Abstract:
A storage tank for gaseous hydrogen includes a continuous tank wall defining a serial array of hollow elongate tank portions of substantially constant cross-section and hollow connecting portions defining an internal storage volume, wherein adjacent ends of any pair of adjacent hollow elongate tank portions are connected by a hollow connecting portion having a cross-sectional dimension smaller than those of the adjacent hollow elongate tanks portions. The tank may be included in an aircraft wing such that it extends spanwise through one or more internal spars of the wing, thus providing a continuous gas storage volume at a given chordwise position notwithstanding the spars, and providing for storage of gaseous hydrogen at higher gravimetric efficiency than is achievable by a plurality of coupled discrete tanks disposed between the spars.
Abstract:
Method of manufacturing a dome comprising: providing a plurality of components; joining a first and a second component together, joining the first and second components together comprising: positioning the first component and the second component in an initial position in which the first surfaces of components are angled from each other by a first angle; melting a volume of material extending between the first and the second component, the volume of material increasing in thickness from the second surfaces to the first surfaces; and the volume of material cooling and solidifying so as to join the first component and the second component together, the cooling of the volume of material reducing the angle between the first surfaces to a second angle less than the first angle such that the first surfaces face towards a centre of the dome and the first and second components form part of the dome.
Abstract:
A gear comprising: a hub defining an outer surface, the hub comprising a ceramic material; and a first ring defining an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface of the first ring being coupled to the outer surface of the hub via a bond, the outer surface of the first ring defining a plurality of gear teeth, and the first ring comprising a metallic material.
Abstract:
A method of manufacturing a component comprises forming a body of the component using additive layer manufacturing. During formation of the body, layers of the material are arranged so that the body has a surface roughness greater than or equal to 100 μm. The method further comprises coating the body with a coating.
Abstract:
A pressure vessel having a diameter greater than or equal to 1 m and made by laser cladding an inner surface of the vessel, the laser cladding following a helical path.
Abstract:
A method of forming a component includes defining an identification pattern, defining one or more scanning parameters and/or one or more heating parameters, depositing a sinterable material on a substrate and scanning a heat source of the deposited sinterable material to thereby selectively sinter the material to the substrate to produce a sintered layer having the identification pattern. The sintered layer includes first and second regions, and the method includes sintering the first region using one or more scanning parameters and/or one or more heating parameters having a first value, and sintering the second region using one or more scanning parameters and/or one or more heating parameters having a second value to thereby produce the identification pattern including a contrast between the first and second regions.
Abstract:
A method of bonding a first article to a second article, each article having a respective bond surface. The method comprises interposing a porous interlayer region between the bond surfaces of the first and second articles and subsequently using electrical resistance heating to locally heat the interlayer region under contact pressure to a bonding temperature below the melting temperature of the interlayer and the first and second articles to thereby bond the interlayer to the first and second articles to form a bonded article. The interlayer has a porosity of between approximately 10% and 30%
Abstract:
An apparatus for supporting a tool in an assembled apparatus. The apparatus includes a support structure, the support structure having a central member and a plurality of support members pivotally mounted on the central member. The support members are movable between a non-deployed position in which the support members extend a minimum distance from the central member and a deployed position in which the support members extend a maximum distance from the central member.
Abstract:
A method of forming a bonded assembly (10). The method comprises: providing at least first and second parts (12, 14) of an assembly (10) to be bonded; assembling the first and second parts (12, 14) in a required relative position to define a bond interface region therebetween; sealing part way along an edge (18) of the bond interface region using laser beam welding to define a cavity between the first and second parts (12, 14); in a vacuum environment, sealing the remainder of the edge (20) of the bond interface region using electron beam welding to form a fluid tight seal around the cavity; and applying heat and pressure to an external surface of the cavity to diffusion bond the first and second parts (12, 14) together.
Abstract:
A method of manufacturing a part comprises providing a component for cutting and directing a water jet at the component so as to cut the component. The water jet comprises water and abrasive particles that are crystalline solids formed from organic acid or calcium oxalate.