Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus can include a printed circuit board (PCB) that has layers and includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion can have a data port and a power port. A first layer is associated with data of the first portion of the PCB, and a second layer is associated with power of the first portion of the PCB. The second portion can have a data port and a power port. A third layer is associated with data of the second portion, and a fourth layer is associated with power of the second portion. The first portion or the second portion can have vias defining an electromagnetic interference (EMI) shield. The apparatus can include a power filter and a data filter that can, respectively, isolate power and data of the first portion from the second portion.

Abstract: An axial piston pump has a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a rotatable, one-piece piston housing carrying one or more pistons movable within one or more respective sleeves formed by the housing. A circumferential row of fixed field members is mounted to the housing at a mounting location formed by the housing, the mounting location being radially outward of the sleeve(s). The pump further has a stator surrounding the piston housing and including a circumferential row of armature windings such that the piston housing and the stator form an electro-magnetic motor operable to rotate the piston housing, and a swashplate engaged with the piston(s) such that rotation of the piston housing relative to the swashplate around an axis of rotation produces reciprocating movement of the piston(s) for the pressurisation of fluid received into the sleeve(s) from the fluid inlet and then discharged from the sleeve(s) to the fluid outlet.

Abstract: A system for controlling the geometry of a variable geometry compressor. The system having: a mechanical linkage operable to vary the compressor geometry; a first fluid-powered actuator arranged to operate the linkage and configured to be powered by a pressurized supply of an incompressible fluid; and a second fluid-powered actuator arranged to operate the linkage and configured to be powered by a pressurized supply of a compressible fluid. Wherein the first and second actuators are further arranged to operate in combination on the mechanical linkage such that a first actuator force exerted by the first actuator on the mechanical linkage sums with a second actuator force exerted by the second actuator on the mechanical linkage.

Abstract: Invention provides gear pump bearing block and method of manufacturing gear pump bearing block. Bearing block includes a bush formed of antifriction alloy, bush having cylindrical portion providing bore adapted to receive bearing shaft of gear of pump, and further having flange portion extending radially outwardly at end of cylindrical portion to provide thrust face adapted to slidingly engage with side surface of gear. Bearing block also has backing layer covering radially outer surface of cylindrical portion and rear face of flange portion, backing layer being formed of less dense alloy compared to antifriction alloy. Furthermore, there is an annular gallery embedded in flange portion such that gallery is spaced from surface of bore and from thrust face, gallery surrounding bore, with inlet to and outlet from annular gallery such that, in use, fluid flows from inlet, through annular gallery to provide cooling of thrust face, and then to outlet.

Abstract: The invention provides a gear pump bearing block and method of manufacturing gear pump bearing block. Bearing block includes bush formed of antifriction alloy, having a cylindrical portion providing bore adapted to receive bearing shaft of a gear of pump, and further having a flange portion extending radially outwardly at end of cylindrical portion to provide thrust face adapted to slidingly engage with side surface of gear. Bearing block also has backing layer covering radially outer surface of cylindrical portion and rear face of flange portion, backing layer being formed of relatively less dense alloy compared to antifriction alloy. Furthermore, there is an annular formation of one or more stiffening members, formation surrounding bore, the, or each, stiffening member being embedded in flange portion, and the, or each, stiffening member being formed of material having higher elastic modulus than antifriction alloy.

Abstract: A fuel pumping unit has a low pressure centrifugal pump and a high pressure centrifugal pump. In use, the low pressure pump supplies fuel at a boosted pressure to the high pressure pump for onward supply to a fuel metering unit. The pumping unit further has a drive input which drives the low and high pressure pumps. A gear arrangement is operatively located between the drive input and the low and high pressure pumps such that the low and high pressure pumps are driven at different speeds by the drive input.

Abstract: The invention provides a gear pump bearing block and method of manufacturing gear pump bearing block. Bearing block includes bush formed of antifriction alloy, having a cylindrical portion providing bore adapted to receive bearing shaft of a gear of pump, and further having a flange portion extending radially outwardly at end of cylindrical portion to provide thrust face adapted to slidingly engage with side surface of gear. Bearing block also has backing layer covering radially outer surface of cylindrical portion and rear face of flange portion, backing layer being formed of relatively less dense alloy compared to antifriction alloy. Furthermore, there is an annular formation of one or more stiffening members, formation surrounding bore, the, or each, stiffening member being embedded in flange portion, and the, or each, stiffening member being formed of material having higher elastic modulus than antifriction alloy.

Abstract: Invention provides gear pump bearing block and method of manufacturing gear pump bearing block. Bearing block includes a bush formed of antifriction alloy, bush having cylindrical portion providing bore adapted to receive bearing shaft of gear of pump, and further having flange portion extending radially outwardly at end of cylindrical portion to provide thrust face adapted to slidingly engage with side surface of gear. Bearing block also has backing layer covering radially outer surface of cylindrical portion and rear face of flange portion, backing layer being formed of less dense alloy compared to antifriction alloy. Furthermore, there is an annular gallery embedded in flange portion such that gallery is spaced from surface of bore and from thrust face, gallery surrounding bore, with inlet to and outlet from annular gallery such that, in use, fluid flows from inlet, through annular gallery to provide cooling of thrust face, and then to outlet.

Abstract: A system for controlling the geometry of a variable geometry compressor. The system having: a mechanical linkage operable to vary the compressor geometry; a first fluid-powered actuator arranged to operate the linkage and configured to be powered by a pressurised supply of an incompressible fluid; and a second fluid-powered actuator arranged to operate the linkage and configured to be powered by a pressurised supply of a compressible fluid. Wherein the first and second actuators are further arranged to operate in combination on the mechanical linkage such that a first actuator force exerted by the first actuator on the mechanical linkage sums with a second actuator force exerted by the second actuator on the mechanical linkage.

Abstract: An axial piston pump has a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a rotatable, one-piece piston housing carrying one or more pistons movable within one or more respective sleeves formed by the housing. A circumferential row of fixed field members is mounted to the housing at a mounting location formed by the housing, the mounting location being radially outward of the sleeve(s). The pump further has a stator surrounding the piston housing and including a circumferential row of armature windings such that the piston housing and the stator form an electro-magnetic motor operable to rotate the piston housing, and a swashplate engaged with the piston(s) such that rotation of the piston housing relative to the swashplate around an axis of rotation produces reciprocating movement of the piston(s) for the pressurisation of fluid received into the sleeve(s) from the fluid inlet and then discharged from the sleeve(s) to the fluid outlet.

Abstract: A fuel pumping unit has a low pressure centrifugal pump and a high pressure centrifugal pump. In use, the low pressure pump supplies fuel at a boosted pressure to the high pressure pump for onward supply to a fuel metering unit. The pumping unit further has a drive input which drives the low and high pressure pumps. A gear arrangement is operatively located between the drive input and the low and high pressure pumps such that the low and high pressure pumps are driven at different speeds by the drive input.

Abstract: A gear pump arrangement comprising a pair of intermeshing gears (16, 18) located between bearing blocks (24) and rotatable to pump fluid from an inlet (12) to an outlet (14), wherein at least one of the bearing blocks (24) comprises a body (28) formed with a recess (32) within which an insert (34) is located, the recess (32) and insert (34) being shaped so as to be of smaller dimensions at a bearing surface (30) of the bearing block (24) than at a point remote therefrom.

Abstract: A fuel supply system for a gas turbine engine comprises a first positive displacement pump (16), a second positive displacement pump (27), said first and second positive displacement pumps (16, 27) being operable simultaneously for the supply of fuel from a low pressure source, and switching valve means (14) downstream of said first positive displacement pump (16) for changing a connection mode between said first and second positive displacement pumps (16, 27) between a series mode and a parallel mode.

Abstract: A client-side intermediary (30) is provided to balance the loading of Web service requests between a plurality of servers (32). The status of the Web service servers (32) is monitored by a monitoring server (35) which provides status updates to the intermediary (30) upon request. The intermediary then uses the information on the status of the servers (32) to decide where to send web service requests. Additionally, the intermediary is able to direct requests for Web service descriptions to the least busy server on the basis of status information. The intermediary (30) substitutes its own identifier for the service name and port in the Web service description before passing it to the client so that all requests are directed through it, thus allowing the continual provision of service for the client even in the event that one of the servers fails.

Abstract: A fuel supply system for a gas turbine engine including first and second positive displacement pumps operated simultaneously to supply fuel under pressure from a low pressure source, a combining spill valve controlling the output flows from the first and second pumps to combine the outputs of the first and second pumps for supply to a metering valve of the system, or to spill some or all of the output of one or both pumps back to the low pressure supply, a pressure raising and shut off valve arrangement downstream of the metering valve for isolating the fuel system from an associated engine until the fuel pressure upstream of the pressure raising and shut off valve arrangement exceeds a predetermined pressure, and, a control system dependent upon the position of the combining spill valve for reducing said predetermined pressure at which said pressure raising and shut off valve arrangement opens.

Abstract: A pump assembly comprises first and second gear pumps (10, 13), each of which has a respective driver gear (11, 14) and a respective driven gear (12, 15), wherein the driven gear (12) of the first gear pump (10) is arranged to drive the driver gear (14) of the second gear pump (13).

Abstract: A combined by-pass valve and pressure sensor comprising a housing, a fluid inlet whereby fluid can enter the housing, a fluid outlet whereby fluid can exit the housing, a valve seat between said inlet and said outlet, a valve closure member movable relative to the housing along a first axis between a closed position in which the valve closure member engages said seat to prevent communication between said fluid inlet and said fluid outlet, and an open position in which said valve closure member is displaced from said seat placing said fluid inlet in communication with said fluid outlet through said housing, resilient means urging said valve closure member to said closed position, a pressure element within said housing having a first surface thereof exposed to the pressure conditions at said fluid inlet, and a second, opposite surface thereof, exposed to pressure conditions at said fluid outlet, said element being movable, in the direction of said axis, between a rest position to which it is resiliently urged,

Abstract: An apparatus for redirecting beams of light emanating from the flash of a camera so as to avoid the creation of "red-eye" in a photograph. The apparatus redirects the beams of lights so as to be distanced even further from the central axis of the camera lens. To provide the full effect of the flash, the apparatus redirects the beams of light in a direction parallel to the original direction the light beams travel off from the flash and to the central axis of the lens. The apparatus includes a main body which forms an enclosure with an inlet and outlet opening and is attached to the camera such that the inlet opening is aligned with and covers the camera's flash. The main body includes at least two reflective surfaces for redirecting the flash beam from a first direction to a second direction and then from the second direction to a third direction exiting the main body. The device can be releasably mounted to existing flash cameras (including pop-out flash members).