Abstract: An anti-dazzle rear view mirror incorporates a liquid crystal cell the conductive layers of which are energized by a control voltage in response to light above a threshold intensity impinging on a photoresistor in the control circuit of the cell. A low voltage source, for example a vehicle 12 volt battery, supplies a potential divider which includes the photoresistor, the voltage across which is connected through a logic invertor which controls two logic NAND gates for gating antiphase square wave outputs derived from an oscillator driven from the source to the respective conductive layers of the cell, thereby producing a square-wave voltage across the cell which is double the amplitude of the oscillator output, and decreasing the time taken for the liquid crystal cell to respond to the light intensity change.

Abstract: A low-cost solar panel is fabricated from three laminated plastics layers, the upper two layers being transparent to luminous and infra-red solar radiation and the bottom layer being opaque; in one version water to be heated flows first between the upper two layers and then between the lower two layers to be further heated in flowing over the bottom layer.

Abstract: A system for distributing electrical energy to the electric current consumer devices of an automobile without having to wire each consumer individually via a switch to the power source, comprising a central control unit connected to a plurality of remote control units by a single control line for each side of the automobile to which respective groups of consumers are connected. A single power line for each side of the vehicle runs from the power source to the remote control units which selectively energize the consumers in dependence on coded pulse signals received from the central control unit. Operation of the system is cyclic and includes time on the control line for a reverse flow of signals from sensors and/or check circuits to transmit to the central control unit for information and/or warning display on an instrument panel of the automobile.

Abstract: A braking device for controlling the torque transmitted to driving wheels via a differential gear, in which the speed and acceleration of each wheel is detected and the appropriate wheel is braked if its speed and/or acceleration exceeds respective predetermined thresholds if the speed and acceleration of the other wheel does not exceed these thresholds; the speed difference is detected between the two wheels for the purpose of controlling, with the speed and acceleration signals, a logic control circuit, preferably a ROM, which determines when the brakes of each wheel are to be applied and released.

Abstract: A lubricating oil sump for an internal combustion engine has hollow side and bottom walls through the interspaces of which engine coolant is circulated to cool oil in the sump, the interspace in the bottom having a meandering flow passage and the internal surface of the sump bottom having longitudinal fins, covered partly by a plate, between which oil flows to be cooled by heat exchange with the engine coolant before entering an oil suction pipe.

Abstract: The period of opening of a solenoid-operated fuel injector is stabilized against variation of vehicle battery voltage by computing the period of injector opening from the instant of a discontinuity present in each rise of the solenoid energizing current. The discontinuity is detected and differentiated to form one input to a comparator, the other input of which is supplemented from the vehicle battery through a Zener diode so that the comparison threshold of the comparator increases as the battery voltage increases. The comparator is automatically switched off in the absence of a solenoid energizing current.

Abstract: Desalination apparatus using solar energy comprises a main insulated container with a subsidiary preheating container next to it; the main container is covered with a transparent cover serving as a selective filter to provide "the greenhouse effect" and also as a condensation surface for water vapor, and this transparent cover incorporates a hollow space, for example by making the cover double skinned. The hollow space forms part of a syphon which automatically regulates the water levels, transferring salt water from a preheating container to the main container as the level in the main container falls due to loss by evaporation leading to condensation and withdrawal of the desalinated water. The hollow part of the transparent cover thus serves also to preheat the incoming salt water with the heat lost upon condensation by the vapor within the main container.

Abstract: A hydraulic system for feeding a plurality of independent hydraulic servo-operated devices, such as servo-assisted brakes, clutch and/or servo-operated steering, in which a single pump draws fluid from a common reservoir and fluid pressure is automatically distributed by one or more modulating valves to the or each of the devices requiring power at any one time. The or each modulating valve comprises at least one piston in a cylinder, the piston being displaced by an increase in pressure due to displacement of one or more operating member such as brake or clutch pedal, or steering wheel, this controlling the flow of fluid through an axial passage in the piston by controlling its proximity to a valve shutter element and thereby controlling the fluid pressure in a chamber of the modulating valve, which pressure is fed to a control chamber of at least one distributor associated with a servo actuator of one of the servo operated devices of the system whereby to control the operating pressure applied to this.

Abstract: The quantity of air inducted in a four cylinder Otto engine with fuel injection and an inlet throttle for each cylinder is determined by indirect measurement, unaffected by atmospheric pressure variations. The induction air pressure is measured by a transducer located between one of the throttles and its associated cylinder inlet valve, and the pressure is sampled, using an electronic gating system responsive to engine speed, within a precisely defined range (preferably 15.degree.-25.degree. after bottom dead center) of engine crankshaft angle.

Abstract: A servo-assisted hydrodynamic braking system of the type in which brake pedal pressure is used to control a modulating valve which restricts an output line of a pump thereby increasing the pressure in the output line which is connected to the master cylinder of the braking system in such a way as to apply this increased pressure as a servo-assisting pressure, in which the master cylinder and modulating valve are made as a composite assembly and the pressure within the master cylinder part is used to control the modulating valve so that no direct mechanical interconnection between the brake pedal and the modulating valve is needed.

Abstract: Spheroidal cast iron pieces are tested by clamping each individual piece on a vibratory test rig together with a reference datum piece and using the measured amplitude and frequency of the system at resonance to derive an automatic indication, through an electronic logic circuit, of the quality of the piece under test compared with the reference piece.

Abstract: Servo-assisted hydraulic braking system of the type in which brake pedal pressure is reinforced by a pressure dependent thereon and fed to a master cylinder driving piston by a distributor device which is fed with fluid under pressure from a pressure source and control pressure from control chambers defined by plungers within the master cylinder itself, which plungers are displaced directly or indirectly by the displacement of the driving piston of the master cylinder. The distributor plungers are balanced so that for a given brake pedal pressure they feed through a certain reinforcing pressure and then close off the driving piston chamber from the pressure source, locking in the reinforcing pressure so far applied, so that variations in the pressure generated by the pressure generating device are not fed back to the brake pedal via the driving piston of the master cylinder.

Abstract: A mixed propulsion system comprising a turbine unit having two output shafts which drive two counter rotating flywheels and, via a reduction gearbox, two generators which generate electricity to drive two electric drive motors the output shafts of which are connected to the wheels of the vehicle. A control system is provided, linked to the accelerator and brake pedal of the vehicle, for controlling the excitation of the field windings of the generators and the motors such that a predetermined excitation pattern is followed. The turbine unit is automatically controlled to run when the speed of the flywheels falls below a lower threshold value and is turned off when the flywheels reach a predetermined maximum threshold speed.

Abstract: A device for testing the lubrication of an internal combustion engine has a potentiometer circuit connected between two electrodes one in contact with the crankshaft and the other in contact with the crank case, a first voltage detector of the averaging type connected directly across the potentiometer and at least one further voltage detector of the averaging type connected to a threshold discriminator which is also connected across the potentiometer; a third averaging voltage detector may be connected to a further threshold discriminator connected across the potentiometer, this latter having a threshold set at a value different from that of the first mentioned discriminator: alternatively the first mentioned discriminator may be one having two thresholds to each of which it can be switched at will.

Abstract: A power assisted hydraulic steering device in which the hydraulic actuators and the control valves are all contained in a common cylindrical housing surrounding a control shaft connectable to the steerable wheels of the vehicle, the actuator comprises an annular piston formed on the control shaft and housed in a cylinder defined between the control shaft and the sleeve. A control rod linked to the steering column is housed within the control shaft, which is hollow, and carries a valve element which cooperates with interior parts of the hollow control shaft to control fluid pressure applied to one side of the annular piston to cause displacement in one direction, or both sides of the annular piston, which has different areas on opposite sides, to cause displacement in the opposite direction.

Abstract: A device for determining the rate of flow of air in the intake duct of an internal combustion engine comprises a detector duct of generally rectangular cross section housing two ultrasonic detectors one at each end, lying adjacent the detector duct is an intake duct having an inlet air filter which also serves as an ultrasonic acoustic filter. Adjacent ends of the intake and detector ducts are joined by a deflector which turns the air through 180.degree. as it passes from the intake duct to the detector duct. Within the deflector are fins which guide the air and turn it with the minimum of pressure loss and turbulence; adjacent the deflector in the intake duct is located a set of fins serving to diffuse the air as it passes, to reduce any temperature or velocity gradient across its width, and adjacent the deflector in the detector duct is located a set of fins serving to guide the air stream and reduce turbulence maintaining the even pressure and temperature across the stream.

Abstract: A vibration-dampening gasket of elastic material for interposition between upper and lower blocks of an internal combustion Diesel or Otto cycle engine has integral locating pins for force-fitting engagement in holes in the lower engine block and a greater thickness than a seat in which it is fitted so as to be compressed upon assembly of the engine.

Abstract: An induction conduit in an internal combustion engine cylinder head is formed with an appendage of rectangular section extending parallel to the axis of a valve stem at the end of the conduit adjacent the valve seat and disposed in a radial plane inclined to the transverse axis of the valve parallel to the engine shaft at an angle of between 0.degree. and 45.degree. to assist in reducing the turbulence in the inducted air due to centrifugal motion. The lower face of the appendage can be machined to regulate the degree of turbulence.

Abstract: In order to stabilize the open time of an electromagnetic fuel injector against variation of vehicle battery voltage, first and second threshold values of solenoid current for opening and closing of the injector are predetermined experimentally, the duration of the injection control signal being determined from the time the first current threshold is reached. The battery voltage dependent delay between the end of the injection control signal and the reaching of the second current threshold as the solenoid current decays is subtracted from the duration of the injector opening control signal for the subsequent injection cycle.

Abstract: A control device for a pneumatic braking system which is particularly suitable for industrial trucks and lorries the axle loading of which varies widely depending on whether the truck is empty or fully laden. The device has an inlet port which in use is fed with the braking control pressure, and an outlet port which feeds a servo-valve to determine the pressure fed to the brakes of, for example, the rear wheels. The control device comprises a generally cylindrical housing separated into two chambers by a piston, the two chambers communicate with each other through a controlled restrictor passage the size of the opening of which is controlled by the position of the piston. The exposed area of the piston in one chamber is greater than in the other, so that when the pressure in both chambers is the same, the piston experiences a resultant force towards the other chamber but movement is resisted by a force proportional to the axle loading derived by a mechanical or fluid pressure arrangement.