Abstract: In a method of making a carbon fibre preform such as for use in the manufacture of a friction disc a compressible body of carbon fibre or carbon fibre precursor material is acted upon by compressing means to compress the body to a required thickness and then operated upon by means such as a barbed needle-punch needle for a stitching thread which penetrates substantially the whole thickness of the body whereby the compressed preform may be removed from action by the compressing means in a free-standing and compressed state. If the method uses carbon fibre precursor material, that is then subjected to carbonization.

Abstract: An elastomeric mounting comprises a body of elastomeric material having end regions the surfaces which are bonded to respective confronting surfaces of a pair of rigid end members for compression therebetween. A first of the rigid end members (32) extends radially outwardly from a longitudinal compression axis (19) of the mounting to lie beyond the bonded interface (35). The first end member has outwards of the bonded interface an abutment face (34) which is contacted by the elastomeric body when subject to compression loading, and a discontinuity is defined by the first rigid end member whereby the interface and abutment face depart from a wholly co-planar form.

Abstract: A multi-disc brake suitable for an aircraft has a stack of rotor and stator discs in which the discs of a set at one end of the stack each have a greater allowance for wear than the discs of a set at the other end of the stack whereby the group of discs are removed together from one end of the stack as a fully worn group at a brake servicing operation. An unworn group of discs is added to the other end of the stack.

Abstract: A multi-disc brake suitable for an aircraft has a stack of rotor and stator discs in which the discs of a set at one end of the stack each have a greater allowance for wear than the discs of a set at the other end of the stack whereby the group of discs are removed together from one end of the stack as a fully worn group at a brake servicing operation. An unworn group of discs is added to the other end of the stack.

Abstract: A laminated friction disc and method of construction in which a layer (11) of carbon composite material which provides a wear surface is secured against a second layer (12) of material with said wear surface facing away from said second layer of material, holes (16) being formed in each of the layers either before or after the layers are arranged against one another with the holes in the layer of carbon composite material extending through said wear surface and aligned with the holes in the second layer, fastening means (15), such as rivets, being positioned to extend through aligned pairs of holes and arranged to secure the layers against one another with each of the fastening means lying wholly below and spaced from at least the wear surface of the layer of carbon composite material.

Abstract: A heavy duty elastomeric bearing typically of annular shape comprises a pair of rigid end members spaced apart and interconnected by an element of elastomeric material having embedded therein a plurality of substantially rigid reinforcing interleaves each arranged to lie in respective planes generally parallel with confronting surfaces of the rigid members. One or more of the reinforcing interleaves lying substantially mid-way between the confronting surfaces of the end members has a greater thickness than one or more of the interleaves which lies closest to at least one of the end members. The confronting surfaces, elastomeric layers and reinforcing interleaves may each be of annular part-spherical shape.

Abstract: To monitor for the formation of a crack in a metal wheel such as that of an aircraft tire and wheel assembly the wheel is provided with an optical fiber arranged to extend no-rectilinearly in a position of the wheel surface selected to be preferential for the development of a crack; preferably the preferential region for crack development is the tire bead seat region and the optical fiber is arranged to extend non-rectilinearly around the circumference of the tire bead seat region thereby to lie interposed between the wheel and tire.

Abstract: An elastomeric mounting comprises an annular elastomeric diaphragm shaped to deform by both bending and shear over a normal working range to accommodate relative longitudinal movement between two members between which the diaphragm is located. The diaphragm is provided in combination with elastomeric axial buffer operable to restrain relative movement of the interconnected members outside the normal working range and elastomeric transverse load bearing to restrain relative transverse movements.

Abstract: A multi-disc brake suitable for an aircraft has a stack of rotor and stator discs in which the discs of a set at one end of the stack each have a greater allowance for wear than the discs of a set at the other end of the stack whereby the group of discs are removed together from one end of the stack as a fully worn group at a brake servicing operation. An unworn group of discs is added to the other end of the stack.

Abstract: An article of footwear comprises an upper, a flexible metal midsole and an outsole. Between the flexible metal midsole and the outsole is located an internal arch-reinforcement member or "digging-plate".The "digging-plate" may be made of a rigid plastics material, suitably a fibre-reinforced plastics material.

Abstract: A resilient unit able to accomodate a large movement comprises a stack of elastomeric bearing units arranged to be loaded in series and to deform primarily in shear. Preferably a plurality of the stacks are provided in a nested configuration and interconnected in series to enable even greater movements to be accommodated.The resilient unit is particularly suitable for use on an offshore platform to accommodate movement between the platform and a riser pipe while also maintaining a tension loading in the riser pipe.

Abstract: A golf ball (10) has a plurality of dimples in its outer surface. At least 10% of the dimples are so disposed relative to one another that any two adjacemt dimples overlap. The region of each overlap may have a maximum width of from 1% to 20% of the diameter of the larger of any two overlapping dimples. Preferably, the dimples are arranged in a repeating pattern over the whole surface of the ball. The pattern may be defined by projecting on to the ball the edges of a regular dodecahedron (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20) so that the ball is notionally divided into twelve regular pentagons (one shown - 21).

Abstract: For use, for example, in mounting a personnel accommodation module on an offshore drilling rig to attenuate the transmission of vibration use is made of an anti-vibration mounting comprising a rigid fluid container having an opening, a rigid support member for closing at least a part of that opening, a flexible seal comprising at least one element of elastomeric material arranged to extend between confronting surfaces of the fluid container and rigid support member thereby to form a fluid chamber within the anti-vibration mounting, liquid supply passage for the flow of liquid to and from that chamber, and gas supply passage for the flow of gas to and from that chamber, the liquid and gas supply passage being independent of one another whereby the quantities of liquid and gas within the chamber may be varied independently by flow through the passage.

Abstract: An elastomeric mounting suitable for providing a low frequency suspension for a road vehicle cab comprises an annular elastomeric diaphragm shaped to deform by both bending and shear over a normal working range to accommodate relative longitudinal movement between two members between which the diaphragm is located. A fluid chamber is defined by an annular space between two tubular rigid members and bonded axially by the elastomeric diaphragm and an annular seal. Fluid damping is provided in the fluid chamber, preferably by orifices contained within a buffer which restrains relative radial movement of the rigid members.

Abstract: In a flexible joint having a through-bore for the flow of fluid and comprising a pair of annular rigid members relatively rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the flexible joint, an annular elastomeric bearing is interposed between the relatively rotatable annular rigid members to flexibly interconnect the members and transmit load therebetween, and a normally sealed annular chamber is provided between the relatively rotatable annular rigid members and arranged to extend over an otherwise exposed surface of the bearing. Preferably the annular chamber is defined in part by a flexible diaphragm; the flexible diaphragm or the manner in which it is located permits relative rotational movement of the rigid members.