Drogue adapter for a refuelling boom of an aerial refuelling apparatus

摘要

The adapter comprises a linkage arm 36 between the boom 34 and a hose 38 and drogue 40 arrangement, which arm can be pivotally moved about the boom to adjust the position of the hose and drogue and take up hose slack by providing a biasing force on the hose. The arm 36 carries fluid channel, has respective bearings to provide a swivel mounting in an aperture at a distal end 32 of the boom and a swivel attachment to a proximal end of the hose 38, and an associated motor and gearbox for rotation at the boom end bearing. For take-off and landing, the arm 36 is pivoted relative to the boom 34 so that its hose end is above the boom to increase hose 38 and drogue 40 clearance above the ground. For refueling using just the boom 34, the arm 36 is pivoted to move its hose end even further forward above the boom end 32. For refueling using the drogue 40, the arm 36 is pivoted downwardly with the hose end below the boom 34 to provide biasing to counter aerodynamic forces on the hose 38 and drogue 40.