Aerial refueling system, apparatus and methods

1. Apparatus for an in-flight refueling system between a first aircraft and a second aircraft, the first aircraft providing fuel to the second aircraft through a hose having a first end mounted on the first aircraft and a second free end connected to a drogue having inner and outer surfaces, said second aircraft fitted with a probe which may be brought into removable engagement with the drogue while said first and second aircraft are both in flight, said apparatus comprising:

a) an actuator on said first aircraft to which said hose first end is connected, said actuator operable to control the extension and retraction of said hose;

b) one or more trigger devices positioned at a predetermined location on said drogue;

c) one or more signal emitting devices on said drogue, said one or more signal emitting devices switchable between off and on positions to thereby produce a signal when said one or more trigger devices is triggered; and

d) one or more signal receiving devices positioned on said first aircraft and configured to receive said signal and operable to control said actuator to take up slack in said hose while said drogue and said probe are coupled with one another,

wherein said probe has a probe tip and said trigger devices are triggered only upon said probe tip reaching said predetermined location in said drogue and thereby signaling full coupling of said probe and drogue.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said actuator is a hydraulic motor.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said actuator is an electric motor.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said one or more signal emitting devices are one of LEDs, infrared diodes, radio or microwave emitters.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said one or more signal emitting devices and said one or more signal receiving devices are modulated at a predetermined frequency.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said one or more trigger devices comprise a light source and detector pair having a line-of-sight that is interrupted by said probe tip reaching said predetermined location in said drogue.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said one or more trigger devices comprise a mechanical switch which is triggered upon engagement of said probe with said drogue.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said signal emitting devices emits said signal only after said trigger device has been triggered for a threshold length of time.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein said threshold length of time is about 50 milliseconds.

10. Apparatus for an in-flight refueling system between a first aircraft and a second aircraft, the first aircraft providing fuel to the second aircraft through a fuel line having a first end mounted on a hose reel on the first aircraft and a second free end connected to a drogue, said second aircraft fitted with a probe which may be brought into removable engagement with the drogue while said first and second aircraft are both in flight, said apparatus comprising:

a) one or more switches changeable between open and closed conditions positioned at a predetermined location on said drogue, said probe configured to change said one or more switches from one of said open and closed conditions to the other of said open and closed conditions upon said probe being fully coupled with said drogue;

b) one or more signal emitting devices on said drogue and configured to emit a signal when said one or more switches are changed from said one of said open and closed conditions to the other of said open and closed conditions; and

c) one or more signal receiving devices positioned on said first aircraft and configured to receive said signal indicating full coupling between said probe and drogue wherein said one or more signal receiving devices is operable to control one or more predetermined functions on said first aircraft upon receiving said signal;

said system further comprising a second signal emitting device comprising a light source and detector pair located within said drogue and having a line-of-sight that is interrupted upon said full coupling of said probe with said drogue and, upon said interruption, is operable to emit a second signal which is operable to control one or more predetermined functions on said first aircraft, and

wherein said one or more predetermined functions is performed upon said one or more signal receiving devices receiving said first and second signals, and

wherein said fuel line is a hose attached to said hose reel on said first aircraft and said predetermined function is said hose reel taking UP of slack in said hose.

11. Apparatus of claim 10 wherein said predetermined function is initiation of fuel delivery through said fuel line.

12. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said drogue includes one or more roller elements biased radially inwardly toward the longitudinal axis of said drogue and said one or more switches are connected to said one or more roller elements whereby movement of said one or more roller elements radially outwardly a predetermined distance causes said one or more switches to change from one of said open and closed conditions to the other of said open and closed conditions, said probe configured to move said roller elements radially outwardly said predetermined distance upon full coupling of said probe with said drogue.

13. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said probe includes a probe tip configured to interrupt said line-of-sight upon full coupling of said probe with said drogue.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said drogue includes one or more roller elements biased radially inwardly toward the longitudinal axis of said drogue and said one or more switches are connected to said one or more roller elements whereby movement of said one or more roller elements radially outwardly a predetermined distance causes said one or more switches to change from one of said open and closed conditions to the other of said open and closed conditions, said probe configured to move said roller elements radially outwardly said predetermined distance upon full coupling of said probe with said drogue.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said probe includes a narrowed ring element located proximally of said probe tip, and wherein said roller elements bias inwardly and locate within said narrowed ring segment only upon full advancement and coupling of said probe within said drogue, and wherein said probe tip is spaced from said narrowed ring segment a distance which causes said probe tip to interrupt said line-of-sight only when said roller elements have located within said narrowed ring segment.