AU2002304020B2 - Overwing Aircraft Refuelling Nozzle and Swivel Protector - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT OVERWING AIRCRAFT REFUELLING NOZZLE, SWIVEL, HOSE CONNECTOR, HOSE BEGINNING AND WING PROTECTOR The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me. STANDARD PATENT APPLICATION NO: PTP-100001010 1 This invention relates to an invention that not only improves on previous types of protection but has created a completely new type of "Protector". For a long time different types of protection have been tried to protect the overwing refuelling nozzle, swivel and hose connector of the refuelling apparatus and to reduce or limit the damage to the aircraft wing. There have been mats laid over the wing to protect it, nozzles have been shrink wrapped to protect the nozzle and others have wrapped foam around the nozzle, held on by wrapping tape over the foam to hold it in place. The "mat" blew off the wing in winds, so weights were added to the inside of the "mat" which then damaged the wing when the "mat" was laid on the wing and it did not protect the nozzle. The shrink wrapping on the nozzle only lasted a short time before leaking fuel and exposure to the elements caused it to expand and come loose and the wrapped foam and tape, whilst protecting the aircraft wing, in the initial stages, covered up the nozzle, swivel and hose connector, keeping any leaking fuel and moisture inside and eventually corroding away at the fittings, which was only detected when the foam and tape were starting to dissolve and the adhesive of the tape stuck to the aircraft wing. With the "mat", this also added an extra object to be carried from side to side whilst refuelling, which increased the occupational, health and safety component of the refuelling - something else to carry and cause a fall. These problems are overcome by the present invention and includes extra features as well. The occupational, health and safety aspect is improved by reducing the number of objects to be carried from side to side whilst refuelling. The wing of the aircraft is protected from damage, by covering the metal components of the refuelling hose apparatus, namely the nozzle, swivel and hose connector. The components of the refuelling apparatus are protected from corrosion, with the early detection of leaks being seen as soon as they occur and with the ease of connection of the protector, any maintenance can be carried out very easily and quickly. The additional features include the suitability of the protector to fit any type of refuelling apparatus, nozzle, swivel and hose connector and also the protectors can be colour coded and have the type of fuel being used through the hose printed or stencilled on it. This is a very important addition, as, if the wrong type of 2 fuel is put into an aircraft it can cause damage to the engines, fuel system on the aircraft or in the worst case the crashing of the aircraft with all the possibilities that go with that, i.e. injuries and or deaths. The protector is made of canvas material, similar to the type used in the making of the "mat", which does not damage the aircraft wing. It has foam between the two layers of the canvas. It is sewn together and then the material is sewn so that it becomes quilted and therefore able to bend around and better fit the refuelling nozzle, swivel and hose connector. A tube is created when a strip is sewn into the "tongue" part of the protector, to allow a plastic cable tie to be fed through and used to attach the protector to the nozzle part of the refuelling apparatus. Velcro is then sewn down opposite sides of the sides of the protector to allow attachment over the swivel, hose connector and the commencement of the hose. The cover over the hose can be made as long as the purchaser requires, to protect the wing of any aircraft. There are only two colours that the protector can be made in, Red or Black, as there are only two types of fuel in the aviation field and the colours for each type of fuel are set universally by the industry. Red is for the type of fuel known as "Avgas" Black is for the type of fuel known as "Jet" Due to the universal colours for each of the two types of fuel, once the protectors are made they have the product type printed/stencilled on them. This is a further feature, as this may prevent a "Mis-fuelling" occurring and the subsequent damage/injuries/or death/s. In the drawings: Figure 1 shows the wing protector device according to the invention. Figure 2 shows the cross-section of the wing protector, highlighted in the drawings as: "AA - AA" Figure 3 shows the cross-section of the wing protector, highlighted in the drawings as: "BB - BB" Referring to figure 1 it can be seen that the wing protector device is a quilted, enlarged and distended "T" shape. It is made with two sheets of 314 grams/square metre canvas and one sheet of 10mm foam padding. The foam is glued between the two sheets of canvas. The canvas is colour coded as per the international standard world colour codes of the aviation industry. After a drying period, the protector is then stencilled with the specific fuel grade. The red coloured canvas protector is stencilled with the word "AVGAS" and the black coloured protector is stencilled with the words, "JET Al". After a further drying period, the protector has pipping sewn around the edge. A sleeve is made by sewing a strip of canvas across the bottom of the "T". This allows a plastic "pull tie" to be fed through the sleeve, which is used to secure that end around the trigger nozzle. The protector is then sewn to create the quilted appearance which allows the protector to wrap around the tubular refuelling equipment. Finally, Velcro is sewn on the inside of one of the sides and on the outside of the opposite side. This is used to secure the protector around the swivel, hose connector and the beginning of the hose. Figure 2 shows the cross-section of the protector, "AA- AA" which gives the detail of the placement of the sleeve and the lengths of Velcro strips. Figure 3 shows the cross-section of the protector, "B - BW which gives the detail of the placement of the Velcro strips sewn on opposite sides of the protector Figure 4 shows how the protector is fitted to the overwing refuelling nozzle, swivel, hose connector and the start of the hose. The measurements of the protector are: "BB- BB" 300mms "AA - AA" 300mms (on the standard size protector but can be as long as the customer requires) The corner pieces that are cut out, to create the "T" shape are 80mm by 80mms.

Claims (4)

1. A protector for an over-wing aircraft refuelling nozzle, swivel, hose connector and partially the hose, made of suitable fabric, with a foam padding held within, that is attached to itself by suitable means to surround and protect the swivel, hose connector and partially the hose and nozzle of an over-wing aircraft refuelling nozzle.

2. The protector, as defined in Claim No. 1, protects the refuelling equipment from damage by allowing the immediate detection of a leak or other damage to the nozzle, swivel, hose connector and the beginning of the hose.

3.The protector, as defined in Claim No. 1, protects damage to the wing surfaces thus eliminating the use of wing mats to protect the wings of the aircraft and by eliminating the use of the mats assists with the occupational, health and safety of the operator, as there is one less piece of equipment to be carried from side to side whilst refuelling an aircraft.

4. The protector, as defined in Claim No. 1, where it is made using the international colour coding and the international product name stencilled on it, may help prevent a mis-fuelling which could save damage to the aircraft, injury or death of passengers and flight crew and the cost of draining and replacing the fuel after the wrong fuel has been put into an aircraft. Applicant: Dated .b 4 .hn HI-artley _14'n