Patents by Inventor James D. Francey

James D. Francey has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6644594
    Abstract: In an in-flight refueling system of an aircraft having a recess therein containing a slipway leading to a fuel inlet port, an improvement is provided in the form of a guideway having a) a pair of lead-in lines on the surface of the aircraft which taper and converge towards the slipway and port and b) a plurality of dashes or bars on the surface, spaced longitudinally between the lead-in lines, a desired distance apart, to provide visual cues in aiding an operator in guiding a fuel boom and nozzle from a refueling aircraft to the slipway and port of a fuel receiving aircraft, to provide a visually more salient means to achieve a quick and effective refueling hook-up while avoiding or minimizing nozzle strikes that can damage the aircraft, the boom or its nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Bruce P. Hunn, James D. Francey