Reel system for axially extending hose

Claim 1

A system for in-flight refueling of aircraft, comprising: an elongated refueling pod; means for connecting said pod to an aircraft; a supply hose having an inlet end and an outlet end; a drum mounted for rotation in said pod about a central axis such that said drum axis extends along the longitudinal direction of said pod, said drum having a substantially smooth surface for receiving said supply hose, said inlet end being connected to said drum; means for rotating said drum for wrapping said supply hose around said outer surface, said rotating means being positioned at an axial end of said drum and contained within said pod; feed means connected for operation in synchronism with said rotating means for feeding said supply hose axially of said drum toward or away from said drum in accordance with the direction of rotation of said drum, and causing only a single wrap of said supply hose to be positioned on said drum, said feed means including a sheave having an axis of rotation perpendicular to the axis of said drum, said hose being wrapped around a portion of said sheave such that said sheave changes the direction of said hose from transverse of said drum to axially of said drum; means for supporting said sheave and moving said sheave axis axially of said drum in response to rotation of said drum, said supporting and moving means comprising a carriage having bearing means rotatably mounting said sheave such that said sheave axis is perpendicular to said drum axis; screw threads formed in said carriage; a threaded shaft extending axially of said drum and received in said screw threads for moving carriage and said sheave axially of said drum, means for rotating said threaded shaft in synchronism with said drum; and, a pair of support members positioned on opposite sides of said threaded shaft, said support members slideably engaging said carriage and extending axially of said drum for inhibiting twisting of said carriage as it moves along said drum; and a hose guide member mounted to support said hose in substantially the same plane as said sheave as said hose comes off said sheave.

Claim 2

A system for in-flight refueling of aircraft, comprising: an elongated refueling pod; means for connecting said pod to an aircraft; a supply hose having an inlet end and an outlet end; a drum mounted for rotation in said pod about a central axis such that said drum axis extends along the longitudinal direction of said pod, said drum having a substantially smooth surface for receiving said supply hose, said inlet end being connected to said drum; means for rotating said drum for wrapping said supply hose around said outer surface, said rotating means being positioned at an axial end of said drum and contained within said pod; feed means connected for operation in synchronism with said rotating means for feeding said supply hose axially of said drum toward or away from said drum in accordance with the direction of rotation of said drum, and causing only a single wrap of said supply hose to be positioned on said drum, said feed means including a sheave having an axis of rotation perpendicular to the axis of said drum, said hose being wrapped around a portion of said sheave such that said sheave changes the direction of said hose from transverse of said drum to axially of said drum; means for supporting said sheave and moving said sheave axis axially of said drum in response to rotation of said drum, said supporting and moving means comprising a carriage having bearing means rotatably mounting said sheave such that said sheave axis is perpendicular to said drum axis; screw threads formed in said carriage; a threaded shaft extending axially of said drum and received in said screw threads for moving carriage and said sheave axially of said drum, means for rotating said threaded shaft in synchronism with said drum; and, a pair of support members positioned on opposite sides of said threaded shaft, said support members slideably engaging said carriage and extending axially of said drum for inhibiting twisting of said carriage as it moves along said drum; and a hose guide member mounted to support said hose in substantially the same plane as said sheave as said hose comes off said sheave.