Patent ID: 9469410
Filing Date: 2016-10-18
CPC Classification: B64D

Claim Text:
1. Apparatus for an in-flight refueling system between a first aircraft and a second aircraft, the first aircraft providing fuel to the second aircraft through a hose having a first end mounted on the first aircraft and a second free end connected to a drogue having inner and outer surfaces, said second aircraft fitted with a probe which may be brought into removable engagement with the drogue while said first and second aircraft are both in flight, said apparatus comprising: a) an actuator on said first aircraft to which said hose first end is connected, said actuator operable to control the extension and retraction of said hose; b) one or more trigger devices positioned at a predetermined location on said drogue; c) one or more signal emitting devices on said drogue, said one or more signal emitting devices switchable between off and on positions to thereby produce a signal when said one or more trigger devices is triggered; and d) one or more signal receiving devices positioned on said first aircraft and configured to receive said signal and operable to control said actuator to take up slack in said hose while said drogue and said probe are coupled with one another, wherein said probe has a probe tip and said trigger devices are triggered only upon said probe tip reaching said predetermined location in said drogue and thereby signaling full coupling of said probe and drogue.