Abstract: A method is provided of rotationally balancing a rotating part. A rotor hub or ring and a plurality of rotor blades for assembly onto the hub or ring are provided, each blade having an unfilled internal cavity. The respective masses and moment weights of the blades with filled internal cavities are then predicted. Next, the rotor blades are assembled onto the hub or ring to form the rotating part. The relative positions of the assembled blades are determined on the basis of their predicted masses and moment weights with filled internal cavities. The internal cavities of the assembled rotor blades are then filled.

Abstract: A heat transfer arrangement for a fluid-washed body having first and second ends and a fluid-washed surface extending there-between. The arrangement includes a heat transfer member extending from the first end at least part way along the body towards the second end. A heat source is arranged in use to heat the heat transfer member in the vicinity of the first end of the body. A plurality of thermal control layers are provided on the heat transfer member, each of the layers having a different thermal conductivity and being juxtaposed so as to create a thermal conductivity profile which varies along the length of the member. The arrangement may be used for prevention of icing of an aerofoil body such as a blade, vane or the like.

Abstract: A method and system for accepting or rejecting a curved surface of a body under evaluation involves conducting a comparison between the curvature of a surface profile for the surface under evaluation and higher and lower curvature tolerance boundaries. The higher and lower curvature tolerance boundaries are determined from a desired surface profile. The curvature at a plurality of locations on the curve profile under evaluation may be defined with reference to a geometric variable for said curved surface and may be plotted on a graph. The higher and lower curvature tolerance boundaries may also be plotted on the graph so as to determine whether the plot of curvature for the surface under evaluation falls within the bounds of the higher and lower tolerance boundaries.

Abstract: A mounting assembly 2 for mounting a gearbox 10 to a gas turbine engine, comprising a mount ring 4 and a spigot pin 8 having a flange 22 at one end. The spigot pin 8 extends radially outwardly through a bore 14 in the mount ring 4 for engagement with a gearbox 10 and the flange 22 locates against a radially inner surface of the mount ring 4. The bore 14 supports the spigot pin 8 and dissipates forces exerted on the spigot pin 8, for example forces generated during a fan blade-off event.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing an article (28) by diffusion bonding and superplastic forming stop off material (122) is applied to prevent diffusion bonding in a predetermined pattern on a first surface (106) of a first metal workpiece (100) and the predetermined pattern is spaced from the edges of the first surface (106) of the first metal workpiece (100). Stop off material (124) to prevent diffusion bonding is applied in a predetermined position on the first surface (106) of the first metal workpiece (100) and the predetermined position extends from the predetermined pattern of stop of material (122) on the first surface (106) of the first metal workpiece (100) towards one edge of the first surface (106) of the first metal workpiece (100).

Abstract: A fluid transfer arrangement comprising a duct having a first end and a second end, a pulse generation mechanism located at the first end of the duct to direct fluid pulses towards the second end of the duct in use, and a baffle located at the second end of the duct that defines an aperture having sharp edges. The sharp edges generate ring vortex fluid flow from the aperture in use. Applications include impingement heating and cooling.

Abstract: Provision of flow control arrangements which can be switched from high flow restriction to low flow restriction or vice versa are desirable. It is known to use switched vortex valves comprising a vortex chamber having a diverter portion which jets a through flow into either radial presentation to an outlet or tangential presentation with differential flow restrictions. Typically deflection is through cross flows presented from control ports as determined by mechanically actuated and controlled valves. Sensors are required to determine pressure differentials in order to actuate these moving part valves. By providing association between the control ports and an outlet path along with appropriate configuration and sizing of the flow regulators switching states can be provided through the cross flows presented via the flow regulators between the high and low through flow restriction. The flow regulators generally comprise orifice restrictors, diffusers/venturi arrangements or vortex throttles.

Abstract: A combustor component with cooling apertures has the apertures formed by laser drilling. The machining apparatus comprises a beam generator for generating a beam for directing at the combustor component and a beam trap. The component is translated relative to the beam and the beam is directed to the beam trap and is dissipated within the beam trap.

Abstract: An injection-molded thermoplastic mini-platform is adhesively bonded, in use, to the aerofoil surfaces of a fan blade in a gas turbine engine. The mini-platform is divided into a number of leaves, to increase its flexibility, and ribs beneath the leaves provide additional stiffness in the radial direction. In the event that a fan blade is released in operation, the mini-platform is designed to detach from the blade and/or to break apart, so that damage to other components of the engine is minimized.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine airfoil (22) has a wall (42) provided with a cooling effusion hole (40) therein to facilitate film cooling of the external surface (52) of the wall (42). A member (46) attached to the internal surface (48) of the airfoil wall (42) is provided with an aperture (44) which at least partially overlaps the cooling effusion hole (40). The airfoil wall (42) and member (46) are formed from materials having different coefficients of thermal expansion and are mounted such that over a temperature range, the aperture (44) and cooling effusion hole (40) interact to a greater or lesser extent to modulate the flow of cooling air therethrough.

Abstract: A composite blade (26) comprises a three-dimensional arrangement of reinforcing fibres (58) and a matrix material (60) infiltrated around the three-dimensional arrangement of woven reinforcing fibres (60). The three-dimensional arrangement of woven reinforcing fibres (58) defines a plurality of cavities (56) within the aerofoil (28). The composite blade (26) comprises an aerofoil portion (38) and a root portion (36). The aerofoil portion (38) comprises a leading edge (44), a trailing edge (46), a concave pressure surface wall (50), a convex suction surface wall (52) and a tip (48). The aerofoil portion (36) comprises a plurality of webs (54) extending between, and being secured to, the concave pressure surface wall (50) and the convex suction surface wall (52) to produce a Warren girder structure. The three-dimensional arrangement of woven reinforcing fibres (58) are arranged to produce the concave pressure surface wall (50), the convex suction surface wall (52) and the plurality of webs (54).

Abstract: A system is provided for transmitting data between a first component and a second component, which rotates relative to the first component. The system includes a first coupling element of limited angular extent mounted to the first component, and a second coupling element of limited angular extent mounted to the second component. The first and second coupling elements come into angular alignment once per revolution of the second component relative to the first component. The system further includes a first transceiver connected to the first coupling element, and a second transceiver connected to the second coupling element. The first and second transceivers are configured to detect the angular alignment of the first and second coupling elements. The first and second transceivers are further configured to transmit data between the first and second transceivers via the first and second coupling elements when the angular alignment is detected.

Abstract: An arrangement for vapour phase coating an internal surface of hollow articles comprises a part plate, at least one spud site and at least one manifold. The part plate defines a portion of a chamber for supplying a vapour coating. Each spud site has a tube and a first mouldable sealant is arranged around the tube. Each manifold has at least one supply tube extending from the manifold to supply vapour into a respective hollow article. Each manifold has a feed tube extending from the manifold to supply vapour into the manifold. The tube of each spud site is inserted into the feed tube of the respective manifold and an end of the feed tube remote from the manifold locates in the first mouldable sealant. A second mouldable sealant is arranged around the at least one supply tube of the respective manifold and between the respective manifold and hollow article.

Abstract: An aerofoil assembly includes a plurality of rotatable blades. A damping member is disposed between at least two of the blades, each of the at least two blades having an aerofoil portion, a stem portion and a root portion. A recess is provided on two cooperating stem portions with a first shelf extending from a first end of each recess, and a second shelf extending from a second end of each recess to define a compartment. When the blades are aligned the damping member is held on one side of the shelves within the compartment. The damping member is provided with a projection at one corner and a projection on a diagonally opposite corner, the longitudinal distance between ends of the projections being greater than the distance between edges of the first and second shelf.

Abstract: A method for joining first and second components, using brazing material to enable the formation of a brazed joint by heating the brazing material when the first and second components are in a juxtaposed position, comprises bringing the first and second components into a juxtaposed position so that the brazing material is in contact with the first and second components and plastically deforming the brazing material to interlock the first and second components.

Abstract: A rotary transformer is disclosed which includes a primary core having a primary coil wound thereon, and a secondary core having a secondary coil wound thereon, wherein said cores are mounted for relative rotation about an axis of rotation. One of said cores includes a plurality of core segments arranged in spaced-apart relation relative to one another in a substantially circular array about said axis, the other core having a substantially annular configuration. In a particular embodiment, said primary core is fixed and hence remains static during operation, and includes a plurality of spaced apart core segments arranged in a circular array around said axis.

Abstract: A clamping system for clamping aerofoils. The clamping system has pivotally mounted engagement members that engage the aerofoil mounted on a pivotally mounted arm either side of the pivotal mounting. The arm can pivot as required relative to the item, to accommodate differences in shape in the item, while providing a substantially equal clamping force by both engagement members.

Abstract: Magnetic gearboxes an inner rotor and an outer rotor are known with pole members between them. However, these gearbox arrangements generally have a fixed gear ratio between the rotors. By provision of pole members with coils between them and associated switches to adjust the magnetic flux modulation capacity between the rotors it is possible to create open circuit, closed circuit and variable impedance configurations which will relatively passively adjust the magnetic flux modulation capacity or by presenting a voltage to the coils or drawing a voltage from the coils to more actively adjust the magnetic flux modulation capacity across the arrangement. In such circumstances a wider range of gear ratios is achieved as well as the capability with regard to localized electrical power generation through the gearbox arrangement or electro magnetic braking achieved upon the gear box as required.

Abstract: A locking device adapted to lock a component to a locking surface, the locking device comprising a body and a lever, the lever being movable with respect to the body from an open position, in which the locking device is open to receive the component, to a closed position, in which the component is locked against the locking surface, wherein the lever comprises: a first abutment surface arranged to abut the component and lock the component against the locking surface when in the closed position; and a second abutment surface arranged such that upon insertion of the component into the locking device, the component abuts the second abutment surface to urge the lever from the open position to the closed position. The locking device may further comprise one or more knife edge pivot points arranged between the body and the lever such that the lever may be rotatable from the open position to the closed position.

Abstract: A core for casting a container includes a casting surface, where the core is divided into at least two core segments. The casting surface of each core segment adjoins a division surface, and the division surface of each core segment is spaced apart from the division surface of a neighboring core segment by a gap. The gap is spanned by a frangible collapsible member such that substantially all of the casting surface is free of the collapsible member.