Rolls-Royce Corporation

Robin Charles Kennea

Paul Broughton

Richard Peace

Gary Alan Skinner

Michael Christopher Willmot

Philip Summerfield

Matthew Peter Fitt

Justin Sean Dalton

Jason Watkiss

John Philip Richardson

Daniel J A Swan

Paul I Rayment

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 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

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.

Rigid raft

An electrical raft () is provided that has electrical conductors () embedded in a rigid material (). The electrical raft is provided with an electrical connector (). The electrical connector () is mounted in the electrical raft () at a mounting angle (). The mounting angle is set such that the electrical conductors () can be connected to the electrical connector without having to turn through an angle or a radius of curvature that would subject them to excessive bending stress. Similarly, the mounting angle means that any conductors () that may be connected to the electrical connector () do not have to turn through an angle or a radius of curvature that would subject them to excessive bending stress. Furthermore, mounting the electrical connector () at the mounting angle () may allow the assembled electrical raft () to be more compact.

An electrical raftis provided that has electrical conductorsembedded in a rigid material. The electrical raftmay have other embedded components, such as embedded fluid pipes. The electrical raftis provided with a raft mapthat indicates the location and/or path of components embedded in the electrical raft. The raft mapcan be used to identify the positions of the embedded components, and may also be provided with active elements, such as LEDs, which may be used to indicate an operating state of the systems/components embedded in the electrical raft. The raft mapmay be useful in assembly, repair and fault diagnosis, for example.

Electrical raft with map

A raft assembly for a gas turbine engine is provided. The raft assembly includes a rigid raft formed of a rigid material that has an electrical system and/or a fluid system embedded therein. The raft assembly further includes one or more clamps for mounting tubular members to the raft. The or each clamp has a first clamp block and a second clamp block which, in use, clamp together to grip a tubular member between the blocks. The first block is fixed to the raft. The or each clamp further has a fastener operatively extending between the blocks. The fastener is tightenable to apply a clamping load between the blocks, and releasable to remove the clamping load such that the second block can be moved relative to the first block to allow the tubular member to be received between or removed from between the blocks.

Raft assembly

An electrical assembly including electrical raft having electrical conductors embedded in a rigid material is provided. The electrical assembly has an electrically conductive screen layer. The electrically conductive screen layer provides electromagnetic protection to the electrical conductors. The electrically conductive screen layer is electrically connected to a mounting fixture, which in turn may be electrically connected to an apparatus on which the electrical assembly may be mounted. The electrical raft is used to transport electrical signals (which may be, for example power and/or control signals), for example around a gas turbine engine.

Electrical structure having a grounding plane

A workpiece support, including: first and second arms pivotably connected to first and second support members respectively, the first and second support members being spaced apart, each arm including first and second receiving members for receiving the workpiece, the first and second receiving members being provided at first and second ends of each arm respectively, wherein each arm is pivotably connected to the respective first and second support members at a point between the first and second ends of each arm, such that a workpiece may be supported by the first and second receiving members of the first arm and the first and second receiving members of the second arm.

Growing community of inventors

Nottingham, United Kingdom

Robin Charles Kennea