Abstract: A component monitoring apparatus [100] including an input [110] to receive sensor data from a sensor arrangement [S1-S4]. The sensor data representative of a use of a respective component [105] during a monitoring interval. A memory [118] provided to store received sensor data and a life parameter associated with the component [105], an interface [126] provided to communicate with a remote device and a power cell [128] provided to power the apparatus [100]. The apparatus [100] arranged to: store in the memory [118] received sensor data, in response to a trigger, read the sensor data from the data memory [118] and transfer the sensor data to the remote device, and, in response to receipt of a data packet containing a life parameter associated with the usage of the component [100], store the life parameter to the memory [122].

Abstract: A cap for forming a sealed cavity around an end of a fastener protruding from a structure. The cap has: a cap body with an annular base terminating at a rim which surrounds an opening into a central cavity; an annular skirt providing an annular pocket between the skirt and the base; and an inlet hole in the skirt. The inlet hole is in fluid communication with the pocket and arranged to interconnect with a sealing material injection device to provide a flow of sealing material through the skirt via the inlet hole into the pocket. An outlet is also provided in the skirt. The outlet is in fluid communication with the pocket and arranged to enable air to escape the pocket through the skirt via the outlet hole as the sealing material flows from the inlet hole into the pocket.

Abstract: An aircraft landing gear comprising a wheel rotatably mounted on an axle, a first gearing element that rotates with the wheel, a second gearing element configured to mesh with the first gearing element such that rotation of the first gearing element causes rotation of the second gearing element, wherein the second gearing element is connected to a generator, such that rotation of the second gearing element causes the generator to generate electrical energy, further comprising a heat dissipation device connected to the generator wherein the heat dissipation device comprises an electrical heating element connectable to the generator to receive generated electrical energy and convert it to heat energy, and a fluid receptacle adjacent the heating element, such that fluid in the receptacle can be heated. An aircraft landing gear further comprising a cavitation braking device, an aircraft and a method of braking.

Abstract: A raceway and method of forming a raceway is disclosed in which one or more intumescent layers are disposed on the raceway.

Abstract: An aircraft including a wing (1) and a wing tip device (6). The wing tip device (6) is moveable between a flight configuration for use during flight and a ground configuration for use during ground-based operations. In the ground configuration the wing tip device is folded inwardly from the flight configuration such that the span of the aircraft is reduced. The wing tip device (6) is connected to the wing along a hinge axis (14) by spar beams (10 and 12) of the wing tip device, one of the beams being mounted for pivoting about a fixed axis and the other beam being mounted on a spherical bearing (15) to provide greater freedom of movement. Various actuator arrangements may be provided to pivot the wing tip device.

Abstract: A computer implemented method of generating decision options. Sensor data is received from a plurality of sensors and presented visually to two or more users. Those users can then analyze the images and enter tag data which is received and stored along with the sensor data. The sensor and tag data are then input to a computer implemented decision support algorithm along with a stored operational plan. The algorithm then outputs one or more decision options which can assist a human decision maker in making a decision. The invention enables such a decision maker to make a decision quickly which complies with a previously stored operational plan and is likely to be correct since it is based on inputs from multiple human users. The invention is capable of being easily scaled to deal with a high volume of sensor data and a large number of users.

Abstract: An aircraft fuel vent pipe with a pipe body containing a duct which extends along a duct axis between an open end and a closed end. A burst disc closes the closed end of the duct. One or more devices are provided in the duct, the device(s) being positioned or shaped to enable the burst disc to be visually inspected by looking along the duct through its open end, and to modify a sectional profile of the duct transverse to the duct axis so that the sectional profile of the duct changes between different stations along the duct axis. The one or more device(s) inhibit the formation of standing acoustic waves in the duct.

Abstract: A fixed wing aircraft has a wing with an aerofoil cross-section defining an upper and lower geometric surfaces which meet at a geometric leading edge of the wing. The wing has an upper and lower aerodynamic surfaces while in flight. The upper aerodynamic surface and the lower aerodynamic surface meet at an aerodynamic leading edge at the intersection with an attachment line dividing the air that passes over the upper aerodynamic surface from the air that passes over the lower aerodynamic surface. The lower geometric surface adjacent the geometric leading edge has a roughness strip with a step height of at least 50 microns over the lower geometric surface. The roughness strip is located on the lower aerodynamic surface of the wing when the aircraft is flown at a load factor of 1 g and is located on the upper aerodynamic surface when the load factor is above 1.2 g.

Abstract: A drive system for an aircraft landing gear is disclosed having a wheel rotatable about a wheel axis, a driven gear arranged to be attached to the wheel and capable of rotating the wheel about the wheel axis, a drive train comprising an input gear rotatable by an input shaft, an intermediate gear meshed with the input gear and rotatable by an intermediate shaft, and a support member arranged to support the input shaft and intermediate shaft. The support member is arranged to pivot about the input shaft between a neutral configuration in which the drive train is disengaged from the driven gear and a driven configuration in which the drive train is engaged with the driven gear to enable the drive train to rotate the driven gear. The drive system includes brake capable of being engaged with the input shaft to prevent rotation of the input shaft relative to the support member and of being disengaged from the input shaft to permit rotation of the input shaft relative to the support member.

Abstract: A cap for forming a sealed cavity around an end of a fastener is disclosed having a cap body with an annular base terminating at an inner cap rim which surrounds an opening into a central cavity and lies in an inner cap plane around a majority of a circumference of the annular base. A skirt provides an annular pocket between the skirt and the annular base. The skirt has a first part which is integrally formed with the cap body from a first material and terminates at an edge, and a second part which is formed from a second material and extends from the edge of the first part of the skirt to a skirt rim which lies in or below the inner cap plane around a majority of a circumference of the skirt.

Abstract: An avionics unit for an avionics network is disclosed having a light emitter to provide a modulated broadband optical signal. The avionics unit also includes a first optical interface and a second optical interface. The first optical interface is optically connected to the light emitter and is to receive a removable wavelength selective filter to extract a modulated narrowband optical signal from the modulated broadband optical signal. The second optical interface is optically connected to the first optical interface and is to output the modulated narrowband optical signal.

Abstract: The present invention provides an actuator comprising an actuator body, a piston relatively moveable within the actuator body, and a rod attached to the piston and extending out of the actuator body, the actuator body comprising a port for conveying actuator fluid, wherein the actuator also has a damping control portion provided with damping control fluid containing magnetic particles, wherein the piston or the rod is adjacent the damping control fluid, and a first electrical coil associated with the damping control portion, such that an electrical current supplied to the first electrical coil induces a magnetic field and causes the effective viscosity of the damping control fluid to increase, thus increasing the damping effect of the damping control fluid on the piston or rod. The invention also provides an aircraft assembly, such as a landing gear assembly, an aircraft and a method of operating an actuator.

Abstract: A method of bonding two components at a joint interface using a UV-curable substance. The method comprises incorporating a UV radiation emitting device in the joint interface between the components together with said substance and supplying power to said UV radiation emitting device to generate UV radiation and cure the substance.

Abstract: A coupling device for supporting a first wing section against a second wing section of an aircraft, and configured for passive flight load alleviation includes a housing including a chamber including a first portion and a second portion and filled with a fluid, a piston device movably arranged in the chamber and separating the first portion from the second portion in a fluid tight manner, a first fluid pathway connecting the first portion to the second portion, a first pressure relief valve arranged in the first fluid pathway and blocking the first fluid pathway, if the pressure in the second portion is smaller than a first relief pressure and opening the first fluid pathway, if the pressure in the second portion is greater than the first relief pressure. In addition, the coupling device can be used to actuate the second wing section against the first wing section.

Abstract: The present invention relates to structural component for an aircraft. The structural component comprises a body with a first surface and a lug that extends out of the first surface. The body and lug comprise a composite material and are integrally formed.

Abstract: The invention relates to an actuator. More specifically, but not exclusively, an aircraft pitch damper which comprises an actuator. The actuator comprises a first chamber charged with gas and a second chamber charged with gas. An intermediate chamber containing liquid is located between the first chamber and second chamber. A piston rod extends towards the first chamber through the second chamber and intermediate chamber. A first piston head is associated with and partially defines the first chamber, and a second piston head is associated with and partially defines the second chamber. The piston rod is arranged to abut and move with the first piston head in a first direction, the piston rod further arranged to abut and move with the second piston head in a second direction.

Abstract: A method and portable apparatus for servicing a shock absorber on a landing gear assembly of an aircraft in a weight-on-wheels state is disclosed. The shock absorber includes at least one chamber containing both hydraulic fluid and a gas in fluid communication with each other. The apparatus includes a source of gas and a source of hydraulic fluid. The amount of hydraulic fluid in the chamber is corrected, preferably such that the chamber is then filled with a known amount of degassed hydraulic fluid. A pre-set mass of gas is then delivered into the chamber under the control of a gas delivery system of the portable apparatus. More accurate servicing of a shock absorber may thus be provided since account is additionally taken of gas dissolved in hydraulic fluid. By delivering a pre-set mass of gas into the chamber, there is no need to rely on a measure of gas pressure or H-dimension (h) when servicing the shock absorber.

Abstract: An arrangement of lifting surfaces including a primary lifting surface having a flexural axis extending in the spanwise direction of the lifting surface, a root, and a tip. A first tip device is attached to the tip and has a first lifting surface. A second tip device is attached to the tip and has a second lifting surface. A control system is coupled to the first and second tip devices for moving the first and second lifting surfaces relative to the tip or for actively controlling circulation of the first and second lifting surfaces. The control system is operable to change a value of torque effective at the primary lifting surface about the flexural axis.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring deflection of a tire including a non-transitory memory, storing tire behavior information which relates tire deflection to tire load and tire pressure; and a controller in communication with the memory. The controller is configured to: receive load information which relates to a load on the tire; receive pressure information which relates to a pressure of the tire; and determine a deflection of the tire based on the received load information, the received pressure information, and the stored tire behavior information.

Abstract: A winglet 3 has an inner end 5 and an outer 7. The winglet 3 has a varying radius of curvature (R) which:(i) decreases along the winglet over a first distanced1; (ii) remains constant over a second distanced2; and (iii) increases along the winglet 3 over a third distance d3. The sum of the first and third distances (d1+d3) is greater than the second distance (d2). The radius of curvature may vary according to the equation R=k1/dn. The parameter n may be equal to 1, such that the curvature follows an Euler spiral.