Abstract: A motor vehicle has a pair of vertically tiltable headlamps mounted on the vehicle body. An elongate rod extends horizontally between the two headlamps and is slidable in bushes fixed to the motor vehicle body. The elongate rod is connected at its respective ends to the headlamps by way of respective pairs of links disposed on opposite sides of the rod. One link of each pair is pivotally connected between the rod and the respective headlamp whilst the other rod of each pair is pivotally connected between the rod and the body. Movement of the rod effects simultaneous movement of the headlamps and is effected by a mechanical/hydraulic system linked to a rear axle housing and an engine of the motor vehicle so that headlamp tilting occurs to compensate for tilting of the body under changing conditions of load, acceleration and braking.

Abstract: A spark ignition system for a vehicle has a memory device receiving inputs representing engine parameters and producing an output representing the crankshaft position at which a spark is to be produced. This output is compared with a signal representing the actual crankshaft position starting from a datum position, and a common transducer is used to provide the required engine speed signal and crankshaft position signal.

Abstract: A wheel slip protection system includes a transducer driven by a vehicle wheel and a brake control circuit for disabling the brakes when the rate of change of output of the transducer is too high. The transducer produces an oscillatory output of a frequency proportional to wheel speed and the first stage of the control circuit is a signal squaring circuit comprising a voltage comparator, the output terminals of the transducer being connected to the input terminals of the comparator and to earth by identical circuits for the purpose of cancelling noise picked up on wires connecting the transducer to the control circuit.

Abstract: A plating jig comprising a metal frame with an impervious covering of an electrically insulating material on the frame. At least one part of the frame is bare of the covering to permit contact being made with a component to be held by the jig for plating. A contact piece encloses said bare part and is formed of a non-conductive resiliently compressible matrix containing conductive particles such that a conductive path is established through the matrix wherever this is compressed. The contact piece is arranged to be compressed by contact with a component on the jig so as to establish an electrical connection between the frame and the component.

Abstract: A road vehicle electrical system includes a plurality of switches controlling remote loads. The system makes use of voltage sensitive control devices which are operated in synchronism to connect each switch to its load periodically via a conductor which is common to all the load/switch control circuits. A further common conductor conveys a control voltage signal in the form of a repeated staircase wave form to all the control devices. Analogue signal generators and detectors may also share the common conductor under the control of the same wave form generator.

Abstract: A semi-conductor assembly includes a conductive stud and a semi-conductor device mounted on the stud so that a first contact area of the device is thermally and electrically connected thereto. Thermally and electrically connected to a second contact area of the device is an expanded head portion of an electrical lead. A body is shaped to define a recess in which the stud is engaged so that the device is accommodated in the space defined between the stud and the walls of the recess, the electrical lead extending through an aperture in one of said walls. Sealing means prevents ingress of foreign material through the aperture into said space, and a resilient member is trapped and deformed between the head portion of the lead and the body so that the head portion of the lead is urged into pressure contact with the device.

Abstract: A three phase full wave rectifier assembly includes first and second sub-assemblies each of which includes three semi-conductor diodes. In addition, each sub-assembly includes an electrically conductive heat sink the three diodes of the first sub-assembly being secured to the first heat sink with their anodes electrically connected thereto, and the three diodes of the second sub-assembly being secured to the second heat sink with their cathodes electrically connected thereto. Each set of three diodes is secured to its respective heat sink by means of a common clip which engages the heat sink there being a resilient member acting between each clip and the respective three diodes to urge the diodes firmly into contact with the respective heat sink. Additionally, there are three phase connectors, each phase connector being electrically connected to a cathode of a diode of the first sub-assembly and an anode of a diode of the second sub-assembly.

Abstract: A cycle according to the invention includes a rotatable pedal wheel coupled by a chain to the driving wheel of the cycle. An electric motor and associated power source are carried by the frame of the cycle and are coupled to the rear wheel whereby the electric motor can propel. An electrical switch is operable by tension in the chain resulting from pedalling action by the rider and the switch must be operated in order for the motor to be energized.

Abstract: A spark ignition system includes a variable reluctance pick-up producing output pulses when sparks are required. A capacitor is connected across the pick-up in series with a resistor and stores the integral of the pick-up output. Two voltage comparators compare the voltages on the capacitor and the resistor with threshold levels and a spark is only produced when both voltages exceed the threshold levels, so as to minimise the risk of spurious signals in the pick-up producing a spark.

Abstract: A bearing assembly for rotatably supporting a member comprises a bearing fitted into a sleeve, and a pair of mounting brackets brazed to the sleeve so that the sleeve is held between the brackets. Each bracket has an integral flange to which is integrally connected a further, identical bearing assembly, and the brackets are secured to the said member by rivetting the flanges thereto.

Abstract: A detent component for use in a detent assembly of the kind capable of latching a linearly movable member in a predetermined position relative to a fixed member includes a mounting piece whereby the component can be secured to either the movable or the fixed member of a pair of relatively linearly movable members. Additionally, there is a cam follower carried by the mounting piece which is engageable with a detent cam form on the other of the pair of members. The cam follower is defined by an upturned end region of a first limb of a hairpin type spring the second limb of which engages a stop on the mounting piece. The junction region of the first and second limbs defining a loop encircling an anchor post on the mounting piece and the first limb abutting a pair of spaced abutments on the mounting piece.

Abstract: The headlamp tilting system comprises a headlamp tilting mechanism and a headlamp securing mechanism. The headlamp tilting system includes a tensioned cable which leads to a sensor at the rear of the motor vehicle and is connected with a tube having a slidable output rod therein connected with a cross rod upon which headlamps of the motor vehicle are mounted. The tube is movable relative to a body of the vehicle and the output rod is connected with the tube via a pair of springs. The headlamp securing mechanism comprises a lever carrying a catch in the form of a V-shaped notch which is engageable over a pin carried by a lever secured to the cross rod. A spring biasses the lever into a position in which the catch engages the pin but an abutment on the lever engaging a pin in an elongate slot in the rod normally prevents such movement.

Abstract: A temperature sensitive electronic switching arrangement has a casing with two terminals, one of which may be constituted by the casing. In the casing is a positive temperature coefficient resistor and associated trigger circuit. As the temperature rises, a point is reached at which the circuit between the casing terminals changes from a high resistance to a low resistance. The arrangement has many uses, particularly in road vehicles.

Abstract: A counter comprises a body housing a set of discs which are freely rotatable on a sleeve and which have numerals on their peripheries. A series of drive plates are keyed to the sleeve and interleaved with the discs. At one end of the set of discs a spring-loaded collar also keyed to the sleeve urges the drive plates and discs into frictional engagement. The sleeve is rotatable with a reset wheel while the collar is driven by a star counting wheel through an orbital drive arrangement. The orbital drive arrangement may include a further collar having outwardly directed projections thereon which engage an abutment carried by a resilient arm, the abutment and projections restraining the further collar against rotation during counting. Each disc has a set of first abutments and a second abutment on its periphery.

Abstract: A slip ring assembly for an a.c. machine comprises a pair of copper rings mounted on an electrically insulating sleeve formed of two arcuate portions, each of which extends for less than the true semi-circle so that the sleeve is not a true cylinder of circular cross-section. Means internally of the sleeve urges the arcuate portions outwardly when the sleeve is mounted on a rotor shaft of the a.c. machine so as to retain the rings in position on the sleeve. The means may be in the form of a separate, split cylindrical spring or in the form of a taper on the inner surface of the sleeve which engages a corresponding taper on the rotor shaft.

Abstract: A vehicle rear window heater control comprises a touch switch, a bistable circuit driven between its two states by the touch switch, a relay operated by the bistable circuit so that the heater is controlled by the touch switch and a monostable circuit triggered by the relay for switching off the bistable a predetermined time after the touch switch has been actuated to energize the heater.

Abstract: The vehicle lamp unit comprises a housing having a window therein. Within the housing is an ellipsoidal reflector, and a concave mirror disposed to project light emanating from the reflector through the window. A mask is disposed at the outer focal plane of the reflector and is movable into and out of a masking position by means of a solenoid and connecting linkage. In a preferred arrangement, the reflector is mounted within the housing for pivotal movement about an axis which is inclined with respect to the horizontal.

Abstract: A headlamp tilting system in a motor vehicle has opposite ends of an inner cable connected respectively to the rear axle housing of the vehicle and an intermediate portion of a lever. An outer sleeve surrounds the inner cable and abuts against the underside of the vehicle body. One end of the lever is pivotally mounted on the vehicle body via a damper while the other end thereof is connected to the vehicle headlamps through a further cable and a movement reducer including two spring arms. The damper is arranged to oppose relatively short term changes but to permit relatively long term change so that, under braking and acceleration conditions, the inner cable tilts the headlamps as a result of pivotal movement of the lever. Under changing load conditions, body movement of the lever takes place as permitted by the damper to effect a reduced headlamp tilt.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing stator assemblies for dynamo electric machines in which the stator assemblies are of the kind including a hollow cylindrical yoke carrying a pole member on its inner surface comprising starting with a pole member having upstanding therefrom an integral spigot, and a yoke member, the wall of which includes a through bore of larger diameter than the spigot, performing a deforming operation on the yoke at the outer end of the bore to enlarge the diameter of the outer end of the bore and at the same time reduce the diameter of the bore intermediate its ends. The intermediate diameter of the bore is reduced to that of the spigot, and the spigot is then inserted through the bore from the inner end thereof so that the pole member lies against the inner surface of the yoke. The free end of the spigot is then deformed to produce a rivet head occupying the outer, enlarged region of the bore, and thus secure the pole member to the yoke.

Abstract: A drive component of a roller clutch assembly for use in an internal combustion engine starter motor includes an annulus formed internally with a cam form which in use is engaged by rollers of the clutch assembly. The component further includes a sleeve which is formed from non-magnetic material and which is provided with internal splines. The annulus and the sleeve are positioned with their axes co-extensive, and the sleeve is formed with an integral flange. The flange of the sleeve has therein a plurality of recesses, and the annulus includes a plurality of projections which are received in respective recesses of the flange of the sleeve. The interengagement of the projections and the corresponding recesses couples the sleeve and the annulus for rotation.