The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 14, 2025
Filed:
Jun. 25, 2024
Rolls-royce Plc, London, GB;
Benjamin J Keeler, Chesterfield, GB;
Craig W Bemment, Derby, GB;
Andrea Minelli, Derby, GB;
David M Beaven, Nottingham, GB;
Paul W Ferra, Derby, GB;
Christopher P Madden, Derby, GB;
Peter Swann, Derby, GB;
Martin K Yates, Derby, GB;
ROLLS-ROYCE plc, London, GB;
Abstract
A gas turbine engine for an aircraft, comprising: a combustor; a fuel-oil heat exchanger arranged to receive fuel from a fuel tank onboard the aircraft and transfer heat from the oil to the fuel; a fuel return line arranged to return at least some fuel that has passed through the heat exchanger to the fuel tank; and a modulator valve arranged to modulate the flow of fuel along the fuel return line, wherein the modulator valve is arranged to initiate return of fuel to the fuel tank when fuel having passed through the heat exchanger is at a temperature of at least 120° C. A method of operating a gas turbine engine is also disclosed.