Abstract: The present invention relates to a fire resistant fan casing for a gas turbine engine. The casing has a projection such as a reinforcing rib or a mounting pad. The projection comprises at least one shell portion formed of a fibre/plastic composite material encasing a core of fire resistant material such as a metallic material or a ceramic matrix composite material.

Abstract: A system for establishing a boiler fluid set point includes a plurality of input devices providing input values for a plurality of different portions of a heating system and a controller determining that during a period of time there was always at least one input value that deviated from a set point for the input value by more than a threshold amount and in response, the controller increasing the boiler fluid set point.

Abstract: A turbomachine casing assembly includes a first casing element locatable radially outward of one or more rotating aerofoil elements of a turbomachine and a second casing element located radially distal to the first casing element, with a void being defined between the first and second casing elements. Each of the first and second casing elements includes, at a first end thereof, respective co-operating first and second interface portions. In the event that an aerofoil element becomes detached from the turbomachine and impacts the first casing element, the second interface portion; slides along the first interface portion and the first end of the first casing element enters the void.

Abstract: Among other things, there is disclosed a cylindrical device which is used to remove broken paintballs and other unwanted material from the barrel of a paintball marker or from other paintball equipment. Cylindrical cleaning devices currently known in the art are prone to separation and failure after use. The present disclosure utilizes a series of barbs and/or openings such as through holes to prevent such failure. Structure for cleaning, including squeegee elements and other materials and configurations, are also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for the excavation of a deep basement includes at least two main auger assemblies that are disposed vertically with one assembly atop the other. Auger blades in each assembly are operatively connected together. A feed hopper attached to a bottom of the lower main auger assembly conveys excavation material through a feed hopper opening to the auger blade for lifting. A steel ball is attached to a bottom of the auger blades. The ball rests in a spherical recess and acts as a thrust bearing. A discharge opening is provided proximate a top of the uppermost main auger assembly. A pivoting discharge chute is located at the discharge opening. During use, excavation material is loaded into the feed hopper, conveyed to the auger blades, lifted by the auger blades, discharged through the discharge opening, down the discharge chute and into a dump truck bed for removal.

Abstract: A composite aerofoil vane for a gas turbine engine extends in use in a generally radial direction across an axially- and circumferentially-extending annular duct. The vane comprises a plurality of first reinforcing fibres extending in a generally radial direction and a plurality of second reinforcing fibres extending in generally axial and circumferential directions. The second fibres are interlaced with the first fibres so as to form a more unified and integrated structure, and to prevent the first reinforcing fibres from moving relative to one another.

Abstract: A fan containment system having a generally cylindrical fan case including a hook projecting in a generally radially inward direction and positioned axially forward of a radial array of fan blades; a fan track liner disposed on the radially inner surface of the fan case; and a panel which is positioned axially rearward of the hook and positioned axially forward of the radial array of fan blades and forms a substantially continuous air washed surface with the fan track liner. The panel is temporarily deformable so as to absorb the impacts of any foreign bodies, which enter the gas turbine engine, without compromising the structural integrity of the panel while being weak enough so that in the event that one of the fan blades is released from the hub, the fan blade tip of the detached fan blade is not inhibited from moving radially outward of the hub.

Abstract: The present invention provides a gate latch, comprising: a drop bolt mounted to a first gate member, the drop bolt mounted to a first gate member, the drop bolt moveable along a locking axis; a striker block mounted to a second gate member, the striker block comprising: a first striker surface extending away from the locking axis at a first angle; and a second striker surface extending away from the locking axis at a second angle; and a third striker surface having a tangent line substantially parallel to the locking axis; and a housing for receiving the striker block; wherein the gate latch is locked when the striker bolt is received in the housing and the drop bolt is positioned adjacent to the third striker surface of the striker block. The gate latch has use with swing gates, of the type commonly used in cattle pens.

Abstract: An interface for positive pressure therapy includes a mask assembly, a headgear assembly and a connection port assembly. The mask assembly comprises a seal member that has an upper portion movably connected to an integrated lower portion, wherein the upper portion rolls during hinging movement of the upper portion relative to the lower portion. The headgear assembly allows connection to the mask assembly in a direction substantially normal to a direction of strap tension. The connection port assembly includes a swivel elbow with a valve member that controls flow through a port that opens toward the user.

Abstract: A rotor assembly, for a gas turbine, has a plurality of rotor discs interconnected by an axially extending rim. The outside of the rim has a circumferential array of dovetail slots and the underside of the rim has a circumferential channel which extends radially part way into the slots, the respective discs thus being interconnected axially across the channel by an array of circumferentially spaced connecting portions. There is an array of blades, each blade having a blade root secured in a respective one of the dovetail slots.

Abstract: An annulus filler for mounting to a rotor disc of a gas turbine engine is provided to bridge the gap between adjacent blades. A first part is connectable to the rotor disc between adjacent blades. There is a separate second part that engages with the first part after connecting the rotor blades to the rotor disc. When installed, the filler is spaced from each blade by a respective clearance gap (G), and an operational configuration in which it contacts each of said blades. Engagement of the second part with the first part is effective to urge the first part from said installation configuration to said operational configuration and thus into blade contact. The first part may have a mounting region for connection to the rotor disc and allow, in said first step of said procedure, the mounting region to remain visible from a radially outer viewpoint.

Abstract: A fan assembly of a gas turbine engine, the fan assembly includes an array of radially extending blades defining gaps therebetween and an annulus filler located within at least one gap. The annulus filler includes at least two individual bodies arranged circumferentially adjacent one another with at least one adjacent a blade, one of the bodies includes a flexible wall arranged to centrifuge outwardly against the other body thereby urging both bodies against the blades and securing them during engine operation.

Abstract: An annulus filler for mounting to a rotor disc of a gas turbine engine bridges the gap between adjacent disc blades. The annulus filler has a lid defining part of an airflow surface for air drawn through the engine; a separate support connectable to the lid and to the rotor disc with an engagement portion of the support extending radially past a substantially adjacent region of the lid; and a retainer configured to interconnect the lid and the support by engaging each engagement portion of the support and adjacent regions of the lid, the retainer defining another part of the airflow surface. The annulus filler can be configured to allow mounting to the rotor disc, where the support is connected to the rotor disc without the lid, and then the lid is mounted to the support such that each engagement portion remains visible from the lid's radially outermost side.

Abstract: A swing gate (30) enables safe locking and unlocking of the gate (30) in the face of a beast (24) captured between rails (36, 38). The gate (30) has a pivot end (32) connected to the rail (36) by hinges (40) and a distal end (34) remote from the pivot end (32). The gate (30) includes a centre hinge (42) between the pivot end (32) and the distal end (34). The centre hinge (42) effectively divides the gate (30) into two sections, namely, a primary section (44) between the pivot end (32) and the centre hinge (42) and a safety section (46) between the centre hinge (42) and the distal end (34). When the beast (24) attacks the gate (30), the primary section (44) can swing open while the safety section (46) folds away to protect an operator (22).

Abstract: Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the gene encoding gamma glutamyl hydrolase (GGH) associated with reduced GGH activity are disclosed. The primary SNP is a change from a cytosine to a thymine at a position corresponding to nucleotide 511 of Genbank sequence accession no. NM 003878. Methods and kits for detecting these SNPs are provided, along with primers useful in detecting these SNP and for amplifying portions of the GGH gene containing these SNPs.

Abstract: Nanofibers modified to alter their optical properties in the infrared part of the electromagnetic spectrum, which nanofibers can be used in applications ranging from identification technology to energy conversion devices (e.g., thermophotovoltaics) to stealth technology. The desired optical properties can be obtained by modifying the fibers with rare earth and other materials and then can be incorporated into garments or other composite structures or can be applied as coatings on solid surfaces, to be used in a number of applications that benefit from selective emission properties.

Abstract: A rotor assembly, for a gas turbine, has a plurality of rotor discs interconnected by an axially extending rim. The outside of the rim has a circumferential array of dovetail slots and the underside of the rim has a circumferential channel which extends radially part way into the slots, the respective discs thus being interconnected axially across the channel by an array of circumferentially spaced connecting portions. There is an array of blades, each blade having a blade root secured in a respective one of the dovetail slots.

Abstract: A printer has voice recognition capabilities to transcribe a recorded voice message into printed text. The printer has a communication interface that is connected to a communication line for receiving a voice message. The printer also has an extended memory that stores the voice message, and a speech bank that stores speech patterns and vocabulary words. After the voice message is stored in the extended memory, a speech recognizer compares the voice message to the speech patterns and vocabulary words in the speech bank and translates the voice message into text data. The text data is stored into a print buffer, where the text data may be accessed by a central processing unit (CPU). The CPU controls a print mechanism that actually prints the text data.

Abstract: An annulus filler for mounting to a rotor disc of a gas turbine engine is provided to bridge the gap between adjacent blades. A first part is connectable to the rotor disc between adjacent blades. There is a separate second part that engages with the first part after connecting the rotor blades to the rotor disc. When installed, the filler is spaced from each blade by a respective clearance gap (G), and an operational configuration in which it contacts each of said blades. Engagement of the second part with the first part is effective to urge the first part from said installation configuration to said operational configuration and thus into blade contact. The first part may have a mounting region for connection to the rotor disc and allow, in said first step of said procedure, the mounting region to remain visible from a radially outer viewpoint.

Abstract: An annulus filler for mounting to a rotor disc of a gas turbine engine bridges the gap between adjacent disc blades. The annulus filler has a lid defining part of an airflow surface for air drawn through the engine; a separate support connectable to the lid and to the rotor disc with an engagement portion of the support extending radially past a substantially adjacent region of the lid; and a retainer configured to interconnect the lid and the support by engaging each engagement portion of the support and adjacent regions of the lid, the retainer defining another part of the airflow surface. The annulus filler can be configured to allow mounting to the rotor disc, where the support is connected to the rotor disc without the lid, and then the lid is mounted to the support such that each engagement portion remains visible from the lid's radially outermost side.