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EP 4 816 778 A1

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(43) Date of publication: 07.10.2026 Bulletin 2026/41 (21) Application number: 24817111.8 (22) Date of filing: 26.11.2024

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  G01J 5/00(2022.01) B23K 26/03(2006.01) G01J 5/0802(2022.01) G01J 5/08(2022.01) B22F 12/90(2021.01) B33Y 50/02(2015.01) G01J 5/0821(2022.01) (52) Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC): G01J 5/0018; G01J 5/004; G01J 5/0821; G01J 5/0879; G01J 5/0802; B23K 26/034; B33Y 50/02; B33Y 10/00; B23K 26/032; B23K 9/0956; B23K 26/342 (86) International application number: PCT/EP2024/083517 (87) International publication number: WO 2025/114235 (05.06.2025 Gazette 2025/23)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC ME MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR Designated Extension States: BA Designated Validation States: GE KH MA MD TN (30) Priority: 29.11.2023 GB 202318208 (71) Applicant: Cranfield University Cranfield, Bedfordshire MK40 0AL (GB)	(72) Inventors: TATAM, Ralph, Peter Cranfield Bedfordshire MK43 0AL (GB) MULLANEY, Kevin Cranfield Bedfordshire MK40 0AL (GB) (74) Representative: Haseltine Lake Kempner LLP  Cheapside House 138 Cheapside London EC2V 6BJ London EC2V 6BJ (GB)