SDI Engineering and Mid Technology have teamed to together to research and develop innovative methods of a new aerial refueling hose design that will allow for greater stowage on a tanker aircraft. The focus of the proposed SBIR Phase I efforts will be towards the development of a new AR hose design configuration using state-of-the-art materials, combined with potential hose reel improvements. The objective is to develop an innovative packaging and/or construction method for stowing aerial refueling hoses that reduces the space required to stow the hose on tanker aircraft while maintaining the fuel flow, aeroelastic and structural performance requirements. The team will develop a FE model of the AR hose to optimize the hose performance and stowage capability and provide stiffness and damping inputs to SDIs proprietary AR modeling and simulation software, ARES, which can then be used to analyze the performance of potential hose designs in realistic AR scenarios. SDI will leverage their experience in reeling system modeling to explore potential changes to the hose reel, packaging, and stowage systems. The modeling and simulation capability, combined with the teams experience in AR operations and use of state-of-the-art materials, will help to develop a new hose design that is thinner, smaller diameter, lower flow resistance, and less likely to crush. Various hose design variables will be considered in the optimization of the hose and several novel hose packaging and stowage systems will be explored, with the objective of increasing the hose length, decreasing the required stowage volume, and also providing superior stiffness and damping characteristics with respect to Legacy hose systems.
Benefit: Several anticipated benefits will result from a new innovative hose design that can provide greater stowage capacity on tanker aircraft. Greater refueling effectiveness and higher stowage capacity for longer hoses will allow for an enhanced hose and drogue operational capability that can be gained. The ability to refuel additional aircraft that require a longer hose and drogue system will be achieved which will help aid military aerial refueling operations in terms of mission success, battle effectiveness and improved military hardware. The technology developed could attract wider application in other military refueling operations including the US Navy, Air Force, DARPA and NASA. The commercial tanking industry that uses contractor owned aircraft to refuel military and support aircraft would also benefit. The US Navy (NAVAIR) is the sponsor of this SBIR project and is the first potential customer for the hardware and software products. The direct application of the SBIR effort to the current issues experienced in NAVAIR facilities with refueling systems represents a first opportunity where, with a successful project, continued involvement in further product development and enhancement represents potential sales in engineering support. The prime contractors for the major NAVAIR programs also represent potential customers, as well as the first tier and second tier specialist suppliers of the refueling systems. In the Phase I activities, SDI and Mide will engage with key aerial refueling hose suppliers, including Eaton in the US, which has expressed an interest in the proposed technologies and the potential benefits the concepts can offer. Other DoD components likely to have interests in the technology are the US Air Force, US Army, US Marines and DARPA. A database of all DoD and commercial company potential applications will be established and maintained, and appropriate contacts will be made to ensure that there is an awareness of the technical capability resulting from this SBIR program. In all cases, if sufficient interest is perceived, occasions for meetings, presentations and discussions will be sought. Non-military potential applications of the refueling hose are unlikely to represent significant sales opportunities. A civilian need for air-to-air refueling systems could arise in long endurance UAVs for broad area surveillance, for example of forest fires or environmental monitoring. These possibilities will be kept under occasional review. In general, the new technology gained from this SBIR project will be additional to the companies existing offerings and will be exploited in future civil marketing efforts.
Keywords: stowage, stowage, Rubber Hoses, Composite Hoses, Refueling Hose, Flexible hoses, Refueling Store, ARS, aerial refueling
