Abstract: An engine cooling fan includes a first member adapted to be drivingly connected to the engine and a second member mounted rotatably relative to the first member, a series of fan blades are provided on the second member, the first and second members having opposed parallel faces separated from one another, the space between the faces being filled with a fluid the viscosity of which may be varied by applying a magnetic or electric field, the first and second members being arranged such that an electric or magnetic field may be applied therebetween. The electric or magnetic field is controlled by a control unit in response to signals corresponding to coolant temperature and engine speed.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a beam mounted on a central pivot, at least two pistons are each slidably located in a cylinder to act on an opposite end of the beam, said beam defining a cradle, a bearing is mounted within the cradle upon a pair of trunnions about which the bearing may pivot, the pivot axis of the bearing being at right angles to the pivot axis of the beam, these pivot axes lying within a common plane which is transverse to the axes of the cylinders, a crank shaft with angled crank pil-0s mounted for rotation about an axis which extends longitudinally of the cylinders and passes through the point of intersection of the pivot axes of the bearing and beam, the crank pin being located in the bearing.

Abstract: A vehicle body assembly comprises a pillar assembly and a vehicle door including a quarterglass frame in which the quarterglass frame is provided with a channel member which in the closed position of the door engages around at least a part of the pillar assembly. The channel member thus provides support for the pillar assembly in the event of the vehicle overturning but readily disengages from the pillar assembly when the door is opened.

Abstract: A rotary drive mechanism has an input shaft with a first crank, mounted parallel to an output shaft, the input shaft being offset from the output shaft by a distance equal to the length of the first crank, the output shaft having a second crank of greater length than the first crank, the first and second cranks are pivotally connected to opposite ends of a link, interlocking formations are provided to prevent rotation of the second crank and link independently of the input shaft when the second crank and link are parallel to one another.

Abstract: A valve mechanism includes a poppet type valve, a valve lever pivotally mounted at one end and attached at the other end to the end of the stem of the valve, the valve lever defines a track in which is located a drive pin and a drive mechanism is arranged to drive the drive pin in oscillatory manner; the track has a first portion which, when the valve is closed is engaged by the drive pin and coincides with the path of the drive pin, and a second portion which diverges from the path of the drive pin so that when engaged by the drive pin movement of the drive pin will cause the valve lever to move, opening and closing the valve. Preferably the mean position of oscillation of the drive pin is adjustable so that the duration and amplitude of valve opening may be varied.

Abstract: A cam mechanism includes a cam shaft, a cam mounted on said cam shaft, the cam being capable of limited relative rotation with respect to the cam shaft and damping means being provided to control the extent of rotation of the cam relative to the cam shaft as a function of the speed of rotation of the cam shaft.

Abstract: A cam mechanism includes a cam of basic circular formation and having a lobe formation extending radially outwardly along part of its periphery; and a cam follower mounted for reciprocating movement along an axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the cam; the cam acting against an end face of the cam follower so that engagement of the lobe formation therewith will cause movement of the cam follower, the inclination of the face of the cam follower which is engaged by the lobe formation being adjustable to vary the duration of movement of the cam follower by the cam.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of supercharging an internal combustion engine in which a pulsed jet of gas is injected at high velocity into a mixing chamber where momentum exchange between the jet and air or air/fuel mixture in the mixing chamber will accelerate the air or air/fuel mixture towards an outlet from the mixing chamber which is connected to an inlet port of a cylinder of the engine and induce further air or air/fuel mixture into the mixing chamber, to provide a pulsed induction charge at increased pressure, the pulsed induction charge being timed to arrive at the cylinder towards the end of the induction stroke thereof.

Abstract: A rotary valve has a valve rotor with an angular discontinuity, the valve rotor being mounted for rotation relative to a port, so that as it rotates the rotor will open and close the port; a drive train is provided to rotate the rotor, said train being arranged to reduce the speed of the rotor so that it is stationary or near stationary when the port is closed; the port is surrounded by a seating area and the valve rotor is arranged to move into engagement with the seating area and close the port as the speed of the rotor is reduced and move away from the seating area as the speed of the rotor increases.

Abstract: An external rear view mirror has a first mirror surface of relatively large surface area, a second mirror surface of relatively small surface area and a mechanism for moving the first mirror surface between a first position in which it provides a rearward view and a second position in which the second mirror surface provides a rearward view.

Abstract: A linear actuator has a screw threaded shaft member and an internally screw threaded member, the threadform of the shaft member corresponding to that of the internally screw threaded member but of smaller diameter, whereby the member may be skewed relative to the shaft so that the threads of the members will engage on a diameter smaller than the diameter of the member, means being provided to rotate one of the members, the other member being mounted so that it is freely rotatable.

Abstract: A windscreen wiper mechanism includes a wiper arm having a second member mounted on the first member so that it is movable axially with respect thereto. The first member is adapted to be mounted so that it may be driven in reciprocating manner about a pivot. Fluid operated means is mounted on the arm for movement therewith and is controlled by cam means mounted in fixed relationship to the pivot so as to extend and retract the arm in response to angular movement of the arm about the pivot.

Abstract: A reciprocating internal combustion engine comprises a cylinder block having at least one bore formed therein and a cylinder liner fitted into each bore. The cylinder liner defines a cylinder in which a piston is slideable, with a combustion chamber being disposed to one side of the piston and a crank mechanism to the other side. An annular groove is provided at the mating surfaces of the cylinder liner and the cylinder block, for example in the outer surface of the liner, and at least one lubricant discharge nozzle is provided in the cylinder liner in communication with the annular groove and opening on the crank side of the piston when the piston is at the combustion chamber end of its stroke. The nozzle is angled towards the combustion chamber such as to discharge lubricant onto the crank side of the piston.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine, and a method of operating an internal combustion engine, of the kind in which recycled exhaust gases are reacted with a hydrocarbon fuel in a combustion space to produce a reformed fuel of enhanced calorific value by cracking molecules of the hydrocarbon fuel, the invention providing for means for the supply of air to the combustion space in the cylinder and separate means for the supply of the cracked and reformed fuel enabling an efficient engine operation to be achieved with economical use of fuel.

Abstract: A mechanism for transmitting rotational motion from a drive shaft such as a crankshaft of an engine to one or more parallel shafts such as camshafts comprising a triangular link connected to the crankshaft by an eccentric crank and connected to the camshafts by internal gears which engage with sprockets connected to the camshafts. The gear ratio between the crankshaft and camshafts is determined by the radii of the internal gears and the sprockets. The link can also be used to drive auxiliary components such as an alternator or a water pump, or to transmit drive from a starter motor to the crankshaft when the engine is started.

Abstract: A selector mechanism has an operating member for connecting to a control cable of a gear box, and a gear stick for controlling the movements of the operating member. The mechanism is arranged so that movement of the gear stick around a U-shaped gate produces uni-directional movement of the operating member whereby gears PARK, REVERSE, NEUTRAL and DRIVE can be selected on one leg of the gate and the gear DRIVE, THIRD and SECOND can be selected on the other leg of the gate.

Abstract: A transmission system especially useful in performance saloon cars includes a simple epicyclic gear (2) between an engine (1) and a standard gearbox (MG or AG). The drive to the front axle (10) is taken from the sun gear (12). The drive to the rear axle (20) is via the gearbox from the annulus (16). The torque splits in the optimum ratio between front and rear axles for the gear selected. In first gear and top gear the front:rear torque ratios are 1:3 and 3:2 respectively.