US4741152A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fuel and oil heat management system for a gas turbine engine
Assignee: RTX Corp
•
Filing: 1987-05-15
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Granted: 1988-05-03
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Expires: 2007-05-15
Abstract
Abstract A heat management system is provided for a gas turbine engine (10) having first and second oil cooling loops (14, 16). The system distributes excess fuel flow from a main fuel pump (44) among a plurality of upstream locations (58, 60, 68) for managing the transfer of heat between the oil loops (14, 16) and the flowing fuel. A diverter valve (62) regulates the distribution of the bypass fuel responsive to engine heat generation, oil temperature, and/or fuel temperature. A passive fuel distribution configuration using one or more fuel flow restrictors (72, 74, 76) is also disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald N. Burr
- 👤 Paul S. Danilowicz
- 👤 Thomas C. Franz
- 👤 Thomas P. Mortimer
- 👤 Edward B. Pero
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 02:47
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02C; F02C7/00; F02C7/22; F02C7/224; B; B64; B64D; B64D37/00; B64D37/34; F01; F01D; F01D25/00; F01D25/18; F02C7/12; F02C7/14; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T50/00; Y02T50/60
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 3
Claim 1
Independent Claim
140 words
A method for distributing heat energy among a first oil loop, a second oil loop, and a fuel stream flowing into a main fuel pump, the fuel stream being inclusive of a bypass flow of fuel diverted from the fuel flowing from the main fuel pump and returned to the fuel stream upstream of the main fuel pump, comprising the steps of: sequentially passing at least a portion of the fuel flowing into the main pump through a first fuel-oil heat exchanger coupled to the first oil loop and a second fuel-oil heat exchanger coupled to the second oil loop; and distributing the bypass flow of fuel among a plurality of return locations upstream of the main fuel pump responsive to a desired heat energy transfer among the first oil loop, the second oil loop and the flowing fuel stream.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
140 words
A method for distributing heat energy among a first oil loop, a second oil loop, and a fuel stream flowing into a main fuel pump, the fuel stream being inclusive of a bypass flow of fuel diverted from the fuel flowing from the main fuel pump and returned to the fuel stream upstream of the main fuel pump, comprising the steps of: sequentially passing at least a portion of the fuel flowing into the main pump through a first fuel-oil heat exchanger coupled to the first oil loop and a second fuel-oil heat exchanger coupled to the second oil loop; and distributing the bypass flow of fuel among a plurality of return locations upstream of the main fuel pump responsive to a desired heat energy transfer among the first oil loop, the second oil loop and the flowing fuel stream.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
131 words
The method for distributing heat energy as recited in claim 1, wherein the first oil loop cools an accessory drive linked to a gas turbine engine, the second oil loop cools the gas turbine engine, and wherein the distributing step further includes the step of apportioning the bypass flow between a first return point upstream of the first fuel-oil heat exchanger and a second point intermediate the first fuel-oil heat exchanger and the second fuel-oil heat exchanger, with substantially all of the bypass fuel stream being returned to the first return location when the gas turbine engine is operating at a low power level and substantially all of the bypass fuel stream being returned to the second return location when the gas turbine engine is operating at a high power level.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-05-03 | 1991-11-02 | 1992-05-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-05-03 | 1995-11-02 | 1996-05-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-05-03 | 1999-11-02 | 2000-05-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |