Abstract: A method of drilling through a wall of a hollow component in which a high energy beam is directed at an outer surface of the wall and emerges into a cavity from an inner surface of the wall, comprising the step of providing in the cavity a medium comprising a ceramic dispersed within a silica sol.

Abstract: A support structure is provided for attaching a gas turbine engine to a pylon. The gas turbine engine has an engine casing surrounding an engine core, and the pylon has first and second attachment positions, the second attachment position being forward of the first attachment position relative to the working gas flow direction through the engine. The support structure has three elongate members joined to form a triangular frame encircling the engine casing. A first vertex of the triangular frame attaches to the pylon via a first attachment arrangement at the first attachment position. Two thrust struts respectively extend from the other two vertices of the triangular frame and attach to the pylon via a second attachment arrangement at the second attachment position. Three engine connection formations extend from the respective vertices of the triangular frame to positions on the engine casing to connect the support structure to the engine casing.

Abstract: A pressure indicator for indicating pressure of a pressure source. The indicator comprises a first reservoir which defines a first enclosed volume having a first inlet pipe for communication between the first enclosed volume and a first source of pressurised fluid. A passage which provides a flow path for the pressurised fluid.

Abstract: A pressure indicator for indicating pressure of a pressure source. The indicator comprises a first reservoir which defines a first enclosed volume having a first inlet pipe for communication between the first enclosed volume and a first source of pressurised fluid. A damping passage is provided in fluid communication with the first enclosed volume. A pressure oscillation damping means is provided in the damping passage. The damping means comprises a moveable body constrained within a limited range of motion along the damping passage.

Abstract: A pressure indicator for indicating pressure of a pressure source. The indicator comprises a first reservoir which defines a first enclosed volume having a first inlet pipe for communication between the first enclosed volume and a first source of pressurised fluid. The first inlet pipe defines a nominal communication path length between the first enclosed volume and a first source of pressurised fluid. A member is provided in the first inlet pipe which defines one or more communication paths of greater length to that of the nominal communication path length.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for inspecting holes in components. The apparatus includes a telecentric lens system positionable at a near end of a hole with an optical axis of the lens system aligned with the axis of the hole to image the interior of the hole. The apparatus further includes an illumination system for illuminating the interior of the hole. The apparatus further includes a camera arranged to receive an image of the illuminated interior of the hole from the telecentric lens system. The illumination system includes a light source for producing a beam of parallel light, and optics for directing the produced beam through the telecentric lens system along the optical axis thereof, and through the hole. The beam reaches the far end of the hole, and is reflected from a surface located at or adjacent the far end of the hole to illuminate the interior of the hole.

Abstract: An engine having at least one stage of propeller rotor blades, and a load, the at least one stage being associated with electrical generation means to generate electricity for the load. The load is switchable into a high load state in the event of an overspeed signal from the rotor blades. Also a method of controlling rotor overspeed of an engine, characterized by the steps of: i. detecting an overspeed signal from the at least one stage, and ii. switching the load into a high load state to apply torque to the at least one stage to counteract the overspeed.

Abstract: There is a requirement to provide bearings in relatively low speed non continuous situations such as with regards to turnover stands for engine and winding assembly. Previous bearings incorporating rolling elements are relatively expensive and over specified for such activities. By providing annulus members in a bearing cluster upon rocker members such that the annulus members can articulate in order to provide an appropriate bearing. Lubricating oil generally passes between the annulus members in a laminar stack such that the members can radially slide past each other to accommodate for eccentricities in a shaft supported by the bearing.

Abstract: A mould for a composite component having a fillet joint, the mould including a mould body having a cavity within which the component is formed, and an insert mating with the mould body and including a forming surface against which, in use, the fillet of the component fillet joint is formed. The insert may be thermally insulating and highly rigid. A method of forming a composite component having a fillet joint using a mould, the method including forcing a surface of the fillet region of the component to adopt a non constant radius of curvature while the component is inside the mould during the cure process is also provided. Additionally, a method of forming a composite component having a fillet joint that is defined between first and second legs the method including placing the legs of the component in bending during cure of the component is described.

Abstract: A system is provided for verifying the performance of an electrical union. The electrical union provides electrical connectivity across an interface between first and second elements which rotate relative to each other. The system includes a signal source associated with the first element. The signal source is adapted to send an electrical signal over the union to the second element using a first signal frequency. The system further includes a frequency modulator associated with the second element. The frequency modulator is adapted to return the electrical signal over the union to the first element using a different second signal frequency. The system further includes a comparator which compares the signal sent by the data source to the signal returned by the frequency modulator. The comparator provides an output which identifies whether a discrepancy exists between the contents of the sent and returned signals.

Abstract: An engine mounting apparatus that includes thrust struts, a balance yoke, and primary and secondary mount blocks. The thrust struts are connected to the balance yoke and the primary mount block has at least one thrust load connection connectable to the balance yoke for transferring thrust loads from an engine during normal operation of the engine mounting apparatus. The engine mounting apparatus is characterized in that the secondary mount block is connected to the balance yoke via at least one thrust load catcher connection, the at least one thrust load catcher connection being arranged to be unloaded during normal operation of the engine mounting arrangement and to transfer the thrust loads from the engine in the event of a failure condition of the primary mount block.

Abstract: A firtree profile, for example on a component of a gas turbine engine, is formed in a two-stage process. In one stage, an intermediate profile is formed, for example by a mechanical machining operation such as grinding. Subsequently, in a second stage, loaded flanks 16, 18 of the profile are formed by an electric discharge machining operation performed on the intermediate profile. Alternatively, the electric discharge machining operation may be performed first to create the intermediate profile, and subsequently transition regions, such as fillets 24, 28, may be formed in a mechanical or chemical material removing operation. In the resulting profile, surfaces, such as the loaded flanks 16, 18, which must be finished to tight tolerances, but which are subjected to relatively low bending stresses, are formed by the electric discharge machining operation, which leaves a re-cast layer 36.

Abstract: Within generator systems maintenance of stability in terms of voltage is desirable. Generally, several generators will be arranged in parallel within the generator system with one generator voltage controlled to provide dynamic responsiveness to load switching. With regard to some loads which are generally of an active nature, the capacity of a first generator, which is voltage controlled, may be insufficient to adequately avoid transient voltage instability. By providing an actuator signal from a load to act as a pre-emptive or forward feed to an electrical current controlled generator, that second electrical current generator can be arranged to provide additional or reduced electrical current to avoid system voltage instability.

Abstract: An adjustable nozzle dispenser and a multi-nozzle dispenser are disclosed for washing an aerofoil of a gas turbine engine. The dispensers are characterized by their nozzle arrangements being capable of washing at least two different parts of the aerofoil. A system and a method of operating such a nozzle dispenser is included.

Abstract: A cooled turbine rotor blade for a gas turbine engine is provided. The engine has an annular flow path for conducting working fluid though the engine. The blade has an aerofoil section for extending across the annular flow path. The blade further has a root portion radially inward of the aerofoil section for joining the blade to a rotor disc of the engine. The blade further has a platform between the aerofoil section and the root portion. The platform extends laterally relative to the radial direction of the engine to form an inner boundary of the annular flow path and to provide a rear overhang portion which projects in use towards a corresponding platform of a downstream nozzle guide vane. The platform contains at least one internal elongate plenum chamber for receiving cooling air. The longitudinal axis of the plenum chamber is substantially aligned with the circumferential direction of the engine.

Abstract: The invention provides an alloy steel having the following composition: Ni 5-14 wt %; Cr 4-16 wt %; Co 7-14 wt %; Mo 1-5 wt %; W 0-5 wt %; Ti 0-0.8 wt %; Al 0.1-3 wt %; the balance being Fe save for incidental impurities. This provides an ultra-high strength corrosion resistant steel with good toughness, which does not significantly creep at temperatures up to 450° C. The high quantity of alloying to elements, particularly chromium, also gives the alloy good corrosion resistance. The alloy is particularly suitable for main shafts of gas turbine engines.

Abstract: The fuel processor (10) comprises a desulphurisation reactor (12), a catalytic partial oxidation reactor (14), a combustor (16) and a pre-reformer (18), means (20) to supply a hydrocarbon fuel to the desulphurisation reactor (12), means (24) to supply air to the catalytic partial oxidation reactor (14) and means (24) to supply air to the combustor (16). A method of operating the fuel processor for a fuel cell arrangement includes (a) supplying safe gas to the fuel cell arrangement in a first mode of operation, (b) supplying synthesis gas to the fuel cell arrangement in a second mode of operation and (c) supplying processed hydrocarbon fuel to the fuel cell arrangement in a third mode of operation.

Abstract: A cooling arrangement is provided for a turbine disc of a gas turbine engine. The turbine disc has a plurality of circumferentially spaced disc posts forming fixtures therebetween for a row of turbine blades. Each turbine blade has an attachment formation which engages at a respective fixture, a platform radially outwardly of the attachment formation such that the adjacent platforms of the row form an inner endwall for the working gas annulus of the engine, and an aerofoil which extends radially outwardly from the platform. A respective cavity is formed between an exposed radially outer surface of each disc post and the inner endwall. The cooling arrangement has at each disc post, a cooling plate located in the respective cavity and spaced radially outwardly from the exposed outer surface of the disc post to form a cooling channel between the cooling plate and the exposed outer surface.

Abstract: A method of friction welding comprises providing a first workpiece having a first weld surface and a second workpiece having a second weld surface. The first workpiece is arranged such that it tapers away from the first weld surface, the first workpiece converges in a direction away from the first weld surface. The first and second workpieces are arranged such that the first weld surface abuts the second weld surface. The first and second workpieces are oscillated relative to each other such that at least one of the weld surfaces of at least one of the workpieces moves relative to the other weld surface of the other workpiece such that the temperature increases at the weld surfaces to create a weld interface. The oscillation is stopped and the first and second weld surfaces are allowed to cool to weld the first and second workpieces together.

Abstract: A submersible propulsor unit, comprising: a duct defined between a duct hub and a duct wall, the duct having a water inlet and a water outlet, a propeller means rotatably mounted within the duct, and an array of stator vanes extending between the duct hub and the duct wall, wherein the array of stator vanes comprises stator vanes having a first stiffness and stator vanes having a second stiffness.