Aircraft in-flight refueling system

Claim 1

IN AN IN-FLIGHT REFUELING SYSTEM FOR AN AIRCRAFT HAVING A TANK AND MEANS TO CARRY A REFUELING SYSTEM ADAPTED FOR CONNECTION TO THE TANK, THE IMPROVEMENTS COMPRISING A REFUELING DROGUE; MEANS COMPRISING SYSTEM OF RIGID ARTICULATED PIPE SECTIONS ADAPTED TO PROVIDE A FLOW CONNECTION BETWEEN THE TANK IN THE AIRCRAFT AND THE DROGUE, THE ARTICULATED SYSTEM BEING CONSTRUCTED AND ARRANGED FOR EXTENSION INTO A POSITION WHEREIN THE DROGUE IS RIGIDLY EXTENDED TO A POSITION OUTWARDLY AND REARWARDLY OF THE AIRCRAFT, THE ARTICULATED SYSTEM BEING COLLAPSIBLE INTO A FOLDED POSITION WITHIN THE AIRCRAFT; MEANS INCLUDING A HYDRAULIC ACTUATOR FOR POSITIVELY MOVING THE ARTICULATED PIPE SYSTEM BETWEEN EXTENDED AND RETRACTED POSITIONS; AND MEANS WHEREBY IN COLLAPSED POSITION OF THE SYSTEM A BENDING STRESS IS MAINTAINED IN ONE OF THE PIPE SECTIONS WHEREBY WHEN SAID STRESS IS RELEASED IT ACTS TO PROVIDE AN IMPULSE AGAINST THE AIRCRAFT, TENDING TO URGE THE ARTICULATED PIPE SYSTEM OUTWARDLY TOWARD EXTENDED POSITION.