Rolls-royce Corporation

Justin M Burrows

Daniel Clark

James Kell

Jeffrey Allen

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.

Apparatus for supporting a tool in an assembled apparatus

Method of supporting a tool and an apparatus for supporting a tool in an assembled apparatus

A method of supporting a tool () in an assembled apparatus () comprises the steps of (a) inserting a support structure () through a first aperture () in a casing () of the apparatus (), a first end () of the support structure () being outside the casing () and a second end () of the support structure () being inside the casing (), (b) securing the first end () of the support structure () to the casing (), (c) arranging a first portion () of the support structure () to abut at least one surface within the casing (), (d) inserting a tool () through the first aperture () or a second aperture in the casing (), and (e) securing the tool () to a second portion () of the support structure () within the casing ().

The present invention is concerned with a method of discriminating between, in a surface of a transition metal alloy, transition metals in different oxidation states using surface sensor molecules adapted to associate selectively with one of the transition metals. In particular, the present invention provides a method of identifying degradation in aircraft components such as turbine blades, engine casings and aerofoils. In embodiments, a surface sensor molecule comprising an oxidation state discriminating group, such as an imidazole, and a fluorescein probe is applied in aqueous solution to the surface of a service-run Ni alloy aircraft component. The sensor molecule selectively associates with transition metals in oxidation states greater than zero such that fluorescence imaging can be used to identify areas of degradation.

Oxidation state sensors and methods for transition metal alloys

A method for recycling an inert gas evacuated from a material deposition process chambercomprises cooling the evacuated inert gas and recirculating a proportion of the cooled gas to the chamberat a first temperature for use as a cooling gas in the material deposition process, and recirculating a proportion of the cooled gas to the chamberat a second temperature for use as a shielding gas in the material deposition process, the second temperature being higher than the first temperature. Apparatusfor recycling an inert gas is also disclosed.

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Derby, United Kingdom

Justin M Burrows