Rolls-royce Corporation

Paul Broughton

Richard Peace

Robin Charles Kennea

Gary Alan Skinner

Michael Christopher Willmot

John S Richardson

Jonathan Wilson

Justin Sean Dalton

John Philip Richardson

Philip Summerfield

Matthew Peter Fitt

Jason Watkiss

Robin Kennea

Justin Dalton

A rigid electrical panel has both a flexible printed circuit and an electromagnetic protection layer embedded therein. The flexible printed circuit has an integral electromagnetic shield. The integral electromagnetic shield and the electromagnetic protection layer are electrically isolated, so as to provide independent grounding paths. The independent grounding paths are individually tested for safe operation.

Earthing arrangement for electrical panel

A gas turbine engineis provided with electrical harness raftscomprising electrical conductors embedded in a rigid composite material. The raftsare used to transport electrical signals (which may be, for example power and/or control signals) around a gas turbine engine. Raftsmay be connected together and to other components using flexible cables, that may help to accommodate relative movement of the rafts, for example through vibration. The raftsare lighter, more compact, and more convenient to handle than conventional electrical harnesses. The raftsmay provide a convenient and secure mounting surface for other components/systems of a gas turbine engine, such as EECs and/or fluid pipes.

Electrical Harness

An electrical raft assembly for a gas turbine engine is provided. The raft assembly comprises a rigid electrical raft formed of a rigid material that includes an electrical system comprising electrical conductors embedded in the rigid material. The raft assembly further comprises an engine component that is mounted to the electrical raft. The electrical raft includes one or more integral cooling passages which guide a coolant fluid through the raft to cool the engine component.

Electrical raft assembly

An electrical connection between two electrical harnesses is provided. The electrical harnesses include flexible printed circuits with embedded conductive tracks, each of which terminates in a receiving hole in a respective terminating region The terminating regions are connected together using conductive pins. The connection formation is then encapsulated by an encapsulating body formed of an insulating. The encapsulating body seals and protects the electrical connection, which is thus reliable and robust.

Electrical harness connector

A rigid electrical raft has electrical conductors embedded in a rigid material. The electrical conductors transmit electrical signals through the rigid electrical raft, which may form part of an electrical system of a gas turbine engine. The rigid electrical raft also has electrical heating elements embedded therein. The electrical heating elements provide heat which may be used, for example, to prevent condensation and/or ice build-up and/or to raise the temperature of electrical components to be within a desired range.

Heated rigid electrical harness for a gas turbine engine

An electrical harness assembly is provided that comprises a flexible printed circuit electrically connected to one end of an electrical connector. The other end of the electrical connector is presented for connection to another electrical component. Electrical tracks or conductors in the flexible printed circuit terminate in receiving holes. The electrical connector comprises terminals, each of which has a first end that is received in one of the receiving holes to form a connection formation, and a second end which is present for connection to the other electrical device. The connection formation is encapsulated so as to be sealed, thereby providing a reliable and robust connection between the connector and the flexible printed circuit.

An electrical raftcomprising electrical conductorsembedded in a rigid material are provided to a gas turbine engine. The raftis used to transport electrical signals (which may be, for example power and/or control signals) around a gas turbine engine. The electrical rafthas an electrical connectorembedded therein which is used to connect the electrical raft to an electrical unit, such as an EEC of a gas turbine engine The electrical connectoris resiliently biased so as to ensure a reliable electrical connection.

Electrical connectors

A gas turbine enginecomprises at least one rigid raft assembly that has a fluid passagewayat least partially embedded therein. The fluid passagewayis at least a part of a fluid system. In addition to the fluid passageway, the rigid raft assemblyalso has at least a part of another system. For example, the rigid raft assembly may also include electrical conductors, which are part of an electrical system. The rigid raft assemblymay be lighter, easier to assemble, more robust and more compact than conventional solutions for providing systems to gas turbine engines.

Gas turbine engine systems

The present invention provides a gas turbine engine part which has a primary purpose in the engine which is structural and/or aerodynamic. The part is formed of rigid composite material, and has an electrical system comprising electrical conductors permanently embedded in the composite material. This provides advantages in terms of weight, complexity, and build time.

Gas turbine part having an electrical system embedded in composite material

An electrical assemblycomprising an electrical raftand an electronic unitis provided to a gas turbine engine. The electrical rafthas electrical conductorsembedded in a rigid material, which may be a rigid composite material. The electrical conductorsare in electrical contact with the electronic unit. When the electronic unitis installed, at least a partof it forms a part of a gas-washed surface of the engine. The electronic unitis then easily accessible from the engine, and potentially complex and/or heavy access doors/panels may not be required.

Electronic unit mounting

A vehicle is provided that has a rigid dressing raft. The rigid dressing raftprovides a part of a fluid and/or electrical system to the vehicle. The rigid dressing raft comprises elongate fibers, which may provide strength to the raft. The fibersare electrically conductive, and a voltage source may be applied to at least one of the fibers. The fibermay form a part of an electrical measurement circuit, such as a wheatstone bridge, which may be used to determine the electrical resistance of the fiber. The electrical resistance of the fibermay then be used to determine the temperature and/or stress/strain of the raft

Engine health monitoring

An electrical connector assembly for the electrical connection of one or more minerally insulated cables (), the assembly comprising a pot seal arrangement () arranged in use to connect the minerally insulated cable () to a connector (); at least one cable alignment plate (); and, a backshell () shaped so as to contain the pot seal () and cable alignment plate (); the cable alignment plate () and pot seal () being arranged so as to locate within the backshell () such that in use, connecting the backshell () to the connector () forces the backshell (), cable alignment plate () and pot seal () into a cooperative engagement.

Minerally insulated cable connector

The present invention relates to an assembly for the improved connection or termination of one or more minerally insulated cables, the assembly comprising an electrically insulating plate comprising one or more channels to accommodate and support one or more inward cables; one or more channels to accommodate and support one or more outward cables; one or more recesses to accommodate one or more electrical components; one or more terminal studs arranged to connect said at least one inward and outward cable; and a protective cover comprising one or more protective plates locatable over the electrically insulating plate and cables and further comprising one or more recesses located so as to provide access to each of the one or more terminal studs.

Supported termination

An electrical harness is formed from a flexible printed circuit board which provides a plurality of conductive tracks. The harness has one or more harness connectors at respective terminating regions of the flexible printed circuit board for joining the harness to complementary connectors. The or each harness connector includes a back-shell and one or more elongate terminals which are supported at a position within the back-shell such that, in use, when the harness connector joins with a complementary connector, the elongate terminals are presented for electrical connect at first ends thereof with mating terminals of the complementary connector. The or each terminating region of the harness has one or more receiving holes extending to respective conductive tracks of the harness.

Electrical harness

The present invention provides a rigid raft formed of rigid composite material. The raft has an electrical system and/or a fluid system embedded therein. The raft further has a tank for containing liquid integrally formed therewith. The tank can be formed of the rigid composite material. The tank can be for a gas turbine engine.

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Leicester, United Kingdom

Paul Broughton