Abstract: An engine fuel system includes an accumulator chamber in which fuel is stored at high pressure and a three way valve having two settings in the first of which when a valve actuator is energised fuel flows from the accumulator chamber to a fuel injection nozzle and in the second of which when the actuator is de-energised fuel flows from the supply line of the nozzle to a drain. The valve includes a valve member directly coupled to the actuator and controlling the flow of fuel from the accumulator chamber to the nozzle, and a valve element which is resiliently coupled to the valve member and controls the flow of fuel from the line to the drain. The valve member and valve element cooperate with respective seatings and when the actuator is de-energised the valve element can move away from its seating against the action of the resilient coupling to allow a rapid reduction of fuel pressure in the line.

Abstract: An electronic braking system for a multi-axle road vehicle, having a foot-operable braking transducer which generates electrical braking demand signals representative of a driver's braking demand, load transducers which generate electrical load signals representative of the respective load on different axles of the vehicle, and in electronic controller which receives the braking demand signals and load signals and generates electrical output signals for controlling the operation of braking devices for the wheels carried by axles, the controller including adaptive load compensation device which acts to modify the output signals of the controller to the various braking devices so as to take account of prevailing loads on the respective axles.

Abstract: An apparatus for winding layers of wire on a pole of a rotor or stator of a rotary electrical generator or motor comprises a needle mounting member movable substantially axially of the rotor or stator and a needle rotatably mounted on the mounting member and extending transversely thereto. The needle is rotatable about an axis transverse to the direction of movement of the mounting member. The needle has a groove defining an outlet path for the wire to one side of the axis of rotation of the needle.A method of winding layers of wire on a pole of a rotor or stator of a rotary electrical generator or motor comprises the steps of providing a needle having a groove defining an outlet path for wire to be wound in layers, moving the needle over a winding path and causing the needle to rotate at positions in the winding path.

Abstract: A regenerative pump is provided in which an impeller is centrally located within a cavity and variable volume side channels are provided such that the pump characteristic can be varied. A control mechanism is provided for controlling the volume of each side channel in a symmetrical manner.

Abstract: In an electronically controlled braking system which incorporates anti-lock brake control and includes a plurality of brake pressure control valves having associated local electronic control units which communicate with a master electronic control unit, part of the anti-lock brake control logic for a wheel is performed by the electronic control unit associated with the pressure control valve for that wheel, with the remainder of the anti-lock brake control logic for that wheel being performed by the master electronic control unit. The local valve-associated electronic control unit includes skid detection logic which causes the brake pressure at the associated wheel to be reduced in response to a wheel skid detected thereby, brake pressure at that wheel being controlled thereafter, at least for a defined period, according to demands communicated to the local control unit from the master control unit.

Abstract: A rotary generator comprises a rotor within a stator having end windings, the rotor defining a flow path for cooling fluid which, during rotation of the rotor forms an annular layer in the rotor. A cooling fluid feed means is provided having an inlet which, in use, is positioned within the annular layer of cooling fluid whereby a head of cooling fluid is formed at the inlet. The feed means defines a duct through which the cooling fluid passes by the action of centrifugal force towards an outlet from which cooling fluid is directed onto the end windings. The rotation of the rotor causes the head of fluid at the inlet to reduce with increasing rotational speed thereby effecting control of cooling fluid flow through the feed means as the rotational speed of the rotor increases.

Abstract: An anti-lock braking system for a road vehicle having a plurality of hydraulically operated brake actuators, a plurality of control channels controlling the supply of hydraulic fluid to the brake actuators, an electrical supply and a hydraulic pump for supplying hydraulic fluid to the brake actuation circuit. The pump is driven by an electric motor energized by the power supply. The magnitude of the operating voltage at the pump motor is compared with a predetermined reference voltage. The physical demand upon the pump motor is reduced by inhibiting the control channels if the measured magnitude of the electric motor voltage is less than the reference value.

Abstract: A winding end restrainer for a rotary electrical component comprises a hollow body, location member for locating the body against rotation relative to the component and an insert locatable in the body so as to be non-rotatable relative thereto. Chambers are defined between the insert and the body for receiving respective sections of the winding ends. By preventing rotation of the hollow body and the insert relative to the rotary component, stresses which would otherwise be imparted to the winding ends are greatly reduced.

Abstract: The rotary electrical component has first and second windings thereon and the connector comprises a body having first and second spaced apart sections which receive respective ends of the windings to be interconnected. An electrically conductive element extends between the two sections for connection to the winding ends. The sections include supports for resisting outward movement of the winding ends due to centrifugal force so as to reduce the likelihood of disconnection between the winding ends and the conductive element.

Abstract: A three-way valve including a valve housing having a valve chamber and a high pressure fluid supply inlet, high pressure fluid outlet and drain communicating with the valve chamber is disclosed. A movable member is reciprocally received in the valve chamber so as to be reciprocated between first and second positions for selectively fluidically communicating the outlet with either the inlet or drain. A first valve seat is formed in the valve housing and concentrically disposed in the valve chamber for sealing communication between the outlet and drain and a second valve seat is concentrically disposed in a cavity formed in the movable member for sealing communication between the inlet and outlet. A floating pin is received in the movable valve member cavity at a one end of the movable valve member and cooperates with the second valve seat for selectively sealing fluidic communication between the inlet and the outlet.

Abstract: A fuel injection pump has a cam actuated plunger which is moved inwardly in a bore to displace fuel through an outlet. A port is formed in the wall of the bore and at some position during the inward movement of the plunger is uncovered by a control edge to allow fuel to escape from the bore. In order to damp the final inward movement of the plunger a further edge of the groove progressively covers the port so as to restrict the rate at which fuel can escape through the port.

Abstract: A spill valve for a fuel injection pump includes a valve member movable towards a seating to prevent spillage of fuel from the pumping chamber of a fuel injection pump. The valve member is actuated by a piston against which fluid pressure can be applied to close the valve member onto the seating. The movement of the valve member away from the seating is limited by a stop member but this can move to allow increased movement of the valve member when fuel at high pressure is spilled from the injection pump.

Abstract: A regenerative pump comprises a housing (1), an impeller (5) within the housing (1) having a plurality of vanes (13) spaced angularly around the axis of rotation of the impeller (5) and accommodated within a flow channel (4) within the housing (1) extending between an inlet (19) and an outlet (20), a flow stripper (17) located between the inlet (19) and outlet (20) and through which the vanes (13) pass, a fluid flow loop (27) in the stripper (17) which intersects the path of rotation of the vanes (13), and control means (26) to control the flow of fluid through the loop (27) so as to vary the annular motion transferred to the fluid downstream of the stripper (17), thereby to selectively vary the output of the pump. The flow stripper (17) comprises a land portion (21) upstream of the loop (27) which restricts direct fluid flow through the stripper (17), and the control means (26) comprises valve means which controls a supply of fluid to the upstream end of the loop (27).

Abstract: A braking system for a vehicle having primary and secondary braking circuits includes a secondary braking circuit having a secondary source of braking pressure connectable to a braking actuator and including a three-port, two-position, inlet solenoid valve having two inlet ports and one outlet port. One of the inlet ports is connected to an outlet of an inlet solenoid valve of the primary braking circuit and to the inlet of an exhaust solenoid valve of the primary braking circuit. The other inlet is connected to a secondary source of braking pressure. The outlet port is connected to the braking actuator. The inlet solenoid valve is movable by an output signal from an electronic control unit.

Abstract: A multi-lane controller providing redundancy comprises two lanes. Each lane comprises an input/output interface, a data flow controller and a control data processor. Each data flow controller receives input data from and supplies output data to both input/output interfaces. The information exchange between each lane does not rely on the proper operation of either the control data processor or data flow controller of any of the lanes.

Abstract: A return system for a throttle of an internal combustion engine has a first return device in the form of a spring for returning the throttle to a first return position and a second return device in the form of a motor for returning the throttle to a second return position beyond the first return position. A position sensor determines the first and second return positions and a fault is indicated if the second return position is not beyond the first return position.

Abstract: A gear having good fatigue strength and corrosion resistance has a body with gear teeth formed of a hot isostatically pressed alloy powder. The alloy is cobalt based and consists of 10 to 35 wt % Cr, 0-22 wt % Ni, 0-20 wt % W, 0-20 wt % Fe, 0-10 wt % V, 0-10 wt % Mo, 0-6 wt % Nb, 0-3 wt % Si, 0-3 wt % C, 0-3 wt % B and 0-1 wt % Mn, the balance, apart from impurities, being cobalt.

Abstract: The assembly includes a plurality of diodes spaced circumferentially about the axis of rotation of the assembly, two spaced apart outer diode mounting members and a plurality of radially inner diode mounting elements. A spacer member is provided which locates the mounting elements in recesses therein. Selected mounting elements are interconnected by linking plates to form a sub-assembly which is received within a housing.

Abstract: A fuel injection pump for supplying fuel to an internal combustion engine includes a bore containing a cam actuated pumping plunger. The bore is connected to an outlet during inward movement of the plunger and a spill valve including a spill valve member is operable to spill fuel from the bore to prevent delivery of fuel to the associated engine. The spill valve member includes a piston portion slidable in a cylinder to which fuel under pressure from the bore can be admitted to move the spill valve member to the open position against the action of a spring. The admission of fuel under pressure to the cylinder can be effected by an electromagnetically operable valve or by the use of a control sleeve, recesses on the internal surface of which in conjunction with porting in a rotary part of the pump, form a control valve.

Abstract: A return system for a throttle of an internal combustion engine has a first return device in the form of a spring for returning the throttle to a first return position and a second return device in the form of a motor for returning the throttle to a second return position beyond the first return position. A position sensor determines the first and second return positions and a fault is indicated if the second return position is not beyond the first return position.