US 11,834,192 B2
Devices, systems and methods for refueling air vehicles
Ohad Rix, Nes Ziona (IL); Joshua Gur, Jerusalem (IL); Michael Litvak, Tel Aviv (IL); and Elie Koskas, Rosh Haayin (IL)
Assigned to ISRAEL AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES LTD., Lod (IL)
Filed by ISRAEL AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES LTD., Lod (IL)
Filed on Oct. 8, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/497,514.
Application 17/497,514 is a continuation of application No. 16/537,084, filed on Aug. 9, 2019, granted, now 11,180,262.
Application 16/537,084 is a continuation of application No. 14/370,017, granted, now 10,427,801, issued on Oct. 1, 2019, previously published as PCT/IL2013/050016, filed on Jan. 3, 2013.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/728,985, filed on Nov. 21, 2012.
Claims priority of application No. 217364 (IL), filed on Jan. 4, 2012; and application No. 217365 (IL), filed on Jan. 4, 2012.
Prior Publication US 2022/0219832 A1, Jul. 14, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B64D 39/06 (2006.01); B64D 39/00 (2006.01); B64D 39/04 (2006.01); B64D 3/00 (2006.01); G05D 1/00 (2006.01); G05D 1/10 (2006.01)
CPC B64D 39/06 (2013.01) [B64D 3/00 (2013.01); B64D 39/00 (2013.01); B64D 39/04 (2013.01); G05D 1/0094 (2013.01); G05D 1/101 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A refueling device for use in in-flight refueling operation between a tanker aircraft and a receiver aircraft, the refueling device comprising:
a selectively steerable body having a longitudinal axis and configured to be towed by a tanker aircraft via a fuel hose at least during in-flight refueling, the selectively steerable body including a boom member having a boom axis and configured to enable fuel to be transferred from said fuel hose to a receiver aircraft along said boom axis during said in-flight refueling operation;
wherein said boom member is pivotably mounted with respect to said body, and pivotable between a retracted position and a deployed position, wherein in said retracted position said boom axis is at a smaller angular disposition with respect to said longitudinal axis than in said deployed position; and
a controller configured for selectively steering the body to an engagement enabling position spaced with respect to the receiver aircraft and for aligning said boom axis in an engagement enabling orientation at said spaced position, and for subsequently moving the boom member along said boom axis towards the receiver aircraft for enabling fuel communication therebetween.