Abstract: The present invention provides a support duct for a gas turbine engine. The supported duct comprises at least one support frame having an aperture defined by an upper aperture wall, a lower aperture wall and opposing aperture side walls. It further comprises a duct extending through aperture, the duct comprising an upper panel in abutment with the upper aperture wall, a lower panel in abutment with the lower aperture wall and opposing side walls extending between the upper and lower panels. The opposing side walls of the duct are spaced from the opposing aperture side walls.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine exhaust panel mounting system comprising a panel, a casing and an attachment assembly for removably connecting the panel to the casing comprises a retaining portion, a clamping portion, and a ‘C’-shaped connecting link. The connecting link has a first attachment portion and an opposite second attachment portion with the first and second attachment portions being connected to one another by a center portion. Each of the first and second attachment portions is substantially parallel to one another and extends in the same direction from respective ends of the center portion. The first attachment portion is fixedly connected to the casing by the clamping portion, and the second attachment portion is slidingly connected to the panel by the retaining portion.

Abstract: A panel connection assembly connects a panel to a casing including hanger, first locating, and second locating plates. The hanger plate has elongate body, first end, and opposite second end portions, with each of the first and second end portions having a circular profile. The hanger plate has a dumbbell shape. The first locating plate has a first circular locating aperture, the first locating aperture to accommodate the first end portion, and the second locating plate has a second circular locating aperture, the second locating aperture to accommodate the second end portion. In use, the first locating plate is secured to the casing, the second locating plate is secured to the panel, the first and second end portions are respectively accommodated within the first and second locating apertures with the elongate body portions extending therefrom, to connect the panel to the casing.

Abstract: A perforated composite panel comprises a substrate and an applied layer, the substrate having a first surface and an opposite second surface. A method of forming the perforated composite panel comprises the steps of: i. cutting a plurality of first holes in the substrate; ii. positioning the applied layer against the substrate such that a surface of the applied layer overlays the first surface of the substrate to thereby form the composite panel; iii. locating the composite panel in a fixture, the fixture having one or more datum features; iv. determining the location and axis direction for each of the first holes in the substrate, relative to the or each datum feature; and v. cutting a plurality of second holes in the applied layer, each of the plurality of second holes being coincident and coaxial with a corresponding one of the plurality of first holes.

Abstract: A panel attachment system includes a panel, a casing, and a plurality of hangers that enable the panel to be secured in a pre-determined position relative to the casing. Each of the hangers is formed as an elongate strip having a single corrugation, with each hanger having a center portion, a first end portion, and an opposite second end portion. The plurality of hangers are positioned in length-wise alignment, with the first end portion of each hanger being attached to the second end portion of an adjoining hanger. The attached first and second end portions are secured to the casing, and the center portion of each hanger is secured to the panel to thereby secure the panel in a pre-determined position relative to the casing.

Abstract: A panel mounting system comprises a panel, a foundation and a plurality of hangers connecting the panel to the foundation. The panel comprises a plurality of first attachment points, and the foundation comprises a plurality of second attachment points. The panel is constrained by the plurality of hangers such that movement of each first attachment point relative to the corresponding second attachment point is constrained to a plane that is normal to the surface of the panel at the first attachment point, and is aligned with the direction of thermal expansion of the panel at the first attachment point.

Abstract: A panel attachment device for removably connecting a panel to a casing comprises a first bracket, a second bracket, and a link. The link has a first end and an opposite second end, with the first end being removably connected to the first bracket and the second end being removably connected to the second bracket. Each of the first end and second ends is located by, and rotatable relative to, the first bracket and second bracket respectively to thereby constrain the panel relative to the casing.

Abstract: The present invention provides a support duct for a gas turbine engine. The supported duct comprises at least one support frame having an aperture defined by an upper aperture wall, a lower aperture wall and opposing aperture side walls. It further comprises a duct extending through aperture, the duct comprising an upper panel in abutment with the upper aperture wall, a lower panel in abutment with the lower aperture wall and opposing side walls extending between the upper and lower panels. The opposing side walls of the duct are spaced from the opposing aperture side walls.

Abstract: A panel connection assembly connects a panel to a casing including hanger, first locating, and second locating plates. The hanger plate has elongate body, first end, and opposite second end portions, with each of the first and second end portions having a circular profile. The hanger plate has a dumbbell shape. The first locating plate has a first circular locating aperture, the first locating aperture to accommodate the first end portion, and the second locating plate has a second circular locating aperture, the second locating aperture to accommodate the second end portion. In use, the first locating plate is secured to the casing, the second locating plate is secured to the panel, the first and second end portions are respectively accommodated within the first and second locating apertures with the elongate body portions extending therefrom, to connect the panel to the casing.

Abstract: A method for shaping a component cast from a titanium alloy including firstly heating the component to a plastic temperature such that it becomes plastically deformable and subsequently subjecting the component to a deformation process to thereby plastically deform the component to a desired geometric shape.

Abstract: A panel attachment system comprises a panel and a casing. The panel has a fixed mount bracket, and a sliding mount bracket. The casing has a first fixed mount boss, and a sliding mount boss. When the panel attachment system is in use, the fixed mount bracket is fixedly secured to the first fixed mount boss, and the sliding mount bracket is slidingly engaged with the sliding mount boss. This enables the panel to be detachably connected to the casing, such that any relative in-plane thermal expansion between the panel and the casing is accommodated by corresponding relative movement between the sliding mount bracket and the sliding mount bosses.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine exhaust panel mounting system comprising a panel, a casing and an attachment assembly for removably connecting the panel to the casing comprises a retaining portion, a clamping portion, and a ‘C’-shaped connecting link. The connecting link has a first attachment portion and an opposite second attachment portion with the first and second attachment portions being connected to one another by a centre portion. Each of the first and second attachment portions is substantially parallel to one another and extends in the same direction from respective ends of the centre portion. The first attachment portion is fixedly connected to the casing by the clamping portion, and the second attachment portion is slidingly connected to the panel by the retaining portion.

Abstract: A method of forming a sheet metal component includes the steps of initially forming a profiled blank from a metal sheet and then identifying on a surface of the blank, one or more wrinkle lines across which a buckling stress exceeds a critical buckling stress limit. Then at least one slot is cut into in the profiled blank, with the or each slot extending entirely through a thickness of the profiled blank and being coincident with one of the wrinkle lines, and a hole is cut at one end of the slot with the hole having a diameter greater than a lateral width of the slot. The profiled blank is then processed in a pressing operation to form a shaped blank with one or more welding operations being carried out on the shaped blank along each slot to produce a finished sheet metal component.

Abstract: A panel attachment device for removably connecting a panel to a casing comprises a first bracket, a second bracket, and a link. The link has a first end and an opposite second end, with the first end being removably connected to the first bracket and the second end being removably connected to the second bracket. Each of the first end and second ends is located by, and rotatable relative to, the first bracket and second bracket respectively to thereby constrain the panel relative to the casing.

Abstract: A perforated composite panel comprises a substrate and an applied layer, the substrate having a first surface and an opposite second surface. A method of forming the perforated composite panel comprises the steps of: i. cutting a plurality of first holes in the substrate; ii. positioning the applied layer against the substrate such that a surface of the applied layer overlays the first surface of the substrate to thereby form the composite panel; iii. locating the composite panel in a fixture, the fixture having one or more datum features; iv. determining the location and axis direction for each of the first holes in the substrate, relative to the or each datum feature; and v. cutting a plurality of second holes in the applied layer, each of the plurality of second holes being coincident and coaxial with a corresponding one of the plurality of first holes.

Abstract: A panel attachment system comprises a panel, a casing and a plurality of hangers enables the panel to be secured in a pre-determined position relative to the casing. Each of the hangers is formed as an elongate strip having a single corrugation, with each hanger having a centre portion, a first end portion and an opposite second end portion. The plurality of hangers are positioned in length-wise alignment, with the first end portion of each hanger being attached to the second end portion of an adjoining hanger, the attached first and second end portions being secured to the casing, and the centre portion of each hanger being secured to the panel, to thereby secure the panel in a pre-determined position relative to the casing.

Abstract: A panel attachment system comprises a panel and a casing. The panel has one fixed mount bracket, and at least one sliding mount bracket. The casing has one fixed mount boss, and at least one sliding mount boss. When the panel attachment system is in use, the fixed mount bracket is fixedly secured to the fixed mount boss, and the or each sliding mount bracket is slidingly engaged with a corresponding respective one of the or each sliding mount boss. This enables the panel to be detachably connected to the casing, such that any relative in-plane thermal expansion between the panel and the casing is accommodated by corresponding relative movement between the one or more sliding mount brackets and the corresponding one or more sliding mount bosses.

Abstract: A panel mounting system comprises a panel, a foundation and a plurality of hangers connecting the panel to the foundation. The panel comprises a plurality of first attachment points, and the foundation comprises a plurality of second attachment points. The panel is constrained by the plurality of hangers such that movement of each first attachment point relative to the corresponding second attachment point is constrained to a plane that is normal to the surface of the panel at the first attachment point, and is aligned with the direction of thermal expansion of the panel at the first attachment point.