System and method for enhancing the payload capacity, carriage efficiency, and adaptive flexibility of external stores mounted on an aerial vehicle
First Claim
1. A system for mounting a load on an aerial vehicle, the system comprising:
- an aerodynamically shaped structure mounted on the exterior of an aerial vehicle;
said aerodynamically shaped structure substantially surrounds at least one airborne store;
interior airborne store mounting means attached to the internal surface of the aerodynamically shaped enclosure to provide stability to the at least one airborne store;
airborne store operation control means linked to the aerodynamically shaped structure to monitor and control the operation of the at least one airborne store;
airborne store operation support means to provide for the release of the at least one airborne store during flight responsive to instructions by said airborne store operation control means; and
wherein said aerodynamically shaped structure is shaped the same as a fuel tank designed for use with the aerial vehicle and is mounted on the exterior of the aerial vehicle in the position in which a fuel tank of the same shape would be placed.
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Abstract
A system and method for the conversion of fuel tanks, detachably mountable on the exterior of an aerial vehicle, into high volume, high capacity, diverse functionality and aerodynamically efficient airborne stores is disclosed. A conventional external fuel drop tank is modified such that the exterior shape of the tank is substantially retained while the interior of the tank is suitable restructured to allow for the introduction of diverse airborne stores, associated airborne store mounting means, control and monitoring means and support means therein, which replace the fuel store. The airborne store is suitably interfaced to the stores control and management system of the aerial vehicle. The airborne store is integrated into a new external stores configuration The enhanced airborne store will have aerodynamic characteristics substantially similar to the original external fuel tank while its payload capacity is substantially improved.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A system for mounting a load on an aerial vehicle, the system comprising:
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an aerodynamically shaped structure mounted on the exterior of an aerial vehicle;
said aerodynamically shaped structure substantially surrounds at least one airborne store;interior airborne store mounting means attached to the internal surface of the aerodynamically shaped enclosure to provide stability to the at least one airborne store; airborne store operation control means linked to the aerodynamically shaped structure to monitor and control the operation of the at least one airborne store; airborne store operation support means to provide for the release of the at least one airborne store during flight responsive to instructions by said airborne store operation control means; and wherein said aerodynamically shaped structure is shaped the same as a fuel tank designed for use with the aerial vehicle and is mounted on the exterior of the aerial vehicle in the position in which a fuel tank of the same shape would be placed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification