Abstract: A supercritical working fluid closed cycle heat engine includes, in fluid flow series: a heat source heat exchanger configured to raise the temperature of a working fluid; an expander configured to extract work from the working fluid; a condenser configured to exchange heat between the working fluid and the cooling medium; and a separator configured to separate liquid phase working fluid from gaseous phase working fluid and deliver gaseous phase working fluid to a gaseous compressor and liquid phase working fluid to a fixed displacement liquid pump, the compressor and pump being arranged in parallel. Each of the compressor and fixed displacement pump are configured to return fluid to the heat source heat exchanger. The compressor comprises a variable inlet guide vane and a variable outlet diffuser vane.

Abstract: The invention concerns an aircraft propulsion control system in which a gas turbine engine has an actuable flow opening for control of flow to or from a portion of the engine. One or more sensor is arranged to sense a condition indicative of vapor trail formation by the exhaust flow from the engine. A controller is arranged to control actuation of the flow opening so as to reduce the efficiency of the engine upon sensing of said condition by the one or more sensor. In one example, the flow opening is a variable area fan nozzle.

Abstract: A bearing arrangement comprising: a first bearing including a first inner race coupled to a rotatable component, a first outer race; and a plurality of first roller elements between the first inner race and the first outer race; a second bearing including a second inner race coupled to the rotatable component, a second outer race, and a plurality of second roller elements between the second inner race and the second outer race; a component, the first outer race being axially moveable relative to the component; and a member between the first bearing and the second bearing and arranged to provide an indirect first force on the first outer race to prevent the first roller elements from skidding when the first bearing and the second bearing receive a second force in a first direction, the second bearing being configured to transfer the second force to the component.

Abstract: A beverage preparation capsule containing a beverage preparation ingredient, having a body with side walls formed from one or more substantially air- and liquid-impermeable sheet materials defining a chamber containing a beverage preparation ingredient and further defining an outlet channel having an upstream end in fluid communication with the chamber for escape of beverage from the chamber. At least a region of the outlet channel is filled by a filtration material for filtering the beverage escaping from the chamber. Also provided is a clamp assembly for preparing a beverage from such a capsule, the clamp assembly comprising two or more clamp members, wherein an inner wall of at least one of the clamp members comprises a concave base surface for receiving the capsule and one or more pressure pads projecting from the concave base surface for selectively constricting a region of the capsule.

Abstract: Bearing apparatus comprising: an inner race; an outer race; a roller element positioned between the inner race and the outer race; a first sensor to sense displacement of one of: the inner race, the outer race, and the roller element, and to provide a first signal for the sensed displacement to enable a load on the bearing apparatus to be determined.

Abstract: A method of determining the axial load on load-sharing thrust bearings including: providing first and second thrust bearings, each including an inner race and an outer race supported by at least one resilient element; applying a test axial load to each of the first and second thrust bearings to elastically deform the at least one resilient element so as to axially displace the outer race; determining the test axial displacement of each outer race to obtain calibration data comprising values of axial load versus axial displacement; applying an in-service axial load to the first and second thrust bearings to elastically deform the resilient elements so as to axially displace the respective outer races; measuring the in-service axial displacement of each outer race; and based on the measured in-service axial displacements, inferring from the calibration data the values of the in-service axial loads on the first and second thrust bearings.

Abstract: Various examples are directed to systems and methods for coordinating a non-repudiable atomic commit transaction. A client may direct a transaction request to a transaction manager, where the transaction request comprises a transaction origin token. The transaction manager may create a transaction submission token and provide it to the client. The transaction manager may create a digest of a first work item to be executed by a first resource manager and send the digest to the first resource manager. The first resource manager may send the transaction manager a work item receipt token. The transaction manager may send the resource manager the transaction origin token.

Abstract: A heat exchange arrangement for a gas turbine engine. The arrangement includes a first conduit for an engine component cooling fluid and a second conduit for a second fluid. The arrangement further includes a heat exchange portion in which fluids flowing through the first and second conduits are in a heat exchange relationship. A valve is provided, which is configured to moderate the mass flow rate of one of the fluids through the heat exchange portion. The arrangement includes divert valve in the first conduit which diverts flow to the second conduit as the flow in the second conduit is moderated to reduce thermal shock in the heat exchange portion.

Abstract: A bearing arrangement is disclosed. The bearing arrangement includes first and second bearings, with each bearing including a respective support element and a respective set of rolling elements and defining a respective load path extending through the respective support element and rolling elements. The support elements are coupled such that a load applied to either support element is transmitted through both the first and second load paths. The arrangement further includes a pair of superelastic titanium alloy elements located in the respective load paths to provide resilient movement between the bearings when a load is applied to the bearing arrangement.

Abstract: A method of determining the axial load on load-sharing thrust bearings including: providing first and second thrust bearings, each including an inner race and an outer race supported by at least one resilient element; applying a test axial load to each of the first and second thrust bearings to elastically deform the at least one resilient element so as to axially displace the outer race; determining the test axial displacement of each outer race to obtain calibration data comprising values of axial load versus axial displacement; applying an in-service axial load to the first and second thrust bearings to elastically deform the resilient elements so as to axially displace the respective outer races; measuring the in-service axial displacement of each outer race; and based on the measured in-service axial displacements, inferring from the calibration data the values of the in-service axial loads on the first and second thrust bearings.

Abstract: The invention concerns an aircraft propulsion system having an engine core within which fuel is combusted to produce an exhaust containing water produced from the combustion of fuel, at least one propulsive fan for generating a mass flow of air which mixes with the exhaust of the engine core, and one or more sensor arranged to sense a condition indicative of vapour trail formation by the exhaust flow from the engine; and a controller arranged to control the ratio of the mass flow of water in the exhaust to the mass flow of air propulsed by the propulsive fan such that the ratio is reduced upon sensing of said condition by the one or more sensor.

Abstract: A bearing arrangement comprises: first and second thrust bearings, each including an inner race which is disposed on a shaft and an outer race which is supported by at least one resilient element. Applying a shaft thrust load elastically deforms the resilient elements so as to axially displace the respective outer races in order that the thrust load is shared between the first and second thrust bearings.

Abstract: Bearing structure including a first bearing, surrounded by a housing, having a first inner and outer race and first set of rolling elements between the inner and outer races and a second bearing having a second inner and outer race and second set of rolling elements between the second inner and outer races. A first compliant element is connected to the first outer race. A rigid diaphragm is connected to the first outer race between the compliant element and outer race, and is connected to the housing at its outer end. The first compliant element, outer race and rigid diaphragm at least partly define a pressure chamber. The first outer race is axially slidable relative to the second such that a pressure increase in the chamber changes the axial spacing between the first and second outer races, inducing additional axial load on the bearings which helps balance thrust load sharing.

Abstract: Various examples are directed to systems and methods for coordinating a non-repudiable atomic commit transaction. A client may direct a transaction request to a transaction manager, where the transaction request comprises a transaction origin token. The transaction manager may create a transaction submission token and provide it to the client. The transaction manager may create a digest of a first work item to be executed by a first resource manager and send the digest to the first resource manager. The first resource manager may send the transaction manager a work item receipt token. The transaction manager may send the resource manager the transaction origin token.

Abstract: The invention provides for tracking and rewarding commuters according to their contribution to unclogging roads by opting for alternative Transport forms and improving their health and the health of the environment. In particular, the invention relates to commuters who travel under human power to and from their place of work and who sign up as subscribers to a managed system that tracks their travel events, compares data gathered about the event with other events and determines whether or not the event qualifies as a commute, in which case an account of the user is credited. When the accumulated credit in the account reaches a threshold amount, the user qualifies for receiving a reward such as by means of a value token.

Abstract: This invention provides for tracking and rewarding commuters according to their contribution to unclogging roads by opting for alternative transport forms and improving their health and the health of the environment. In particular, the invention relates to commuters who travel under human power to and from their place of work and who sign up as subscribers to a managed system that tracks their travel events, compares data gathered about the event with other events and determines whether or not the event qualifies as a commute, in which case an account of the user is credited. When the accumulated credit in the account reaches a threshold amount, the user qualifies for receiving a reward such as by means of a value token.

Abstract: Bearing structure including a first bearing, surrounded by a housing, having a first inner and outer race and first set of rolling elements between the inner and outer races and a second bearing having a second inner and outer race and second set of rolling elements between the second inner and outer races. A first compliant element is connected to the first outer race. A rigid diaphragm is connected to the first outer race between the compliant element and outer race, and is connected to the housing at its outer end. The first compliant element, outer race and rigid diaphragm at least partly define a pressure chamber. The first outer race is axially slidable relative to the second such that a pressure increase in the chamber changes the axial spacing between the first and second outer races, inducing additional axial load on the bearings which helps balance thrust load sharing.

Abstract: Load sharing stacked bearing structure including first bearing having a first inner race, first outer race and first set of roller elements housed between first inner race and first outer race and a second bearing having a second inner race, second outer race and second set of roller elements housed between second inner race and the second outer race. A housing surrounds the first and second bearings. First compliant element is provided with the first compliant element connected between the housing and the first outer race. The first compliant element, first outer race and housing define at a pressure chamber. The first outer race axially slidable relative to the second outer race such that an increase in pressure in pressure chamber causes a change in axial spacing between the outer races. This induces an additional axial load on the bearings which helps balance thrust load sharing.

Abstract: A method of operating a gas turbine engine (20) comprising a variable geometry compressor (24), a variable geometry combustor (28), and a variable geometry turbine (30). The method comprises operating the variable geometry combustor (28) such that a corrected flow ?c through a combustion zone (46, 48) of the combustor (28) matches a predetermined value.

Abstract: Bearing apparatus comprising: an inner race; an outer race; a roller element positioned between the inner race and the outer race; a first sensor to sense displacement of one of: the inner race, the outer race, and the roller element, and to provide a first signal for the sensed displacement to enable a load on the bearing apparatus to be determined.