ROUND-UP
In brief
Sulzer launches pump quiz
Sulzer has developed a series of interactive online quizzes for pump
engineers and operators to put their knowledge to the test. The
challenging and engaging questions cover a wide range of key areas
and are suitable for users of all experience levels. The rst quiz in the
series, Pump Essentials, is live on www.is.gd/ukazit
Rolls-Royce innovative sliding bearing
awarded environmental tech prize
The Rolls-Royce Power
Systems business unit has
developed a sliding bearing
for its MTU engines that
reduces their fuel consumption
by 1%. That achievement has won
it the Environmental Technology
Prize awarded by the Ministry for
the Environment in the state of Baden-
Württemberg (Germany).
The new bearings signi cantly reduce the
amount of friction arising between bearing
and crankshaft, and also enable prediction
of when maintenance will next be required.
“This is an innovation with huge potential,
because the new bearings can simply replace
the existing bearings in a whole range of
applications,” said Thekla Walker, environment
minister of Baden-Württemberg, in the awards
ceremony.
The bearing surface, instead of being
entirely smooth, is furbished with ne
grooves, which, together with
the lubricant, produce an
aquaplaning-like e ect
which functions as an antifriction
layer. This reduces,
friction for example, the frictioninduced
losses arising between
crankshaft and bearing by
20-35%, depending on
the operating mode. The
innovative bearing is the
result of a collaborative e ort
between a project team in Friedrichshafen,
bearing manufacturer Miba, and the
MontanUniversität Leoben in Austria.
MTU engines produced in higher volumes
by the company are to be tted with the
new sliding bearing in the near future. The
new bearing is planned to be marketed as an
individual component by Miba AG. It is said to
be suitable for all equipment in which sliding
bearings must withstand high loads.
World’s rst hands-free jet pack
prototype unveiled
The jet pack is the brainchild of Hollywood
animatronics expert Matt Denton and Royal
Navy Commander Antony Quinn. It uses a
vertical take-o and landing (VTOL) system and
is designed to be operated hands-free, allowing
people to make safer ights, and precision
landings on structures that are di cult to access
– from wind turbines to military hardware,
buildings and construction projects.
The Maverick Jet pack can be recon gured
as a heavy-lift drone capable of being operated
remotely and carrying ten times the payload of
current similarly-sized systems on the market
– easily enough to lift a casualty like a stricken
climber to safety, the company says.
Other use cases include search & rescue,
leisure, disaster relief, security and policing.
Helicopters are currently used to carry out
much of this work, but Maverick’s Jet pack is far
smaller, uses sustainable fuel, and can cut costs.
The jet pack
will travel at
between 10mph
and 30mph,
depending on the
task. The control
system is intuitive
and the operator
can switch on an in-built autopilot to multi-task
while in ight if necessary.
Early work on the control system software
was funded by a £97,000 grant from Innovate
UK, secured by Maverick’s grant partner Catax.
The rst manned test ight is scheduled for
next summer and the company is about to start
seeking further investment.
Antony Quinn, CEO and co-founder, said:
“The jet pack uses the same sort of jet engines
that you see on a passenger plane, only ours are
the size of a rugby ball.”
Sheffi eld-based Neilson
Hydraulics & Engineering, which
produces power units, hydraulic
systems and supplies a vast
range of hydraulic components,
has expanded. The company has
moved from its factory in Catcliffe
to larger premises. The new 17,700
sq. ft. premises will enable the
company to increase production of
hydraulic power units and systems
and design and manufacture
bespoke batch mixing systems for
the construction industry.
Control Freaks has become
the latest member of Mitsubishi
Electric’s Drive Solutions Centre
(DSC) network. Clint Johnson,
director of Control Freaks, said: “As
part of the DSC network, we will
be able to provide our customers
with enhanced technical support
and industry-focused expertise. I
look forward to seeing my team
members grow their skillsets,
which will help us to create a wider
range of solutions to support our
customers.”
Network Rail, Incremental and
Sensonic have agreed to work in
collaboration to develop a new
cutting-edge rail monitoring
solution, supported by Innovate
UK. Network Rail has agreed to
run a 12-month trial between
Allington Junction and Skegness
on the East Midland Poacher Line.
This will focus on detecting the
early signs of defective rail joints,
which are currently only detectable
through manual inspection. While
degradation of joints can be
detected via Sensonic’s solution,
Incremental’s AEGIS provides data
to track and identify all trains on
the network. Sensonic is deriving
a broad range of information by
creating and interpreting a digital
twin of all vibrations along a
railway track.
MA Business, Operations
Engineer publishing partner,
has joined the University of
Nottingham’s Centre for Additive
Manufacturing (CfAM) and Added
Scientifi c to produce their Additive
International 2022 Summit.
Winter 2021 www.operationsengineer.org.uk 13
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