Methods and apparatus for resisting torsional loads in aerial refueling booms
First Claim
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1. A torsional load resisting aerial refueling boom comprising:
- a telescopic boom having a fixed portion and an extendable portion;
a support fitting attached to one end of the fixed portion for allowing the extendable portion to pass therethrough; and
a plurality of rollers mounted on the support fitting for rolling with respect to the movement of the extendable portion of the boom and for providing a counter force to the boom in response to a torsional load subject on the boom during aerial refueling.
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Abstract
A refueling boom for an aerial tanker includes an outer member operatively connected to the tanker, an inner member operatively and telescopically configured with the outer member, and one or more torque rollers. The torque roller is disposed on the outer member such that the torque roller engages with the inner member when the inner member is telescoping and reacts to torsional loads subject on the inner member when the boom is deployed in an aerial refueling operation. The inner member may include a plurality of longitudinally disposed torsion surfaces or races for respectively engaging with the torque rollers.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A torsional load resisting aerial refueling boom comprising:
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a telescopic boom having a fixed portion and an extendable portion; a support fitting attached to one end of the fixed portion for allowing the extendable portion to pass therethrough; and a plurality of rollers mounted on the support fitting for rolling with respect to the movement of the extendable portion of the boom and for providing a counter force to the boom in response to a torsional load subject on the boom during aerial refueling. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 21, 22, 23)
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4. A refueling boom for an aerial tanker, the boom comprising:
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an outer member operatively connected to the tanker; an inner member operatively and telescopically configured with the outer member; and a torque roller disposed on the outer member such that the torque roller; engages with the inner member when the inner member is telescoping; and reacts to torsional loads subject on the inner member when the boom is deployed in an aerial refueling operation. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 24, 25, 26)
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14. A refueling boom comprising:
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an outer member; an inner member substantially concentrically disposed with respect to the outer member about a telescopic axis and including a plurality of races, the inner member being subjectable to a torsional load about the telescopic axis; a plurality of rollers operatively disposed on the outer member substantially circumferentially about the inner member such that the rollers are respectively engageable with races of the inner member when the inner member moves relative to the outer member along the telescopic axis; the races being disposed on the inner member such that; a number of the rollers bear the torsional load when the torsional load is bearing in a substantially clockwise direction about the telescopic axis; and a number of the rollers bear the torsional load when the torsional load is bearing in a substantially counter-clockwise direction about the telescopic axis. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. A method of refueling a receiver aircraft with an aerial refueling tanker including a telescopic boom having an outer member and an inner member, the latter of which being subjectable to torsional loads during an aerial refueling operation, the method comprising:
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telescopically extending the inner member from the outer member when the boom is deployed; and operatively deploying a plurality of rollers on the outer member that will react to any torsional load subject on the inner member when extended from the outer member. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification