Patents by Inventor William Francis Matheny

William Francis Matheny 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).

  • Method and apparatus for aerial fuel transfer
    Patent number: 7938369
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for transferring fuel onto or off of an aircraft. A refueling transfer duct is deployed from an aft station of the aircraft being serviced while the aircraft is flying, wherein the transfer apparatus comprises a hose with a controllable drogue attached to its free end. The refueling duct is positioned through control signals sent by a tanker aircraft to the controllable drogue to form a favorably positioned refueling duct capable of a finite final docking maneuver. The positioned refueling duct is connected to the tanker aircraft positioned behind the aircraft to form a connection. The fuel is transferred through the connection to a fuel tank or fuel storage system located within the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: William Francis Matheny
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AERIAL FUEL TRANSFER
    Publication number: 20090184205
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for transferring fuel onto or off of an aircraft. A refueling transfer duct is deployed from an aft station of the aircraft being serviced while the aircraft is flying, wherein the transfer apparatus comprises a hose with a controllable drogue attached to its free end. The refueling duct is positioned through control signals sent by a tanker aircraft to the controllable drogue to form a favorably positioned refueling duct capable of a finite final docking maneuver. The positioned refueling duct is connected to the tanker aircraft positioned behind the aircraft to form a connection. The fuel is transferred through the connection to a fuel tank or fuel storage system located within the aircraft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Inventor: William Francis Matheny