The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 05, 1994
Filed:
Oct. 02, 1991
Applicant:
Inventors:
Yaacov Krispin, Rockville, MD (US);
Mordekhai Velger, Rehovot, IL;
Assignee:
ENIG Associates, Inc., Silver Springs, MD (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B64D / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
2441 / ;
Abstract
An in-flight hose-and-drogue refueling system has the capability of steering the drogue using four thrusters which are energized by pressurized air. The system measures the drogue's 3-dimensional position relative to either the refueling aircraft or the probe on the receiver aircraft. A control system utilizes the measurements of the drogue's 3-dimensional position to activate the thrusters so as to either minimize the excursions of the drogue due to turbulence, thus enabling easier hook-up, or alternatively, to track the receiver's probe and automatically guide and contact the drogue to the probe.