Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes capturing, by a machine vision device, an image of an object in a railway environment. The machine vision device is attached to a first train car that is moving in a first direction along a first railroad track of the railway environment. The method also includes analyzing, by the machine vision device, the image of the object using one or more machine vision algorithms to determine a value associated with the object. The method further includes determining, by the machine vision device, that the value associated with the object indicates a potential deficiency of the object and communicating, by the machine vision device, an alert to a component external to the first train car. The alert comprises an indication of the potential deficiency of the object.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes capturing, by a machine vision device, an image of an object in a railway environment. The machine vision device is attached to a first train car that is moving in a first direction along a first railroad track of the railway environment. The method also includes analyzing, by the machine vision device, the image of the object using one or more machine vision algorithms to determine a value associated with the object. The method further includes determining, by the machine vision device, that the value associated with the object indicates a potential deficiency of the object and communicating, by the machine vision device, an alert to a component external to the first train car. The alert comprises an indication of the potential deficiency of the object.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a clipping tool for clipping flash from a component e.g. a gas turbine aerofoil body. The clipping tool includes a riser having a support surface for supporting the component and a punch for gripping the component on the support surface such that the flash projects laterally from the riser and the punch. The clipping tool further comprises a tool body having a clipping aperture opening to a channel within the tool body. The channel is defined by a channel wall. The riser and the punch are translatable to shear the projecting flash from the gripped component. At least a portion of the channel wall within the tool body comprises a broaching surface having at least one projection, said projection reducing the cross sectional area of the channel to less than that of the clipping aperture.

Abstract: A forging apparatus and method is disclosed in which an extrusion punch is held between an upper press and a lower press and propelled towards a billet by a ram to form an extruded shaped component. The extrusion punch has a striking face in which a recess is formed. During the extrusion process, material from the billet enters the recess so as to lock the extrusion punch and the shaped component together. Accordingly the shaped component is not lifted up with the upper press when it is separated from the lower press and so the position of the shaped component after the forging extrusion operation is known accurately and reliably.

Abstract: A forging apparatus and method is disclosed in which a punch 260 is held in a press 210, 220 and propelled towards a billet 250 by a ram 240. The ram 240 is separate from the punch 260. Thus, any axial misalignment between the ram 240 and the press 210, 220 in which the billet is held, for example due to the extremely high loads involved, has no affect on the direction and position of the impact force the punch 260 transmits to the billet 250. This helps to prevent unwanted forces and bending moments in the punch 260, thereby preventing breakage of the punch 260.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a clipping tool for clipping flash from a component e.g. a gas turbine aerofoil body. The clipping tool includes a riser having a support surface for supporting the component and a punch for gripping the component on the support surface such that the flash projects laterally from the riser and the punch. The clipping tool further comprises a tool body having a clipping aperture opening to a channel within the tool body. The channel is defined by a channel wall. The riser and the punch are translatable to shear the projecting flash from the gripped component. At least a portion of the channel wall within the tool body comprises a broaching surface having at least one projection, said projection reducing the cross sectional area of the channel to less than that of the clipping aperture.

Abstract: A forging apparatus and method is disclosed in which an extrusion punch 260 is held between an upper press 210 and a lower press 220 and propelled towards a billet 250 by a ram 240 to form an extruded shaped component 255. The extrusion punch 260 has a striking face 267 in which a recess 268 is formed. During the extrusion process, material 258 from the billet 250 enters the recess so as to lock the extrusion punch 260 and the shaped component 255 together. Accordingly the shaped component 255 is not lifted up with the upper press 210 when it is separated from the lower press 220, and so the position of the shaped component 255 after the forging/extrusion operation is known accurately and reliably.

Abstract: A clipping die for clipping a component, the clipping die including a riser having a support surface with a cutting edge for clipping the component under the action of a punch. A referencing member is provided for engagement with a reference portion of the component. The referencing member is mounted on a resilient element. The resilient element is depressed under the action of a punch to move the referencing member into a position such that the component is fully supported by the support surface during the clipping process.

Abstract: A clipping tool for clipping flash from a forged component is provided. The clipping tool includes: a riser having a support surface for supporting the component; a punch for gripping the component on the support surface such that the flash projects laterally from the riser and the punch; and a tool body having an aperture through which the riser and the punch are translatable to shear the projecting flash from the gripped component, the sheared flash being pushed by the tool body over an outer surface of the punch. The clipping tool further includes: a controllably movable receptacle which, when the punch is withdrawn from the aperture, is interposed between the punch and the riser; and a stripper element which is actuatable to strip the sheared flash from the outer surface of the punch, the stripped flash being received by the interposed receptacle, which is then moved to dispose of the stripped flash.

Abstract: A forging apparatus and method is disclosed in which a punch 260 is held in a press 210, 220 and propelled towards a billet 250 by a ram 240. The ram 240 is separate from the punch 260. Thus, any axial misalignment between the ram 240 and the press 210, 220 in which the billet is held, for example due to the extremely high loads involved, has no affect on the direction and position of the impact force the punch 260 transmits to the billet 250. This helps to prevent unwanted forces and bending moments in the punch 260, thereby preventing breakage of the punch 260.

Abstract: A clipping die (102) for clipping a component comprises a riser (104) having a support surface (108) with a cutting edge (110) for clipping the component under the action of a punch (120). A referencing member (112) is provided for engagement with a reference portion of the component. The referencing member (112) is mounted on a resilient element (118). The resilient element (118) is depressed under the action of a punch (120) to move the referencing member (112) into a position such that the component is fully supported by the support surface (108) during the clipping process.