Aerial Refueling Boom Drogue Adapter Dynamics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aerial refueling systems require aircraft to be configured either for boom or hose and drogue refueling, limiting flexibility during flight and causing issues like hose slack and reduced movement envelope, which can lead to accidents.
Innovation Solution
A retractable hose and drogue adaptor system that allows the hose to be actuated to take up slack and positioned above the boom, enabling longer hose lengths and reducing aerodynamic forces, with a control system to manage torque and tension for safe refueling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If the hose is made longer to provide sufficient ground clearance during takeoff and landing, then ground clearance is improved, but hose slack increases causing whip and safety issues
Solution Approach 1:
The hose is connected to an actuator that can dynamically adjust the hose's proximal end position during flight. The actuator moves the hose between a retracted position (reducing slack and whip) and an extended position (increasing ground clearance), allowing the system to adapt to different operational phases and eliminate the need to compromise between these conflicting requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuator automatically adjusts the hose tension and position in response to flight conditions without requiring manual intervention. The system self-regulates hose slack by moving the proximal end, taking up slack during refueling operations and extending during takeoff/landing, thereby maintaining safety and reliability autonomously.
2Reliability
If the hose is retracted to take up slack during refueling, then hose whip is reduced, but ground clearance during takeoff and landing is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a movable proximal end configuration with an actuator that dynamically positions the hose based on operational phase. During refueling, the actuator retracts the hose to eliminate slack and prevent whip. During takeoff and landing, the actuator extends the hose to provide adequate ground clearance. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by allowing the hose length to vary with operational requirements.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the hose and drogue are mounted in the aircraft tail, then configuration change during flight is enabled, but hose length is limited reducing movement envelope
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of a fixed tail mounting, the invention uses a movable proximal end that can be actuated to different positions. This allows the hose to achieve greater effective length and movement envelope while still maintaining the ability to change configuration during flight. The actuator system enables the hose to extend beyond what a fixed tail mount would permit, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and movement envelope.
4Device complexity
If a fixed hose length is used, then system simplicity is maintained, but the system cannot accommodate both ground clearance and slack reduction requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces an actuator system that dynamically adjusts the hose proximal end position, transforming a fixed-length constraint into a variable-effective-length system. This allows the same hose to provide adequate ground clearance when extended and minimal slack when retracted, achieving operational flexibility without requiring multiple hoses or complex manual reconfiguration procedures.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables flexible refueling configurations during flight, reduces hose whip, and improves safety by maintaining hose tension and ground clearance, allowing for more efficient and accident-free takeoffs and landings.
Implementation Method 1
the biasing force is arranged to be in a direction to counter the aerodynamic force on the hose and drogue in flight
Implementation Method 2
The pivot axis is preferably perpendicular to the boom... the biasing force may be torque applied at the pivotal mount
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
A boom drogue adapter (35) for a refuelling boom (34) of an aerial refuelling apparatus comprises a linkage arm (36) between the boom and a hose and drogue arrangement (30), which arm can be pivotally moved about the boom to adjust the position of the hose and drogue and take up hose slack.