Abstract: A probe (1, 101) for monitoring a moving engine element and a method of forming a probe (1, 101) for monitoring a moving engine element, the probe (1, 101) comprising: a housing (2, 102) formed of electrically insulating ceramic material; a core (14, 114) formed of electrically insulating ceramic material, the core (14, 114) comprising a front face (16, 116; and a sensing electrode (20, 120) formed of electrically conductive material, the sensing electrode (20, 120) being arranged between the housing (2, 102) and the front face (16, 116) of the core (14, 114) and the housing (2, 102) and the front face (16, 116) of the core (14, 114) being bonded together by the sensing electrode (120).

Abstract: A battery plate loading system includes a battery plate separator apparatus having a work surface for receiving a stack of battery plates, and a loading mechanism including an arm coupled to the work surface. The arm is pivotable to move the work surface between a substantially horizontal position and a substantially vertical position. A pallet has a surface arranged to receive a plurality of stacks of battery plates, each stack being arranged in at least a first or a second orientation; and, a robot head arrangement configured to transfer stacks of battery plates from the pallet to the battery plate separator apparatus. The robot head arrangement includes a sensor configured to detect the orientation of each stack. The pivotable arm is configured to move the work surface to the substantially horizontal position or to the substantially vertical position in response to the detected orientation of a selected stack.

Abstract: A magnetic gas turbine sensor (25) for sensing the speed and/or torque of a shaft in a gas turbine engine, the sensor comprising a magnetically energisable pole piece (3), a magnet (2) associated with the pole piece and a conductive sensing element (4) wrapped or wound around the pole piece (3) and inductively coupled to the pole piece. The sensor includes a first sensor casing including a first inner fluid conduit (36) for fluid coolant, the first fluid conduit being inside the casing and running alongside and/or adjacent the pole piece, magnet and/or conductive sensing element, and the sensor also including a second sensor casing surrounding the first sensor casing and defining a second outer fluid conduit (37) for fluid coolant and at least partially surrounding the first fluid conduit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a sensor for a high-temperature environment. The method comprises the steps of: depositing an electrically insulating material (108) to form at least one portion of a layer (112); depositing an electrically conductive material (110) to form at least one further portion of the layer (112); depositing successive layers (112), each layer being formed of the electrically insulating material (108) and/or the electrically conductive material (110), wherein the electrically conductive material (110) in each layer is deposited on at least a portion of the electrically conductive material (110) in the previous layer so as to form at least one electrically continuous portion extending through the layers; and fusing the materials.

Abstract: A probe (1, 101) for monitoring a moving engine element and a method of forming a probe (1, 101) for monitoring a moving engine element, the probe (1, 101) comprising: a housing (2, 102) formed of electrically insulating ceramic material; a core (14, 114) formed of electrically insulating ceramic material, the core (14, 114) comprising a front face (16, 116; and a sensing electrode (20, 120) formed of electrically conductive material, the sensing electrode (20, 120) being arranged between the housing (2, 102) and the front face (16, 116) of the core (14, 114) and the housing (2, 102) and the front face (16, 116) of the core (14, 114) being bonded together by the sensing electrode (120).

Abstract: A battery plate loading system includes a battery plate separator apparatus having a work surface for receiving a stack of battery plates, and a loading mechanism including an arm coupled to the work surface. The arm is pivotable to move the work surface between a substantially horizontal position and a substantially vertical position. A pallet has a surface arranged to receive a plurality of stacks of battery plates, each stack being arranged in at least a first or a second orientation; and, a robot head arrangement configured to transfer stacks of battery plates from the pallet to the battery plate separator apparatus. The robot head arrangement includes a sensor configured to detect the orientation of each stack. The pivotable arm is configured to move the work surface to the substantially horizontal position or to the substantially vertical position in response to the detected orientation of a selected stack.

Abstract: A magnetic gas turbine sensor (25) for sensing the speed and/or torque of a shaft in a gas turbine engine, the sensor comprising a magnetically energisable pole piece (3), a magnet (2) associated with the pole piece and a conductive sensing element (4) wrapped or wound around the pole piece (3) and inductively coupled to the pole piece. The sensor includes a first sensor casing including a first inner fluid conduit (36) for fluid coolant, the first fluid conduit being inside the casing and running alongside and/or adjacent the pole piece, magnet and/or conductive sensing element, and the sensor also including a second sensor casing surrounding the first sensor casing and defining a second outer fluid conduit (37) for fluid coolant and at least partially surrounding the first fluid conduit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a sensor for a high-temperature environment. The method comprises the steps of: depositing an electrically insulating material (108) to form at least one portion of a layer (112); depositing an electrically conductive material (110) to form at least one further portion of the layer (112); depositing successive layers (112), each layer being formed of the electrically insulating material (108) and/or the electrically conductive material (110), wherein the electrically conductive material (110) in each layer is deposited on at least a portion of the electrically conductive material (110) in the previous layer so as to form at least one electrically continuous portion extending through the layers; and fusing the materials.

Abstract: A probe with plural output channels for sensing the movement of a body of magnetic material. The probe includes a magnetically energizable pole piece and a plurality of electrically conductive circuits, coupled to the magnetic pole piece, such that a change in magnetic flux in the pole piece caused by movement of the body relative to the pole piece induces a voltage in each of the circuits. The electrically conductive circuits are wound around each other in a symmetrical fashion such that in the vicinity of the magnetic pole piece each circuit experiences substantially the same change in magnetic flux. A probe of this type provides a plurality of substantially identical output signals and is easy to manufacture and replicate.

Abstract: A probe for sensing the movement of a body of magnetic material comprises a magnetically energisable pole piece and a plurality of electrically conductive circuits, coupled to the magnetic pole piece, such that a change in magnetic flux in the pole piece caused by movement of the body relative to the pole piece induces a voltage in each of the circuits. The electrically conductive circuits are wound around in a symmetrical fashion each other such that in the vicinity of the magnetic pole piece each circuit experiences substantially the same change in magnetic flux. A probe of this type provides a plurality of substantially identical output signals and is easy to manufacture and replicate.