Abstract: A motor car structure is built up from flat panels joined together, each panel comprising two mutually parallel spaced apart structural skins braced with respect to each other by a core of expanded material united to both skins. Each joint between two panels comprises a series of integral projections formed on a first panel by cutting the panel to a required shape and recesses in the second panel corresponding to the projections. The projections are inserted and bonded into the recesses by means of an adhesive.

Abstract: A typical motor vehicle has an electrical storage battery (BT) to power its electrical facilities (L), including facilities which normally consume current when the vehicle is left unattended. A control system (CU) for the electrical supply system comprises means for generating a first relatively low reference voltage (VR1) and a second relatively high reference voltage (VR2), each selected to conform to a pre-selected battery condition; a first timing means (T1) operable for a relatively short period and a second timing means (T2) operable for a relatively long period. The timers operate from the time when the driver leaves the vehicle. A first voltage comparator (C1) is arranged to compare the actual battery voltage with the first reference voltage after said relatively short period and thereafter to provide a low battery signal if the actual voltage is below the first reference voltage.

Abstract: A vehicle bonnet assembly includes a bonnet hinged to the vehicle body adjacent one edge and having a releasable catch adjacent an opposite edge, the bonnet being hinged to the vehicle body in a manner which will permit rearward movement of the bonnet when an impact is applied to the leading edge thereof, a lifting mechanism being provided to lift the trailing edge of the bonnet in response to rearward movement of the bonnet.

Abstract: A wind deflector for shielding the occupants of a convertible vehicle from backdraughts, has a rigid board mounted on a substantially flat surface behind the seats of the vehicle, the board being mounted on the flat surface by means of a linkage mechanism by which it may be moved between a retracted position, in which it lies flat against the flat surface, to an operative position in which it extends upwardly behind the seats to a height sufficient to shield the occupants of the vehicle from backdraughts, the lower edge of the rigid board being spaced above the flat surface when the rigid board is in its operative position and an extension of the deflector being attached to the rigid board and the flat surface, to fill the gap therebetween.

Abstract: A vehicle body has a door aperture the door aperture being bounded along its lower edge by a sill section and by forward and rearward upstanding post sections, a door being located in the door aperture, the door being hinged to one post section and releasably engaging a catch on the other post section, a tie bar is provided adjacent the edge of the door remote from the sill section, clamping elements being provided for releasably clamping the tie bar with respect to both the forward and rearward post sections when the door is closed, the tie bar being capable when clamped of transmitting tensile, compressive and torsional loads from one post section to the other post section.

Abstract: A motor vehicle includes an electromechanical transmission system having an engine driven generator and a motor adapted to drive one or more wheels of the vehicle, the generator being connected to the motor via a DC to DC converter by which the current output of the generator may be varied to provide appropriate current input to the motor and a control unit including a transducer to sense the performance of the vehicle and a speed control device for operation by the driver, said control unit being arranged to control the engine and the DC to DC converter to optimize operation of the transmission to match the requirements of the driver to the performance of the vehicle.

Abstract: An air bag restraint system includes an air bag module having an inflator with arming plunger which must be depressed to arm the inflator, the air bag module is mounted between a pair of side plates of a bracket assembly for pivotal movement between operative and inoperative positions, catch plates are provided for releasably securing the air bag module in its operative position, an arming mechanism having a pin mounted with respect to the arming plunger for transverse movement with respect thereto betweeen a disarmed and armed position, the pin being arranged to engage a contoured end face of the arming plunger to depress the arming plunger as it moves from its disarmed to its armed position, the pin being biased to its disarmed position and an anvil associated with the bracket assembly being provided for engagement of the pin to move it from its disarmed to its armed position as the air bag module is pivoted from its inoperative to its operative position.

Abstract: A two stroke internal combustion engine includes a cylinder with a piston slidably sealed in the cylinder, a plurality of transfer ports open into the cylinder and at least one exhaust port leads from the cylinder, the transfer ports are connected to a common inlet manifold and a common valve member is provided to regulate the flow of air from the inlet manifold to the transfer ports and to vary the flow of air through one transfer port relative to the flow of air through at least one other transfer port.

Abstract: A fastening for securing a trim panel to a support panel includes an elongate element defining a plurality of transverse detent members spaced along its length, the elongate element being secured to the trim panel with the detent members spaced from the trim panel on the inside thereof, a plurality of clips are provided on the support panel, each clip corresponding to one of the detent members, the clips having a surface diverging away from the support panel for engagement of the detent members, so that movement of the trim panel longitudinally of the elongate member will cause each detent member to engage and move along the surface of a clip, the detent members and trim panel being drawn towards the support panel.

Abstract: An air induction system for an internal combustion engine has a dual choke inlet, a spindle passes diametrically across both chokes, a pair of throttle blades are secured to the spindle for rotation therewith, each throttle blade being located in a different one of the chokes, the throttle blades being angularly offset from each other.

Abstract: An electrical supply control system from a battery to the electrical facilities of a motor vehicle is arranged to isolate the battery from the electrical facilities in some circumstances to reduce the risk of inadvertent drain on the battery. The system comprises a main switch arranged to supply power from the battery, to the electrical facilities. A coil is arranged when energised to close the main switch and is connected to be energised when an engine function element such as an ignition switch is active. The coil can be disconnected from the engine function element by a connector. A manually operable mechanical actuator for the main switch is arranged in one position to close the main switch to provide a continuous supply to the electrical facilities and in another position to allow the state of energisation of the coil to control opening and closing of the main switch and thus isolate the loads when the engine function element is inactive.

Abstract: An oscillatory rotating engine has a pair of rotors each defining a pair of diametrically opposed radially extending lobes, the rotors are mounted for rotation within a cylindrical housing and sealingly engage the walls of the cylindrical housing to define four working chambers. Each rotor is drivingly connected to an output shaft by means of an internal/external gear train, the external gear being mounted for rotation with the rotor and the internal gear being mounted rotatably with respect to the output shaft for orbital motion in mesh with the external gear. Each internal gear has an arm with a longitudinal slot which is engaged by a pivotal block which will act to rotationally restrain the internal gear and impose a periodic variation in velocity on the gear train, this periodic variation in velocity for the two rotors being out of phase so that the working chambers are alternately expanded and reduced in volume.

Abstract: A belt drive has a pair of pulleys mounted for rotation in a common plane about parallel axes and a belt drivingly mounted about said pulleys, said belt being formed as a band of material having a curved transverse section.

Abstract: A balancer has a ferromagnetic weight mounted for rotation about an axis, the center of mass of the weight is offset from the axis of rotation and a series of angularly spaced coils are provided concentrically about the axis of rotation and spaced radially of the weight. A switching device is provided for sequential energization of the coils so that the magnetic field generated by each coil will cause the weight to rotate, energization of the coils being synchronized so that rotation of the weight will produce an appropriate balancing motion.

Abstract: A method of inspecting a surface of a member such as a motor vehicle body panel includes the steps of setting up the member at an inspection site, directing light on to the surface at a high angle of incidence so as to form a transverse trace across the surface and to reflect light from the surface with a low angle of deflection to form an image of the trace on a detection screen. A record of the image is produced. The trace is also viewed and recorded directly from a position substantially perpendicular to the surface. The records of the image and of the trace are analysed together to give an indication of the nature of the surface at the trace. The light is scanned in relation to the member to form further transverse traces across the member and the new traces and images are also analysed.

Abstract: A drive mechanism includes an internal gear rotatably mounted on an eccentric, the eccentric being mounted on a drive shaft for rotation therewith, said internal gear having an arm with an elongate slot, a block being pivotally mounted on a pin slidably located in the slot, an external gear being rotatably mounted coaxially of the internal gear and in mesh therewith, the position of the pin being adjustable relative to the axis of the drive shaft.

Abstract: A cooling system for an engine having a cylinder block defining a plurality of cylinders and a cylinder head mounted on the cylinder block, includes a pump having an outlet which is connected, at one end of the engine to a cooling jacket of the cylinder block, the cooling jacket of the cylinder block being connected at the other end of the engine to a cooling jacket of the cylinder head and an outlet being provided from the cooling jacket of the cylinder head at said one end of the engine; the cooling jacket of the cylinder head defining a plurality of passageways extending longitudinally of the cylinder head, said passageways being arranged to conduct coolant to different parts of the head portion of each cylinder, the passageways merging intermediate of the cylinders.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension system includes a roll frame pivotally mounted transverse of the vehicle, the roll frame has an arm at either end, the arms extending longitudinally of the vehicle, a wishbone is pivottaly supported on each of the arms outboard thereof, each wishbone forming part of a linkage for supporting a different wheel of the vehicle.

Abstract: A piston for a reciprocating machine includes a split piston ring which is located in a circumferential groove in the cylindrical wall of the piston. The piston is adapted to be located in a cylindrical bore so that the piston ring sealingly engages the bore with a gap between its ends, the gap being fully underlaid and sealed by a contiguous unbroken annular supporting ring, a spring being provided to maintain the ends of the piston ring in engagement with the supporting ring.

Abstract: A mechanism for transmitting torque from one shaft to another shaft includes a formation attached to one shaft, the formation defining a plurality of cylindrical surfaces each having radius R, the axes of the cylindrical surfaces being parallel and disposed at angularly spaced locations about a circle of radius M, each cylindrical surface is engaged by a cylindrical bearing formation attached to the other shaft, each bearing formation having a radius r and being disposed in similar angular relationship to the cylindrical surfaces about a circle of axis inclined at angle to the axes of the cylindrical surfaces, the radius of the circle upon which the bearing formations are disposed being equal to M/(1+cos) and the radius R of the cylindrical surfaces being equal to r+M(1-cos)/(1+cos).