Abstract:
The present invention relates to a manufacturing tool (13, 14) and method for use in forming polymer matrix composite products such as carbon fibre composite products. The tool comprising a first and a second portion defining a cavity (15) therebetween in which the product is built before curing. The rigidity of the second portion (13) of the tool is selected based on the required deflection of the second portion of the tool under the curing conditions, in order to maintain pressure on the laminate during the entire cure. The second upper portion (13) is shown haring varying thicknesses (16A, 16B and 16C) which results in different rigidity of these regions.
Abstract:
A leading edge component (30) for an aircraft. The component includes at least one supporting rib (40); a skin of the leading edge; and an ice-protection system comprising a thermoelectric heater mat (10) located between the rib and the skin, the heater mat comprising an electrically resistive heater element (12, 22) embedded in a thermoplastic layer (16, 26, 28), wherein the rib is bonded to the skin by the thermoplastic of the heater mat. A method making a leading edge component for an aircraft. The method includes: providing at least one rib, a skin of the leading edge, and an ice-protection system comprising a thermoelectric heater mat having an electrically resistive heater element embedded in a thermoplastic layer; locating the heater mat between the rib and the skin; and bonding the rib to the skin using the thermoplastic of the heater mat.
Abstract:
A de-aeration system for a fuel system, the fuel system having a housing for containing a fuel filter element, a fuel inlet and a fuel outlet is disclosed. The de-aeration system includes a de-aeration valve having a valve inlet in a lower face of the valve for connection to the housing for purging the air trapped in the housing. The de-aeration valve also includes a valve outlet in an upper face of the valve and a ball. The ball is configured to lift between the lower face and the upper face in response to an air pressure differential acting on the ball. This opens the valve to purge air trapped in the housing. The ball is further configured to close the valve by sealing against the valve outlet in the upper face in response to a pressure differential across the ball created by unfiltered fuel entering the valve.
Abstract:
A method of making a heater structure and a corresponding heater structure are disclosed. The method comprises providing a porous reinforcement material such as glass cloth, applying a metal to the porous reinforcement material such as by spraying and applying resin to the porous reinforcement material with metal already applied thereto to make the structure substantially rigid. Applying the metal to the porous reinforcement material before applying the resin provides a number of advantages such as enhanced shear strength between the porous reinforcement material and the applied metal layer and the ability to manipulate the porous reinforcement material with metal applied thereto prior to applying the resin. The heater structure may be used in many applications, some of which are described.
Abstract:
An image display is disclosed comprising an image display device with a light emitting surface having an array of picture elements; a light guide formed from a plurality of light transmission guides with the input to each light transmission guide being provided by a sub- array of a plurality of picture elements from the light emitting surface of the image display device and luminance correction means to assign a colour component value and a dither fraction value to each sub -array of a plurality of picture elements on the light emitting surface of the image display device. Assigning a colour component value (120) and a dither fraction value (122) to each sub- array of picture elements on the image display device can correct for differences related to individual image display device or light guide non-uniformity at the individual pixel level or for differences between image displays when used with multiple image display devices.