The Boeing Company

Forrest Eugene Richardson

Lance A Cutler

Mark Alan Shelly

Carl William Beck

A bearing assembly includes an outer race, an inner race, a bearing interface, and a nut. The outer race has a head end and a base end. The head end includes a flange having a countersink lip formed on an underside of the flange. The outer race includes an externally threaded portion terminating at the base end. The inner race is circumscribed by the outer race. The bearing interface is located between and rotatably couples the inner race to the outer race. The nut is configured to be threadably engaged to the externally threaded portion.

Countersunk threaded bearing and method of installation

A braking apparatus of an aerial refueling boom system is provided to reduce the likelihood of or to prevent anomalous boom extension. The braking apparatus includes a pulley about which a cable wraps. The pulley is configured to be operably mounted to a first tube of the boom system and to rotate in response to movement of a second tube relative to the first tube as a result of the connection of the cable to the second tube. The braking apparatus also includes a lock, such as a brake or a pin lock, having open and actuated positions. In the actuated position, rotation of the pulley and movement of the second tube relative to the first tube are prevented. The lock is configured to be actuated by a reduction in performance of an actuation source that otherwise controls the relative positions of the first and second tubes.

Braking apparatus and method for an aerial refueling boom system

A refueling boom is described. The refueling boom includes a non-telescoping portion configured to be coupled to a fuel tanker vehicle and a telescoping portion that is extendable and retractable relative to the non-telescoping portion. The telescoping portion includes a fuel nozzle. The refueling boom also includes a wireless communication system operable to enable wireless communication between a first location of the telescoping portion to a second location of the non-telescoping portion. The refueling boom also includes a control unit coupled to the telescoping portion. The control unit is operable to send first information to the fuel tanker vehicle via the wireless communication system and to receive second information from the fuel tanker vehicle via the wireless communication system.

Wireless refueling boom

An aerial refueling system has a fluid conduit. A plurality of actuators is coupled to the fluid conduit and a refueling aircraft housing the aerial refueling system to move the fluid conduit in a three perpendicular axes system.

Pivotable aerial refueling boom and method therefor

Systems and methods provide for a drogue deployment system that may be removably attached to a non-tanker aircraft to modify the aircraft for providing aerial refueling operations. Aspects of the disclosure provide a drum unit that may be secured in a cargo area of the non-tanker aircraft and connected to the fuel system of the aircraft. A drogue deployment unit may be removably attached to an external surface of the aircraft fuselage and includes a drogue extension tube that may be selectively deployed outward from the fuselage to provide separation between a refueling drogue and the aircraft. The drogue and corresponding refueling hose may be deployed from a drogue container attached to the drogue extension tube and extended rearward for providing fuel to a receiving aircraft.

Growing community of inventors

Wichita, KS, United States of America

Forrest Eugene Richardson