Abstract: In a master cylinder of the quick-fill type, communication between the quick-fill chamber (8) and the reservoir (13) is controlled by a valve assembly comprising a pressure responsive valve which opens when the pressure in the quick-fill chamber (8) reaches a predetermined level, and a one-way valve (20, 22) which allows free flow of fluid from the reservoir to the quick-fill chamber. The valve member (20) and seat (15) of the pressure responsive valve have confronting surfaces which define between them, when the valve is closed, a restrictive passage for pressure equalization purposes, and any dirt becoming trapped between the surfaces is washed away by the fluid flow on opening of the valve.

Abstract: An air compressor having a piston driven from an input shaft via a multi-plate clutch which is normally held in engaged condition by a spring device which is pre-loaded by one or more screw members arranged to apply a compressive force across the spring device and also to maintain the clutch in assembled condition.

Abstract: A governor system for controlling the setting of a fuel control member of a fuel injection pump includes a manually operable member, a connecting device connecting said members, the connecting device being such as to allow movement of the fuel control member independently of the manually operable member. The system includes a pivot lever upon which acts a speed responsive device which moves the lever in opposition to the force exerted by resilient means in the middle speed range of the associated engine. The lever is connected to the fuel control member through a dash-pot device which acts in the middle speed range to adjust the setting of the fuel control member if there is a sudden change of engine speed. A high speed spring and an idling spring are also provided to provide a normal two speed governor action.

Abstract: A method of making an assembly of a metal tube and a flange body having an opening therein through which the tube is passed during assembly, comprising, deforming the flange resiliently to enlarge the opening to allow passage of the tube, inserting and passing the tube through the opening to the desired position, and allowing the flange to resiliently recover toward its condition prior to deformation thereby being urged into engagement with the tube at the opening. In another form of the method, the tube opening is large enough to permit passage of the tube and the flange is subsequently deformed inwardly onto the tube. The flange is finally secured to the tube by laser or electron beam welding.

Abstract: A brake of the multi-plate disc type is mounted at the end of an axle of a vehicle to brake it through the intermediary of a reduction gear mechanism, and the brake is operated by an hydraulic control system which extends to the brake from a portion inboard of bearings for a hub on which a wheel is mounted. A removable external cover is itself disposed outwardly of the brake to provide direct access to it when it is removed and to ensure the completeness and liquid-tightness of a closed cooling circuit for cooling the brake.

Abstract: An air compressor has a piston (3) reciprocable to compress air within a cylinder (2), a clutch (16) to transmit drive from a drive input shaft (12) to the piston when compression is required, a piston (27) arranged to be responsive to pressure resulting from the compressor output operable to disengage the clutch (16) and thereby interrupt drive to the compressor piston when the pressure reaches a predetermined value, and a passage (37) to provide a leakage path for the pressure applied to the piston (27) to enable the pressure to decay in a controlled manner when further operation of the piston is required, whereby engagement of the clutch is permitted to occur progressively and shock loadings on the compressor components are minimized.

Abstract: In a combination of an electric storage battery and a device for making an external electrical connection to the battery, the connecting device includes a conductive member secured to a conductive battery terminal exposed at an external surface of the battery and a conductive cable connected to the conductive member and surrounded by an insulating sheath. In addition, the terminal and the conductive member are encapsulated in an electrically insulating material which is substantially self-sealing when punctured by a needle-pointed, electrical testing probe.

Abstract: A power valve for a vehicle braking system includes a main pressure chamber (4) defined between the body (1) and spool (2) and connected to the outlet (5), the spool being displaceable under an input effort to close communication between the chamber (4) and a reservoir port (8) and open communication of the chamber (4) with an inlet (7), and an auxiliary chamber (10) to which fluid pressure may be supplied through a port (11) to exert a force on the spool for reducing the pressure supplied to the outlet (5) for a given input effort applied to the spool (2).

Abstract: An adjuster for a shoe drum brake has a variable length strut for maintaining a predetermined maximum shoe to drum clearance. A thermally responsive shape memory effect material (SME material as defined in the specification) is arranged to move the brake shoes outwardly by extending the strut to compensate for drum expansion during excessive temperature conditions. Alternative arrangements are described using a body of (SME) material to disable the adjuster during excessive temperature conditions.

Abstract: An i.c. engine fuel control includes a main fuel control which controls fuel flow to the engine in accordance with one or more engine operating parameters. A roughness sensor provides an electrical signal varying with the magnitude of fluctuations in the engine speed and an integrator integrates the error between this signal and a reference signal. Two active clamp circuits operate to limit the excursion of the integrator output which provides a limited authority trim input to the fuel control.

Abstract: A governor system for the fuel pump of a road vehicle includes a governor of the all-speed type and means is provided to vary the characteristic of the governor in the intermediate speed range in accordance with the load on the vehicle.

Abstract: A linear transducer comprises a former about which is wound a number of windings, the windings being disposed in side by side relationship and having the same number of turns. The windings are connected in series with adjacent windings being wound in the opposite direction. The transducer also includes a core member which has a length substantially equal to the length of the winding. The inductance of the windings varies cylically as the core member is moved through the former.

Abstract: A coupling for use in a transmission system and between coaxial rotary members which are arranged for driving engagement through axially engaging teeth thereon, one of said members being connected, directly or indirectly by helical splines to a further part such that in normal rotation, the said one member has a force exerted upon it tending to separate the teeth, such force being resisted by a fusible element which will melt when temperature rises above a predetermined value, melting of said element permitting axial movement of said one member relatively to said further part, through the splines to permit disengagement of the teeth, bearings supporting said further part, being substantially free from axial loading and spring means being provided for preventing re-engagement of the teeth after the element has melted.

Abstract: This specification discloses a friction pad assembly for use in a disc brake. The friction pad assembly has a pad anti-rattle spring having a coiled region intermediate its ends, the coils of said coiled region being axially spaced apart from each other and engaging in a slot in the backing plate, the slot and spring presenting planar surfaces which can interengage with each other. Thus, by virtue of the interengaging planar surfaces the coiled region can only, at most, rotate to a limited degree in the slot and thus, should one spring arm be broken, the planar surfaces prevent the coiled region from rotating within the slot when a force is applied to the other arm whereby that other spring arm can continue to function. Also, the location of the coiled region in the slot is space saving and the spaced apart coils allows the maximum spring performance to be achieved.

Abstract: The present specification relates to a piston and cylinder arrangement for use in a vehicle disc brake. Such arrangements are either hydraulically or pneumatically operable. In disc brakes the piston and cylinder of the brake actuator are usually sealed against the ingress of dirt, by a flexible boot arranged between the piston and cylinder at the cylinder open end. Additionally a separate pressure seal is advantageously provided between the piston and cylinder. The present invention provides for a flexible boot which engages in retaining grooves provided on the outside of the piston and on the inside wall of the cylinder adjacent to the open end of the cylinder, the part of the flexible boot engaging in the retaining groove in the inside wall of the cylinder, being compressed radially of the cylinder to thus act as a pressure seal between the piston and cylinder. By virtue of this dual function, the piston can be shortened and the weight of the arrangement induced. Also assembly is simplified.

Abstract: A fuel pumping apparatus for supplying fuel to an internal combustion engine includes a throttle member having a groove which can register with a port to control the fuel flow to an injection pump forming part of the apparatus. The throttle member is angularly movable by a governor and is also axially movable. The groove has an inclined edge so that the variation in the axial setting will also control the fuel flow. A pivotal lever has one end engaging the throttle member and its other end mounts a cam follower which engages with a cam surface formed on a cam ring which is part of the injection pump and which is angularly movable in accordance with the speed of the engine. As the speed varies so also does the axial setting of the throttle member.

Abstract: A suspension strut for a vehicle comprises a cylinder in which works a piston, and the piston is carried by a piston-rod which passes through an axial extension depending from a closure for one end of the cylinder. An annular chamber defined between the cylinder and the extension accommodates the whole of a volume of gas or air and a portion of a volume of hydraulic fluid which fills the remaining space in the cylinder and against which the piston works. A seal through which the piston-rod works is carried by the extension at a position which is always below the level of hydraulic fluid in the cylinder so that the gas or air is prevented from escaping past the seal by the presence of the hydraulic fluid.

Abstract: An electronic fuel injection control includes a main fuel control circuit, a transient enrichment control circuit temporarily increasing fuel flow as a result of increasing of a demand signal, and temperature compensation means non-linearly varying the effect of the enrichment control with engine temperature. The temperature compensation means preferably includes a temperature "window" detector which acts to increase the effect of the enrichment control whenever the engine temperature is between prescribed limits.

Abstract: The present specification relates to pin sliding caliper disc brakes suitable for use in trucks. The disc brake of the present invention comprises a caliper slidably mounted on a first torque taking member, the caliper being open-topped for the easy insertion of friction pad assemblies. A supplementary torque taking member is detachably secured to the first torque taking member and has a pair of finger-like projections which, in use, engage in complementary recesses in the friction pad assemblies whereby the pad braking force is taken directly by the torque taking members. To replace the pad assemblies, the supplementary torque taking member is detached to allow for easy access to the caliper.

Abstract: A selector valve for a vehicle braking system in which brakes mounted on opposite sides of the vehicle can be operated selectively either together or independently, comprises an operating lever (9) for displacing a valve spool (2) to control communication between inlet ports (3,4) and outlet ports (5,6), the lever being guided by a slot (8) which includes latching notches (20) in which the lever is engageable to preselect a particular steering mode of brake operation. The lever is automatically disengaged from the notches after each brake operation by a piston (15) which is actuated by the fluid pressure in a chamber (16) connected to an inlet port (4).