Aircraft fuel quantity indication system and method

Abstract

The invention relates to an aircraft fuel quantity indication system and method. An aircraft fueling adapter including an aircraft fueling adapter flow meter is disclosed for improving the accuracy of a fueling scheme by providing additional independent flow data points in mass and / or volume units during fueling, which can be compared to existing fuel flow readings.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to the field of large vehicle fueling and refueling. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to the field of aircraft fueling and refueling from ground fuel sources. Background Art

[0002] In modern aviation, aircraft fuel quantity and aircraft fuel consumption over time are typically monitored and indicated by fuel gauges on the aircraft that are in communication with the aircraft fuel tanks, located in the cockpit, and contained within and on the aircraft control panel, fuel panel, etc. Fuel flow measurements on aircraft are typically expressed in mass units because the calorific value of fuel is proportional to mass rather than volume.

[0003] Delivery of aircraft fuel into an aircraft on the ground (e.g., including "refueling," etc.) may conventionally involve delivering the fuel to the aircraft from an aircraft fuel source, which may be, for example, a refueling or refueling tanker truck, and / or may be an underground or above-ground fuel storage tank, etc. Typically, aircraft fuel contained in a tanker truck or above-ground storage tank is delivered into the aircraft and into an aircraft fuel tank, fuel delivery measurements are made at the fuel delivery source, and the measurement of the amount of delivered aircraft fuel delivered from the source to the aircraft is expressed in volume (e.g., using volume units). Flight regulations typically require that the delivered fuel value must be checked by fuel delivery ground personnel, and then, once the ground personnel are able to obtain a daily fuel density value (e.g., a certified fuel density value, etc.), the volume value is manually mathematically converted from volume units to mass units by the ground personnel.

[0004] Unless explicitly stated otherwise, no statement herein is admitted to be prior art merely by virtue of its inclusion in the technical field and / or background section. Summary of the invention

[0005] The present invention relates to an aircraft refueling adapter, the aircraft refueling adapter comprises an aircraft refueling adapter body, the aircraft refueling adapter body further comprises an aircraft refueling adapter exterior and an aircraft refueling adapter body interior, the aircraft refueling adapter interior further comprises an aircraft refueling adapter interior wall and an aircraft refueling adapter interior passage, and the aircraft refueling adapter interior passage is substantially defined by the aircraft refueling adapter interior wall. The aircraft refueling adapter further comprises an aircraft refueling adapter interior passage inlet, an aircraft refueling adapter interior passage outlet, and an aircraft refueling adapter flow meter, the aircraft refueling adapter flow meter is in communication with the aircraft refueling adapter interior passage of the aircraft refueling adapter body.

[0006] In another aspect, an aircraft refuel adapter meter is configured to send a signal representative of a first determined fuel value to an aircraft refuel adapter meter reader.

[0007] In another aspect, the aircraft fuel adapter flow meter is a mass flow meter.

[0008] In another present aspect, an aircraft refuel adapter flow meter is configured to determine a volume of fuel flowing through the aircraft refuel adapter flow meter.

[0009] Another aspect relates to an aircraft structure including an aircraft fuel adapter, the aircraft fuel adapter including an aircraft fuel adapter body, the aircraft fuel adapter body further including an aircraft fuel adapter exterior and an aircraft fuel adapter body interior, the aircraft fuel adapter interior including an aircraft fuel adapter interior wall and an aircraft fuel adapter interior passageway, the aircraft fuel adapter interior passageway being substantially defined by the aircraft fuel adapter interior wall. The aircraft fuel adapter further includes an aircraft fuel adapter interior passageway inlet, an aircraft fuel adapter interior passageway outlet, and an aircraft fuel adapter flow meter, the aircraft fuel adapter flow meter being in communication with the aircraft fuel adapter interior passageway of the aircraft fuel adapter body.

[0010] Another aspect of the present invention relates to an aircraft including an aircraft fuel adapter, the aircraft fuel adapter including an aircraft fuel adapter body, the aircraft fuel adapter body further including an aircraft fuel adapter exterior and an aircraft fuel adapter body interior, the aircraft fuel adapter interior including an aircraft fuel adapter interior wall and an aircraft fuel adapter interior passageway, the aircraft fuel adapter interior passageway being substantially defined by the aircraft fuel adapter interior wall. The aircraft fuel adapter further includes an aircraft fuel adapter interior passageway inlet, an aircraft fuel adapter interior passageway outlet, and an aircraft fuel adapter flow meter, the aircraft fuel adapter flow meter being in communication with the aircraft fuel adapter interior passageway of the aircraft fuel adapter body.

[0011] Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method for confirming accurate delivery of an amount of fuel delivered from a fuel supply to an aircraft fuel tank, the method comprising engaging an aircraft fuel adapter with a fuel supply assembly, the aircraft fuel adapter fixedly engaged with an aircraft structure, and the aircraft structure comprising an aircraft fuel inlet. The aircraft fuel adapter comprises an aircraft fuel adapter body, the aircraft fuel adapter body further comprising an aircraft fuel adapter exterior and an aircraft fuel adapter body interior. The aircraft fuel adapter interior comprises an aircraft fuel adapter interior wall and an aircraft fuel adapter interior passageway, the aircraft fuel adapter interior passageway being substantially defined by the aircraft fuel adapter interior wall. The aircraft fuel adapter further comprises an aircraft fuel adapter interior passageway inlet, an aircraft fuel adapter interior passageway outlet, and an aircraft fuel adapter flowmeter, the aircraft fuel adapter flowmeter being in communication with the aircraft fuel adapter interior passageway, and the aircraft fuel adapter flowmeter being configured to determine an amount of fuel flow through an aircraft fuel adapter mass flowmeter, the fuel flow traversing a path from the fuel supply to the aircraft fuel adapter and into the aircraft fuel tank. The method further includes directing a flow of fuel (e.g., "fuel flow") from the fuel supply to the aircraft fuel adapter, directing the fuel flow from the aircraft fuel adapter into the aircraft fuel tank, and determining at the aircraft fuel adapter an amount of fuel delivered from the fuel supply to the aircraft fuel tank through the aircraft fuel adapter. The method further includes determining a first determined fuel value at the aircraft fuel adapter via an integrated aircraft fuel adapter flow meter to confirm accurate delivery of the amount of fuel flow fuel delivered from the fuel supply to the aircraft fuel tank.

[0012] Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method for confirming accurate delivery of an amount of fuel delivered from a fuel supply to an aircraft fuel tank, the method comprising engaging an aircraft fuel adapter with a fuel supply assembly, the aircraft fuel adapter fixedly engaged with an aircraft structure, and the aircraft structure comprising an aircraft fuel inlet. The aircraft fuel adapter comprises an aircraft fuel adapter body, the aircraft fuel adapter body further comprising an aircraft fuel adapter exterior and an aircraft fuel adapter body interior. The aircraft fuel adapter interior comprises an aircraft fuel adapter interior wall and an aircraft fuel adapter interior passageway, the aircraft fuel adapter interior passageway being substantially defined by the aircraft fuel adapter interior wall. The aircraft fuel adapter further comprises an aircraft fuel adapter interior passageway inlet, an aircraft fuel adapter interior passageway outlet, and an aircraft fuel adapter flow meter, the aircraft fuel adapter flow meter being in communication with the aircraft fuel adapter interior passageway, and the aircraft fuel adapter flow meter being configured to determine an amount of fuel flow through an aircraft fuel adapter mass flow meter, the amount of fuel flow passing through a path from the fuel supply to the aircraft fuel adapter and into the aircraft fuel tank. The method further includes directing a flow of fuel from the fuel supply to the aircraft fueling adapter, directing the flow of fuel from the aircraft fueling adapter into the aircraft fuel tank, and determining at the aircraft fueling adapter an amount of fuel delivered from the fuel supply to the aircraft fuel tank through the aircraft fueling adapter. The method further includes determining a first determined fuel value at the aircraft fueling adapter to confirm accurate delivery of the amount of fuel delivered from the fuel supply to the aircraft fuel tank, determining a second determined fuel value measured at at least one of a fuel supply readout and an aircraft fuel gauge readout of the amount of fuel delivered from the fuel supply to the aircraft fuel tank, and comparing the first determined fuel value and the second determined fuel value to confirm agreement between the first determined fuel value and the second determined fuel value, or to determine a difference between the first determined fuel value and the second determined fuel value.

[0013] In another present aspect, the aircraft fuel adapter flow meter is a mass flow meter configured to directly calculate the mass of fuel delivered from the aircraft fuel supply to the aircraft fuel tank, and wherein the first determined fuel value determined at the aircraft fuel adapter is a mass value (e.g., a fuel amount value expressed in mass units such as kilograms, pounds, etc.).

[0014] In another aspect, the second determined fuel value is a converted mass value calculated at the fuel supply, the converted mass value being converted from the determined fuel quantity volume value (eg, expressed in volume units such as liters, gallons, etc.).

[0015] In another present aspect, an aircraft refueling adapter flow meter is configured to measure a volume of fuel flow delivered from an aircraft fuel supply to an aircraft fuel tank, and wherein the first determined fuel value is a volume value expressed in volume units.

[0016] In another aspect, the second determined fuel value is a volume value calculated at the fuel supply.

[0017] In further this aspect, the aircraft refueling adapter flow meter is further configured to automatically calculate an amount of fuel delivered from the aircraft fuel supply to the aircraft fuel tank, and wherein the first determined fuel value is at least one of a mass value and a volume value.

[0018] Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method of refueling an aircraft, the method comprising providing a fuel supply, providing an aircraft fuel tank on the aircraft, the aircraft fuel tank being in communication with an aircraft fuel tank inlet. The method further comprises providing an aircraft refueling adapter fixedly engaged with the aircraft, the aircraft refueling adapter being in communication with the aircraft fuel tank inlet, the aircraft refueling adapter being in further communication with the fuel supply, and the aircraft refueling adapter comprising an aircraft refueling adapter flow meter. The method further comprises delivering a flow of fuel from the fuel supply to the aircraft fuel tank, determining a first determined fuel value based on the flow of fuel, the flow of fuel being configured to flow through the aircraft refueling adapter, and determining the first determined fuel value measured at the aircraft refueling adapter by the aircraft refueling adapter flow meter.

[0019] In another aspect, the method includes determining a second determined fuel value measured at at least one of the fuel supply and an aircraft fuel gauge readout based on fuel flow exiting the fuel supply and entering the aircraft.

[0020] In another present aspect, the aircraft refueling adapter flow meter is a mass flow meter configured to directly calculate the mass of fuel delivered from the aircraft fuel supply to the aircraft fuel tank, and wherein the first determined fuel value is a mass value.

[0021] In another aspect, the second determined fuel value is a converted mass value calculated at the fuel supply and converted from a volume value to mass units.

[0022] In further this aspect, the aircraft fuel adapter flow meter is further configured to measure a volume of fuel flow delivered from the aircraft fuel supply to the aircraft fuel tank, and wherein the first determined fuel value determined at the aircraft fuel adapter by the aircraft fuel adapter flow meter is a volumetric value.

[0023] In another aspect, the second determined fuel value is a volume value measured at the fuel supply.

[0024] In another present aspect, the aircraft refueling adapter flow meter is further configured to automatically (e.g., without requiring manual conversion and / or calculation) directly calculate at least one of a volume of fuel and a mass of fuel delivered from the aircraft fuel supply to the aircraft fuel tank, and wherein the first determined fuel value is at least one of a mass value and a volume value.

[0025] In another aspect, the second determined fuel value is a mass value manually calculated based on the measured volume of fuel delivered from the fuel supply by converting a volume value of fuel delivered from the fuel supply.

[0026] Further aspects of the present invention relate to a method comprising comparing a first determined fuel value and a second determined fuel value to determine a coincidence and / or a difference between the first determined fuel value and the second determined fuel value.

[0027] In another aspect, an aircraft refueling adapter flow meter is configured to determine both a flow volume expressed in volume units and a flow mass expressed in mass units.

[0028] In another aspect, an aircraft refueling adapter includes a plurality of flow meters.

[0029] Another method is directed to a method of making an aircraft fuel adapter, the method comprising providing an aircraft fuel adapter comprising a fuel adapter body, the aircraft fuel adapter body further comprising an aircraft fuel adapter exterior and an aircraft fuel adapter body interior, the aircraft fuel adapter interior comprising an aircraft fuel adapter interior wall and an aircraft fuel adapter interior passageway, and the aircraft fuel adapter interior passageway is substantially defined by the aircraft fuel adapter interior wall. The method further comprises incorporating a flow meter into the aircraft fuel adapter, the flow meter communicating with the aircraft fuel adapter interior passageway, the flow meter being configured to determine a fuel flow rate through the aircraft fuel meter, and the fuel flow rate is configured to traverse a path from a fuel supply through the aircraft fuel adapter and into an aircraft fuel tank.

[0030] In another aspect, the flow meter is configured to send a flow value signal to a readout.

[0031] In another aspect, an aircraft refueling adapter includes a reader.

[0032] The features, functions, and advantages that have been discussed may be achieved independently in various aspects or may be combined in yet other aspects, further details of which may be seen with reference to the following description and drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] Having thus described variations of the present disclosure in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and in which: Figure 1 is an illustration of a vehicle in the form of an aircraft according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a diagram of refueling of a vehicle in the form of an aircraft according to the present invention; Figure 3 is an internal view of an internal passageway inlet of an aircraft refueling adapter body according to the present invention; Figure 3A is an internal view of an internal passageway inlet of an aircraft refueling adapter body according to the present invention; Figure 4 is a top view of a flow meter according to the present invention; Figure 5 is a block diagram of an aircraft refueling adapter according to the present invention; Figure 6 is an illustration of an exposed aircraft wing fuel panel according to the present aspect; Figure 7 is an illustration of an exposed aircraft wing fuel panel according to the present aspect; Figure 8 is a perspective view of an exposed aircraft wing fuel panel according to the present aspect; Fig. 9 is a flow chart outlining a method according to the present aspect; Fig.10 is a flow chart outlining a method according to the present aspect; Fig.11 is a flow chart outlining a method according to the present aspect; Fig.12 is a flow chart summarizing a method according to the present invention; and Fig.13 is a flow chart outlining a method according to the present aspect. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] As described herein, fuel quantity measurements in an aircraft are most useful when expressed in mass units, since the heating value of the fuel is proportional to the fuel mass rather than the fuel volume. The process of ground refueling an aircraft typically involves delivering fuel to the aircraft from a fuel tank source, the measurements of which are expressed in volume. To comply with regulations, fuel delivery calculations and conversions are typically performed manually; the ground refueling personnel give a fuel density value, which is then entered into a calculation to convert the delivered volume from the refueling source to a delivered fuel mass. The fuel volume reading or "value" that is then converted to a mass value by manual calculation may introduce the potential for inaccuracy, since the manual calculation may introduce "human error" into the conversion value from volume to mass, etc.

[0035] Currently, refueling ground crews typically have only two data points to compare to obtain a correct and verified fuel transfer value for the fuel delivered to the aircraft from the refueling source / supply. First, the ground crew can obtain refueling data (e.g., a fuel "reading") from the aircraft fuel gauge. Second, the ground crew can obtain refueling data from a fuel gauge located on the ground (e.g., a fuel tank truck and / or a fuel plug on the ground or on the ground for the fuel supply). The fuel plug and / or tank truck gauge measures fuel flow by volume, expressing the amount of fuel delivered in volume units. The aircraft fuel gauge displays the amount of fuel delivered to the aircraft in mass units. After the ground refueling crew delivers or obtains the daily fuel density value, a manual mathematical calculation is performed to convert the volume units to mass units, and the consistency of the mass units is compared, and a refueling check is completed.

[0036] The present aspect recognizes that errors and / or discrepancies in refueling (e.g., errors and / or discrepancies between a ground fuel supply source, equivalently referred to herein as a "ground refueling facility," and, for example, an aircraft fuel gauge system, etc.) may not be detected by a refueling discrepancy check that is conventionally performed manually by one or more ground personnel, performing such a "manual" discrepancy check, including manual conversion through mathematical operations. Errors in the discrepancy refueling check may insert serious errors into the actual amount of fuel onboard the aircraft, and may result in a fuel value that incorrectly displays the actual value of the fuel onboard. Inaccuracies in the actual onboard fuel value may result in the aircraft taking off overweight (e.g., "underestimating" the amount of fuel onboard) and may further result in insufficient mission available fuel (e.g., "overestimating" the amount of fuel onboard). Even if the inaccurate fuel value is corrected during recalculation, such human error inserted into the refueling scheme may result in a takeoff delay until such discrepancy is corrected, increasing potential operating costs and system complexity before takeoff, etc.

[0037] The present invention relates to the introduction of significantly increased accuracy, significantly improved precision, and significantly improved simplicity into the fueling and refueling procedures for an aircraft by providing a third metering device into the fueling system which can provide a second directly measured mass flow rate of fuel delivered to the aircraft from a fuel source external to the aircraft, which fuel source can be, for example, a tanker truck, or an underground or above-ground fuel tank which can be connected to the aircraft for refueling the aircraft.

[0038] Figure 1 There is shown a perspective view of a vehicle in the form of an aircraft 10 comprising a fuselage 12, and aircraft structures 14 in the form of wings (equivalently referred to herein as "aircraft wings 14"), each wing 14 comprising at least one aircraft wing fuel panel 14a. The wings 14 further comprise an aircraft fuel tank 16, which may be an aircraft internal fuel tank.

[0039] Figure 2 A view of the aircraft 10 in the ground refueling / refueling position is shown. Figure 2 As shown, the aircraft fuel tank 16 is in communication with a fuel supply 20 shown in the form of a fuel cart having a fuel tank containing fuel 20a. The fuel supply 20 is in communication with a refueling hose 22 having a refueling hose interface 24 that connects the refueling hose 22 to the aircraft refueling adapter (not shown). Figure 1 ), the adapter is located within an aircraft wing fuel panel 14a of an aircraft wing 14 of the aircraft 10. The aircraft refueling adapter serves as a fuel inlet that leads to and is otherwise in communication with an aircraft fuel tank. Figure 2 The fuel supply 20 is shown in the form of a fuel tanker truck, but according to the present aspect, the fuel supply may be a ground (eg, below ground) or above ground fuel supply, which may be in the form of a fuel tank configured to dispense fuel.

[0040] Figure 3 , Figure 3A and Figure 4 A view of an aircraft refueling adapter 30 is shown, which is located at the end of a refueling line located at a position such as that which may be, for example, Figure 1 and Figure 2 An aircraft wing 14 of the type of aircraft 10 shown is shown. An aircraft refueling adapter 30 is fixedly attached to the aircraft wing 14 and is accessible via the aircraft wing fuel panel 14a when the aircraft fuel panel door 14b is opened for refueling (equivalently referred to herein as "refueling").

[0041] Figure 3 FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of an aircraft refueling adapter 30. Figure 3As shown, the aircraft refueling adapter 30 includes an aircraft refueling adapter body 32, the aircraft refueling adapter body 32 having an aircraft refueling adapter body exterior 34 and an aircraft refueling adapter body interior 36, the aircraft refueling adapter body interior 36 including an aircraft refueling adapter body interior wall 36a and an aircraft refueling adapter body interior passage 36b, which is substantially surrounded by the aircraft refueling adapter body interior wall 36a. The aircraft refueling adapter body 32 further includes an aircraft refueling adapter body interior passage inlet 36c and an aircraft refueling adapter body interior passage outlet 36d (located at the distal end of the aircraft refueling adapter body interior passage inlet 36c). The aircraft refueling adapter 30 further includes an aircraft refueling adapter flow meter 38 incorporated into the aircraft refueling adapter 30, the aircraft refueling adapter flow meter 38 is located at a position inside the aircraft refueling adapter 30, adjacent to the aircraft refueling adapter body interior passage 36b and in other ways communicating therewith.

[0042] An aircraft refueling adapter flow meter 38 (equivalently referred to herein as "flow meter 38" and / or "adapter flow meter 38") is integrated into (equivalently referred to as "incorporated into," and / or "integrated with") the aircraft refueling adapter 30. The aircraft refueling adapter flow meter 38 is configured to display, sense, and accurately measure the flow of fuel (equivalently referred to herein as "fuel flow") introduced into the aircraft fuel tank 16 through the aircraft refueling adapter 30. According to the present aspect, the aircraft refueling adapter flow meter 38 may be a mass flow meter configured to directly (without conversion to a mass value) and automatically measure the mass of the fuel flow passing through the aircraft refueling adapter flow meter 38 in mass units.

[0043] According to the present aspect, the introduction and incorporation of the aircraft refueling adapter flow meter 38 into the aircraft refueling adapter 30 significantly improves the accuracy of comparative aircraft fuel checking schemes by providing at least a third metering source capable of sensing and recording fuel loading values, according to one present aspect, and by directly measuring mass flow to compare the fuel mass value obtained by the aircraft refueling adapter flow meter 38 to the existing aircraft fuel quantity gauge, which also measures the mass of fuel introduced into the aircraft during refueling / refueling on the ground.

[0044] The aircraft fueling adapter's ability to directly measure the mass of fuel flow via an incorporated aircraft fueling adapter mass flow meter eliminates the possibility of calculation errors (e.g., ground crew manual fueling operation errors) during, for example, manual mathematical conversion of volume values ​​established at the fueling source to fuel mass values.

[0045] According to this aspect, by providing a third overall refueling value during and at the end of the refueling process, as well as a second refueling value on the aircraft that is different from the volumetric refueling value provided by the refueling source, the accuracy of the aircraft refueling process is significantly improved. Figure 2 , fuel supply 20( Figure 2 1) - which includes an amount of fuel 20a disbursed and / or delivered to the aircraft 10 from a fuel supply 20 (equivalently referred to herein as "fuel source 20") - further includes a refueling readout 20b, which can be a meter configured to indicate a volumetric amount of fuel delivered from the fuel source; such volumetric amount is expressed in volume units.

[0046] Figure 3A is an interior view of an aircraft fuel adapter showing an aircraft fuel adapter body 32 including an aircraft fuel adapter body exterior 34 and an aircraft fuel adapter body interior 36 including an aircraft fuel adapter body interior wall 36a, an aircraft fuel adapter body interior passage 36b (defined by the aircraft fuel adapter body interior wall 36a), and an aircraft fuel adapter body interior passage inlet 36c.

[0047] Figure 4 is a representative view of an aircraft fuel adapter flow meter 38 incorporated into the aircraft fuel adapter 30. The type of aircraft fuel adapter flow meter incorporated into the aircraft fuel adapter 30 may be a device that measures the flow of a liquid delivered through the flow meter; the flow meter is configured to directly assess and otherwise accurately and precisely measure flow in volumetric and / or mass units.

[0048] Additionally, according to another present embodiment, the aircraft fuel adapter flow meter 38 incorporated into the aircraft fuel adapter 30 may be of a type that measures flow delivered through the aircraft fuel adapter flow meter; the aircraft fuel adapter flow meter is configured to assess and otherwise accurately and precisely measure flow in units of volume or units of mass; the flow meter communicates with a processor, hardware, software, etc., such that determined flow values ​​may be automatically converted, one value (mass or volume) being determined directly, and the other value (volume or mass) being determined indirectly through an integrated conversion occurring (e.g., based on a conversion program running in an associated processor, etc.).

[0049] In another aspect, the aircraft refueling adapter flow meter 38 incorporated into the aircraft refueling adapter 30 may be a device that measures the flow delivered through the flow meter; the flow meter is configured to assess and otherwise accurately and precisely measure the flow rate in both volumetric and mass units directly within a single flow meter.

[0050] In further aspects of the present invention, more than one aircraft fuel adapter flow meter 38 may be incorporated into the aircraft fuel adapter 30, and of the plurality of aircraft fuel adapter flow meters incorporated into the aircraft fuel adapter, one may be a device for measuring a mass flow rate delivered through a (e.g., a first) aircraft fuel adapter flow meter in mass units, and another incorporated aircraft fuel adapter flow meter 38 (incorporated into the aircraft fuel adapter 30) may be a device for measuring a volume flow rate delivered through a (e.g., a second) aircraft fuel adapter flow meter 38; the second aircraft fuel adapter flow meter being configured to assess and otherwise accurately and precisely measure volumetric fuel flow in volume units.

[0051] Thus, the present aspect is directed to improving the accuracy and certainty of the fuel flow directed from a fuel source into an aircraft by providing an additional measurement device for an aircraft refueling scheme in the form of an aircraft refueling adapter flow meter that is incorporated into an aircraft refueling adapter for the first time. The incorporation of the aircraft refueling adapter flow meter into the aircraft refueling adapter may be accomplished by retrofitting the adapter to include the aircraft refueling adapter flow meter therein. In another aspect, a new aircraft refueling adapter incorporating the aircraft refueling adapter flow meter may be assembled and otherwise fixedly attached to the end of an aircraft fuel line, such as at an aircraft structure, such as in the form of an aircraft wing containing an aircraft wing fuel panel, and may replace a conventional aircraft refueling adapter.

[0052] According to the present aspect, the flow meter 38 incorporated into the aircraft refueling adapter is configured to send a signal to at least one of a controller, a processor, and a readout for displaying a value on the readout, which may be at least one of an independent flow value expressed in volume or mass units.

[0053] Figure 5 is a block diagram of a system 50 for aircraft refueling, the system 50 comprising an aircraft 10, the aircraft 10 further comprising an aircraft refueling adapter 30 having an aircraft refueling adapter flow meter 38 integrally incorporated therein. Figure 5As shown, and in accordance with the present aspect, the aircraft refueling adapter flow meter 38 communicates with or further incorporates a signaling function 38a. The aircraft refueling adapter flow meter 38 is configured to estimate the flow rate flowing through and otherwise passing through the aircraft refueling adapter 30 into the aircraft fuel tank. The aircraft refueling adapter flow meter 38 is configured to send the estimated aircraft fuel flow value in the form of a signal via a signaling function (e.g., a signal transmitter, etc.) 38a to an aircraft refueling adapter flow meter reader 38b, which may be located at least on the aircraft refueling adapter and may also be located at a location remote from the aircraft refueling adapter, such as an adapter refueling control panel, which panel is located, for example, on an aircraft wing fuel panel, or elsewhere within the aircraft 10 (e.g., Figure 5 denoted by the dotted line in ).

[0054] Figure 6 , Figure 7 and Figure 8 is a perspective view of a wing location of an aircraft including an aircraft fuel panel, shown in an aircraft fuel panel exposed view, wherein the aircraft wing panel door is moved to an open position and to an open configuration, exposing the aircraft wing fuel panel and an aircraft refueling adapter fixedly attached within the wing assembly of the aircraft.

[0055] Figure 6 1 is a perspective partial view of an aircraft structure of an aircraft 10 in the form of an aircraft wing 14 including an aircraft fuel panel 14a, which further includes an aircraft fuel panel door 14b, when oriented in an "open" position to expose the aircraft fuel panel 14a. Figure 6 As shown, the aircraft refueling adapter 30 (including an incorporated aircraft refueling adapter flow meter 38) is fixedly attached to the lead to the aircraft fuel tank (not shown). Figure 6 That is, if Figure 6 As shown, the aircraft refueling adapter remains as a fixed feature of the aircraft wing 14 of the aircraft 10 and is located within and accessible to the aircraft wing fuel panel 14a (equivalently referred to herein as the "aircraft fuel panel 14a") when the aircraft fuel panel door 14b is opened to refuel / refuel the aircraft 10 so that the aircraft wing fuel panel 14a is in an exposed configuration. Figure 6 Further shown is an aircraft refueling adapter flow meter electrical connection 37 which may be configured to deliver power to an adapter flow meter 38 and which may further be configured to deliver an aircraft refueling adapter flow meter signal which communicates the flow meter value to an aircraft refueling adapter flow meter (signal) readout 38b, such as Figure 6As shown, the reader may be mounted in an aircraft refueling control panel 39 .

[0056] Figure 7 and Figure 8 is a perspective partial view of an aircraft structure of an aircraft 10 in the form of an aircraft wing 14, including an aircraft fuel panel 14a, which further includes an aircraft fuel panel door 14b, such as Figure 7 and Figure 8 As shown, the panel door is oriented in an "open" position to expose the aircraft wing fuel panel 14a. Figure 7 Again, it is shown Figure 6 , with the addition of a second aircraft refueling adapter 30 , each refueling adapter 30 including an integrated aircraft refueling adapter flow meter 38 . Figure 8 An operator 40 is shown ("dashed" portion) and may be, for example, a ground crew member who is positioned to obtain a refueling / refueling reading from the aircraft refueling adapter flow meter readout 38b, which may display the fuel quantity in mass units. Figure 8 As shown, operator 40 may compare the mass value read by the aircraft refueling adapter flow meter to an aircraft fuel gauge readout 14c from a separate flow meter in communication with the aircraft fuel tanks, which also displays the fuel value in mass units.

[0057] As described herein, in order to accurately and precisely confirm the amount of fuel delivered to an aircraft, ground operations and personnel may use a scheme, in accordance with the present invention, to provide an additional and independent third fuel quantity value for comparison to two pre-existing representative values: 1) the fuel cart reading (expressed in volume units); and 2) the aircraft fuel quantity gauge (expressed in mass units).

[0058] According to the present aspect, an additional, independent "third" value may also provide a volume value expressed in volume units that may be communicated to a refueling source (a fuel tanker truck or other fuel depot or ground fuel tank installation, etc.) such that a volume reading of fuel dispensed from the fuel source into the aircraft tank (captured in volume units) may be immediately compared to a volume reading obtained by an aircraft refueling adapter flow meter, the aircraft refueling adapter flow meter volume reading being communicated to a readout accessible to, for example, ground crew. That is, the present aircraft refueling adapter including an integrated aircraft refueling adapter flow meter may provide definitive refueling information that may be used to compare either or both of a fuel volume value expressed in volume units and / or a fuel mass value expressed in mass units to a commonly acquired associated refueling value without requiring mathematical conversions or mathematical calculations to be performed (e.g., avoiding separate manual mathematical conversions or mathematical calculations, etc.). The fueling value assessed by the present third independent fueling "meter" or "device" in the form of the integrated aircraft fueling adapter flow meter of the present aircraft fueling adapter provides an independently assessed and displayed volume reading, an independently assessed and displayed mass reading, or both, which can be compared to the reading / value displayed by the fuel source (in volume units) and / or compared to the aircraft fuel gauge reading / value (in mass units).

[0059] The aircraft refueling adapter flow meter incorporated into the aircraft refueling adapter may include or communicate with a processor, a signal generator, a signal transmitter, etc., which can communicate with a dedicated signal receiver on a dedicated reader, and may include processor hardware, software, etc. to facilitate wireless communication (e.g., transmission and reception) of refueling values, including, for example, by using Bluetooth, the Internet of Things, etc., and it can be configured to transmit the refueling value to a location on the aircraft, as well as to aircraft-used instruments at the refueling source and to refueling source-used instruments, and to transmit the refueling value to a remote location away from the aircraft, for example, to a device that can be a remote handheld device of ground crew and to a storage device that can be a cloud storage device, such as, for example, for storing refueling information about refueling history, such storage device is an accessible storage device, etc.

[0060] According to this aspect, Fig. 9 , Fig.10 , Fig.11 , Fig.12 and Fig.13 is a flow chart illustrating the method. Fig. 9As shown, the present aspect is directed to a method 100 for confirming accurate delivery of an amount of fuel delivered from a fuel supply into an aircraft fuel tank, the method comprising engaging an aircraft refueling adapter with a fuel supply assembly 102. The aircraft refueling adapter is fixedly engaged with an aircraft structure, such as an aircraft wing containing an aircraft fuel tank, and the aircraft structure contains an aircraft fuel inlet at the aircraft refueling adapter. As described herein, the aircraft refueling adapter includes an aircraft refueling adapter body, the aircraft refueling adapter body further including an aircraft refueling adapter exterior and an aircraft refueling adapter body interior. The aircraft refueling adapter interior includes an aircraft refueling adapter interior wall and an aircraft refueling adapter interior passageway, the aircraft refueling adapter interior passageway being substantially defined by the aircraft refueling adapter interior wall. The aircraft fuel adapter further includes an aircraft fuel adapter internal passage inlet, an aircraft fuel adapter internal passage outlet, and an aircraft fuel adapter flow meter, the aircraft fuel adapter flow meter communicating with the aircraft fuel adapter internal passage, and the aircraft fuel adapter flow meter is configured to determine a fuel flow rate flowing through the aircraft fuel adapter mass flow meter, the fuel flow rate passing through a path from the fuel supply to the aircraft fuel adapter and into the aircraft fuel tank. The method 100 further includes directing 104 a fuel flow from the fuel supply to the aircraft fuel adapter, directing 106 a fuel flow from the aircraft fuel adapter into the aircraft fuel tank, and determining 108, by the aircraft fuel adapter flow meter, an amount of fuel delivered from the fuel supply through the aircraft fuel adapter to the aircraft fuel tank. The method further includes determining a first determined fuel value to confirm accurate delivery of the fuel flow rate delivered from the fuel supply to the aircraft fuel tank.

[0061] Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method 200 for confirming accurate delivery of an amount of fuel delivered from a fuel supply to an aircraft fuel tank, the method comprising providing 202 a fuel supply, and providing 204 an aircraft fuel tank. The method 200 further comprises providing 206 an aircraft fueling adapter, which may be an aircraft fueling adapter fixedly attached to an aircraft structure, the aircraft fueling adapter incorporating a flow meter as described herein, and delivering 208 a flow of fuel from the fuel supply to the aircraft fuel tank through the aircraft fueling adapter. The method 200 further comprises measuring 210 a first determined fuel flow value determined at the aircraft fueling adapter. When the adapter flow meter comprises a mass flow meter, the first determined fuel flow value may be a mass flow value expressed in mass units, and when the adapter flow meter is configured to deliver both mass unit values ​​and volume unit values, the first flow value may also be a volume value expressed in volume units.

[0062] Another aspect involves Fig.11The method 300 shown in FIG. 1 includes the steps outlined in method 200 (eg, Fig.10 ), and further includes measuring 302 a second determined fuel flow value determined at at least one of the fuel source (expressed in volume units) and the aircraft fuel gauge (expressed in mass units). According to this aspect, the method 300 contemplates (at step 210) that when the second determined value determined at the fuel tank is a volume-based quantity value (volume units), the first determined fuel flow value determined / measured at the adapter flow meter will be a volume-based quantity value (volume units). Furthermore, according to this aspect, the method 300 contemplates (at step 210) that when the second determined value is determined at the aircraft fuel gauge and is a mass-based quantity value (mass units), the first determined fuel flow value determined / measured at the adapter flow meter will be a mass-based quantity value (mass units).

[0063] like Fig.12 As shown, another aspect of the present invention relates to a method 400, which includes the steps outlined in method 300 (eg, Fig.11 ), and further includes step 402 in method 400, which includes comparing 402 a second determined fuel flow value determined at at least one of a fuel source (expressed in volume units) and an aircraft fuel gauge (expressed in mass units) with a first determined fuel flow value. According to this aspect, method 400 contemplates (at step 210) that when the second determined value determined at the fuel truck is a volume-based quantity value (volume units), the first determined fuel flow value determined / measured at the adapter flow meter will be a volume-based quantity value (volume units). In addition, according to this aspect, method 400 contemplates (at step 210) that when the second determined value is determined at the aircraft fuel gauge and is a mass-based quantity value (mass units), the first determined fuel flow value determined / measured at the adapter flow meter will be a mass-based quantity value (mass units). At step 402, the first and second determined values ​​(both the first and second values ​​are volume values, or both the first and second values ​​are mass values) are compared with one another to determine a difference between the first determined fuel value and the second determined fuel value (or to confirm agreement between the first and second determined values).

[0064] like Fig.13As shown, another aspect of the present invention relates to a method 500 for making an aircraft fuel adapter, the method 500 comprising providing 502 an aircraft fuel adapter including a fuel adapter body, the aircraft fuel adapter body further comprising an aircraft fuel adapter exterior and an aircraft fuel adapter body interior, the aircraft fuel adapter interior comprising an aircraft fuel adapter interior wall and an aircraft fuel adapter interior passageway, and the aircraft fuel adapter interior passageway is substantially defined by the aircraft fuel adapter interior wall. The method 500 further comprises incorporating 504 a flow meter into the aircraft fuel adapter, the flow meter being in communication with the aircraft fuel adapter interior passageway, the flow meter being configured to determine a fuel flow rate through the aircraft fuel meter, and the fuel flow rate is configured to pass through a path from a fuel supply through the aircraft fuel adapter and into an aircraft fuel tank.

[0065] According to the present aspect, in method 500, the flow meter at step 5604 may be a mass flow meter, and the flow meter may be a flow meter that measures both volume and mass. In addition, step 504 contemplates incorporating multiple flow meters into an aircraft refueling adapter, where one of the flow meters is a mass flow meter and another flow meter is a flow meter that measures volume.

[0066] Fig. 9 , Fig.10 , Fig.11 , Fig.12 and Fig.13 Methods 100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 outlined in the specification may include methods described herein and shown in, for example, Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 , Figure 4 , Figure 5 , Figure 6 , Figure 7 and / or Figure 8 Devices and systems in one or more of.

[0067] As used herein, the terms "substantially surround" and / or "substantially define" mean that a particular physical element is almost completely or nearly completely surrounded and / or surrounded by another stated element, and almost completely or nearly completely defined by another stated element.

[0068] Furthermore, the present disclosure includes embodiments according to the following clauses: 1. An aircraft refueling adapter (30), comprising: an aircraft fuel adapter body (32), the aircraft fuel adapter body further comprising an aircraft fuel adapter exterior (34) and an aircraft fuel adapter body interior (36), the aircraft fuel adapter interior comprising an aircraft fuel adapter interior wall (36a) and an aircraft fuel adapter interior passageway (36b), the aircraft fuel adapter interior passageway being substantially defined by the aircraft fuel adapter interior wall; Aircraft refueling adapter internal access inlet (36c); Aircraft refueling adapter internal passage outlet (36d); An aircraft fuel adapter flow meter (38) is provided, the aircraft fuel adapter flow meter being in communication with an internal passage of the aircraft fuel adapter.

[0069] 2. The aircraft fuel adapter of clause 1, wherein the aircraft fuel adapter flow meter is configured to send a signal to an aircraft fuel adapter flow meter reader.

[0070] 3. The aircraft refuel adapter of clause 1, wherein the aircraft refuel adapter flow meter is a mass flow meter.

[0071] 4. The aircraft fuel adapter of clause 1, wherein the aircraft fuel adapter flow meter is configured to determine a volume of fuel flow through the aircraft fuel adapter flow meter.

[0072] 5. An aircraft structure (14) comprising an aircraft refueling adapter as described in clause 1.

[0073] 6. An aircraft (10) comprising an aircraft refueling adapter as described in clause 1.

[0074] 7. A method (100) (200) for confirming accurate delivery of an amount of fuel delivered from a fuel supply to an aircraft fuel tank, the method comprising: An aircraft refueling adapter is engaged with a fuel supply assembly (102), the aircraft refueling adapter being fixedly engaged with an aircraft structure, the aircraft structure comprising an aircraft fuel inlet, the aircraft refueling adapter comprising: an aircraft fuel adapter body, the aircraft fuel adapter body further comprising an aircraft fuel adapter exterior and an aircraft fuel adapter body interior, the aircraft fuel adapter interior comprising an aircraft fuel adapter interior wall and an aircraft fuel adapter interior passageway, the aircraft fuel adapter interior passageway being substantially defined by the aircraft fuel adapter interior wall; Aircraft refueling adapter internal access inlet; Aircraft refueling adapter internal access outlet; an aircraft fueling adapter flow meter in communication with an internal passage of the aircraft fueling adapter, the aircraft fueling adapter flow meter being configured to determine a fuel flow rate in a fuel flow delivered from a fuel supply, the fuel flow passing through the aircraft fueling adapter mass flow meter, an amount of the fuel flow traversing a path from the fuel supply to the aircraft fueling adapter and into an aircraft fuel tank; directing (104) a flow of fuel (20a) from the fuel supply (20) to the aircraft refueling adapter; directing (106) a flow of fuel from the aircraft refueling adapter into an aircraft fuel tank; and determining (108) at the aircraft refueling adapter an amount of fuel delivered from the fuel supply to the aircraft fuel tank; and A first determined fuel value is determined (210) to confirm accurate delivery of an amount of fuel flow fuel delivered from the fuel supply to the aircraft fuel tank.

[0075] 8. The method (300) (400) according to clause 7, further comprising: determining (302) a second determined fuel [directly determined volume] value measured at the fuel supply based on a volume of fuel delivered from the fuel supply measured at the fuel supply from an amount of fuel delivered from the fuel supply to the aircraft fuel tank; and The first determined fuel value and the second determined fuel value are compared (402) to determine a difference between the first determined fuel value and the second determined fuel value.

[0076] 9. The method of clause 7, wherein the aircraft refueling adapter flow meter is a mass flow meter configured to directly calculate the mass of fuel delivered from the fuel supply to the aircraft fuel tank, and wherein the first determined fuel value [value at adapter] is a mass value.

[0077] 10. A method according to clause 8, wherein the second determined fuel value [a value determined at a fuel supply] is a converted mass value calculated at the fuel supply.

[0078] 11. The method of clause 7, wherein the aircraft refueling adapter flow meter is configured to measure a volume of fuel flow delivered from the fuel supply to the aircraft fuel tank, and wherein the first determined fuel value [value at adapter] is a volumetric value.

[0079] 12. A method according to clause 8, wherein the second determined fuel value [value at the fuel supply] is a calculated volume value at the fuel supply.

[0080] 13. The method of clause 7, wherein the aircraft refueling adapter flow meter is further configured to automatically calculate an amount of fuel delivered from the fuel supply to the aircraft fuel tank, and wherein the first determined fuel value is at least one of a mass value or a volume value.

[0081] 14. A method (300) of refueling an aircraft, the method comprising: providing (202) a fuel supply; providing (204) an aircraft fuel tank in the aircraft, the aircraft fuel tank being in communication with an aircraft fuel tank inlet; providing (206) an aircraft refueling adapter fixedly engaged with the aircraft, the aircraft refueling adapter communicating with the aircraft fuel tank inlet, the aircraft refueling adapter further communicating with the fuel supply, the aircraft refueling adapter including an aircraft refueling adapter flow meter; delivering (208) a flow of fuel from the fuel supply to the aircraft fuel tank; and A first determined fuel value is determined (210) based on a fuel flow configured to pass through the aircraft fuel adapter, the first determined fuel value being measured at the aircraft fuel adapter by the aircraft fuel adapter flow meter.

[0082] 15. The method (400) of clause 14, further comprising: A second determined fuel value measured at the fuel supply is determined (302) based on a fuel flow exiting the fuel supply.

[0083] 16. The method of clause 14, wherein the aircraft refueling adapter flow meter is a mass flow meter configured to [directly] calculate the mass of fuel delivered from the fuel supply to the aircraft fuel tank, and wherein the first determined fuel value is a mass value.

[0084] 17. A method according to clause 15, wherein the second determined fuel value [value at the fuel supply] is a [converted] mass value calculated at the fuel supply.

[0085] 18. The method of clause 14, wherein the aircraft refueling adapter flow meter is configured to measure a volume of fuel flow delivered from the fuel supply to the aircraft fuel tank, and wherein the first determined fuel value [value at adapter] is a volumetric value.

[0086] 19. A method according to clause 15, wherein the second determined fuel value [value at the fuel supply] is a volume value measured at the fuel supply.

[0087] 20. The method of clause 14, wherein the aircraft refueling adapter flow meter is further configured to automatically / directly calculate a mass of fuel delivered from the fuel supply to the aircraft fuel tank, and wherein the determined fuel value is at least one of a mass value or a volume value.

[0088] 21. The method of clause 15, wherein the second determined fuel value is a mass value manually calculated based on a measured volume of fuel delivered from the fuel supply by converting a volume value of fuel delivered from the fuel supply.

[0089] 22. The method according to clause 15, further comprising: The first determined fuel value and the second determined fuel value are compared to determine a difference between the first [direct] determined fuel value and the second determined fuel value.

[0090] 23. A method (500) for making an aircraft refueling adapter, the method comprising: providing (502) an aircraft fuel adapter, the aircraft fuel adapter body further comprising an aircraft fuel adapter exterior and an aircraft fuel adapter body interior, the aircraft fuel adapter interior comprising an aircraft fuel adapter interior wall and an aircraft fuel adapter interior passageway, the aircraft fuel adapter interior passageway being substantially defined by the aircraft fuel adapter interior wall; and A flow meter is incorporated (504) into the aircraft fuel adapter, the flow meter communicating with an internal passage of the aircraft fuel adapter, the flow meter being configured to determine an amount of fuel in a fuel flow passing through the flow meter, the amount of fuel in the fuel flow being configured to traverse a path from a fuel supply, through the aircraft fuel adapter, and into an aircraft fuel tank.

[0091] 24. A method according to clause 23, wherein the flow meter is configured to send a flow value signal to a reader.

[0092] 25. The method of clause 24, wherein the aircraft refueling adapter comprises the reader.

[0093] Of course, without departing from the basic characteristics of the present disclosure, this aspect can be implemented in other ways than those specifically stated herein. This aspect should be considered as illustrative rather than restrictive in all respects, and all changes within the meaning and equivalent range of the appended claims are intended to be included therein.

Claims

1. An aircraft refueling adapter (30), comprising: an aircraft fuel adapter body (32), the aircraft fuel adapter body further comprising an aircraft fuel adapter exterior (34) and an aircraft fuel adapter body interior (36), the aircraft fuel adapter interior comprising an aircraft fuel adapter interior wall (36a) and an aircraft fuel adapter interior passageway (36b), the aircraft fuel adapter interior passageway being substantially defined by the aircraft fuel adapter interior wall; Aircraft refueling adapter internal access inlet (36c); Aircraft refueling adapter internal passage outlet (36d); An aircraft fuel adapter flow meter (38) is provided, the aircraft fuel adapter flow meter being in communication with an internal passage of the aircraft fuel adapter.

2. The aircraft fuel adapter of claim 1, wherein the aircraft fuel adapter flow meter is configured to send a signal to an aircraft fuel adapter flow meter reader.

3. The aircraft refueling adapter of claim 1, wherein the aircraft refueling adapter flow meter is a mass flow meter.

4. The aircraft fuel adapter of claim 1, wherein the aircraft fuel adapter flow meter is configured to determine a volume of fuel flow through the aircraft fuel adapter flow meter.

5. An aircraft structure (14) comprising the aircraft refueling adapter of claim 1.

6. An aircraft (10) comprising the aircraft refueling adapter of claim 1.

7. A method (100)(200) for confirming accurate delivery of an amount of fuel delivered from a fuel supply to an aircraft fuel tank, the method comprising: An aircraft refueling adapter is engaged with a fuel supply assembly (102), the aircraft refueling adapter being fixedly engaged with an aircraft structure, the aircraft structure comprising an aircraft fuel inlet, the aircraft refueling adapter comprising: an aircraft fuel adapter body, the aircraft fuel adapter body further comprising an aircraft fuel adapter exterior and an aircraft fuel adapter body interior, the aircraft fuel adapter interior comprising an aircraft fuel adapter interior wall and an aircraft fuel adapter interior passageway, the aircraft fuel adapter interior passageway being substantially defined by the aircraft fuel adapter interior wall; Aircraft refueling adapter internal access inlet; Aircraft refueling adapter internal access outlet; an aircraft fueling adapter flow meter in communication with an internal passage of the aircraft fueling adapter, the aircraft fueling adapter flow meter being configured to determine a fuel flow rate in a fuel flow delivered from a fuel supply, the fuel flow passing through the aircraft fueling adapter mass flow meter, an amount of the fuel flow traversing a path from the fuel supply to the aircraft fueling adapter and into an aircraft fuel tank; directing (104) a flow of fuel (20a) from the fuel supply (20) to the aircraft refueling adapter; directing (106) a flow of fuel from the aircraft refueling adapter into an aircraft fuel tank; and determining (108) at the aircraft refueling adapter an amount of fuel delivered from the fuel supply to the aircraft fuel tank; and A first determined fuel value is determined (210) to confirm accurate delivery of an amount of fuel flow fuel delivered from the fuel supply to the aircraft fuel tank.

8. The method (300) (400) according to claim 7, further comprising: determining (302) a second determined fuel [directly determined volume] value measured at the fuel supply based on a volume of fuel delivered from the fuel supply measured at the fuel supply from an amount of fuel delivered from the fuel supply to the aircraft fuel tank; and The first determined fuel value and the second determined fuel value are compared (402) to determine a difference between the first determined fuel value and the second determined fuel value.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the aircraft refueling adapter flow meter is a mass flow meter configured to directly calculate the mass of fuel delivered from the fuel supply to the aircraft fuel tank, and wherein the first determined fuel value [value at adapter] is a mass value.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the second determined fuel value [a value determined at a fuel supply] is a converted mass value calculated at the fuel supply.

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