Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle wherein the method comprises using a distance sensor to determine the distance between a part of the vehicle and an object, and implementing a speed control procedure if the distance detected by the distance sensor falls below a predetermined value, characterized in that the method is implemented only while the vehicle is in reverse gear and for a period of time immediately following disengagement of the reverse gear.

Abstract: A valve assembly including a housing and a first movable member which divides the housing into a control chamber and a main chamber. A second movable member has a first valve part and a second valve part and is movable to engage the first valve part with a corresponding inlet valve part to substantially prevent flow of fluid into the main chamber via an inlet port. The first movable member is provided with an exhaust valve part and is movable to engage the second valve part of the second movable member to substantially prevent flow of pressurized fluid out of the main chamber via an exhaust port. A support part is secured relative to the housing, there being a first seal between the second movable member and the support part and a second seal between the support part and the first movable member.

Abstract: A method of vehicle stability control including the steps of: a) applying a test braking pulse to a wheel on a first side of the vehicle and to a wheel on a second, opposite, side of the vehicle, b) measuring the rotational speed of both wheels during the test braking pulse, c) calculating a change in wheel speed during the test braking pulse for each wheel, d) calculating the difference between the change in speed of the wheels, e) carrying out a stability control intervention if the difference exceeds a predetermined threshold, f)ceasing the test braking pulse if the difference over the first period of times is less than a predetermined level, and g) continuing the test braking pulse for a second period of time if the difference over the first period of time is greater than the predetermined level.

Abstract: A vehicle braking system includes a brake actuator, a braking control valve assembly and an emergency apply valve having a control port which is connected to the supply line by a further control line. The braking system also includes an electrically operable brake apply valve that is movable between a first position in which fluid flow along the further control line is permitted and a second position in which fluid flow along the further control line is substantially prevented and the control of the emergency apply valve is connected to a low pressure region.

Abstract: A valve assembly comprising an inner housing in which is provided a first port, a second port, and a third port, and a valve member assembly which is movable between a first position, a second position, and a third position. An outer housing is separate from and encloses at least part of the inner housing, the outer housing having a first port and a second port, the Inner housing and outer housing each being provided with first mating parts, which engage to provide a substantially fluid tight seal while enclosing a conduit for fluid communication between the first port of the inner housing and the first port of the outer housing, and second mating parts, which engage to provide a substantially fluid tight seal while enclosing a conduit for fluid communication between the second port of the Inner housing and the second port of the outer housing.

Abstract: A valve assembly including a housing (24?) provided with an inlet port (12?), a delivery port (14?), and an exhaust port (16?), the valve assembly further including a first movable element (32?), a first valve member (34a?) and a second valve member (26a?), the first movable element (32?) being engageable with the first valve member (34a?), engagement of the first valve member (34a?) and first movable element (32?) substantially preventing flow of fluid between the inlet port (12?) and the delivery port (14?), and the first movable element (32?) also being engageable with the second valve member (26a?), engagement of the second valve member (26a?) with the first movable element (32?) substantially preventing flow of fluid between the delivery port (14?) and the exhaust port (16?), the valve assembly further including a second movable element (26?) which divides the housing (24?) into a control chamber (22?) and a main chamber (30?) and which is movable relative to the housing (24?) under the influence of flui

Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle wherein the method comprises: using a distance sensor to determine the distance between a part of the vehicle and an object, and implementing a speed control procedure if the distance detected by the distance sensor falls below a first predetermined value, characterised in that the method further includes the step of operating at least one vehicle brake momentarily to apply a low level braking force pulse to the vehicle following the engagement of a reverse gear of the vehicle.

Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle wherein the method comprises using a distance sensor to determine the distance between a part of the vehicle and an object, and implementing a speed control procedure if the distance detected by the distance sensor falls below a predetermined value, characterised in that the method is implemented only whilst the vehicle is in reverse gear and for a period of time immediately following disengagement of the reverse gear.

Abstract: A brake actuator (10) having a housing (12) in which is provided a movable brake actuating assembly (18, 30), the brake actuating assembly (18, 30) being movable between a brake apply position which, in use results in the application of a brake to which the actuator (10) connected, and a brake release position which, in use, results in the release of the brake, the brake actuator (10) further including a lock (34) which is operable to prevent movement of the brake actuating assembly (18, 30) from the brake apply position to the brake release position, the brake actuating assembly (18, 30) including a first movable member (18), a second movable member (30) and a resilient biasing element (32) which extends between the second movable member (30) and the first movable member (18) and which, if one of the first or second movable members (18, 30) is moved relative to the other from an equilibrium separation, exerts a force tending to return the first (18) and second (30) movable members to the equilibrium separati

Abstract: A braking control system comprising a first source of pressurized fluid (82a), a second source of pressurized fluid (82b), a modulator (70), a brake actuator (10), and a plurality of valves (84, 94, 96, 98), the modulator (70) having a supply inlet (72) which may be connected to either of the sources of pressurized fluid via a first fluid flow line which extends between a first one of the valves (84) and the supply inlet (72), and a control inlet (78) which may be connected to either of the sources of pressurized fluid via a second fluid flow line and a second one of the valves (94), a delivery port (74) which is connected an inlet (11) of the actuator (10), and an exhaust outlet (76) which vents to a low pressure region, the modulator (70) being operable to move between a build position in which flow of fluid from the supply inlet (72) to the delivery port (74) is permitted while flow of fluid through the exhaust outlet (76) is substantially prevented, and an exhaust position in which flow of fluid between t

Abstract: A vehicle braking system includes a brake actuator, a braking control valve assembly and an emergency apply valve having a control port which is connected to the supply line by a further control line. The braking system also includes an electrically operable brake apply valve that is movable between a first position in which fluid flow along further control line is permitted and a second position in which fluid flow along the further control line is substantially prevented and the control of the emergency apply valve is connected to a low pressure region.

Abstract: A valve assembly (110) having a housing (124) into which are provided a first port (112), a second port (114) and a third port (116), and in which are located a first movable member (126), a second movable member (132) and a third movable member (152), the first movable member (126) being movable between a first position which causes the second movable member (132) to close the first port (112) to prevent any substantial flow of fluid through the first port (112), whilst the second (114) and third (116) ports remain open, a second position which causes the third movable member (152) to close the third port (116) to prevent any substantial flow of fluid through the third port (116), whilst the first (112) and second (114) ports remain open and flow of fluid between the first (112) and the second (114) part is permitted, and a third position which causes the second movable member (132) to close the first port (112) and the third movable member (152) to close the third port (116) to prevent any substantial flow

Abstract: A vehicle braking system including a controller, in an initial anti-skid cycle, performs a first determination to select a high or a low control mode in accordance with wheel speed parameters. The controller in a second, or subsequent anti-skid cycle, performs a second determination to determine whether a near &mgr; test is to be performed in accordance with wheel speed parameters. The controller consequent upon selection of low control mode performs a near &mgr; test. The near &mgr; test includes performing a rise in the brake pressure and then selecting a high or low mode in accordance with the speed of the wheels resulting from the rise in brake pressure in the near &mgr; test.

Abstract: A brake system having a combined electrically operable demand signal control valve and emergency valve comprising a first inlet connected to the supply line, a second inlet connected to the reservoir, and an outlet connectable to the fluid pressure brake operating signal inlet of the supply valve means, a valve member to control flow of fluid pressure between the second inlet and the outlet and said valve member being movable by electrical means responsive to said presence or absence of electrical supply to the system and by fluid pressure means responsive to said pressure in the supply falling below said predetermined value.

Abstract: A braking system comprising an anti-lock vehicle braking system for a vehicle having a pair of drive wheels (13, 14), the wheels of said pair being disposed on opposite sides of the vehicle, comprising a wheel speed sensor (17, 18) for each wheel (13, 14), a controller (19) responsive to wheel speed signals from said two wheel speed sensors (17, 18) for sensing skid conditions at said wheels (13, 14) and for generating skid control instructions, a wheel brake (23, 24) for each wheel (13, 14), responsive to fluid pressure, hereinafter referred to as brake pressure, supplied thereto, a common supply line (37), for supplying a common brake pressure for both of said brakes from a fluid pressure supply valve means (38) in accordance with a brake demand signal and a skid control means (40) controlled by said skid control instructions for modulating the common brake pressure, having a brake apply valve (51) to supply fluid under pressure to the common supply valve (39), in response to the controller detecting a whee