Abstract: An electromagnetic horn has a diaphragm, tone disc, spacer and mass which are clamped together between an abutment shoulder and an annular rib on an internally screw-threaded sleeve, the annular rib being produced by deformation of the sleeve after the aforesaid parts have been mounted on the latter. A screw-threaded rod extending from the armature is engaged in the sleeve. Tuning of the horn can be effected by rotation of the rod without the need either to release and then retighten any locknuts or to deform the body. For ease of assembly of a contact breaker assembly into the horn body, a first arm carrying a first contact is mounted at one of its ends in the body. A second arm carrying a second contact is mounted on the first arm but is electrically insulated therefrom. The second arm has an extension abutting a contact stud fixed in the body. An adjuster is engaged with the other end of the first arm. The second arm can be assembled on the first arm before securing of the assembly in the body.

Abstract: In a high pressure hydraulic system a source supplies pressurized fluid to a slave unit through a control valve which maintains the slave unit in a desired condition. Leakage from the slave unit past the control valve with the source inoperative is undesirable, but it is difficult at high pressures to provide cheaply a control valve with leakproof seals which requires small valve-operating forces. The control valve therefore has first and second ports communicating with the source and the slave unit, and a valve member movable to close either port or to an open position to allow communication between the ports. Movement of the valve member is controlled by the pressure differential across it; fluid flow past it, and forces produced by valve-operating solenoids. The slave unit may be an hydraulic suspension strut, and the system may comprise a vehicle suspension levelling system, with the solenoids and the source being manipulated as required by an electronic control system.

Abstract: A Flowline Degaser (10) is provided which is positioned in a drilling operation between the bell nipple (24) and the shale shaker (34) and mud tanks (37). The degaser (10) includes a structure defining a downwardly inclined surface (62) for dispersing drilling mud flowing thereover to remove gas. The inclined surface also includes baffles (64) for agitating the drilling mud to remove additional gas. The gas is removed through vent ports (68, 70) and into an upper expansion chamber (76) for disposal. Blowers (82, 84) are positioned on the degaser for drawing a vacuum within the upper expansion chamber (76) and space (66) within the tank above the inclined surface to drive gas from the mud. The vacuum is sufficient to effect the mud at the bell nipple to prevent accumulation of gas about the bell nipple. This forms a significant safety factor in removing potentially explosive gas from the rig above the bell nipple.

Abstract: An ignition plug for use in association with a cylinder of an internal combustion engine wherein within the body of the plug is a chamber having associated therewith first and second electrodes between which a spark is struck in the chamber. A supply arrangement is provided for supplying plasma medium in liquid form to wet the wall of the chamber therewith between successive firings of the plug.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel brake, particularly for a railway vehicle, has an elongate friction pad for engagement with a braking surface. In order to provide for adjustment of the pad without excessive length of the brake, the friction pad is hollow and an elongate adjuster member is located within the friction pad. Relative rotation of the pad and adjuster member, which occurs when there is excessive wear of the friction material, causes axial movement of the friction material to compensate for the wear.

Abstract: A fuel injection nozzle assembly includes an outwardly opening valve member having a stem about which is located a spring abutment engaged by a spring. The stem is provided with an enlarged portion adjacent a reduced portion and a collar abuts against the abutment. The collar has an aperture in which is defined a recessed part annular shoulder which is engaged by the enlarged portion of the stem. The collar has a further aperture which breaks into the recessed aperture, the further aperture being large enough to allow the enlarged portion to pass therethrough and the gap defined between apertures is large enough to allow the reduced portion of the stem to be passed therethrough.

Abstract: A microprocessor based electric vehicle traction battery monitoring system evaluates the state of charge, interfaces with a traction motor control system, and controls recharging. The state of charge is evaluated during the first part of discharge by integrating the current after compensating it for rate of discharge and during the last part of discharge by dividing the battery into sub-packs and evaluating the state of charge from the lowest sub-pack voltage compensated for polarization voltage. The charge storage capacity is also calculated from the lowest sub-pack voltage. The maximum traction motor current is progressively limited during the last part of discharge. During charging, the charge withdrawn is replaced while progressively reducing the charging current and the battery is then charged at a constant current until the rate of rise of the lowest sub-pack voltage falls below a fixed level.

Abstract: A liquid fuel injection pumping apparatus of the axially slidable rotor type includes a low pressure supply pump which supplies fuel to an injection pump including pumping plungers mounted in a rotary distributor member. A surface of the distributor member is located within a chamber to which a control pressure can be supplied by way of a control valve from the outlet of the low pressure pump. The distributor member is moved by increasing control pressure against a spring to reduce the amount of fuel supplied by the injection pump. A valve is provided which is responsive to the pressure drop across the control valve, the valve acting to prevent flow of fuel to the injection pump in the event that the pressure drop across the control valve falls below a predetermined value.

Abstract: A fuel pumping apparatus includes an injection pump to which fuel is supplied through an adjustable throttle and which includes a fluid pressure operable device for controlling the timing of delivery of fuel. In order to accurately control the timing in accordance with the speed and the amount of fuel supplied to the engine a transducer is provided to sense the throttle position and a further transducer to measure the pressure upstream of the throttle. The signals from these transducers together with an engine speed signal are supplied to a circuit which computes or on the basis of stored information, provides a fuel quantity signal. The fuel quantity signal is supplied to a further circuit together with a speed signal which produces a desired timing signal. This signal is utilized to control the pressure applied to the device.

Abstract: A liquid fuel injection pumping apparatus for supplying fuel to an engine includes an injection pump to which fuel is supplied through a feed passage in a distributor member from a low pressure pump. Fuel is delivered by the injection pump through a separate delivery passage which can register with an outlet. In order to enable air to be purged from the passages and injection pump, the delivery passage during the time fuel is being supplied to the injection pump is arranged to register with a further port which communicates in the example with a fuel supply tank. A restrictor is provided to control fuel flow through the further port.

Abstract: A fuel pumping apparatus of the rotary distributor type has cam followers comprising rollers supported by shoes interposed between the pumping plungers and the cam ring. Stop rings are provided to limit the outward movement of the followers and one of these rings is axially adjustable so that the amount of fuel supplied by the apparatus can be controlled. In order to provide reduced initial rate of injection of fuel the axial spacing of the surfaces on at least one of the followers which contact the stop rings, is smaller than in the case of the other plunger or plungers so that at the end of the filling stroke of the apparatus of the plunger associated with that follower will project outwardly further than the other plunger and hence will be moved inwardly before the other to provide delivery of fuel at a reduced rate.

Abstract: The present invention provides an actuator mechanism comprising an axially rotatable actuator shaft and an actuator member which, in use, can be moved axially to actuate a brake. The actuator shaft and actuator member are interconnected by an assembly which comprises a first fast thread and a second fast thread. The first fast thread has a greater pitch angle than said second fast thread and is arranged to, in use, move the actuator member to take up any slack to cause friction surfaces of the brake to interengage. Said second thread subsequently moves the actuator member to apply the brake. By this arrangement the advantages of the two types of fast thread are utilized, the first fast thread quickly taking up the shock and the second fast thread being capable of applying the brake.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine throttle control includes an extensible linkage connecting the throttle pedal to the butterfly valve. A linkage contraction spring urges the butterfly valve open and a butterfly return spring 22 urges it closed. The linkage is such that when the drivers foot is lifted from the pedal, a pedal return spring acts to shorten the linkage to its minimum extension and rapidly close the butterfly valve. A part of the linkage is urged by the linkage contraction spring against a cam forming part of a limited authority closed loop servo-mechanism, acting to limit throttle opening in accordance with one or more engine or vehicle parameters.

Abstract: A fuel system for supplying fuel to a pair of injection nozzles of an engine comprises a pair of pumps which can only deliver half the maximum amount of fuel which may be required. Each pump supplies fuel to a respective nozzle when the fuel required is less than half and the system includes a pair of valves which are operated to allow both pumps to deliver fuel through one nozzle when more than half the maximum amount of fuel is required, the pumps then being operated at twice the previous rate to supply fuel to the nozzles in turn.

Abstract: A vehicle drum brake comprises an automatic adjuster with thermal compensation, so that the brake does not become over-adjusted following thermal expansion and subsequent contraction of the drum. The adjuster overcomes the problems associated with adjusters which at high temperatures are disabled, and so might leave the brake under-adjusted. The adjuster comprises a bimetallic strip or equivalent incorporated into the adjuster strut to expand the strut when the drum expands, and to contract the strut when the drum contracts. Thus the adjuster takes up excess slack due to lining wear, but not that due to drum expansion. The adjuster is suited for use on those drum brake adjusters where the strut is lengthened by operation of the service brake actuator, and not of the handbrake actuator.

Abstract: In a high pressure hydraulic system wherein a source supplies pressurized fluid to a slave unit through a control valve operative to maintain the slave unit in a desired condition, leakage from the slave unit past the control valve when the source is inoperative is prevented by a control valve comprising two solenoid-operated valves, oppositely acting and arranged in series between the source and the slave unit, each valve being closed to prevent flow through the valve in a direction towards the other valve and opened to permit flow in both directions, under the control of a solenoid and the pressure differential acting across the valve. A seating portion on the valve located between the other valve and the slave unit is of elastomeric material to provide a leakproof seal when that valve is closed.

Abstract: An electric storage battery is provided with a connector for making an external electrical connection to the battery. The connector includes a hollow conductive body mounted on and welded to a terminal of the battery, and a flexible conductive cable connected to and extending from the body. The bore in the body is non-complementary with the terminal and is shaped so that the wall of the bore defines intermediate its ends a projecting portion which engages the terminal. The weld between the terminal and the conductive body is restricted to the region thereof between the projecting portion and the outer end of the terminal.

Abstract: In an hydraulic system an unloader valve is disposed in a supply line between a pump and an hydraulic accumulator. The unloader valve is operative to prevent the accumulator from being overcharged and to allow the pump to re-charge the accumulator should the pressure stored therein fall below a desired minimum value. The unloader valve incorporates a control valve comprising a spool and a pressure responsive slave which is operated by fluid pressure under the control of the control valve. The spool is movable between a first position in which the accumulator is isolated from the slave so that pump pressure is supplied to the accumulator and acts through a membrane on a trapped volume of gas under pressure, and a second position in which fluid pressure from the accumulator acts on the slave to unload the pump. The membrane of the accumulator acts directly on the spool to control movement of the spool between the two positions.

Abstract: An electrical wiring harness is formed as a flat tape by securing individual leads side-by-side by a bonding material which is itself in the form of tape. With the bonding material in a potentially bond-forming condition, for example softened by heat, the leads and the bonding material are combined by pressure in a roll nip. It is known to lay the leads out along a work top and move a heating and combining unit along the leads to form the harness. However, the machine is very long, requires turntables at each end to turn the combining unit, and leaves the harness in an inconvenient form for further handling. The leads and bonding material 12 are drawn past combining means 40, 24, 26 by a winding drum 22, which winds up into the form of a coil a harness so formed.

Abstract: In a braking system a dump valve opens during an imminent skid condition to dump fluid from a brake circuit to a reservoir space. A reservoir piston defining a boundary of the reservoir space then moves in a first bore against a spring so that a control rod, integral with the reservoir piston, allows a ball valve member to engage with its seat to cut-off communication between a master cylinder and a wheel brake. Simultaneously, fluid flows from the reservoir space through an inlet valve to a working chamber of a pump provided in a second bore in the reservoir piston so that a pump piston working in the bore engages with a rotatable eccentric. Fluid is then pumped from the pump chamber, past an outlet valve through an outlet passage in the control rod, and returned to the reservoir space through the open dump valve.