US 11,718,412 B2
Propellant-handling module for an aircraft
James Pitman, London (GB)
Assigned to Brulic Ltd., Hove (GB)
Appl. No. 17/279,467
Filed by Brulic Ltd., Hove (GB)
PCT Filed Sep. 26, 2019, PCT No. PCT/GB2019/052717
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Mar. 24, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/065322, PCT Pub. Date Apr. 2, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 1815772 (GB), filed on Sep. 27, 2018; and application No. 1910583 (GB), filed on Jul. 24, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0362871 A1, Nov. 25, 2021
Int. Cl. B64D 39/02 (2006.01); H02J 50/10 (2016.01); H02J 7/00 (2006.01); B64D 39/06 (2006.01); B64D 39/00 (2006.01)
CPC B64D 39/02 (2013.01) [B64D 39/00 (2013.01); B64D 39/06 (2013.01); H02J 7/00032 (2020.01); H02J 7/0045 (2013.01); H02J 50/10 (2016.02)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A propellant-handling module for installation in a host aircraft, comprising:
a motorised drum unit comprising a line and drogue for engagement with a propellant supply line of a propellant supply aircraft and for drawing the propellant supply line from the propellant supply aircraft to the host aircraft when the propellant supply aircraft is located behind the host aircraft;
a propellant inlet configured for connection with the propellant supply line;
a propellant outlet in communication with the propellant inlet and configured for connection with a propellant system of the host aircraft;
an electrical power unit for powering the propellant-handling module; and
a communication and control system for receiving a deploy command signal and a return command signal from the propellant supply aircraft and configured to:
receive said deploy command signal and in response control the motorised drum unit to deploy the line and drogue for said engagement with the propellant supply line; and
receive said return command signal and in response control the motorised drum unit to return the line and drogue to the host aircraft in said engagement with the propellant supply line for drawing the propellant supply line from the propellant supply aircraft to the host aircraft when the propellant supply aircraft is located behind the host aircraft, such that the line and drogue are returned and the propellant supply line is deployed by simultaneous actions of the motorised drum unit and a propellant supply line drum unit on the propellant supply aircraft.