Abstract: An electrical raft is provided comprising a rigid material having multiple electrical conductors embedded therein. An electrical connector is provided to the raft that has a back-shell which is embedded in the rigid material and which joins to a connector body to enclose a first end of a housing of the connector body. The housing also has a second end at which electrical contacts are provided for connection to another component. The connector body is detachable from the back-shell to electrically disconnect it from the embedded electrical conductors and allow removal of the connector body from the electrical raft. In this way, the connector body may be readily removed, for example for upgrade or repair, whilst retaining a robust and reliable connection.

Abstract: An electrical unit comprises an electrical connector having a set of elongate electrical terminals which are each a one-piece component. The terminals extend into the unit such that first ends of the terminals are connected to multiple electrical conductors within the unit and second ends of the terminals project from a surface of the unit. A collar is formed at the surface of the unit to at least partially encircle the projecting second ends. This arrangement allows the unit to be electrically connected at the electrical connector by press fitting to a terminating region of a flexible electrical harness, the collar defining a recess in which the terminating region is located.

Abstract: An electro-magnetic coupling system for transferring torque between a pair of coaxial spools of a gas turbine engine is provided. The system includes a first rotor rotatable with one of the spools, a second rotor rotatable with the other of the spools, and a stator. The first and second rotors and the stator are coaxial with each other. The second rotor operably couples the first rotor and the stator. The first rotor carries a plurality of magnetic flux-producing formations which produce a first magnetic field. The stator carries a plurality of electrical winding coils which are energisable to generate a second magnetic field. The second rotor carries an arrangement of interpoles which modulate the first and second magnetic fields such that the modulated fields interact to transfer torque between the spools.

Abstract: An electrical connection between two electrical harnesses is provided. The electrical harnesses include flexible printed circuits with embedded conductive tracks, each of which terminates in a receiving hole in a respective terminating region The terminating regions are connected together using conductive pins. The connection formation is then encapsulated by an encapsulating body formed of an insulating. The encapsulating body seals and protects the electrical connection, which is thus reliable and robust.

Abstract: A seal is provided between first and second relatively movable members. The seal comprises a liner attached to the first relatively movable member which liner is abraded by the second relatively movable member. The abradable liner comprises a metallic, open porous structure formed by fusing a metallic feedstock with an energy beam to build up sequential deposits of the fused feedstock.

Abstract: This invention relates to a superconductor device, comprising: a superconductor; a former which supports the superconductor; and, an intermediate electrical connector attached to the former for coupling the superconductor to a power source, wherein the intermediate electrical connector is connected to the superconductor via a deformable portion in the intermediate electrical connector, wherein the deformable portion allows relative movement between the superconductor and former.

Abstract: A heat exchanger arrangement for a gas turbine engine. The arrangement including a flow path within an outer cowl, which flow path locates a heat exchanger part way therealong. A valve is provided at an inlet end of the flow path to selectively receive fluid into the flow path from outside of the cowl and/or from a pressurized fluid flow. An exit from the flow path includes a plenum chamber to receive exhausted coolant flows from the heat exchanger and possibly other exhaust flows. The heat exchanger exhaust flow is then utilized to provide cooling to engine structures.

Abstract: A distribution pipeline power plant, comprising: an input, configured to receive a fluid that has been heated using energy derived from a geothermal field; an expander, configured to extract energy from the fluid that has been heated using energy derived from a geothermal field; and an output configured to transfer at least some of the energy extracted from the fluid that has been heated using energy derived from a geothermal field to a circulator to drive a further fluid along a distribution pipeline.

Abstract: A molybdenum based alloy composition including between 15% and 20% niobium and 0.05% and 0.

Abstract: A method of controlling an aircraft gas turbine engine cooling system. The cooling system includes a heat exchanger having a first fluid path through which fan air flows, and a second fluid path through which relatively hot compressor air flows. The cooling system includes a valve configurable between an open position corresponding to a first operating mode, where fan air flows through the first path cooling the compressor air in the second path to a lower temperature, and a closed position corresponding to a second operating mode, where fan air may flow through the first path at a reduced rate, thus the compressor air in the second path could be cooled to a lesser extent. The valve is operated in first mode when the aircraft is in a descent mode, or when turbine entry temperature is above a predetermined amount. Otherwise, the valve is operated in second mode.

Abstract: A method of characterising mechanical and thermal growth of a rotor tip clearance arrangement and a method of controlling such an arrangement. The characterisation method comprising constructing a finite element model and calibration cases; run the model for the calibration cases to obtain displacements; and calculating component growth therefrom. The growth is characterised and scaled for the operating conditions. The clearance is calculated in a time step from the growths and input to a control arrangement for subsequent time steps.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine and an apparatus for operating the gas turbine engine includes at least one microphone to detect the sound of impacts of particles, a recorder to record the sound of the impacts, an analyzer to analyze the sound of the impacts of the particles, and a store of sounds of impacts, the stored sounds of impacts correspond to unfavorable weather conditions. A comparator compares the sound of the impacts of particles with one or more sounds of impacts stored in the store 68 sounds of impacts and if the comparator determines that the sound of the impacts of particles matches one or more stored sounds of impacts, a signal is sent to a control system for the gas turbine engine to adjust the operation of the gas turbine engine such that it operates in a safe mode of operation.

Abstract: A hydraulic damping apparatus comprising a conduit for a hydraulic fluid having a port in a wall of the conduit; a resonator having a chamber and a neck, the neck being arranged to provide fluid communication between the chamber and the port. The apparatus further comprises a first pressure sensor arranged to sense pressure in the conduit upstream of the port, a second pressure sensor arranged to sense pressure in the conduit downstream of the port, and a controller configured to determine the amplitude of a pressure fluctuation sensed by the first pressure sensor and the amplitude of a pressure fluctuation sensed by the second pressure sensor. The controller is further configured to vary a resonant frequency of the resonator in accordance with a difference between the amplitude of the pressure fluctuation sensed by the first pressure sensor and the amplitude of the pressure fluctuation sensed by the second pressure sensor.

Abstract: This invention relates to a current limiter comprising a first circuit portion arranged in parallel with a second circuit portion, the first circuit portion comprising a superconductor element arranged in series with a switching arrangement, the second circuit portion comprising a load element, the superconductor element being disposed within a cooling chamber, and the cooling chamber and the switch being disposed within a vacuum chamber, wherein the switching arrangement comprises: a mechanical actuator which is operable between a closed condition in which current is conducted through the first circuit portion and an open condition in which current is diverted from the first circuit portion through the second circuit portion and a controller for monitoring and operating the switch.

Abstract: A heat treatment apparatus 10 for heat treating metals or metallic components includes a fluidized bed furnace 20 and a removable insert 30 which is accommodated within the fluidized bed 50 of the furnace 20. The removable insert 30 enables the geometry of the fluidized bed 50 to be optimized with respect to the size and shape of a component 70 which is to be heated.

Abstract: A clamping assembly (2) adapted to clamp a component (4), the assembly comprising: first and second clamping members (10, 20), the first and second clamping members being movable with respect to one another in a first direction to selectively clamp the component therebetween; and a bearing element (30) positionable between the component and one of the first and second clamping members, the bearing element being configured to permit relative movement between the component and one of the first and second clamping members in a second direction.

Abstract: A method for inspecting the interior of a non-horizontal pipe includes (a) filling the pipe with a first fluid, (b) feeding a second fluid into a lower part of the pipe when the second fluid is more dense than the first fluid or into an upper part of the pipe when the second fluid is less dense than the second fluid the pipe, a meniscus forming between the first and the second fluid and moving along the pipe, (c) introducing an inspection device having an average density between the densities of the first and second fluids such that the device locates at and moves with the meniscus, (d) obtaining inspection data from the inspection device as the device moves along the pipe, (e) determining positions of the meniscus as it moves along the pipe, and (f) relating the meniscus positions to positions at which the inspection data is obtained.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine has an annular bypass duct defined between a fan nacelle and a core fairing through which fan air is discharged. One or more bifurcator members are positioned inside the exit of the bypass duct to bifurcate the air flow in the bypass duct around the bifurcator members prior to exiting the bypass duct. The bifurcator members modify the flow field of the air in the bypass duct radially and/or tangentially with respect to the axis of the annular bypass duct.

Abstract: A propeller blade retention arrangement having a propeller blade comprising in radial sequence an aerofoil portion, a shank portion and a root portion. The root portion having first cross-sectional area close to the shank portion and second cross-sectional area at the end distal to the aerofoil portion, wherein the second cross-sectional area is greater than the first cross-sectional area. At least two cheeks each having an inner surface arranged to abut the root portion, an outer surface that is threaded and edge surfaces that abut another of the at least two cheeks; wherein the at least two cheeks are arranged to surround the root portion in circumferential abutment. A collar having a threaded inner surface arranged to threadingly engage the outer surfaces of the at least two cheeks.

Abstract: An air intake guide for a jet propulsion power plant for a supersonic aircraft comprises an intake aperture, an intake centre body and an intake adjustment device. The intake aperture has an intake lip, an intake centre body is positioned within the aperture, and an intake adjustment device is positioned on a radially inwardly facing surface of the air intake guide downstream of the intake lip. The intake adjustment device comprises a flexible panel and an actuator with the actuator being adapted to deflect the flexible panel in a radially inwardly direction so as to reduce a cross-sectional area of the intake aperture and thereby to position a shock wave at the intake lip.