Abstract: An isolator fitting for an opening in a metallic rib of an aircraft wing. The isolator fitting has first isolator mountable to the rib to position a first isolator opening in alignment with the opening of the rib. A second isolator is mountable to the rib and has a nut housing segment defining a second isolator opening to be positioned in alignment with the opening of the rib. A conduit extends between a first end and a second end, and a nut is mountable about an outer surface of the conduit to abut against the first isolator and mount the conduit thereto. The conduit is positionable to extend through the opening of the rib and through the first and second isolator openings to position the nut within the nut housing segment of the second isolator such that the nut housing segment is positioned between the nut and the rib.

Abstract: An isolator fitting for an opening in a metallic rib of an aircraft wing. The isolator fitting has first isolator mountable to the rib to position a first isolator opening in alignment with the opening of the rib. A second isolator is mountable to the rib and has a nut housing segment defining a second isolator opening to be positioned in alignment with the opening of the rib. A conduit extends between a first end and a second end, and a nut is mountable about an outer surface of the conduit to abut against the first isolator and mount the conduit thereto. The conduit is positionable to extend through the opening of the rib and through the first and second isolator openings to position the nut within the nut housing segment of the second isolator such that the nut housing segment is positioned between the nut and the rib.

Abstract: There is proposed a method of producing an integrally bladed rotor, preferably a so-called “blisk” for a turbomachine, the method including the steps of: providing a rotor disc having a plurality of spaced-apart radial protrusions formed integrally around its perimeter; and forming a respective aerofoil-shaped blade extending radially generally outwardly from each of the protrusions via laser deposition. Each protrusion preferably extends radially outwardly from a circumferential body part of the rotor disc by a distance which is greater than the radially inward penetration of a heat-affected zone arising from the laser deposition used to form the respective blade.

Abstract: There is proposed a method of producing an integrally bladed rotor, preferably a so-called “blisk” for a turbomachine, the method including the steps of: providing a rotor disc having a plurality of spaced-apart radial protrusions formed integrally around its perimeter; and forming a respective aerofoil-shaped blade extending radially generally outwardly from each of the protrusions via laser deposition. Each protrusion preferably extends radially outwardly from a circumferential body part of the rotor disc by a distance which is greater than the radially inward penetration of a heat-affected zone arising from the laser deposition used to form the respective blade.

Abstract: Attachments for power assisted lifting devices capable of rigidly positioning an object in three-dimensional space, for example pneumatically assisted manually operated mechanical arm manipulators, wherein the attachment is capable of securing an object for remote positioning thereof. More particularly, an end effector for a pneumatic manipulator that is capable of both passively following the motion of a secured object and actively adjusting the position of the secured object in an arcuate direction relative to the attachment of the end effector to the manipulator. The end effector is able to rotate the object about an axis passing through the end effector that also moves arcuately with the end effector. The end effector is particularly useful in the bending of metallic sheets or plates using a conventional sheet metal brake, as the end effector is capable of both positioning heavy sheets in the brake and following the movement of the sheet as it is being bent.

Abstract: A power management architecture for an electrical power distribution system, or portion thereof, is disclosed. The architecture includes multiple intelligent electronic devices (“IED's”) distributed throughout the power distribution system to manage the flow and consumption of power from the system. The IED's are linked via a network to back-end servers. Security mechanisms are further provided which protect and otherwise ensure the authenticity of communications transmitted via the network in furtherance of the management of the distribution and consumption of electrical power by the architecture. In particular, public key cryptography is employed to identify components of the architecture and provide for secure communication of power management data among those components. Further, certificates and certificate authorities are utilized to further ensure integrity of the security mechanism.

Abstract: An alarm management system includes an alarm management system server (“alarm server”), one or more data sources, and one or more system users (and associated user devices), all of which can be communicably connected through a communications network. The system can be configured by defining the data sources and users, defining attributes, assigning and associating attribute values with the data sources and users, and defining alarm conditions in terms of attribute values and measurements. The data sources generate measurement data which is provided to the alarm server, and the alarm server evaluates the data to determine whether the alarm conditions have been met. A data set of data sources matching alarm conditions can be generated and reported to one or more of the users.

Abstract: An alarm management system includes an alarm management system server (“alarm server”), one or more data sources, and one or more system users (and associated user devices), all of which can be communicably connected through a communications network. The system can be configured by defining the data sources and users, defining attributes, assigning and associating attribute values with the data sources and users, and defining alarm conditions in terms of attribute values and measurements. The data sources generate measurement data which is provided to the alarm server, and the alarm server evaluates the data to determine whether the alarm conditions have been met. A data set of data sources matching alarm conditions can be generated and reported to one or more of the users.

Abstract: Attachments for power assisted lifting devices capable of rigidly positioning an object in three-dimensional space, for example pneumatically assisted manually operated mechanical arm manipulators, wherein the attachment is capable of securing an object for remote positioning thereof. More particularly, an end effector for a pneumatic manipulator that is capable of both passively following the motion of a secured object and actively adjusting the position of the secured object in an arcuate direction relative to the attachment of the end effector to the manipulator. The end effector is able to rotate the object about an axis passing through the end effector that also moves arcuately with the end effector. The end effector is particularly useful in the bending of metallic sheets or plates using a conventional sheet metal brake, as the end effector is capable of both positioning heavy sheets in the brake and following the movement of the sheet as it is being bent.

Abstract: A power management architecture for an electrical power distribution system, or portion thereof, is disclosed. The architecture includes multiple intelligent electronic devices (“IED's”) distributed throughout the power distribution system to manage the flow and consumption of power from the system. The IED's are linked via a network to back-end servers. Power management application software and/or hardware components operate on the IED's and the back-end servers and inter-operate via the network to implement a power management application. The architecture provides a scalable and cost effective framework of hardware and software upon which such power management applications can operate to manage the distribution and consumption of electrical power by one or more utilities/suppliers and/or customers which provide and utilize the power distribution system. Security mechanisms are further provided which protect and otherwise ensure the authenticity of communications.

Abstract: A power management architecture for an electrical power distribution system, or portion thereof, is disclosed. The architecture includes multiple intelligent electronic devices (“IED's”) distributed throughout the power distribution system to manage the flow and consumption of power from the system. The IED's are linked via a network to back-end servers. Security mechanisms are further provided which protect and otherwise ensure the authenticity of communications transmitted via the network in furtherance of the management of the distribution and consumption of electrical power by the architecture. In particular, public key cryptography is employed to identify components of the architecture and provide for secure communication of power management data among those components. Further, certificates and certificate authorities are utilized to further ensure integrity of the security mechanism.

Abstract: A power management architecture for an electrical power distribution system, or portion thereof, is disclosed. The architecture includes multiple intelligent electronic devices (“IED's”) distributed throughout the power distribution system to manage the flow and consumption of power from the system. The IED's are linked via a network to back-end servers. Power management application software and/or hardware components operate on the IED's and the back-end servers and inter-operate via the network to implement a power management application. The architecture provides a scalable and cost effective framework of hardware and software upon which such power management applications can operate to manage the distribution and consumption of electrical power by one or more utilities/suppliers and/or customers which provide and utilize the power distribution system.

Abstract: An object oriented architecture is used within individual monitoring units. The monitoring devices include circuitry which receives an electrical signal and generates at least one digital signal representing the electrical signal. Objects within such individual monitoring units include modules which perform a function and registers which contain the inputs, outputs and setup information for the modules. Methods can be invoked on all objects to change or query the operation or configuration of the device. At least one of the modules receives the digital signal as an input and uses the signal to generate measured parameters. Additional modules take measured parameters as input and generate additional parameters therefrom. The module may be linked in an arbitrary manner to form arbitrary functional blocks.

Abstract: An object oriented architecture is used within individual monitoring units. The monitoring devices include circuitry which receives an electrical signal and generates at least one digital signal representing the electrical signal. Objects within such individual monitoring units include modules which perform a function and registers which contain the inputs, outputs and setup information for the modules. Methods can be invoked on all objects to change or query the operation or configuration of the device. At least one of the modules receives the digital signal as an input and uses the signal to generate measured parameters. Additional modules take measured parameters as input and generate additional parameters therefrom. The module may be linked in an arbitrary manner to form arbitrary functional blocks.