Abstract: A control assembly and method for operating the throttle of an internal combustion engine, in particular, but not exclusively, a diesel engine of a heavy duty vehicle, is provided whereby fuel can be saved by controlling the throttle operation and a driver can be trained to exhibit better driving skills. Detector means detect certain undesirable throttle conditions or movements such as full throttle for an excessive period of time; the number of times a throttle is pumped; and the speed with which the throttle mechanism is moved, and the assembly acts to reduce the fuel supply to the engine to an extent whereat the engine does not lose engine speed to any appreciable extent at constant load, but full throttle is temporarily unavailable.

Abstract: A linear link is provided which comprises an inner and an outer telescopically movable pair of members in which a catch arrangement is operative between formations on the two members to selectively lock them in one particular telescopic position, or to allow them to move telescopically, thereby providing for a limited and optionally adjustable degree of lost motion between the ends of the linear link. A co-axial solenoid carried by the outer member controls the catch arrangement to provide selectively for rendering it operative or not according to whether or not the solenoid is energised. The linear link may be lockable in either its maximum or minimum degree of telescopic extension.

Abstract: Food steaming apparatus is provided in which a food support member, generally orientated horizontally, is provided with perforations therethrough having deflector zones associated therewith. The deflector zones are arranged such that, in use, steam rising vertically to pass through the perforations is provided with a transverse component to its direction of movement. The arrangement is preferably one in which the deflector zones impart a swirling motion to steam passing through the food support. The invention also provides a divider for inclusion in the tubular body, the divider having perforated walls similarly provided with deflector zones for promoting a swirling action of steam whereby cooking is effected.

Abstract: A lid for cooking utensils such as a frying pan, pot, or the like is provided in which the lid has a dished configuration, generally smoothly dished towards a central region such that the lid may be accommodated on a wide variety of different pots and pans. The lid has perforations in the operatively lowermost region thereof to allow liquids thereon to drain into a pot or pan in use. Associated with each perforation is a shield member located thereover so that direct passage of liquids or solids through the perforations is substantially prevented while passage of gasses is free. There may be only one shield member for all the perforations and a centrally located handle is generally provided.

Abstract: A perforated cover assembly is made of two oppositely dished shell members releasably interconnected at their peripheries to define a space therebetween. The lower shell member has a plurality of outlet perforations spread over substantially its entire surface and each of which is raised relative to the immediately surrounding surface of the member to prevent liquids flowing out of such perforations in use. The dished lower shell member has a central lowermost region with drainage perforations therethrough. The upper shell member has at least one large perforation and/or a plurality of small ones offset from those in the lower shell member. Preferably the upper shell member has a central funnel inlet for pouring liquids through the cover by way of the drainage perforations in the lower shell member.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for monitoring the operation of a vehicle comprises sensing means in the form of one or more mercury-containing capsules to sense whether accelerative forces acting on the vehicle in the plane of movement of the vehicle exceed or are less than a predetermined value, a pulse generator operative in response to the sensing means to generate a number of pulses at predetermined intervals when the accelerative forces exceed the predetermined value, an additive memory operative in response to the pulse generator to generate a pulse count representative of the length of time for which the accelerative forces have exceeded the predetermined value, a timer operative to be triggered in response to the sensing means when the accelerative forces exceed the predetermined value, a comparator operative in response to the additive memory and the timer to compare the first signal with a predetermined signal a predetermined period of time after triggering of the timer, and a recorder operative in respo

Abstract: A monitoring device for monitoring the operation of a vehicle internal combustion engine having inlet ducting for admitting a fuel/air mixture into the engine comprises vacuum sensitive apparatus for sensing the degree of vacuum in the inlet ducting, speed sensitive apparatus for sensing the rotational speed of the engine, and warning apparatus including gates, multivibrator circuitry, a loudspeaker, and a recorder. When the degree of vacuum falls below a predetermined vacuum value, warning bleeps are issued by the loudspeaker and recordings are made on the recorder. The warning apparatus is operative in response to the vacuum sensitive apparatus and the speed sensitive apparatus to provide a predetermined vacuum value which is a stepwise increasing function of rotational speed sensed.An inclined mercury containing capsule is provided to inhibit bleeping and recording when the vehicle is inclined at more than a predetermined angle to the horizontal in the direction of travel of the vehicle.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for monitoring the operation of a motor vehicle subjected to a decelerative force, wherein the vehicle's throttle opening is sensed, an indication is given when the throttle opening exceeds a predetermined value, wherein the decelerative force is sensed, and wherein said predetermined value is varied automatically as said decelerative force on the vehicle varies. If the throttle opening continues to exceed said predetermined value, then a recording is made.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for monitoring the operation of a motor vehicle subjected to a decelerative force, wherein the vehicle's throttle opening is sensed, an indication is given when the throttle opening exceeds a predetermined value, wherein the decelerative force is sensed, and wherein the predetermined value is varied automatically as the decelerative force on the vehicle varies. If the throttle opening continues to exceed the predetermined value, then a recording is made.

Abstract: A protective device for internal combustion engines and/or vehicles embodying same including means for detecting one or more abnormal conditions of a part of such engine or vehicle such as the temperature of a part, clutch slip, or excessive engine speed, and means activated by the detecting means for at least partially dethrottling the engine and optionally also declutching same and/or applying the brakes in the case of a vehicle.

Abstract: A safety device for use particularly with vehicles embodies a switching arrangement which is closed when excessive accelerative forces are applied thereto. Recording means are included to record "faults" sensed by the device and means are also provided for limiting the number of "faults" recorded by the device during a single prolonged closure of the switching arrangement.