons being mounted aft of the main wing; a refueling pod mounted on each pylon and having a refueling hose disposed in and extendable from the refueling pod; a fuel source located within the aircraft; means for transferring fuel from the fuel source to the refueling hose; and means for supporting each pylon on the fuselage including a reinforced floor mounted within the fuselage, aft of the main wing and forward of the empennage, the reinforced floor extending between the two pylons and comprising sandwich type structure, and mounting lugs extending out of the fuselage, and wherein the pylon has corresponding mounting lugs affixed to the pylon which mate with the mounting lugs extending from the fuselage.
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24. A refueling system for an aircraft, the aircraft having a fuselage, a main wing extending from opposite sides of the fuselage at a forward location, a stabilizer extending from opposite sides of the fuselage aft of the main wing, and a fuel source disposed within the aircraft, the refueling system comprising:
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two aerodynamic pylons extending from opposite sides of the fuselage at a position aft of the main wing and forward of the stabilizer, the pylons having an aft sweep; a pod mounted to the outboard end of each pylon, the pod including a refueling hose disposed within and extendable from each pod, and an exit port for channeling the refueling hose in a predetermined direction away from the aircraft fuselage; and means for transferring fuel from the fuel source to the refueling hose.
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25. A refueling system for an aircraft, the aircraft having a fuselage, a main wing extending from opposite sides of the fuselage, a stabilizer extending from opposite sides of the fuselage aft of the main wing, and a fuel source disposed within the aircraft, the refueling system comprising:
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two pylons extending from the fuselage at a position aft of the main wing and forward of the horizontal stabilizer, the pylons having a configuration which minimizes drag and lift; means for directing a refueling hose in a predetermined direction, said directing means being attached to one of the pylons, the refueling hose being extendable out of and retractable into said directing means; means for transferring fuel from the fuel source to the refueling hose; and means for monitoring and controlling the transferring of fuel.
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Specification