Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for processing a component surface by abrading the component surface using an abrasive surface. The apparatus comprises an abrasive surface which is rotatable about an axis extending parallel to said component surface. A support is provided for moving the abrasive surface or the component surface along a computer-generated toolpath and for applying a force between the abrasive surface and the component surface. The support increases the force between the abrasive surface and the component surface from a minimum force to a maximum force as the distance along the toolpath increases to maintain constant material removal from the component surface.

Abstract: There is described a method of forming a cooling hole in a component having a wall comprising a first surface and a second surface, the method comprising: directing a first laser beam onto the first surface of the component wall at an oblique angle so as to drill a first hole extending from the first surface towards the second surface; directing a second laser beam onto the second surface of the component wall at an oblique angle so as to drill a second hole extending from the second surface towards the first surface, the first and second holes intersecting to form a cooling hole passing through the component wall between the first and second surfaces.

Abstract: A permanent magnet electrical machine has a rotor supporting a circumferential row of permanent magnets. The electrical machine further has a stator coaxial with the rotor and having a circumferential row of stator teeth carrying respective coils. The teeth provide paths for magnetic flux produced by the magnets, thereby electromagnetically linking the magnets and the coils when the rotor rotates relative to the stator. The teeth have respective core portions on which the coils are mounted, and respective tip portions located between the core portions and the rotor, neighbouring tip portions being circumferentially spaced from each other by respective gaps. Each pair of neighbouring tip portions has a bridge member and a thermal switching mechanism carried by a first tip portion of the pair.

Abstract: There is disclosed a cooling arrangement for a turbine casing (50) of a gas turbine engine (10). The cooling arrangement comprises a first cooling duct (203) that is at least partly within a second cooling duct (204). The first cooling duct is for a first cooling fluid flow and the second cooling duct is for a second cooling fluid flow which flows around the first cooling duct.

Abstract: There is described a clocking angle setting tool 24 for a wire harness comprising: a support arm 26 provided with a clamp 34 for attaching a harness cable of the wire harness to the support arm 26; a connector receptacle 32 for receiving a connector provided at the end of the harness cable and having a key or keyway for engaging with a complementary keyway or key of the connector, wherein the connector receptacle 32 is spaced from the clamp 34 and is rotatably mounted to the support arm 26; and a locking mechanism for locking an angular position of the connector receptacle relative to the support arm; wherein the angular position of the connector receptacle relative to the support arm determines a clocking angle of the connector relative to the harness cable. A method of setting a clocking angle of a wire harness is also described.

Abstract: A multi-shaft gas turbine engine has plural engine spools. A first spool of the engine and a second spool of the engine are operatively connected by an electrical machine that transfers power from one of the spools to the other.

Abstract: A retaining element for retaining a component within a receiving part, the retaining element including: a neck portion to be received within a notch formed in the receiving part; a first head portion coupled to the neck portion end and defining a first shoulder; a second head portion coupled to another neck portion end and defining a second shoulder, wherein the first and second shoulders oppose one another and are to abut first and second surfaces of the receiving part so as to engage the retaining element with the receiving part; wherein the first and/or second head portions include a retaining tab having a retaining surface, wherein the retaining tab has a receiving position for receiving the component and retaining position for retaining the component; wherein, in the retaining position, the retaining tab extends beyond the neck portion so the retaining surface abuts the component surface to retain the component.

Abstract: A method of zeroing displacement data derived from a rotor having an array of features monitored by an array of stationary timing probes. The method includes steps to calculate the displacement at each probe for each of at least two measured revolutions from time of arrival measurements. Each displacement is defined as a sum of a common term and a unique term. The set of displacements is solved for the common term and the unique terms. A probe offset is calculated from each unique term. The zeroed displacements are determined by subtracting the common term and probe offset from the calculated displacements for each probe.

Abstract: A bladed rotor includes rotor disc having a peripheral region, and a plurality of rotor blades attached to and extending radially outwardly from peripheral region. Each rotor blade has a root portion which is located in a correspondingly shaped axially-extending slot provided in the peripheral region of rotor disc, and the root portion of each blade is axially retained in its respective slot by a plate located axially adjacent the root portion and rotor disc, and which extends circumferentially across respective slot. Retention plate is held in position by seal member having a first surface which engages radially-inwardly directed surface of rotor disc, and second surface which is located radially-outwardly of first surface and engages the retention plate. Seal member has a curved profile in radial cross-section so as to define a concavity located radially between first and second engaging surfaces and which is directed axially towards the rotor disc.

Abstract: A damper damping motion of a first object relative to a second object, the damper including: a casing including a conductor; plurality of magnetic elements serially in a first direction within the casing and each including at least one magnet so adjacent magnetic elements repel in the first direction; at least one magnetic element is moveable relative to other magnetic elements within and relative the casing; the conductor allows movement of at least one moveable magnetic element relative to the casing induces current in the conductor, the magnetic field produced by current providing a braking force to the moving magnetic element; at least one moveable magnetic elements includes a first connecting part and either casing or at least one other magnetic element includes a second connecting part, one connecting part for connecting the damper to the first object, and other connecting part for connecting the damper to the second object.

Abstract: A method of forming a plurality of components by additive layer manufacturing includes forming at least one annular support structure joining the plurality of components with the plurality of components being spaced around the circumference of at least one annular support structure. Concentric inner and outer annular supports may be provided.

Abstract: A bearing arrangement includes a shaft, at least one contact bearing and at least one non-contact bearing and a controller. The controller is configured to control a magnitude of a restoring force applied to the shaft by the non-contact bearing in accordance with a sensed parameter such that a stiffness of the shaft is modified such that one or more resonance frequencies of the shaft are moved away from one or more external forcing frequencies.

Abstract: A cutting mechanism for a composite material lay-up head comprises a plurality of blades, each blade having a variable width, and a drive mechanism to drive the blades along an axial direction to cut a respective tow of composite material. The blades are rotatable about the axial direction between a first angular position, wherein the blades sever the respective tow along a first cutting direction transversal to a longitudinal direction of the respective tow, and a second angular position, wherein the blades sever the respective tow along a second cutting direction rotated by a rotation angle to the first cutting direction.

Abstract: An aerofoil having a leading edge and a trailing edge, the leading edge including a plurality of slits extending toward the trailing edge, such that the leading edge is defined by alternating peaks and troughs. Each peak extends in a generally spanwise direction and defines a peak width, each peak being separated from an adjacent peak in the spanwise direction by a trough. Each trough extends in the generally spanwise direction and is spaced in a chordwise direction from the peak, each trough defining a trough width. A ratio of the peak width to the trough width is between 4:1 and 10:1.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a main gas flow exhaust nozzle having an annular inner surface which, in use, bounds a flow of exhaust gas. The gas turbine engine further includes cooling passages having respective outlets therefrom to provide a flow of cooling air over a surface of the engine or an adjacent airframe component, thereby protecting the cooled surface from the exhaust gas flow. Adjacent cooling passages of the or each pair of the nested cooling passages are separated from each other by a respective dividing wall. The outlets from the nested cooling passages are staggered in the axial direction of the exhaust nozzle such that cooling air flowing out of an inner one of the adjacent cooling passages of the or each pair of the nested cooling passages flows over the dividing wall separating the adjacent passages.

Abstract: A flexible coupling for a fluid-carrying pipe extends in use between a first pipe portion and a second pipe portion. The flexible coupling comprises a tessellation of first regions and second regions in which the first regions have higher stiffness than the second regions.

Abstract: The casing assembly comprises a casing comprising a slot defined by a front surface and a rear surface, the front surface and the rear surface being spaced apart by an axial casing gap. A plurality of stator vanes comprising a platform and at least one aerofoil extending from the platform, the platform being received within the slot and having an axial length and a circumferential length. Circumferential lengths of the platforms define a total circumferential length which is less than the circumference of the casing at an outer radial surface of the platforms and so defines a circumferential clearance. Axial length of each of the platforms is less than the axial casing gap and so defines an axial clearance. Circumferential and axial clearances allow the platforms of the stator vanes to rotate within the slot, with rotation of the platforms from an unrotated position reducing the circumferential and axial clearance.

Abstract: An electric machine coupled to rotating machinery includes a rotor and a stator, and the method of control of an electric machine and an electric machine control system. The method includes sensing one or more parameters indicative of one or more resonance conditions of the rotating machinery, and comparing the sensed parameter to a predetermined threshold to determine whether the rotating machinery is operating at the resonance condition. Where the rotating machinery is determined to be operating at the resonance condition, adjusting a magnetic field of one or both of the rotor and the stator to provide a predetermined torque to the rotating machine, to modulate the stiffness of the rotational machinery, and thereby move the resonance condition away from the current rotating machinery conditions.

Abstract: A thermal management system comprises a first heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between a first component and a first working fluid, a first working fluid compressor downstream in first working fluid flow of the first heat exchanger and configured to compress the first working fluid, a second heat exchanger downstream in first working fluid flow of the compressor and configured to exchange heat between the first working fluid and a second working fluid and an expander downstream in first working fluid flow of the second heat exchanger, and configured to expand and cool first working fluid and deliver cooled first working fluid to the first heat exchanger. The system further comprises a third heat exchanger upstream in second working fluid flow of the second heat exchanger, and configured to exchange heat between a second component and the second working fluid.

Abstract: A mass simulator to determine unbalance of a rotor module in a balancing machine that simulates the mass of an adjacent rotor module. The mass simulator has a shaft extending along an axis of rotation of the mass simulator. The shaft has an attachment interface at one end for attaching to a corresponding interface, and has a support portion at the opposite end which is rotatably supportable in the balancing machine. The mass simulator has a mass body mounted to the shaft by a release mechanism allowing the mass body to be repeatably mounted to and dismounted from the shaft. The mass simulator being attached to the rotor module at the attachment interface and the assembly of the attached mass simulator and rotor module located in the balancing machine to determine unbalance of the rotor module with the mass body mounted to, and dismounted from, the shaft.