Patents Assigned to Lucas Industries
  • Patent number: 7191912
    Abstract: A brake fluid reservoir (10) for a vehicle hydraulic brake system has a filler neck (16), a lid (18) which closes the filler neck, and a device for pressure compensation between the reservoir interior and the ambient atmosphere. In order, when the brake fluid reservoir (10) is in a steeply inclined position, to prevent an escape of brake fluid, in the lid (18) a first brake fluid forced-flow channel (32) is formed, which has an inlet (34) at the inside of the lid and an outlet (36) towards the outside of the lid. The forced-flow channel (32) extends between the inlet (34) and the outlet (36) along a curved path, which in relation to a plan view of the lid (18) runs through at least two quadrants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Limited
    Inventor: Hans-Christoph Lange
  • Patent number: 6958599
    Abstract: An angular velocity sensor for a rotor (2) and method of determining angular velocity in which the position at which event generation means (4) pass sensing means (5) is determined using information from the times at which the event generation means (4) passed the sensing means (5) during at least one previous complete revolution to of the rotor (2). Especially applicable to use of Hall Effect Sensors to detect commutation points of a brushless permanent magnet rotor in an Electric Power Assisted Steering apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Limited
    Inventors: Peter Geoffrey Scotson, Christopher David Dixon, Connel Williams
  • Patent number: 6845468
    Abstract: A fault monitoring system comprises a fault detection mechanism to determine the status of a parameter to be monitored. An integrator counts in one direction when a fault in the measurement system is detected and counts in an opposite direction in the absence of fault detection. A threshold detector generates a hard fault indication when the integrator count reaches a threshold value, and an integrator count monitor generates information indicative of the state of the integrator count when below the threshold value thereby providing an indication of the progression of the fault.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Limited
    Inventor: Ian John Patrick James
  • Patent number: 6807287
    Abstract: An apparatus for road profile prediction comprises digitization and storage means operable to digitize and store video image data relating to the road ahead of the vehicle and processor means operable to process the video image data to identify lane markings in the road, characterized in that the processor means includes estimator means operable to simultaneously analyze pairs of lines considered to constitute lane markings by a single recursive estimation procedure by finding the best fit to an expression involving left and right offsets, heading angle, lane curvature and horizon offset. A system embodying the invention has the purpose of overriding normal vehicle cruise control when another vehicle is detected in front of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Limited
    Inventor: Filip Jozef Johan Hermans
  • Patent number: 6806600
    Abstract: An actuator apparatus comprising an actuator member, an actuated element movable by actuation of said actuator member, and a marker device including a marker the position of which can be sensed in use by sensor means, said marker device being secured to said actuator member such that deformation of the actuator member during actuation to move said element causes an adjustment to the change in position of the marker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Limited
    Inventors: Steven J Willacy, David S Mitchell
  • Patent number: 6770197
    Abstract: An oil or coolant distribution device is provided for attachment to a rotating shaft (2). The device includes a chamber (18) having an outlet towards a radially innermost portion thereof so as to form a weir. Centrifugal force ensures that debris in the oil or coolant is forced to the bottom of the weir where it is trapped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Limited
    Inventor: John Cooper
  • Patent number: 6771032
    Abstract: A motor control system is provided for controlling at least one motor driven mechanical actuator. The control system drives the motor according to a function of the actuator position. The system is further arranged to modify the motor speed to ensure that a predetermined power limit is not exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Limited
    Inventors: Peter John Cox-Smith, Paul Anthony Kendall, David Owen Sandells
  • Patent number: 6771501
    Abstract: An electronic engine controller is provided in which a backup controller or independent protection module is located in a sealed housing 8 which itself is located within the main housing 4 of the controller. The backup controller is thermally insulated such that it has enhanced durability in the event of a fire or the like occurring in the vicinity of the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Limited
    Inventors: David Coleman, Geoffrey Slack, Anthony Cheshire
  • Patent number: 6745556
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a fuel control system for use in conjunction with a gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Limited
    Inventor: Philip Laurence Elliott
  • Patent number: 6745665
    Abstract: In a solenoid-controlled valve assembly a biasing means (21) is adapted to apply a resisting force to a spool (22) in a direction opposite to the direction substantially of a force applied by an armature (14), and engagement between at least one of the spool and the biasing means and the spool and the armature is through an engagement means defining a single point of contact. The spool (22) may be provided with at least one land adapted to connect and disconnect two flow passages (6, 8), and the first ends of the two passages are spaced apart in a direction parallel to the axis of the bore by a smaller distance than the spacing between the second ends of the passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Limited
    Inventor: Robert Alan Anderson
  • Patent number: 6745557
    Abstract: An hydraulic valve arrangement including a fluid pressure actuable valve which is actuable between a first position in which fluid flow through the fluid pressure actuable valve is prevented and a second position in which fluid flow through the fluid pressure actuable valve is permitted at a first rate. The hydraulic valve arrangement also includes a second valve which is actuable between an open state, in which fuel flows through the second valve at a second rate, and a closed state in which there is no flow through the second valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Limited
    Inventor: Glyn Edward Dixon
  • Patent number: 6742632
    Abstract: The invention relates to the damping of mechanical vibrations of components in apparatuses. In particular, the invention relates to the damping of components of brakes. For this purpose, at least one piezoelectric element is provided, which is in engagement with the vibrating component and electrically excited in such a way that it damps vibrations of the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Lucas Industries plc
    Inventor: Torsten Treyde
  • Patent number: 6729602
    Abstract: An adjustable stop apparatus for limiting movement of an element of a metering valve for setting a flow limit condition of the valve, the apparatus comprising a stop, a housing, a rotary adjuster device connected to the stop for adjustably positioning the stop relative to the housing, and a guide device operable to guide and secure the adjuster device relative to the housing into any one of a plurality of pre-set positions determined by the guide device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Limited
    Inventors: Alon G S Hankin, Jr., Robert P Jones, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6722204
    Abstract: An arrangement for measuring a fluid pressure, comprising a pressure sensor portion (10), which is devised for accommodation in a recess (12), which is open at least at one end, wherein the pressure sensor portion (10) in relation to the recess (12) is to be dimensioned in such a way that the pressure sensor portion (10) is surrounded by a gap (14) for receiving fluid, wherein first and second surfaces (16a, 16b, 18a, 18b), which are situated on the pressure sensor portion (10) and in contact with fluid, are so dimensioned and aligned that forces, which are exerted by the fluid pressure on the first surfaces (16a, 16b) and push the pressure sensor portion (10) in the direction of the open end of the recess, are equal to or lower than the forces, which are exerted by the fluid pressure on the second surfaces (18a, 18b) and push the pressure sensor portion (10) away from the open end of the recess (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Lucas Industries plc
    Inventor: Helmut Gegalski
  • Patent number: 6722845
    Abstract: A vane actuator for use in a turbine engine, comprising a carrier member carrying a plurality of vanes which is angularly movable, in use, so as to vary the position of the vanes relative to an airflow through the engine. The actuator includes an electrical drive arrangement comprising an input shaft which is arranged to drive an output shaft coupled to the carrier member. The electrical drive arrangement includes a brake arrangement arranged to apply a braking load to the input shaft in the event that an interruption occurs in the electrical drive arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Limited
    Inventors: David Chard, Stephen John Cutts, Luis Alberto Arce, Timothy Hudson
  • Patent number: 6702401
    Abstract: A vehicle electro-hydraulic braking system having a fluid pressure accumulator of the pre-charged diaphragm type which is used to store fluid under pressure, charged by means of a fluid pump or compressor driven either by an electric motor or directly from the vehicle engine for supply to a valve system which is adapted to supply the brake or brakes of the vehicle with fluid pressure in accordance with the level of the driver's braking demand, the control of the accumulator pressure being arranged to lie within a fixed control range, with a cut-in pressure defining the lower limiting pressure of the control range and a cut-out pressure defining the upper limiting pressure of the control range, and there being a warning pressure range defined between a warning pressure level and the cut-in pressure, wherein at least one of the warning, cut-in and cut-out pressure levels is arranged to be controlled in dependence upon temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Lucas Industries plc
    Inventor: Philip William Sherriff
  • Patent number: 6700222
    Abstract: Solid state switching devices, such as power IGBT's, are used to switch a load from one AC generator to another. The switching is controlled to occur only when the phase and voltage of the two generator outputs are within acceptable limited, thus minimizing voltage and current transients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Limited
    Inventor: Simon Turvey
  • Patent number: 6685382
    Abstract: A screw actuator comprises a rotatable input member and a non-rotatable primary output member, wherein the input member is provided with a screw thread formation within which a plurality of spherical members are received to provide a ball screw coupling between the input member and the primary output member. The actuator includes a secondary output arrangement having first and second screw threaded parts in screw treaded engagement with the input member to provide a screw thread coupling between the input member and the secondary output arrangement. The first and second screw threaded parts are axially movable relative to one another, whereby, in the event that the ball screw coupling fails, relative axial movement of the first and second screw threaded parts serves to lock the first and second screw threaded parts onto the input member, thereby to stall the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Limited
    Inventors: Terence John Capewell, Olivier Pansanel
  • Patent number: 6679568
    Abstract: The invention relates to a block-protected braking system for a vehicle, comprising an electronic controller (22, 24) arranged in a housing (12), a valve block (14) to accommodate solenoid valves for controlling the hydraulic fluid in the braking system, and a pump motor (16) for a pump which delivers hydraulic fluid, with the solenoids (20) of the valves being accommodated in an intermediate body (18) which is arranged between the valve block (14) and the housing (12) of the electronic controller, said intermediate body (18) comprising electric connecting means (34, 38) for connecting the electronic controller with the solenoids (20), and said valve block (14) and said housing (12) of the electronic controller being connected with each other by means of the intermediate body (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Lucas Industries public limited company
    Inventors: Daniel Schäfer, Leo Gilles
  • Patent number: 6655152
    Abstract: A control system is provided for use in controlling fuel supply to at least two sets of burners of an engine. The control system comprises two or more fuel pumps, each of the pumps being driven, in use, by a respective variable-speed motor. A control arrangement is provided for controlling the speed of the motors so as to regulate the rate of flow of fuel to each of the sets of burners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Limited
    Inventors: Michael Griffiths, Trevor Stanley Smith