GB460843A - Improved method and means for effecting transfer of fuel, containers, persons or the like from one aircraft to another during flight - Google Patents

Abstract

460,843. Transferring articles, fuel, &c. between aircraft in flight. ATCHERLEY, R. L. R. June 4, 1935, No. 16025. [Class 103 (iii)] [Also in Group XXXIII] In a method of conveying fluids or articles between two aircraft in flight each aircraft is provided with means for trailing a line in such a manner that when the two aircraft are flown on parallel courses at substantially equal speeds, the respective lines will trail at a sufficiently large angle to one another for effective intersection and engagement, positive interengagement being caused by movement of one aircraft across the flight path of the other and thereafter one of the lines being used to heave the other, the bond so established being 5 employed for the required 5 conveying operation. For transferring fuel one of the lines may be a pipe - line. Fig. 3 shows a line 1 depending from an aircraft A engaging a line 4 trailing substantially horizontally from an aircraft B, the line 1 afterwards being drawn in to the aircraft A. Correct trailing of the lines may be ensured by suitably constructing the lines, or, for example as shown, by the use of a grapnel 3 and wind-sleeve 5 respectively. The line trailing from craft B may be a double-line which is normally twisted but which unravels into lines 7, 8, Fig. 5, when mounted on a swivelling pulley on craft A after the line 1 has been drawn in. The lines 7, 8 may run in the appropriate direction automatically due to their relative drag and weight or by being connected to a powerdriven capstan on aircraft B. For transferring fuel the line 7 may be a pipe-line or connected to a pipe-line mounted on a reel on machine B. Fig. 8 shows an automatic retaining and quick-release device for double lines such as the lines 7, 8, Fig. 5, the retaining part comprising a hollow cylinder 10 fixed on machine A and split along its length to permit insertion of the line 8, while the quick-release fitting is inserted between the lines and comprises a rod 11 connected to line 7 and carrying a conical member 12 which is retained in the cylinder 10 after passing between spring-pressed, manually &c. releasable, retaining plungers 13. An eye 15 in the end of the line 8 is mounted on a catch 14 which normally engages a recess in the end of a spring-pressed sleeve 18 slidable on the rod 11 so that when the line 8 is pulled forcibly the catch is released to free the line, the sleeve 18 being moved to abut the end of the cylinder 10 and the catch 14 being then pulled clear of the cylinder. In the device shown in Fig. 9, an article to be transferred is secured to a conical member 20 which carries a spring-pressed slidable collar 25 supporting a quick-release catch 14 engaging, a loop 28 connected by a cable 29 to a continuous line 8, 9. After the member 20 has passed into the cylinder 23 further tension on the line detaches the cable 29 from the catch 14. In a modification, Fig. 10, for transferring fuel, the part 9 of the line, Fig. 9, is replaced by a pipe 9 and engages a serrated spigot 31 on the tubular member 20 which is connected by a quick-release, overload gland-coupling 33 with a pipe 34 leading, for example, to a fuel tank on the aircraft A. The catches 14 retain a loop 28 on the end of line 8. Fig. 11 shows a complete fitting comprising a swivelling pulley-block 42 and a line-retaining and quickrelease device similar to that shown in Fig. 8. An inwardly yielding-spring 46 on the block allows the double line 7, 8 to be easily mounted thereon. The catches (not shown) for retaining the conical member 53 may be released by a collar 54 slidable on the outside of the split cylinder 48 and adapted to be moved by the operator pulling the stem 58 which releases a spring-pressed plunger 57 controlling a pivoted trigger 55.