Abstract: A tool for measuring and checking the clamping force exerted by a movable spindle of a length measuring instrument such as a micrometer comprises a housing which is arranged to receive the free end of the spindle when a rim of the housing is placed against a surface of the instrument body around the spindle and the spindle is advanced, a force sensor which is located at the bottom of the housing for engagement by the free end of the spindle, and a read-out device for indicating the force exerted by the spindle as measured by the force sensor.

Abstract: An actuator for a thrust reverser is disclosed which will prevent retraction of the thrust reverser door from its open, reverse thrust position should there be a malfunction in the locking system which locks the thrust reverser door in its closed forward thrust position. Upon deployment of the thrust reverser during a normal aircraft landing, should there be a malfunction in the thrust reverser door locking system, the actuator holds the thrust reverser doors in their opened positions so as to provide a positive, visual indication of such a system malfunction. The actuator has an internal device in the actuator head which, in cooperation with the control rod of the secondary mechanical locking system prevents hydraulic fluid from retracting the actuating piston and rod assembly from their extended positions and thereby prevents retraction of the thrust reverser door from the reverse thrust positions.

Abstract: A stage of vanes, the vanes being embedded in a ring wherein the stage includes a ferrule concentric with the ring, an outer portion of the vanes having a free extremity which extends into a gas stream. A base portion of the vanes extends beyond the ring with respect to the gas stream and have a respective block located at an opposite end, the block rubbing against the ferrule. One of the block and a surface of the ferrule having a coating for reducing friction and a dampening material fills a space between the ring and a surface of the ferrule. Each block may include covering regions which rub against a neighboring block and the blocks may also have a friction surface formed with grooves. In addition, the stage may include a plurality of springs wherein the springs bias the block against the ferrule.

Abstract: A depressurization device for the lubrication chambers which surround the bearings of a turbomachine comprises venting ducts which communicate the lubrication chambers with the outside, and is provided with an auxiliary pumping mechanism which is arranged to be operated, when required, by way of an external pressure source. Preferably the venting ducts are provided with an air/lubricant separator and the auxiliary pumping mechanism comprises a jet nozzle which is located in the air exhaust duct from the separator, the external pressure source being the compressor of another turbomachine.

Abstract: In order to produce multilayer structures of composite materials by draping recut elementary layers on a shaping mold, an installation is proposed which comprises, apart from the mold, a gripping tool which can e.g. be fitted on the articulated arm of a robot. The shaping mold comprises a flexible membrane equipped with suction cups ensuring the gripping of the elementary precut layers. A vacuum circuit makes it possible to engage the membrane on a countermold placed behind the latter in order to shape the grasped elementary layer. When the tool is brought onto the mold, a pressure source acts on the membrane in order to compact the elementary later on the mold. A suction system keeps the layer on the mold following the release of the suction by the cups.

Abstract: A support device for a probe for the detection and location of possible faults within a bore. The device forms a simple structure enabling a nonspecialized operator to perform reproducible measurements. The device incorporates a probe-holding spindle equipped at one end thereof with a mechanism for fixing a measuring probe and a spindle support having a longitudinal guidance mechanism for the spindle and a mechanism for angular positioning thereof. The device makes it possible to inspect the bores of a rotor shaft.

Abstract: A separate inter-blade platform for a turbomachine rotor comprises a structural rectilinear longitudinal member formed by a foam core, plies of a carbon/epoxy type material in bidirectional layers of crossed fibres oriented at 45.degree. laid around the core and around an insert at each end of the longitudinal member, each insert being made of juxtaposed radial plies of a carbon/epoxy type material in bidirectional layers of fibres crossed at .+-.45 degrees, and further plies of a carbon/epoxy type material in unidirectional layers oriented in the direction of the major axis of the longitudinal member covering the upper and lower faces of the member, the platform further comprising lateral packing cores made of a foam material, plies of a glass/epoxy type material covering the lateral faces of the longitudinal member and connecting it to the lateral foam cores, and peripheral plies of a glass/epoxy type material covering the assembly formed by the longitudinal member and the lateral cores connected thereto.

Abstract: A metallic coating on a part made from a ceramic composite is obtained from a powder obtained by mixing two powders: namely,a base powder A comprising 2 to 5% of a reactive element Ti or Zr, at least one melting element B or Si in proportions ensuring a liquidus temperature between 1000.degree. C. and 1300.degree. C. and additional metallic elements including at least 50% Ni or Ni+Co;a powder B in a weight ratio of 5 to 30%, the elements of which are chosen to impart to the part particularly desired surface properties such as anti-wear, anti-oxidation and/or anti-corrosion, and to ensure a liquidus temperature of powder B greater than that of powder A.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a part made of a composite material having a metallic matrix, for example of titanium or a titanium based alloy, comprises depositing the matrix material on a continuous length of reinforcing fiber, for example of the SiC type, to produce a coating of a predetermined thickness, winding the thus coated fiber onto a former of suitable shape until a desired thickness is obtained, and then heating and isostatically compacting the wound coated fiber to produce the required part.

Abstract: A fluid supply system including a casing having at least one duct extending through it for the passage of fluid and a recess in the casing around the duct or ducts, a cover covering the recess and held against a bearing surface on the casing surrounding the recess, the cover carrying a continuation of the or each duct, and a vent in either the casing or the cover communicating the recess with the environment outside the casing, is provided with a leak tell-tale device for indicating passage of fluid along a path, such as the vent, which, in the event of a leakage of fluid from a duct into the recess, would be followed by the leaked fluid.

Abstract: A separator for an annular gas turbine engine combustion chamber is disclosed having a plurality of separator segments arranged in a generally annular configuration to form an annular separator extending from an upstream end wall of a combustion chamber into the combustion chamber so as to separate first and second combustion zones within the combustion chamber. Each of the separator segments has a hollow interior defined by a front wall, an outer wall, an inner wall which has at least a portion tapering or converging towards the outer wall in a direction extending away from the front wall, and first and second sides. The sides define an array of holes communicating with the hollow interior, the positioning of the array of holes on a first sides being different from that of the array of holes on the second sides such that the axes of the holes are out of alignment with each other.

Abstract: A nickel-based superalloy known by the designation "718" and having a typical composition comprising, in percentages by weight, Cr 19, Fe 18, Nb 5, and the remainder Ni, is subjected, after the usual thermo-mechanical and heat treatment steps, to an additional annealing step wherein the temperature and duration are selected from the following range as desired:800.degree. C. for between 5 and 30 hours;750.degree. C. for between 25 and 70 hours; and700.degree. C. for between 100 and 300 hours.This leads to a definite improvement in the behaviour of parts made from the superalloy, in terms of fatigue cracking, when used at temperatures over 650.degree. C.

Abstract: A fuel distribution system for a gas-turbine engine is disclosed which ensures homogenous fuel supply to all fuel injectors in order to avoid local fuel oversupplies that might cause local overheating of the turbine blades. The fuel system compensates for the deleterious load factors experienced by the aircraft and the gas turbine engine that affect the fuel distribution to the fuel injectors. The system supplies fuel to a plurality of fuel injectors arranged in an annular array so as to inject fuel into an annular combustion chamber of the gas turbine engine. The system has a closed loop, generally annular fuel connector line and a plurality of fuel distributors connected in parallel to the fuel connector line so that fuel passes into a central chamber of each of the distributors. Each fuel distributor has end chambers on opposite ends of the central chamber in which are movably located pistons whose positions within the end chambers open or close a fuel outlet in communication with each of the end chambers.

Abstract: A rotary valve assembly is disclosed in which a rotary valve member is located within a casing having one or more fluid inlets and a plurality of fluid outlets. The rotary valve member has a fluid conduit which extends in a generally radial direction and which communicates with the fluid inlet. Fluid orifices communicate with the fluid conduit and exit through opposite sides of the rotary valve member to thereby minimize, or eliminate altogether, axial forces acting on the rotary valve member. Fluid outlet passages communicate with the two fluid orifices during at least part of the rotation of the rotary valve member to direct the pressurized fluid to the valve outlets. The rotary valve may include a pair of rotary valve members drivingly connected to each other such that they rotate synchronously. The connection may include gear teeth formed on the adjacent peripheries of the rotary valve members such that rotation of one of the valve members causes rotation of the other.

Abstract: A method for removing a portion of a coating disposed on a plate, in which a nozzle having a wide jet is first utilized to remove most of the material of the portion to be removed. Successively or concurrently therewith, at least one fine jet nozzle is utilized to cut the contour of the portion of the coating being removed. The method is particularly advantageous for removing deposits of a plasma deposition, and more particularly for deposits which resist a diffusion welding or soldering of plates or substrates with one another.

Abstract: Aircraft engine, whose ancillary equipment forms a unitary assembly wherein the equipment is located to the rear of the air intake duct in a substantially closed central compartment just upstream of the gas generator. The equipment positioned along the engine axis, which, inter alia, leads to low engine drag in operation.

Abstract: A turbomachine rotor includes a disk having a plurality of annular ribs projecting from its periphery to define a plurality of annular grooves, and a plurality of blades, preferably made of composite material, evenly distributed around the periphery of the disk, each blade having a notched root defining heels which fit into the grooves of the disk and which are divided into two groups, one group being offset on the pressure side of the blade and the other group being offset on the suction side so that the heels of the second group align with the heels of the first group of an adjacent blade, the blades being fixed to the disk by pins which extend through the aligned heels of adjacent blades and the ribs of the disk. Each blade is thus secured by two pins, and each pin helps to secure two blades.

Abstract: A hollow blade for a turbomachine includes a unitary body having a multiplicity of transverse cavities in at least the aerofoil shaped portion of the blade, and plugs disposed within the cavities for restoring the surface continuity of the intrados and extrados faces of the aerofoil shaped portion, the plugs being rigidly secured to the unitary body, such as by welding.

Abstract: Variable phase vane provided with a composite pivot having a joining piece for receiving the control pieces. The joining piece is made of a material less dense than the actual pivot. These two elements are force-fitted without using any weld or mechanical linking device.

Abstract: An afterburner for a turbofan engine is disclosed having a plurality of connecting arms connecting the inner wall to the outer wall wherein each of the connecting arms defines an air chamber, an inlet communicating with the main air bypass passageway and a plurality of outlets communicating with the afterburner chamber. The plurality of connecting arms are distributed generally radially about the longitudinal axis of the engine and serve to distribute a portion of the bypass air into the afterburner chamber. The bypass air is further distributed into the afterburner chamber through a plurality of flame holders extending radially inwardly from the outer wall towards the longitudinal axis. Each of the flame holders also defines an air chamber, an inlet communicating with the main air bypass passageway and a plurality of air outlets. The flame holders may also be distributed in a radial array about the longitudinal axis and are interposed between adjacent connecting arms.