Abstract: The present invention provides a cam mechanism for controlling the motion of cylinder head valve means of an internal combustion engine, the cam mechanism comprising: a camshaft having first and second cams which rotate therewith, the first and second cams having different cam profiles, and a drive mechanism operable to relay drive from the first or the second cam to the controlled cylinder head valve means, the drive mechanism comprising first and second cam follower means engagable respectively with the first and second cams and engagement means for engaging the first and second cam follower means with their respective cams.

Abstract: The invention provides a vehicle suspension device comprising an actuator (10) having a piston (11) and a plurality of chambers (A and B), a source of pressurized fluid (21), an exhaust for pressurized fluid (24), a first sensor (34) senses the force applied to the actuator (10), a second sensor (35) senses the pressure of the fluid supplied by the source of pressurized fluid (21) and a controller (23,27) controls the extension of the actuator (10) by controlling the flow of fluid to and from at least one of the chambers (A, B), the controller (27) receives signals from the first (34) and second (35) sensors and controls the actuator accordingly.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a land vehicle suspension in which a plurality of wheel and hub assemblies (10,11,12,13) are each connected to the body of the vehicle by one of a plurality of actuators (26,27,28,29). The operation of each actuator (26,27,28,29) is controlled by an electronic or electrical processor (100). The processor (100) operates in response to signals received from a plurality of sensors which generate output signals indicative of the attitude of the vehicle body and forces on the body; e.g. a yaw gyrometer (200), a lateral accelerometer (300), a longitudinal accelerometer (400), a steering angle sensor (500), a vehicle speed sensor (600), load cells (45,46,47,48), hub accelerometers (49,50,51,52) and L.V.I.T.'s (53,54,55,56). The processor (100) detects failure of a sensor and a detection of the failure of the sensor operates in response to the remaining functioning sensor or functioning sensors of the plurality of sensors.

Abstract: The present invention provides, with reference to the figure, a vehicle suspension system comprising an actuator (10) connected between the body (17) of a vehicle and a wheel and hub assembly (18) of the vehicle. A source of pressurized fluid (20) and an exhaust for fluid (24) are provided along with a valve (22) for controlling flow of fluid to the actuator (10) from the source of pressurized fluid (20) and/or from the actuator (10) to the exhaust for fluid (24). A sensor (27, 28, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 41) is used to generate signals of sensed variable vehicle parameters. A control system for the vehicle suspension system is used which has a processor (25, 20) which processes the signals generated by the sensor (27, 28, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 41). The processor (25, 26) outputs a control signal to the valve (22) and thereby controls the actuator (10). The processor in normal operating conditions uses a first set of preprogrammed constants (e.g.

Abstract: In one aspect, the suspension testing apparatus uses air bearings (96) which have a low coefficient of friction. In a second aspect, the suspension testing apparatus ensures accurate measurement of suspension characteristics since the apparatus applies forces directly below the center of the vehicle wheel hub (12) (or forwardly or rearwardly therefrom at a distance equivalent to the pneumatic trail of the tire in the wheel (12)) to ensure that the point of application of force remains constant despite rotation of the support means (10) for the wheel (12) during deflection of the vehicle wheel (12). In a third aspect, the suspension testing apparatus provides new sensor means (22) for measuring the vehicle wheel deflection which uses a minimum number of transducers (162, 163, 164) to accurately monitor tire and wheel deflection during use.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for testing an engine or compressor wherein one of an inlet and an exhaust valve (19) is actuated by a hydraulic piston and cylinder arrangement (11) and the flow of hydraulic fluid to the piston and cylinder arrangement (11) is controlled, provides variation of the motion of the valve (19) by adjustment of a control (14, 10) for controlling the hydraulic fluid. Preferably the control is programmed such that the motion of the valve (11) corresponds to the motion that would result from the use of a particular camshaft in the engine or compressor to control valve motion.

Abstract: The tracked vehicle includes a plurality of wheels and a track extending around the wheels. A force sensor is provided for generating a signal indicative of the track force applied to at least one wheel. The track force on a wheel is the force applied to the wheel by the vehicle track due to tensile forces in the track. The force applied on a wheel resulting from the interaction of the wheel with the ground over which the vehicle passes is determined by a force sensor which generates a signal indicative of the force transmitted from the wheel to the vehicle body, a linear variable induction transducer which generates signals indicative of the track force applied to the wheel, and a processor for combining the signals generated by the force sensor and linear variable induction transducer to remove from the signals those signals attributable to the track force applied to the wheel indicative of the force transmitted from the wheel to the vehicle body.