Telescoping tube for transferring fuel
A telescoping tube for fuel transfer operations has a fixed part and a moving part, the moving part further having a dynamic sealing system which guarantees the sealing of the moving part against the fixed part, a cushioning system which absorbs the energy of the impact of the moving part against the fixed part in operations for extending and retracting the tube and protection systems against electrical discharges which ground the moving part to the fixed part, the aforementioned dynamic sealing, cushioning and protection systems all being incorporated in a single unit in the moving part of the telescoping tube. Additionally, the invention relates to an in-flight refuelling system for a tanker aeroplane, to carry out in-flight fuel transfer operations to a receiving aircraft, having a telescoping tube with the abovementioned characteristics.
1. A telescoping tube to carry out fuel transfer operations, the telescoping tube comprising:
a fixed part including external stops; and
a moving part, the moving part comprising
a dynamic seal to seal the moving part against the fixed part, the dynamic seal including dynamic sealing joints associated with guiding elements, which provide a dynamic-type sealing system,
a cushioning arrangement to absorb at least some of the energy of the impact of the moving part against the external stops of the fixed part in operations for extending and retracting the telescoping tube, and
a grounding arrangement to protect against electrical discharges which ground the moving part to the fixed part, and
wherein the dynamic seal, the cushioning arrangement and the grounding arrangement are all incorporated in a single unit.
2. A telescoping tube to carry out fuel transfer operations, the telescoping tube comprising:
a fixed part including external stops; and
a moving part, the moving part comprising
a dynamic seal to seal the moving part against the fixed part,
a grounding arrangement to protect against electrical discharges which ground the moving part to the fixed part, and
a cushioning arrangement to absorb at least some of the energy of the impact of the moving part against the external stops of the fixed part in operations for extending and retracting the telescoping tube, the cushioning arrangement including
fixed stops,
dynamic stops, and
cushioning elements cooperating with the dynamic stops to absorb at least some of the energy from impacts between the dynamic stops and the external stops of the fixed part, the cushioning elements including friction rings capable of absorbing energy from impacts between the dynamic stops and external stops during operation, with minimum deformation, and
wherein the dynamic seal, the cushioning arrangement and the grounding arrangement are all incorporated in a single unit.
3. A telescoping tube to carry out fuel transfer operations, the telescoping tube comprising:
a fixed part including external stops; and
a moving part, the moving part comprising
a dynamic seal to seal the moving part against the fixed part,
a grounding arrangement to protect against electrical discharges which ground the moving part to the fixed part, and
a cushioning arrangement to absorb at least some of the energy of the impact of the moving part against the external stops of the fixed part in operations for extending and retracting the telescoping tube, the cushioning arrangement including
fixed stops,
dynamic stops,
cushioning elements cooperating with the dynamic stops to absorb at least some of the energy from impacts between the dynamic stops and the external stops of the fixed part, and
a separating element of a non-metallic material provided between the fixed stops and the dynamic stops, and
wherein the dynamic seal, the cushioning arrangement and the grounding arrangement are all incorporated in a single unit.
4. A telescoping tube to carry out fuel transfer operations, the telescoping tube comprising:
a fixed part including external stops; and
a moving part, the moving part comprising
a dynamic seal to seal the moving part against the fixed part,
a grounding arrangement to protect against electrical discharges which ground the moving part to the fixed part, and
a cushioning arrangement to absorb at least some of the energy of the impact of the moving part against the external stops of the fixed part in operations for extending and retracting the telescoping tube, the cushioning arrangement including
fixed stops,
dynamic stops,
cushioning elements cooperating with the dynamic stops to absorb at least some of the energy from impacts between the dynamic stops and the external stops of the fixed part, and
guides connected to the fixed stops which permit the alignment and longitudinal movement of the dynamic stops between the fixed stops, and
wherein the dynamic seal, the cushioning arrangement and the grounding arrangement are all incorporated in a single unit.
5. A telescoping tube to carry out fuel transfer operations, the telescoping tube comprising:
a fixed part including external stops; and
a moving part, the moving part comprising
a dynamic seal to seal the moving part against the fixed part,
a cushioning arrangement to absorb at least some of the energy of the impact of the moving part against the external stops of the fixed part in operations for extending and retracting the telescoping tube; and
a grounding arrangement to protect against electrical discharges which ground the moving part to the fixed part, the grounding arrangement including an insulating sleeve to prevent electric arcs in a wet zone of the telescoping tube; and
wherein the dynamic seal, the cushioning arrangement and the grounding arrangement are all incorporated in a single unit.
6. A telescoping tube according to claim 5 , in which the insulating sleeve has a sufficient conductivity to prevent the accumulation of electrostatic charge due to friction from displacement of the moving part of the telescoping tube with respect to the fixed part.
7. A telescoping tube according to claim 6 , in which the insulating sleeve has a resistance of 1 kΩ-10 MΩ.
8. A telescoping tube to carry out fuel transfer operations, the telescoping tube comprising:
a fixed part including external stops;
a moving part, the moving part comprising
a dynamic seal to seal the moving part against the fixed part,
a grounding arrangement to protect against electrical discharges which ground the moving part to the fixed part, and
a cushioning arrangement to absorb at least some of the energy of the impact of the moving part against the external stops of the fixed part in operations for extending and retracting the telescoping tube; and
auxiliary rollers coupled to the moving part which guide the moving part of the telescoping tube when the telescoping tube is retracted.
9. A system for in-flight refueling for a tanker airplane to carry out in-flight fuel transfer operations to a receiving aircraft, the system comprising a telescoping tube having:
a fixed part including external stops; and
a moving part, the moving part comprising
a dynamic seal to seal the moving part against the fixed part,
a grounding arrangement to protect against electrical discharges which ground the moving part to the fixed part, and
a cushioning arrangement to absorb at least some of the energy of the impact of the moving part against the external stops of the fixed part in operations for extending and retracting the telescoping tube, and
wherein the dynamic seal, the cushioning arrangement and the grounding arrangement are all incorporated in a single unit.