Abstract: A piezo-electric fluid pump is provided including a main housing; a fluid reservoir located within the main housing; a piston head moveably mounted within the main housing; a piezo-electric stack; a bias mechanism arranged to couple the piston head and piezo-electric stack and maintain the piezo-electric stack in compression; an outlet plate statically mounted within the main housing adjacent to the piston head, wherein the adjacent surfaces of the outlet plate and piston head define a pumping chamber; an inlet disc valve arranged to permit a one-way flow of fluid from the reservoir into the pumping chamber; and an outlet disc valve arranged to permit a one-way flow of fluid out of the pumping chamber. The combination of pre-loading of the piezo-electric stack in compression and use of inlet disc valve enables the piezo-electric pump to exhibit substantial improvement to the pressure and flow capability compared to other piezo-electric pumps.

Abstract: A piezo-electric fluid pump is provided including a main housing; a fluid reservoir located within the main housing; a piston head moveably mounted within the main housing; a piezo-electric stack; a bias mechanism arranged to couple the piston head and piezo-electric stack and maintain the piezo-electric stack in compression; an outlet plate statically mounted within the main housing adjacent to the piston head, wherein the adjacent surfaces of the outlet plate and piston head define a pumping chamber; an inlet disc valve arranged to permit a one-way flow of fluid from the reservoir into the pumping chamber; and an outlet disc valve arranged to permit a one-way flow of fluid out of the pumping chamber. The combination of pre-loading of the piezo-electric stack in compression and use of inlet disc valve enables the piezo-electric pump to exhibit substantial improvement to the pressure and flow capability compared to other piezo-electric pumps.

Abstract: An aircraft braking system including a braking actuator; a primary hydraulic fluid supply circuit configured to supply pressurised hydraulic fluid to the braking actuator; and a secondary hydraulic fluid supply circuit including a piezoelectric pump configured to supply pressurised hydraulic fluid to the braking actuator.

Abstract: An aircraft assembly, having: a reference component; a first component and a first actuator, the first actuator configured to move the first component relative to the reference component; a second component and a second actuator, the second actuator configured to move the second component relative to the reference component; a position sensor configured to measure a position of the first component, and to output a position value, the sensor being capable of outputting a plurality of non-zero position values; and a controller configured to control the movement of the second component by the second actuator based at least partially on the position value output by the position sensor.

Abstract: An aircraft assembly, having: a reference component; a first component and a first actuator, the first actuator configured to move the first component relative to the reference component; a second component and a second actuator, the second actuator configured to move the second component relative to the reference component; a position sensor configured to measure a position of the first component, and to output a position value, the sensor being capable of outputting a plurality of non-zero position values; and a controller configured to control the movement of the second component by the second actuator based at least partially on the position value output by the position sensor

Abstract: Disclosed are hair treatment compositions and methods based on the use of, in addition to active treatment compounds, a maintaining agent comprising a reducing saccharide and non-reducing saccharide. In certain preferred embodiments, the weight ratio of non-reducing saccharide to reducing saccharide is from about 9:1 to about 1:2.