Air Refuelling Reception Coupling With Pressure-Shielded Valve
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air-to-air refuelling systems face high engagement loads due to fuel pressure, requiring high relative speeds between aircraft, which reduces precision and increases the challenge of full engagement, especially for larger receiver aircraft.
Innovation Solution
A reception coupling design featuring a chamber with apertures vented to the atmosphere, reducing the pressure's effect on the valve member, allowing for adjustable engagement speeds and optimized fuel pressure for refuelling, independent of the fuel pressure in the hose.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If fuel pressure in the refuelling hose is increased to achieve high flow rate, then fuel delivery performance is improved, but engagement load on the valve member increases making full engagement difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The internal space of the reception coupling is segmented into two separate chambers: a first chamber housing the valve member and a second chamber for fuel passage. This segmentation isolates the valve member from high fuel pressure while maintaining high pressure fuel flow capability in the second chamber.
Solution Approach 2:
A partition wall with aperture acts as an intermediary structure between the first and second chambers. The aperture allows controlled fluid communication while the partition wall protects the valve member in the first chamber from the full effect of high fuel pressure in the second chamber.
2Reliability
If relative speed between receiver aircraft and tanker aircraft is increased to ensure full engagement, then engagement reliability is improved, but precision of engagement deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The reduced engagement load design preemptively counteracts the harmful effect of high fuel pressure before engagement occurs. By shielding the valve member from high pressure through the chamber separation, the system eliminates the need for high relative speeds to overcome pressure resistance, thereby maintaining both reliability and precision.
3Ease of operation
If fuel pressure is reduced to lower engagement load, then ease of engagement is improved, but fuel flow rate decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The reception coupling is divided into a low-pressure first chamber for valve operation and a high-pressure second chamber for fuel flow. This allows the valve member to operate under low engagement load conditions while the fuel passage maintains high pressure for optimal fuel delivery rate.
Solution Approach 2:
Different pressure conditions are applied to different parts of the system: the first chamber maintains low pressure for easy valve engagement, while the second chamber maintains high pressure for high fuel flow rate, optimizing both ease of operation and productivity simultaneously.
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
This design reduces the engagement load, enabling precise and efficient refuelling at appropriate speeds, maximizing fuel flow rates without altering fuel pressure, and accommodating various receiver aircraft sizes.
Implementation Method 1
a chamber defined by a chamber wall, which chamber is separate from the fuel passage and within which a portion of the valve member can be accommodated as the valve member moves towards the second position, so shielding said portion of the valve member from effects of pressure in the fuel passage
Implementation Method 2
On engagement of the refuelling probe with the reception coupling, the refuelling probe pushes against the valve member with an engagement force to open the fuel passage
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 4
AI summary
A reception coupling (6) for air-to-air refuelling. The reception coupling has a main body (17') and a fuel passage (28). A movable valve member (32) is provided for opening and closing the fuel passage. The reception coupling has a chamber (34), separate from the fuel passage. A portion of the valve member can be accommodated in the chamber as the valve member moves towards an open position, shielding that portion from effects of pressure in the fuel passage.