Abstract: A fuel cell stack assembly has a plurality of cells each having a fluid coolant conduit. A coolant feed manifold has a first inlet and a second inlet and is coupled to each fluid coolant conduit for distribution of fluid coolant within each cell. A pump is coupled for delivery of fluid coolant to the coolant feed manifold through the first and second inlets. A flow control assembly is configured to periodically modify the relative flow rates of fluid coolant through the first and second inlets so that stagnant regions in the coolant feed manifold are avoided. The flow control assembly may also be adapted to periodically interrupt the flow path between the pump and the manifold such that the fluid coolant is delivered to the manifold intermittently, thereby enabling low water flows below a minimum set point of the pump.

Abstract: Methods of controlling a hyper redundant manipulator, the hyper redundant manipulator including: a plurality of sections comprising a first free end section and a second end section; and a base arranged to receive the plurality of sections in a coiled configuration, the base being coupled to the second end section of the plurality of sections, the method comprising: receiving a trajectory for movement of the plurality of sections; determining an error in position and/or orientation relative to the trajectory for one or more sections of the plurality of sections, the error being caused at least in part by the coiled configuration; and controlling movement of the one or more sections using the determined error to compensate for the error in position and/or orientation of the one or more sections.

Abstract: Apparatus for insertion into a cavity of an object, the apparatus comprising: a first tube comprising a first end, a second end, a first cavity extending between the first end and the second end, and an aperture at the second end; a member positioned within the first cavity of the first tube and adjacent the aperture of the first tube, the member being configured to enable an action to be performed; a plug coupled to the second end of the first tube; and an actuator configured to move the first tube relative to the object between a first position in which the plug seals the member from the cavity of the object, and a second position in which the member is exposed to the cavity of the object.

Abstract: A method of controlling at least one of a first robot and a second robot to collaborate within a system, the first robot and the second robot being physically separate to one another, the method including: receiving sensed data associated with the second robot; determining position and/or orientation of the second robot using the received sensed data; determining an action for the second robot using the determined position and/or orientation of the second robot; and providing a control signal to the second robot to cause the second robot to perform the determined action to collaborate with the first robot.

Abstract: A method of laser processing a component within an assembled apparatus using a boroscope, which includes a working head having first and second ends. A first optical fibre extends through the boroscope to a position between the first and second ends. A second optical fibre extends through the boroscope to the second end. A laser optical fibre extends through the boroscope. At least one lens is arranged between the first and second ends of the working head and a mirror is gimballed to the second end. The laser optical fibre directs laser light transmitted through the laser optical fibre onto the lens and then onto the mirror. A first LED is arranged at a position between the first and second ends of the working head and a second LED is arranged at the second end and an actuator device adjust the position of the mirror.

Abstract: A fuel cell power module is coupled to a fuel supply reactor module by way of an adaptor which includes some of the control elements for controlling reaction of reactants in the reactor module. The adaptor includes a housing and a first connection interface in the housing for detachably coupling the adaptor to a fuel cell power module fuel inlet port and a second connection interface in the housing for detachably coupling the adaptor to a reactor module fuel outlet port. A fluid line extends between the first connection interface and the second connection interface. The adaptor includes a motive unit of a flow control mechanism configured to provide motive power to a flow circuit of a reactor module when the reactor module is coupled to the adaptor. The adaptor enables a fuel cell power module to be interfaced with different types of reactor modules having different form factor and different control requirements.

Abstract: Apparatus for machining a component of a gas turbine engine, the apparatus including: a flexible pipe having a first end and a second end and defining a conduit for receiving a fluid; one or more first actuators arranged to enable the first end of the flexible pipe to be re-positioned relative to the second end of the flexible pipe; a turbine positioned adjacent to the first end of the flexible pipe, the turbine being arranged to receive fluid from the conduit of the flexible pipe; and a tool head coupled to the first end of the flexible pipe, the tool head including: a fastener arranged to fasten to a tool and to receive torque from the turbine.

Abstract: A boroscope includes a working head having first and second ends. A first optical fiber extends through the boroscope to a position between the first and second ends. A second optical fiber extends through the boroscope to the second end of the working head. A laser optical fiber extends through the boroscope. At least one lens is arranged between the first end and the second end of the working head and a mirror is gimballed to the second end of the working head. The laser optical fiber directs laser light transmitted through the laser optical fiber onto the lens and then onto the mirror. A first LED is arranged at a position between the first end and the second end of the working head and a second LED is arranged at the second end of the working head and an actuator devices adjust the position of the mirror.

Abstract: A boroscope has a first end and a second end and the first end of the boroscope has an optical fiber, a light source, a lens, a beam expander and a transmissive diffractive optical element. The optical fiber extends from the first end of the boroscope to the second end of the boroscope. A laser optical fiber extends from the lens at the first end of the boroscope to the second end of the boroscope and a laser source is arranged to direct a laser beam into the laser optical fiber. The beam expander is provided between the laser optical fiber and the lens and the lens is provided between the beam expander and the transmissive diffractive optical element. The transmissive diffractive optical element is arranged to produce a laser beam with a predetermined shape and a focal length probe extends from the first end of the boroscope.

Abstract: Inspection apparatus for a gas turbine engine, the inspection apparatus comprising: a sensor configured to generate data; a housing having an exterior surface and configured to house the sensor therein; and one or more foam members coupled to the exterior surface of the housing, the one or more foam members being resilient to enable the inspection apparatus to be inserted into a gas turbine engine and secured between at least two surfaces of the gas turbine engine.

Abstract: An apparatus for supporting a tool in an assembled apparatus. The apparatus includes a support structure, the support structure having a central member and a plurality of support members pivotally mounted on the central member. The support members are movable between a non-deployed position in which the support members extend a minimum distance from the central member and a deployed position in which the support members extend a maximum distance from the central member.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) configured to determine reactant purity comprising: a first fuel cell (11) configured to generate electrical current from the electrochemical reaction between two reactants, having a first reactant inlet (13) configured to receive a test reactant comprising one of the two reactants from a first reactant source (7, 5, 16); a second fuel cell (12) configured to generate electrical current from the electrochemical reaction between the two reactants, having a second reactant inlet (14) configured to receive the test reactant from a second reactant source (5); a controller (20) configured to apply an electrical load to each fuel cell and determine an electrical output difference, ODt, between an electrical output of the first fuel cell (11) and an electrical output of the second fuel cell (12), and determine a difference between a predicted output difference and the determined electrical output difference, ODt, the predicted output difference determined based on a historical output of difference

Abstract: Apparatus for controlling movement of robotic machinery relative to an object, the apparatus comprising: a controller configured to: control a first magnetic transmitter to provide a first magnetic field, the object being positioned at least partially within the first magnetic field; receive a first signal from a first magnetic field sensor mounted at a first location on the robotic machinery; determine a control signal for controlling the robotic machinery to move relative to the object using: the received first signal; stored data of the structure of the object; and a target location; and provide the control signal to the robotic machinery to cause at least the first location of the robotic machinery to move relative to the object.

Abstract: An apparatus for supporting a tool in an assembled apparatus. The apparatus includes a support structure, the support structure having a central member and a plurality of support members pivotally mounted on the central member. The support members are movable between a non-deployed position in which the support members extend a minimum distance from the central member and a deployed position in which the support members extend a maximum distance from the central member.

Abstract: An apparatus for inspecting a turbomachine includes a plurality of boroscopes, a device to rotate the rotor of the turbomachine and a processor having reference measurements of the rotor blades and/or reference measurements between the rotor blades and the boroscopes. A boroscope is inserted in a casing aperture upstream of the blades to view the leading edge and a portion of one of the surfaces of each blade as the rotor is rotated. A boroscope is inserted in a casing aperture downstream of the blades to view the trailing edge and a portion of one of the surfaces of each blade as the rotor is rotated. The boroscopes supply the images of each of the blades to the processor. The processor analyses the images of the blades and uses the reference measurements to determine the position and size of any defect on any of the rotor blades.

Abstract: A flexible tool comprising: a plurality of rigid members spaced along a longitudinal axis; a plurality of flexible members extending between the plurality of rigid members and being arranged to enable the plurality of rigid members to diverge from the longitudinal axis and define a work volume for the flexible tool, at least some of the plurality of flexible members being unevenly spaced around the longitudinal axis, and/or a physical characteristic of at least some of the plurality of flexible members varying along the longitudinal axis, to cause the work volume and/or stiffness of the flexible tool to be asymmetric relative to the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A machine tool comprising: a first body; a first leg, a second leg, and a third leg coupled to the first body via first joints and configured to support at least the first body; a second body including a tool holder; a fourth leg, a fifth leg, and a sixth leg coupled to the second body via second joints and configured to support at least the second body; and a first actuator coupled to the first body and to the second body, the first actuator being configured to cause rotational motion between the first body and the second body to enable a change in walking direction of the machine tool and/or to enable a change in machining stiffness and a change in work volume of the machine tool.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack assembly has a plurality of fuel cells each having a fluid coolant conduit. A coolant feed inlet manifold has a coolant inlet, and the coolant feed inlet manifold is coupled to each fluid coolant conduit for distribution of coolant to each fuel cell. The coolant feed inlet manifold also has a discharge conduit located at one end of the coolant feed inlet manifold. The discharge conduit is configured to discharge excess coolant from the coolant feed inlet manifold. By supplying excess coolant to the coolant feed inlet manifold problems arising due to very low coolant flow rates through the fluid coolant conduits in the fuel cells can be reduced or eliminated.

Abstract: A tool for machining an object comprising: a first part including a rotatable member, the rotatable member being rotatable to cause rotation of a machine tool; a second part; a joint coupling the first part and the second part to enable relative movement between the first part and the second part; and a sensor to sense an object to be machined.

Abstract: A repair method for repairing a component (6a) of a gas turbine engine (10). The method comprises first and second steps. The first step comprises directing an energy beam toward the component (6a) to ablate a first region (54) of material to form a gap extending through the component (6a) between a repair region (58) a base region (58) of the component, wherein subsequent to the first step the repair region (58) and base region (56) are joined by a connecting portion (60). In the second step, an energy beam is direct toward the component (6a) to ablate the repair region (58) to remove the repair region (58) from the component (6a).