Reconfigurable aircraft and associated methods

• US 8,162,262 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2007
• Issued: 04/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Kutzmann, Aaron J., Lutke, Kevin R., Ouellette, Richard P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh, Tien
• Assistant Examiner(s): BENEDIK, JUSTIN M
• Application Number:
  US11/831,806
• Publication Number:
  US 20100025523A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,729 Days
• Field of Search: 244/118.1, 244/137.1, 244/137.2, 244/137.4
• US Class Current: 244/137.1
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 1/22 Taking-up articles from earth's surface
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 39/00 Refuelling during flight filling or emptying fuel tanks B64D37/14
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/25 Fixed-wing aircraft VTOL aircraft B64U10/20
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/15 for conventional or electronic warfare
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/31 for surveillance
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/12 using turbine engines, e.g. turbojets or turbofans
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/14 ducted or shrouded
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/20 Transmission of mechanical power to rotors or propellers

Abstract

A reconfigurable aircraft and associated methods. In one embodiment the reconfigurable aircraft comprises a plurality of payload retainers. The payload retainers are configured to receive and retain payloads, including fuel, armaments and sensors. The aircraft is configured to cooperate in flight with an airborne supply vehicle to receive the payloads from the supply vehicle.

Claims

1. A method of reconfiguring an aircraft in flight, the method comprising the steps of:

engaging the aircraft, in flight, with an airborne supply vehicle;

aligning a first payload retainer on the aircraft with a passage on the aircraft;

transferring a first payload from the airborne supply vehicle to the first payload retainer on the aircraft via the passage;

aligning a second payload retainer on the aircraft with the passage while the aircraft is engaged with the airborne supply vehicle;

transferring a second payload from the airborne supply vehicle to the second payload retainer via the passage, wherein the first payload retainer and the second payload retainer are arranged on a movable rack; and

disengaging the aircraft, in flight, from the airborne supply vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first payload and the second payload are selected from the group of payloads consisting of fuel, an armament and a sensor.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the aircraft is an unmanned air vehicle (UAV).

4. The method of claim 1, wherein engaging the aircraft with the airborne supply vehicle comprises engaging an elongate rigid member associated with the airborne supply vehicle with a mating receptacle associated with the aircraft.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein engaging the aircraft with the airborne supply vehicle comprises engaging an elongate rigid member associated with the aircraft with a mating receptacle associated with the airborne supply vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein engaging the aircraft with the airborne supply vehicle comprises the aircraft capturing a tow line associated with the airborne supply vehicle and reeling the aircraft in toward the airborne supply vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first payload and the second payload are housed in containers located in a payload storage and transfer apparatus associated with the supply vehicle.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein at least a portion of the payload storage and transfer apparatus is shaped as an elongate fin.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the elongate fin is secured at a first end of an elongate member extending from the supply vehicle.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the containers are tubular.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein transferring the first payload from the supply vehicle to the aircraft comprises transferring a first container housing the first payload from the supply vehicle to the first payload retainer.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the passage is connected to an aperture in a forward portion of the aircraft and wherein the first payload and the second payload are transferred into the passage from the airborne supply vehicle via the aperture.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

aligning a third payload retainer on the aircraft with the passage while the aircraft is engaged with the airborne supply vehicle; and

transferring a third payload from the aircraft to the supply vehicle via the passage.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the first payload retainer and the second payload retainer are arranged about a rotatable rack.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the first payload retainer and the second payload retainer are arranged on a moveable belt rack.