Patents by Inventor Thomas Edward Dwier

Thomas Edward Dwier 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).

  • Fuel recirculation system
    Patent number: 11623759
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Textron Aviation Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Edward Dwier, Robert G. Wellemeyer
  • Fuel recirculation system
    Patent number: 11511878
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: TEXTRON INNOVATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas Edward Dwier, Robert G. Wellemeyer
  • FUEL RECIRCULATION SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20210016891
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Inventors: Thomas Edward Dwier, Robert G. Wellemeyer
  • FUEL RECIRCULATION SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20210016892
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Inventors: Thomas Edward Dwier, Robert G. Wellemeyer