Abstract: The invention provides a method of moulding a reinforced structure for use in a subsequent moulding operation to form a moulded article, comprising the steps of heating a fibrous mat (10) formed from fibres held together by a thermoformable binder while between the parts (11) and (12) of a mould tool which parts (11) and (12) are pre-coated with a release agents; bringing the parts of the mould together using a vacuum with the mat (10) between them; allowing the mould tool, with the fibrous mat (10) therein to cool and removing the moulded reinforcing structure thus formed from the mould tool. The parts (11) and (12) of the mould are brought together by placing them in a vacuum forming table (14) and then evacuating the volume enclosed between the sheet (10) spanning the frame (15) and the lower part (13) of the table (14) when both are brought into contact.

Abstract: The internal combustion engine includes a working cylinder, a compressed air supply, an injector for supplying a gas and fuel mixture, an exhaust valve and an inlet valve. The inlet valve delivers both gas under pressure and gas and fuel mixture to the working cylinder, commencing delivery of the gas under pressure at an earlier stage in the engine cycle to the commencement of delivery of gas and fuel mixture. The inlet valve delivers gas under pressure to the cylinder at least for a part of the time that the exhaust port is open so as to drive combusted gases out of the working cylinder. The internal combustion engine also includes a rotary valve having a first member of a cylindrical external configuration, a sleeve surrounding the first member, and a mechanism for rotating the sleeve relative to the first member. The first member comprises a plurality of fluid passages and a plurality of apertures allowing communication of each of the passages with the exterior of the first member.

Abstract: A valve operating mechanism for controlling inlet and exhaust valves of an internal combustion engine. A camshaft comprising a cam which imparts valve lift for high speeds of the engine, and a lobe portion which imparts no lift for valve deactivation during low speeds of the engine. A first finger follower follows the lobe portion, and a second finger follower follows the cam wherein the first follower is rockable about a fixed fulcrum and the second follower is rockable about a movable fulcrum.

Abstract: Cam mechanisms are provided for controlling valve means, and in particular relate to a cam mechanism for controlling the inlet and/or exhaust valve of an internal combustion engine. The cam mechanism comprises cam shaft means (10) having first (50) and second (51) cam means mounted thereon for rotation therewith and first (52) and second (62) finger followers having first (59) and second (61) follower means respectively arranged to follow the surface of the first (50) and second (51) cam means, the first (52) and second (62) finger followers being rockable about fulcrum means (54 and 66) which holds the finger followers (52 or 62) in engagement with the cam means (50 or 51) and the valve means (14) thereby permitting control of the valve means (14) by the cam means.

Abstract: A suspension system for a tracked vehicle includes a track and an associated wheel assembly a U-track tensioning assembly and a plurality of road wheels are adapted to be disposed adjacent to the surface over which the vehicle is moving and transfer the weight of the vehicle to the surface via the track. A microprocessor is provided to control the track tensioning assembly in response to tensioning signals. In a preferred embodiment, the track tensioning assembly comprises a tensioning wheel which is not a road wheel and a strut connected to the tensioning wheel and operable to apply force to the tensioning wheel, thereby tensioning the track.

Abstract: In a noise enhancement system for use in a vehicle having an engine, a memory contains stored data representing desired sound relating to vehicle speed or the engine speed. The system is provided with a source of first signals indicative of the vehicle speed or the engine speed and a generator to generate vehicle engine noise desired by an occupant of a cabin of the vehicle. The generator includes a synthesizer to synthesize desired vehicle engine noise signals used to generate the desired vehicle engine noise and a microprocessor responsive to the first signals to use appropriate data of the stored data in dependence upon the vehicle speed or the engine speed indicated by the first signal to control the synthesizer to synthesize the desired engine noise in time with the vehicle speed or the engine speed indicated by the first signals.