Abstract: A multi jointed robot arm includes at least first and second link members connected by a connection arrangement and at least a first control cable. First and second ends of the first control cable engage with first and second engagement point of the first link member and first and second attachment points of the second link member. The assembly further includes a first actuator configured to selectively tension the first and second ends of the first control cable such that the second link member pivots toward a first or second side, wherein the connection arrangement is arranged to pivot at a first pivot point located substantially along a notional line extending between the first and second attachment points, and to pivot at a second pivot point extending between the first and second engagement points.

Abstract: A rotor blade assembly for a gas turbine engine includes two aerofoil members joined together at their roots by a blade assembly attachment web. The rotor blade assembly is made from a composite material, for example an organic fibre composite material. The blade assembly attachment web is used to attach a plurality of rotor blade assemblies to the rest of the gas turbine engine in order to form a rotor stage. The rotor stage may, for example, be the fan stage of a turbofan gas turbine engine.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine casing assembly has a first casing element which is located radially outward of one or more rotating aerofoil elements of the gas turbine engine. The first casing element is radially enclosed by a track element, a septum layer, a second casing element and a fan case. The track element is formed from an abrasion resistant material in order to prevent abrasion of the septum layer during excoriation of the first casing element.

Abstract: A fan containment system arranged to be fitted around an array of radially extending fan blades mounted on a hub in an axial gas turbine engine. Each fan blade has a respective tip. The system includes: a cylindrical fan case including a hook projecting in a radially inward direction and positioned axially forward of the radial array of fan blades; a fan track liner disposed on the radially inner surface of the fan case; and a damaging tool which projects radially inwards from the fan case towards the tips. The damaging tool has a tip radially outward of the fan blade tips. The damaging tool is configured that in the event that one of the fan blades is released from the hub, the tip of the damaging tool damages the fan blade tip of the released fan blade to promote penetration of the fan blade into the fan track liner.

Abstract: A method of modulating the cooling of a gas turbine component is disclosed. The method includes determining a target component temperature at which the gas turbine component can be maintained without the gas turbine component experiencing a failure over the course of an indicated life of the gas turbine component; scheduling a cooling air value to the target component temperature; and determining one or more of a demanded cooling air temperature and a demanded cooling air mass flow rate based on the scheduled cooling air value.

Abstract: A platinum plus chromium coating applied to the roots and firtrees of turbine blades where the inclusion of chromium creates a single phase outer zone which minimises diffusion paths for sulphur which can preferentially diffuse down phase boundaries and enables a chromium rich outer oxide scale to form on top of the coating.

Abstract: An ultrasonic inspection method for inspecting a first article. The method includes, in a first inspection process: measuring the distance between a first surface of the first article and a nominal axis at three or more measurement locations along the axis of the surface; using the measured distances to produce a mathematical model of the surface of the first article; transmitting an ultrasonic wave from a first side of the first article through the first surface of the first article at a plurality of inspection locations along the axis of the first surface, and receiving a transmitted waveform which has passed through at least part of the first article; using the model to normalise each transmitted waveform at each inspection location to the nominal axis; and identifying a signature signal from the normalised transmitted waveform at each inspection location.

Abstract: A tile is provided for lining the hot side of a wall of a combustor. The tile has a tile body with one or more bosses protruding from the cold side thereof. The or each boss extends, in use, through the wall of the combustor and has a threaded recess formed therein for threadingly connecting with a bolt which is inserted into the recess from the cold side of the combustor wall. The bolt fastens the tile to the combustor wall.

Abstract: A cooling system is provided for an aero gas turbine engine. The system has a duct which diverts a portion of a bypass air stream of the engine. A heat exchanger located in the duct receives cooling air for cooling components of the engine. The cooling air is cooled in the heat exchanger by the diverted bypass air stream. After cooling the cooling air, the spent diverted air stream is routed to a tail cone located at the exit of the engine and ejected through a nozzle at the tail cone.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of querying technical domains that recognizes the concepts represented by strings of characters, rather than merely comparing strings. It can be used to compute conceptual similarity between terms, The method employs string distance metrics and a cyclic progression of lexical processing to recognize constituent term concepts that are then combined to form full-term concepts by means of a grammar. Terms can be extracted and identified as being conceptually similar (or dissimilar) to other terms even if they have never previously been encountered. A key advantage is the ability to extract terms from documents based on the combination of a limited number of sub-concepts, This avoids the need for the prior identification of all possible terms that current methods require. A second key advantage is the ability to introduce or remove concepts and synonyms individually without the need to alter terms which the concept or synonym constitutes.

Abstract: A DC electrical power system has a power generator converter system, a positive supply rail extending from the converter system, a negative supply rail extending from the converter system, and a midpoint earthing arrangement operatively connecting to the supply rails. The earthing arrangement is connected to earth by a solid earth connection. The network further has a first protective device on one of the supply rails which in case of a fault is operable to interrupt current flowing on that rail, and a second protective device on the earthing arrangement which in case of a fault is operable to interrupt current flowing to earth through the solid earth connection.

Abstract: This invention is a high voltage superconductor switch comprising: a length of superconductor having a switching portion located within an air gap; a magnetic circuit including at least one flux guide having ferrite pole pieces defining an air gap in which a switching portion of a superconductor can reside in use and at least one primary magnetic flux source located within the circuit so as to provide a quenching magnetic field across the air gap via the ferrite pole pieces.

Abstract: A method of reducing the amount of water in a region of air including: forming seed ice crystals; dispensing the seed ice crystals towards the region of air; allowing water in the region of air to freeze or deposit onto the seed ice crystals; and allowing the resulting ice crystals to move from the region of air so as to reduce the amount of water in the region of air. An ice crystal seeding assembly arranged to reduce the amount of water in a region of air, the seeding assembly includes an ice crystal seeder and dispensing means, the dispensing means being arranged to dispense seeded ice crystals towards the region of air so that water in the region of air freezes or deposits onto the seed ice crystals and that the resulting ice crystals move from the region of air.

Abstract: There is disclosed a self-regulating electric heater assembly arranged to heat an electrically conductive substrate such as a flexible substrate of shape memory alloy for use as an actuator. The heater assembly comprises a plurality of substantially rigid PTC elements arranged in spaced-apart relation to one another in a flexible array, said PTC elements each having a contact surface arranged in contact with the substrate and being urged against said substrate so as to remain in contact with the substrate upon flexure of the substrate. The substrate serves as one of a pair of electrical conductors electrically connected to the PTC elements for the supply of electric current to the PTC elements.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine combustion chamber heat shield and seal assembly comprises a heat shield and a seal. The heat shield has an aperture and the seal is located in the aperture in the heat shield. The seal comprises an annular member having an upstream end, a middle and a downstream end. The upstream end of the seal has a diameter greater than the diameter of the aperture in the heat shield, the middle has a diameter less than the diameter of the aperture in the heat shield and the downstream end of the seal has a diameter greater than the diameter of the aperture in the heat shield.

Abstract: A fuselage mounted gas turbine engine installation the installation includes at least one propeller stage and a gas turbine core arranged in use to drive the propeller stage. The core is external to the fuselage and the rotational axes of the core and propeller stage are offset with respect to each other.

Abstract: A component of a gas turbine engine is formed from a continuous fibre reinforced ceramic matrix composite (CMC). The component has a sealing portion which, in use, makes sealing contact with an adjacent component of the engine. The sealing portion comprises a recess formed in the CMC and filled with a finer grade ceramic relative to the surrounding CMC, a metal or an intermetallic.

Abstract: An annulus filler is provided for mounting to a rotor disc of a gas turbine engine and for bridging the gap between two adjacent blades attached to the rotor disc. The annulus filler has a body portion defining an airflow surface for air being drawn through the engine. The annulus filler further has a front attachment formation connecting a forward end of the body portion to the rotor disc and which allows rotational movement of the body portion thereabout. The annulus filler further has a rear attachment formation connecting a rearward end of the body portion to the rotor disc. The rear attachment formation comprises a spring element which extends between the body portion and the rotor disc. The spring element expands under operational centrifugal loading such that the rearward end of the body portion moves radially outwardly with the body portion rotating about the front attachment formation.

Abstract: In a gas turbine engine, each vane has pressure and suction surfaces extending radially from an inner to outer endwall of an annular working gas engine passage, and extending axially from a leading to a trailing edge of the vane. Each vane has transverse sections providing respective aerofoil sections. Neighbouring vanes are arranged in unequally-shaped pairs in which either: (i) the first vane of each pair exhibits compound lean, and the second vane of the pair exhibits reverse compound lean or has substantially no tangential lean, (ii) the first vane of each pair has substantially no tangential lean, and the second vane of the pair exhibits reverse compound lean, or (iii) the first vane of each pair exhibits reverse compound lean, and the second vane of the pair exhibits greater reverse compound lean. Within each unequally-shaped pair the first vane is on the pressure surface side of the second vane.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a compressor assembly that is rotationally coupled to a shaft, the compressor assembly having a centrifugal impeller and a shroud covering a bladed portion of the centrifugal impeller. The compressor assembly includes a diffuser that is attached to the shroud via a pair of flanges, the diffuser including a strut that is mounted through an aft-extending leg to a base of an intercase. A sealing assembly is attached to the diffuser and is attachable to a transition duct that is positioned to receive air from the diffuser. The sealing assembly is configured to prevent air from passing through the sealing assembly while allowing relative motion to occur between the transition duct and the diffuser.