Abstract: A variable diffuser comprises a passage, at least two vanes disposed within the passage, and at least two pennies. The passage is defined between opposing disk faces of a hub and a tip. Each of the vanes comprises a body having a leading edge and a trailing edge. The body extends between the hub face and the disk face. Each of the pennies is coupled to a respective vane body near an edge of the penny and an actuator. Rotation of at least one penny changes the orientation of the respective vane relative to the hub face.

Abstract: A variable diffuser comprises a passage, at least two vanes disposed within the passage, and at least two pennies. The passage is defined between opposing disk faces of a hub and a tip. Each of the vanes comprises a body having a leading edge and a trailing edge. The body extends between the hub face and the disk face. Each of the pennies is coupled to a respective vane body near an edge of the penny and an actuator. Rotation of at least one penny changes the orientation of the respective vane relative to the hub face.

Abstract: When in long term storage, battery degradation is avoided by performing battery charge cycles at a voltage level where a change in the battery's voltage divided by a change in the battery's storage capacity is at a minimum, rather than discharging the battery to its minimum storage capacity and then charging to its maximum storage capacity. Further, based on physical and practical limitations, such battery charge cycles can instead be performed within a range or delta Depth of Discharge (“DOD”) and corresponding battery voltage levels rather than at a single voltage level, while still avoiding battery degradation.

Abstract: When in long term storage, battery degradation is avoided by performing battery charge cycles at a voltage level where a change in the battery's voltage divided by a change in the battery's storage capacity is at a minimum, rather than discharging the battery to its minimum storage capacity and then charging to its maximum storage capacity. Further, based on physical and practical limitations, such battery charge cycles can instead be performed within a range or delta Depth of Discharge (“DOD”) and corresponding battery voltage levels rather than at a single voltage level, while still avoiding battery degradation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a gas turbine engine, in particular an aircraft engine, comprising: a turbine connected via an input shaft device to a gearbox device having a sun gear, a planet carrier having a plurality of planet gears attached thereto, and a ring gear, the sun gear is connected to the input shaft device, the planet carrier or the ring gear is connected to a propulsive fan via an output shaft device of the gearbox device, with an inter-shaft bearing system being positioned radially between the input shaft device and the planet carrier of the gearbox device.

Abstract: A variable diffuser comprises a passage, at least two vanes disposed within the passage, and at least two pennies. The passage is defined between opposing disk faces of a hub and a tip. Each of the vanes comprises a body having a leading edge and a trailing edge. The body extends between the hub face and the disk face. Each of the pennies is coupled to a respective vane body near an edge of the penny and an actuator. Rotation of at least one penny changes the orientation of the respective vane relative to the hub face.

Abstract: A variable diffuser comprises a passage, at least two vanes disposed within the passage, and at least two pennies. The passage is defined between opposing disk faces of a hub and a tip. Each of the vanes comprises a body having a leading edge and a trailing edge. The body extends between the hub face and the disk face. Each of the pennies is coupled to a respective vane body near an edge of the penny and an actuator. Rotation of at least one penny changes the orientation of the respective vane relative to the hub face.

Abstract: A method for repairing a turbine nozzle having at least one vane disposed between an inner and an outer band. Embodiments of the method can comprise separating the inner band from the outer band and securing a replacement part to the inner band. In one embodiment, the methods accommodate replacement parts that include vanes with a base feature that comprises a non-airfoil shape and that integrates cooling features useful for operation of the turbine nozzle.

Abstract: Improved battery charge state determination. The estimated charge state of a battery comprising a plurality of series connected cells is updated using Coulomb counting during battery operation, for example, while operating an electric vehicle motor. The estimated charge state may be coupled to a fuel gauge. When the battery is in a no load state, a no load voltage measurement is made. During testing, a set of relationships between battery no load voltages and associated known good charge states have been determined. The measured no load voltage is compared to the set of no load voltages associated with known good charge states. A known good charge state associated with the measured no load voltage is used to update the estimated charge state, thereby providing a more accurate indication of the actual battery charge state, thus providing a more robust and accurate fuel gauge.

Abstract: An energy storage system having one or more battery packs and a system controller for controlling the battery packs. Each battery pack has rechargeable storage cells and a battery pack controller in communication with the system controller. Through the operation of the system controller, battery packs with different initial charge states can be operated in parallel during a charge process and a discharge process. Discharging multiple battery packs in parallel offers not only a higher capacity and a longer run time than is available from a single battery pack, but also offers higher peak currents than available from a single battery pack, which are important in motor control applications. A battery pack design including a battery pack connector with both power and control contacts supporting user replacement of the battery packs.

Abstract: Improved protection for a rechargeable battery from damage by being discharged below a cut-off voltage is provided. The measured voltage of a battery under load is lower than the measured voltage of the battery under no load. As the cut-off voltage for the battery is specified as a no load voltage, comparing the measured voltage of the battery under load to the cut-off voltage would result in stopping use of the battery with useable charge remaining. Through testing, a set of relationships for estimating the no load voltage of a battery under load has been determined. Using this set of relationships with battery measurements, an estimated no load voltage for the battery is determined. This estimated no load voltage is compared to the cut-off voltage. This allows for full use of the battery while stopping use of the battery when its voltage reaches the cut-off, thereby preventing damage.

Abstract: A heat exchanger apparatus includes: (a) an airfoil having opposed pressure and suction sides, a root, a tip, and spaced-apart leading and trailing edges; and (b) a plenum integrally formed within the airfoil which is configured to receive a flow of circulating working fluid; and (c) inlet and outlet ports communicating with the plenum and an exterior of the airfoil.

Abstract: A method for repairing a turbine nozzle having at least one vane disposed between an inner and an outer band. Embodiments of the method can comprise separating the inner band from the outer band and securing a replacement part to the inner band. In one embodiment, the methods accommodate replacement parts that include vanes with a base feature that comprises a non-airfoil shape and that integrates cooling features useful for operation of the turbine nozzle.

Abstract: A heat exchanger apparatus includes: (a) an airfoil having opposed pressure and suction sides, a root, a tip, and spaced-apart leading and trailing edges; and (b) a plenum integrally formed within the airfoil which is configured to receive a flow of circulating working fluid; and (c) inlet and outlet ports communicating with the plenum and an exterior of the airfoil.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine comprising a core engine a fan and a fan casing surrounding the fan and extending rearwardly to attach to an array of outlet guide vanes characterised in that a cascade is rigidly attached to the fan casing and is connected to the core engine via a second support.

Abstract: A pylon structure for mounting an engine to an aircraft, characterised in that the pylon structure is split into a mount beam and a stub pylon, the mount beam is a part of the and the stub pylon is part of the aircraft. The advantage of the present invention is to facilitate easier assembly and disassembly of the engine to the aircraft.

Abstract: A gas feed assembly (30) comprises a compressor arrangement (32) comprising first and second compressor (34, 36). The gas feed assembly includes outlet means (42) for gas for the first and second compressors (34, 36). The gas feed assembly includes a first inlet (38) for the first compressor (34) and a second inlet (40) for the second compressor (36). The gas feed assembly further includes a valve assembly (52, 64) for allowing gas to enter either, or both, of the first and second compressors from at least one gas source.

Abstract: A catalytic muffler having a housing with a first chamber and a second chamber fluidly communicating through a catalyst bed interspersed there between. A first baffle assembly in the first chamber extends between the catalyst bed and the housing. An inlet passage extends through the housing into the first chamber. An outlet passage extends through the housing into one of the first and second chambers. A second baffle assembly in the second chamber extends between the catalyst bed and the housing. The first and second baffle assemblies act in conjunction with the housing and the reactor bed to define a flow passage through the housing from the inlet passage through at least three discreet zones of the reactor bed to the outlet passage.

Abstract: A catalytic muffler has at least one reactor bed, each bed having an array of discreet adjacent flow zones. The flow zones are interconnected by a series of passages for unidirection flow of a gaseous fluid sequentially through each adjacent zone in turn from an inlet side of each reactor bed to an outlet side of the reactor bed. An inlet fluidly communicates with a first of the flow zones. An outlet fluidly communicates with the last of the flow zones.

Abstract: When in long term storage, battery degradation is avoided by performing battery charge cycles at a voltage level where a change in the battery's voltage divided by a change in the battery's storage capacity is at a minimum, rather than discharging the battery to its minimum storage capacity and then charging to its maximum storage capacity. Further, based on physical and practical limitations, such battery charge cycles can instead be performed within a range or delta Depth of Discharge (“DOD”) and corresponding battery voltage levels rather than at a single voltage level, while still avoiding battery degradation.