Abstract: Sustained ground contact of an aircraft is determined by detecting a change in a mechanical vibration characteristic of a part of the aircraft. Apparatus for determining sustained ground contact of an aircraft includes an analyser [300] for analysing aircraft vibration signals and a trigger [310] for triggering occurrence of sustained ground contact to an aircraft control system [315] when the analyser [300] detects sustained ground contact.

Abstract: An aircraft structure comprising a wing tip device connected to a wing by a plurality of connectors, wherein each connector comprises a spigot associated with the wing tip device or the wing, and a lug associated with the other of the wing tip device or wing. The lug has a hole for receiving the respective spigot. The spigot of each connector is moveably mounted, relative to said wing tip device or wing, about a central position, such that during movement of the connectors from a dis-engaged configuration to an engaged configuration, each spigot can move away from the central position to align itself with the hole of the respective lug.

Abstract: An aircraft wing comprises a fixed wing and a wing tip device at the tip thereof. The wing tip device is configurable between: a flight configuration for use during flight and a ground configuration for use during ground-based operations to reduce the span. The wing comprises an actuation assembly for moving the wing tip device. The actuation assembly is arranged to move the wing tip device in a two-stage movement comprising a first stage in which the wing tip device is translated away from the flight configuration in a linear movement only, and a second, subsequent stage, in which the wing tip device is rotated to the ground configuration.

Abstract: A water delivery device includes a body, a user interface, a mixing valve, a first capacitive sensor pad, and a second capacitive sensor pad. The body includes a spout. The user interface is provided on the spout. The mixing valve is contained within the body and is configured to be in fluid communication with a hot water source and a cold water source. The first capacitive sensor pad is provided below the user interface. The second capacitive sensor pad is provided below the user interface laterally adjacent to the first capacitive sensor pad, and is physically separated from the first capacitive sensor pad.

Abstract: A method of configuring a wing tip device (7) on an aircraft (1), including: undertaking ground-based operations at an airport with the wing tip device (7) in a ground configuration, in which the span of the aircraft is within an airport compatibility limit, moving the wing tip device (7) to a take-off configuration in which the wing tip device (7) is moved away from the ground configuration such that the span of the aircraft is increased and such that the wing tip device (7) has a first lift coefficient; taking-off with the wing tip device (7) in the take-off configuration; moving the wing tip device from the take-off configuration to a flight configuration, in which the wing tip device has a second lift coefficient, the second lift coefficient being lower than the first lift coefficient. The lift coefficient may be changed by adjusting the sweep of the wing tip device (7).

Abstract: An aircraft (102) having a wing assembly (101) including a fixed wing (105) with a wing tip device (103). The wing tip device (103) is moveable between: a flight configuration; and a ground configuration. The outer end of the fixed wing (105) terminates at an outer rib (115), and the inner end of the wing tip device (103) terminates at an inner rib (117). The outer and inner ribs (115, 117) are located on opposing sides of an interface between the fixed wing (105) and the wing tip device (103). The fixed wing-skin (119) terminates inwardly of the interface, but the outer rib (115) has a surface-forming portion (127) forming an extension of the fixed wing-skin towards the interface. The wing tip device-skin (121) terminates outwardly of the interface, but the inner rib has a surface-forming portion (129) forming an extension of the wing tip device-skin towards the interface.

Abstract: An aircraft landing gear including: a sprung arm mounted to a main pivot and carrying one or more wheels; leaf springs; a transfer arm attached to each of the leaf springs; and a swinging link with a first end which is pivotally coupled to the sprung arm via a first swinging link pivot and a second end which is pivotally coupled to the transfer arm via a second swinging link pivot. The leaf springs are arranged to provide a resilient biasing force via the transfer arm and the swinging link which opposes rotation of the sprung arm about the main pivot. Each leaf spring only absorbs a portion of the landing loads, so load and stress levels in each individual spring are lower. The swinging link enables the leaf springs to be positioned remotely from the sprung arm, in a suitable position to optimize the use of space and distribute loads efficiently into the airframe.

Abstract: A water delivery device includes a body, a user interface, a micro-mixing valve, first and second capacitive sensors, and a controller. The body includes a base and a spout. The user interface is provided on the spout. The micro-mixing valve is contained within the body and is in fluid communication with a hot water source and a cold water source. The first capacitive sensor is provided below the user interface. The second capacitive sensor is provided below the user interface and is spaced apart from the first capacitive sensor. The controller is operatively connected to the first capacitive sensor, the second capacitive sensor, and the micro-mixing valve. Each of the first and second capacitive sensors is configured to be independently activated by a user to transmit a signal to the controller to increase or decrease a temperature of a flow of water flowing from the micro-mixing valve.

Abstract: The invention relates to point of care diagnostic disposables, devices, methods, and systems for diagnosing or predicting prostate cancer. The present invention employs biomarker specific reagents in disposable cassettes or lab cards for use as analyzers, as well as software to evaluate and report test results. The system promises to improve point of care in vitro diagnostics.

Abstract: An aircraft (5) including a wing (7) having a wing tip device (1) configurable between: a flight configuration and a ground configuration in which the span of the wing (7) is reduced. The aircraft (5) further includes a lock (13) for locking the wing tip device (1) in the flight configuration, and an actuator (3) for unlocking the lock (13) and for subsequently actuating the wing tip device (1) to the ground configuration. The actuator (3) is a two-stage hydraulic actuator, including a first hydraulic actuator stage (21) arranged to unlock the lock and a second hydraulic actuator stage (23) arranged to actuate the wing tip device (1) to the ground configuration. The first and second hydraulic actuator stages (21, 23) are arranged in series such that the second actuator stage (23) is unable to receive a hydraulic input feed until the first actuator stage (21) unlocks the lock (13).

Abstract: A method of automatic logic application comprises receiving input from a user indicating a desire to create a shape, the shape made up of at least three points in an n-dimensional space, detecting the at least three points, and creating a vector set in the n-dimensional space for the at least three points. The method further includes comparing the vector set against a shape classifier of all available n-dimensional shapes to create a match score for each of the n-dimensional shapes, selecting an n-dimensional shape with the highest match score as a selected shape, and identifying a set of control points for the shape, based upon the selected shape. Given the control points and recognized shape, custom logic may be applied to the user-inputted shape.

Abstract: An aircraft comprises a foldable wing, the wing comprising an inner region and an outer region, such as a wing tip. The outer region is moveable relative to the inner region between a flight configuration and a ground configuration in which the span is reduced. The aircraft comprises a control system and a control interface. The control interface comprises a selector for selecting the desired configuration of the outer region, and is arrange to provide: a first output, such as a light, when the flight configuration is selected and the outer region is in the flight configuration; a second output, such an amber light, when the ground configuration is selected and the outer region is in the ground configuration; and a third output, such as a red light, when the outer region is not in the selected configuration.

Abstract: Aircraft landing gear comprising a locking assembly including a pair of spaced-apart bearing pads and a lock member. The lock member is moveable between a locked position in which it engages the bearing pads to prevent pivotal movement of a steerable axle, and an unlocked position in which the member is disengaged from the bearing pads such that movement of the axle can occur. The lock member has a guide surface on either side for guiding the member and bearing pads into alignment during movement of the member from the unlocked to the locked position. The guide surface comprises a first inclined portion for moving the member towards alignment with the bearing pads and a second inclined portion, spaced apart from the first portion, for moving the member into alignment with the bearing pads such that the member and bearing pads are aligned in a movement comprising two stages.

Abstract: An aircraft wing comprising a load transfer apparatus arranged to transfer transverse shear loads from a first component such as a wing skin to a second, adjacent component such as a wing skin. The apparatus comprises a master interlock, and a plurality of slave interlocks. Each master interlock comprises a master male member received in a master female member to form the master interlock. Each of the plurality of slave interlocks comprises a slave male member received in a corresponding female member to form the slave interlocks. The master male and female members are sufficiently stiff that the master male member and the master female member are fixed, whereas the slave male and/or female members are less stiff than the master male and female members such that the slave male and/or female members are able to tolerate some movement, in the transverse direction.

Abstract: An aircraft structure comprising a wing tip device connected to a wing by a plurality of connectors, wherein each connector comprises a spigot associated with the wing tip device or the wing, and a lug associated with the other of the wing tip device or wing. The lug has a hole for receiving the respective spigot. The spigot of each connector is moveably mounted, relative to said wing tip device or wing, about a central position, such that during movement of the connectors from a dis-engaged configuration to an engaged configuration, each spigot can move away from the central position to align itself with the hole of the respective lug.

Abstract: An aircraft comprises a wing, a wing tip device at the tip of the wing and an actuator. The actuator is arranged to effect movement of the wing tip device between a flight configuration for use during flight and a ground configuration in which the wing tip device is moved away from the flight configuration such that the span of the aircraft is reduced. The aircraft comprises a carriage guide, such as a rail, fixed relative to the wing, and a carriage arranged to move along the carriage guide as the wing tip device moves between the flight and ground configurations. The wing tip device is fixed relative to the carriage such that the path of the wing tip device, during movement of the wing tip device, between the flight and the ground configurations, is defined by the shape of the carriage guide.

Abstract: An aircraft comprises a wing, a wing tip device at the tip of the wing and an actuator. The actuator is arranged to effect movement of the wing tip device between a flight configuration for use during flight and a ground configuration in which the wing tip device is moved away from the flight configuration such that the span of the aircraft is reduced. The aircraft comprises a carriage guide, such as a track assembly, fixed relative to the wing, and a carriage arranged to move along the track assembly as the wing tip device moves between the flight and ground configurations. The carriage carries the wing tip device on a pivot, such that the wing tip device is rotatable relative to the carriage, about the pivot, as the carriage moves along the track assembly.