Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing an article from powder material includes a canister, a sorter, a plurality of hoppers and at least one valve. The canister has a predetermined internal shape to define the shape of the powder metal article. The sorter sorts the powder material by the size of the powder particles, the shape of the powder particles and/or the flow characteristics of the powder particles. The hoppers contain powder material with different sizes of powder particles, different shapes of powder particles and/or powder particles with different flow characteristics. The hoppers are arranged to supply the sorted powder material to the canister. The at least one valve controls the proportions of the different powder materials supplied from the one or more of the different hoppers into the canister to control the packing density of the powder material in the canister at all positions in the canister.

Abstract: There is provided a blade tip for a rotary blade. The blade tip is formed of a metal foam and comprises at least one vortex generator. The vortex generator may comprise at least one passageway and/or cavity in the blade tip. In use, a vortex is created between the blade tip and a fan casing adjacent the blade tip.

Abstract: A retainer plate is provided for retaining a dovetail root of a fan blade of a gas turbine engine in a corresponding axially-extending slot in the rim of a fan disc. In use, the plate locates in a cavity formed at an end of the slot such that a first side of the plate is arranged for contact with an axial end face of the dovetail root and an opposite second side of the plate is arranged for contact with an abutment surface of the cavity to limit axial movement of the root along the slot. The retainer plate is a unitary component and has a layered structure including a first layer at the first side of the plate, a second layer at the second side of the plate, and an intermediate layer between the first and the second layers.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing an article from powder material includes a canister, a sorter, a plurality of hoppers and at least one valve. The canister has a predetermined internal shape to define the shape of the powder metal article. The sorter sorts the powder material by the size of the powder particles, the shape of the powder particles and/or the flow characteristics of the powder particles. The hoppers contain powder material with different sizes of powder particles, different shapes of powder particles and/or powder particles with different flow characteristics. The hoppers are arranged to supply the sorted powder material to the canister. The at least one valve controls the proportions of the different powder materials supplied from the one or more of the different hoppers into the canister to control the packing density of the powder material in the canister at all positions in the canister.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing an article from powder material includes a canister, a sorter, a plurality of hoppers and at least one valve. The canister has a predetermined internal shape to define the shape of the powder metal article. The sorter sorts the powder material by the size of the powder particles, the shape of the powder particles and/or the flow characteristics of the powder particles. The hoppers contain powder material with different sizes of powder particles, different shapes of powder particles and/or powder particles with different flow characteristics. The hoppers are arranged to supply the sorted powder material to the canister. The at least one valve controls the proportions of the different powder materials supplied from the one or more of the different hoppers into the canister to control the packing density of the powder material in the canister at all positions in the canister.

Abstract: A fan containment system includes an annular casing element and a hook projecting in a generally radially inward direction from the annular casing element. A fan track liner is connected to the hook via a fastener. The fan track liner has a forward end proximal to the hook and a rearward end distal to the hook. A pivot member protrudes radially inward from the annular casing element and is arranged and positioned between the forward and rearward end of the fan track liner such that a forward portion of the fan track liner is pivotable about the pivot member, so that upon release of a fan blade the forward portion of the fan track liner pivots about the pivot member into a voidal region provided between the annular casing element and the forward portion of the fan track liner to encourage engagement of the hook with a released fan blade.

Abstract: A fan containment system for fitment around an array of radially extending fan blades mounted on a hub in an axial gas turbine engine. The fan containment system comprises a fan case having an annular casing element for encircling an array of fan blades and a hook projecting in a generally radially inward direction from the annular casing element. The fan containment system further includes an annular fan track liner comprising a plurality of adjacent arcuate fan track liner panels. Each of the plurality of fan track liner panels is connected to the fan case at the hook via one or more fasteners configured to permit movement of the fan track liner panel relative to the hook such that the fan track liner panel can pivot towards the annular casing element when a released fan blade impacts the fan track liner panel.

Abstract: A honeycomb structure comprising a core and at least one face sheet. The core having a honeycomb configuration comprising an array of hollow cells formed between a network of walls. The or each face sheet having a plurality of outwardly directed protrusions. The or each face sheet being affixed to the core to cover the hollow cells with each said protrusion being received within a respective region of the core and bonded to the core.

Abstract: A joint including a substrate, optionally a metal substrate, and a body of material joined to the substrate, the body of material typically having a composite portion. An outer surface of the substrate is provided with a fastening projection for fastening the substrate to body of material, where the fastening projection has a stem and a plurality of branches having dendritic geometry projecting into the material of the body.

Abstract: A composite casing comprising a barrel and a stiffening ring provided around the barrel. The stiffening ring includes a section having a waved profile in a circumferential direction.

Abstract: A rotor assembly for a gas turbine engine, the rotor assembly has a disc supporting a plurality of radially extending blades. The blades define passages therebetween and each passage has an annulus filler assembly. The annulus filler assembly includes at least two bodies and a brace, each of the bodies being arranged to abut respective adjacent blades and the brace is arranged to occupy a position centrally of the two bodies. The brace is mounted to the disc and each body and the brace are arranged to engage one another to form an airwash surface. The airwash surface improves aerodynamic flow of air entering the gas turbine engine.

Abstract: A turbomaehine casing assembly includes a first casing element, located radially outward of one or more rotating aerofoil elements of a turbomachine, and a second casing element, located radially distal to the first element. A void is provided at a first end of the first element, between radially proximal faces of the first and second elements. The first end of the first element is located against a corresponding first end of the second element by an energy absorbing element. The first element includes a cantilever, arranged in a region extending along the first element from the first end with a pivot axis at its mid-portion. Release of one of the rotating aerofoil elements, resulting in impact with the first element, further results in the cantilever bending into the void between the first and second elements, enabling the rotating aerofoil element to be trapped within the casing assembly.

Abstract: There is provided a blade tip for a rotary blade. The blade tip is formed of a metal foam and comprises at least one vortex generator. The vortex generator may comprise at least one passageway and/or cavity in the blade tip. In use, a vortex is created between the blade tip and a fan casing adjacent the blade tip.

Abstract: A honeycomb structure comprising a core and at least one face sheet. The core having a honeycomb configuration comprising an array of hollow cells formed between a network of walls. The or each face sheet having a plurality of outwardly directed protrusions. The or each face sheet being affixed to the core to cover the hollow cells with each said protrusion being received within a respective region of the core and bonded to the core.

Abstract: A fan containment system for fitment around an array of radially extending fan blades mounted on a hub in an axial gas turbine engine. The fan containment system comprises a fan case having an annular casing element for encircling an array of fan blades and a hook projecting in a generally radially inward direction from the annular casing element. The fan containment system further includes an annular fan track liner comprising a plurality of adjacent arcuate fan track liner panels. Each of the plurality of fan track liner panels is connected to the fan case at the hook via one or more fasteners configured to permit movement of the fan track liner panel relative to the hook such that the fan track liner panel can pivot towards the annular casing element when a released fan blade impacts the fan track liner panel.

Abstract: A fan containment system comprising an annular casing element and a hook projecting in a generally radially inward direction from the annular casing element. A fan track liner is connected to the hook via a fastener. The fan track liner has a forward end proximal to the hook and a rearward end distal to the hook. A pivot member protrudes radially inward from the annular casing element and is arranged and positioned between the forward and rearward end of the fan track liner such that a forward portion of the fan track liner is pivotable about the pivot member, so that upon release of a fan blade the forward portion of the fan track liner pivots about the pivot member into a voidal region provided between the annular casing element and the forward portion of the fan track liner to encourage engagement of the hook with a released fan blade.

Abstract: This invention relates to the operation of gas turbine engines, and in particular to determining deterioration of components during operation. In a specific embodiment, the invention is concerned with determining the actions to be taken when a foreign body impact has been detected, for example on a fan blade. Accordingly, the invention provides a method to take one or more FOD detection apparatus, analyse the likely (probabilistic) outcome, and provide a system to determine subsequent action that assures safety whilst minimising operational disruption. This invention provides a method and apparatus to identify FOD or bird impact to gas turbine fan blades, assessing the damage that may have occurred whist still in flight and determining post impact actions, including replacement parts.

Abstract: A retainer plate is provided for retaining a dovetail root of a fan blade of a gas turbine engine in a corresponding axially-extending slot in the rim of a fan disc. In use, the plate locates in a cavity formed at an end of the slot such that a first side of the plate is arranged for contact with an axial end face of the dovetail root and an opposite second side of the plate is arranged for contact with an abutment surface of the cavity to limit axial movement of the root along the slot. The retainer plate is a unitary component and has a layered structure including a first layer at the first side of the plate, a second layer at the second side of the plate, and an intermediate layer between the first and the second layers.

Abstract: The attachment device has a first elongate element for non-permanently attaching the child component to the parent component; a second elongate element; a holder. The holder is configured to rest against an installation surface of the parent component whilst holding the first and second elongate elements in position relative to the installation surface of the parent component such that: the first elongate element extends, from a first position on the installation surface of the parent component, entirely through the parent component and at least partially through the child component in a manner that permits the first elongate element to be used to non-permanently attach the child component to the parent component; the second elongate element extends, from a second position on the installation surface of the parent component that is different from the first position on the installation surface of the parent component, at least partially through the parent component.

Abstract: A fan blade for a gas turbine engine has an aerofoil part and a root part. The root part includes a root former; the root former includes a zone of weakness, which reduces the ability of the root part to withstand an impact force. Thus, in an impact situation in which the fan blade has separated from the fan rotor and the fan blade has itself separated into fragments, the root part will fracture or buckle more easily than would be the case with conventional arrangements. This will lower the impact force of the root part upon the fan casing, thus permitting the fan casing to be designed to withstand lower impact forces. The fan casing can therefore be made lighter, and cheaper, than in conventional arrangements.