Invention Grant
- Patent Title: Fuel recirculation system
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Application No.: US16669868Application Date: 2019-10-31
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Publication No.: US11623759B2Publication Date: 2023-04-11
- Inventor: Thomas Edward Dwier , Robert G. Wellemeyer
- Applicant: Textron Aviation Inc.
- Applicant Address: US KS Wichita
- Assignee: Textron Aviation Inc.
- Current Assignee: Textron Aviation Inc.
- Current Assignee Address: US KS Wichita
- Agency: Avek IP, LLC
- Main IPC: B64D37/34
- IPC: B64D37/34 ; B64C3/14 ; B64D37/04

Abstract:
Disclosed are systems and methods for maintaining bulk fuel temperatures in an aircraft. In one aspect, a recirculation system causes fuel to be delivered from a relatively low point near the feed hopper of each tank on the aircraft to one or more outboard locations of the wings. Once there, the fuel, due to gravity, flows back over the lower skin of the wing in channels back towards the fuselage, thus cooling the fuel. In other aspects, control systems are disclosed that coordinate the recirculation based on fuel levels in the tanks and fuel temperatures. The control systems also utilize a fuel scavenge system to maintain acceptable temperatures in the tanks.
Public/Granted literature
- US20210016892A1 FUEL RECIRCULATION SYSTEM Public/Granted day:2021-01-21
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