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:
Nov. 21, 2006
Filed:
Aug. 26, 2004
German Von Thal, Laguna Niguel, CA (US);
German Von Thal, Laguna Niguel, CA (US);
The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US);
Abstract
An in-flight refueling system, sensor system and method are provided for detecting and damping changes in the disposition of an elongate hose extending from a tanker aircraft during an in-flight refueling operation. The various embodiments provide a compact, lightweight, and low-profile sensor device that may be fitted to the elongate hose so as to detect oscillations in the elongate hose and transmit a signal to a hose retracting device carried by the tanker aircraft such that the hose retracting device retracts the elongate hose in response to the signal so as to counteract the occurrence of oscillations within the elongate hose. Thus, these embodiments may minimize the effect of oscillations in the elongate hose by selectively retracting the elongate hose in response to oscillations detected therein as it extends from the tanker aircraft during an in-flight refueling operation.