Abstract: A device is provided for controlling the flow of a fluid through a conduit from an upstream side to a downstream side of the device. The device includes a valve aperture, a cylindrical mounting member on the downstream side of the valve aperture, a valve member on the outside of the cylindrical mounting member that moves reciprocally to open and close the valve aperture, a control volume defined between the cylindrical mounting member and the valve member, an arrangement for introducing a control pressure into the control volume, and a seal between the outer surface of the cylindrical mounting member and the inner surface of the valve member that substantially seals the control volume. The valve member is acted on by the pressure of the upstream side (P1) and the control pressure (P4) so as to be moved by the difference between these pressures.

Abstract: A method of functionally testing a pressure actuated regulator. The pressure actuated regulator includes a valve member arranged to open a valve aperture, and a control pressure volume in which a control pressure is set to act on the valve member. The method includes applying a force to the valve member, and taking measurements representative of the pressure of fluid in the control pressure volume and of the mass flow rate of the fluid into the control pressure volume while the force is being applied to the valve member. The method also includes isolating the control pressure volume and allowing a pressurised fluid in the control pressure volume to leak out of the control pressure volume, and taking measurements representative of the pressure of fluid in the control pressure volume while the fluid leaks out of the control pressure volume.

Abstract: A device is provided for controlling the flow of a fluid through a conduit from an upstream side to a downstream side of the device. The device includes a valve aperture, a cylindrical mounting member on the downstream side of the valve aperture, a valve member on the outside of the cylindrical mounting member that moves reciprocally to open and close the valve aperture, a control volume defined between the cylindrical mounting member and the valve member, an arrangement for introducing a control pressure into the control volume, and a seal between the outer surface of the cylindrical mounting member and the inner surface of the valve member that substantially seals the control volume. The valve member is acted on by the pressure of the upstream side (P1) and the control pressure (P4) so as to be moved by the difference between these pressures.

Abstract: A device for controlling the flow of a fluid through a conduit from an upstream side of the device to a downstream side of the device. The device includes a housing defining a valve aperture and a mounting member arranged on the downstream side of the valve aperture. A valve member is movably mounted on the mounting member and is arranged to selectively open and close the valve aperture to control the flow of fluid. A soft seal is arranged on the housing for substantially sealing the valve aperture when the valve member contacts the housing. The soft seal is located downstream of a convex curved surface of the housing which is shaped to separate the flow of fluid through the valve aperture away from the surface of the housing such that the fluid does not impinge directly on the soft seal.

Abstract: A device for controlling the flow of a fluid through a conduit from an upstream side of the device to a downstream side of the device. The device includes a valve aperture (30), a cylindrical mounting member (24) on the downstream side of the valve aperture, a valve member (26) on the outside of the cylindrical mounting member that moves reciprocally to open and close the valve aperture, a control volume (44) defined between the cylindrical mounting member and the valve member, an arrangement (8) for introducing a control pressure into the control volume, and a seal (34) between the outer surface of the cylindrical mounting member and the inner surface of the valve member that substantially seals the control volume. The valve member is acted on by the pressure of the upstream side (PI) and the control pressure (P4) so as to be moved by the difference between these pressures.

Abstract: A device (1) for controlling the flow of a fluid through a conduit (3) from an upstream side (8) to a downstream side (10). The device includes a housing (4) having one or more valve apertures (6) through which the flow of fluid is selectively controlled. A valve member (12) is mounted on the housing and arranged to move reciprocally to selectively open and close the one or more valve apertures. A seal (20) is arranged at or beyond a position the valve member reaches when the one or more valve apertures are all closed. The device also includes a resilient member (26) that acts to bias the seal towards the valve member.

Abstract: A device (1) for controlling the flow of fluid through a conduit from an upstream side (3) to a downstream side (5). The device includes a housing (4) with a wall (6) having valve apertures (8) through which the flow of fluid is selectively controlled. A valve member (10) is mounted on one side of the wall of the housing and is arranged to move reciprocally to selectively open and close the valve apertures. A removable insert (12) is mounted on the opposite side of the wall of the housing from the valve member. The removable insert is arranged to cover some of the valve apertures.

Abstract: A device (1) for controlling the flow of a fluid through a conduit (3) from an upstream side (8) to a downstream side (10). The device includes one or more valve apertures (6) through which the flow of fluid is selectively controlled. A valve member (12) is arranged to move reciprocally to selectively open and close the one or more valve apertures. The device includes a stop (18) for arresting the travel of the valve member arranged at or beyond a position the valve member reaches when at least some of the one or more valve apertures are open. The valve member includes an end portion (13) arranged to come into contact with the stop when the valve member reaches or passes the position at which at least some of the one or more valve apertures are open and a body portion (9).

Abstract: A device (1) for controlling the flow of a fluid through a conduit (3) from an upstream side (8) to a downstream side (10). The device includes one or more valve apertures (6) through which the flow of fluid is selectively controlled. A valve member (12) is arranged to move reciprocally to selectively open and close the one or more valve apertures. The device includes a stop (18) for arresting the travel of the valve member arranged at or beyond a position the valve member reaches when at least some of the one or more valve apertures are open. The valve member includes an end portion (13) arranged to come into contact with the stop when the valve member reaches or passes the position at which at least some of the one or more valve apertures are open and a body portion (9).

Abstract: A device (1) for controlling the flow of fluid through a conduit from an upstream side (3) to a downstream side (5). The device includes a housing (4) with a wall (6) having valve apertures (8) through which the flow of fluid is selectively controlled. A valve member (10) is mounted on one side of the wall of the housing and is arranged to move reciprocally to selectively open and close the valve apertures. A removable insert (12) is mounted on the opposite side of the wall of the housing from the valve member. The removable insert is arranged to cover some of the valve apertures.

Abstract: A device for controlling the flow of a fluid through a conduit from an upstream side of the device to a downstream side of the device. The device includes a valve aperture (30), a cylindrical mounting member (24) on the downstream side of the valve aperture, a valve member (26) on the outside of the cylindrical mounting member that moves reciprocally to open and close the valve aperture, a control volume (44) defined between the cylindrical mounting member and the valve member, an arrangement (8) for introducing a control pressure into the control volume, and a seal (34) between the outer surface of the cylindrical mounting member and the inner surface of the valve member that substantially seals the control volume. The valve member is acted on by the pressure of the upstream side (PI) and the control pressure (P4) so as to be moved by the difference between these pressures.

Abstract: A device (1) for controlling the flow of a fluid through a conduit (3) from an upstream side (8) to a downstream side (10). The device includes a housing (4) having one or more valve apertures (6) through which the flow of fluid is selectively controlled. A valve member (12) is mounted on the housing and arranged to move reciprocally to selectively open and close the one or more valve apertures. A seal (20) is arranged at or beyond a position the valve member reaches when the one or more valve apertures are all closed. The device also includes a resilient member (26) that acts to bias the seal towards the valve member.

Abstract: An aerofoil blade or vane for the turbine of a gas turbine engine includes: an aerofoil leading edge; an aerofoil trailing edge; an aerofoil suction side; and at least one reverse-pass coolant passage, extending within the aerofoil blade or vane; wherein the at least one reverse-pass coolant passage includes a substantial reverse-pass portion in which, in use, coolant flows in a direction away from the trailing edge and towards the leading edge.

Abstract: A component for releasing a flow of material into an environment subject to periodic fluctuations in pressure, which has: a first surface that includes an inlet; a second surface that includes an outlet; a duct formed in the component and extending from the inlet to the outlet so, when the component is in use, a flow of material received at the inlet can flow along the duct to be released at the outlet into an environment subject to periodic fluctuations in pressure. The duct includes a constriction at which it decreases in cross-sectional area as it progresses from the inlet to the outlet. This can help reduce the variation in flow rate of material released at the outlet caused by the periodic fluctuations in pressure, and may help to avoid/reduce ingestion, when the component is in use. Preferably, the component is configured to form part of a gas turbine engine.

Abstract: A vessel (1) for heating the contents thereof by means of an external heat source (8) comprises a non-horizontal side wall (2) and a heat transfer structure (6) attached to and in good thermal contact with, or formed integrally on, an outer surface of said side wall.

Abstract: A device (1; 101) for controlling the flow of a fluid through a conduit (2; 102; 402; 602; 702) from an upstream side (3; 103; 703) to a downstream side (5; 105; 405; 605; 705), the device (1; 101) comprising: a valve having a valve member (14; 114; 414; 514; 614) arranged to move reciprocally selectively to open and close one or more valve apertures (10; 110; 412; 512; 611, 612), thereby controlling flow of the fluid from the upstream side (3; 103; 703) to the downstream side (5; 105; 405; 605; 705); and means for introducing a reference pressure (24; 124; 324; 424; 524; 624); wherein said valve member (14; 114; 414; 514; 614) is acted on by the pressure of the downstream side (5; 105; 405; 605; 705) and the reference pressure so as to be moved by the difference between said pressures.

Abstract: An aerofoil blade or vane for the turbine of a gas turbine engine includes: an aerofoil leading edge; an aerofoil trailing edge; an aerofoil suction side; and at least one reverse-pass coolant passage, extending within the aerofoil blade or vane; wherein the at least one reverse-pass coolant passage includes a substantial reverse-pass portion in which, in use, coolant flows in a direction away from the trailing edge and towards the leading edge.

Abstract: A vane assembly (21) for an axial flow turbine engine provides a plurality of nozzles (22) arranged symmetrically around a turbine axis formed by an inner hub (26), an outer casing (27) and vanes (23) intermediate pairs of adjacent nozzles. The nozzles have a cross-section normal to the turbine axis that changes smoothly with the position of the cross-section along the turbine axis from a first shape having a minimum radius of curvature of a first value that is no less than a limit L, providing the cross-section with no highly curved corners, to a second shape having a minimum radius of curvature of a second value less than the first value, providing corners. This allows the secondary flow structure to be designed to improve aerodynamic loss and cooling performance.

Abstract: A component for releasing a flow of material into an environment subject to periodic fluctuations in pressure, which has: a first surface that includes an inlet; a second surface that includes an outlet; a duct formed in the component and extending from the inlet to the outlet so, when the component is in use, a flow of material received at the inlet can flow along the duct to be released at the outlet into an environment subject to periodic fluctuations in pressure. The duct includes a constriction at which it decreases in cross-sectional area as it progresses from the inlet to the outlet. This can help reduce the variation in flow rate of material released at the outlet caused by the periodic fluctuations in pressure, and may help to avoid/reduce ingestion, when the component is in use. Preferably, the component is configured to form part of a gas turbine engine.