Abstract: A fuel treatment device for use in fuel system of an internal combustion engine comprises a casing adapted to be secured, in use, to a mounting which defines a fuel inlet and an outlet. A fuel treatment element is located in the casing and a wall of the casing is displaceable by hand to achieve a pumping action.

Abstract: A fuel pumping apparatus for supplying fuel to a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine includes a high pressure pump which supplies fuel in timed relationship with the engine. The fuel is distributed to fuel outlets in turn by means of an axially movable distributor member which has a groove connected to the high pressure pump and which can register with ports connected to the fuel outlets respectively. The distributor member is actuated by a lever means mounting rollers which engage cam profiles on a cup-shaped cam. The cam profiles are arranged such that the groove dwells at each port during the time fuel flows through the groove and port.

Abstract: An apparatus, for example a gas turbine engine is normally controlled by a digital first computer which is responsive to engine operating conditions. A second computer is responsive to selected ones of said conditions. Control signals from the digital computer are monitored by a circuit which generates analog signals which lie within acceptable ranges and which correspond to the values generated by the digital computer. The monitor circuit supplies the engine with signals selected from whichever of the analog value and corresponding digital value lies farthest from a predetermined limit. Predetermined levels of discrepancy between any of the analog values and its corresponding digital value cause control of the engine to be transferred to the second computer, which may also be a digital computer.

Abstract: A fuel pumping apparatus for supplying fuel to an internal combustion engine is of the rotary distribution type in which the outward movement of pumping plungers is determined by stops, the axial position of the distribution member being adjustable to determine in conjunction with the stops the amount of fuel delivered by the apparatus. The plungers are actuated by cam lobes on a cam ring and two types of cam lobe are provided. One type of lobe provides the normal pumping action while the other type of lobe is shaped to provide an initial delivery of fuel by the apparatus in advance of the main quantity of fuel. The initial quantity can be varied by moving the cam ring angularly.

Abstract: A mounting arrangement for an electrical power circuit includes a casing and a lid which can be secured to the casing to close an open end thereof. The lid carries the heat producing components of a power circuit and acts in use, to dissipate the heat produced by said components.

Abstract: A fuel injection pumping apparatus for supplying fuel to an internal combustion engine includes a rotary distributor member which is also axially movable to determine the amount of fuel supplied by the apparatus. Fluid under pressure is supplied to the chamber to move the distributor member axially against the action of a spring and valve means is provided to control the pressure. The valve means includes a first member in the form of a spool and a second member in the form of a sleeve. The sleeve is coupled by linkage to the distributor member and the position of the spool is determined by a speed responsive governor. A land on the spool co-operates with a port to control the flow of fluid to the chamber. A groove on the spool and a port register to allow fuel flow to a pumping chamber but move out of register to halt fuel flow if the spool should move with increasing speed without there being a corresponding movement of the distributor member and sleeve to reduce the fuel delivered by the apparatus.

Abstract: A three-phase bridge circuit includes two sets of transistor/diode assemblies in which the diode of each assembly is connected in reverse current mode across the main current path of its transistor. Each diode of one set has its cathode connected to a positive d.c. input bus bar and its anode to a respective a.c. output bus bar. Each diode of the second set has its cathode connected to a negative d.c. input bus bar and a respective a.c. output bus bar. An input terminal has a plurality of electrical contacts, each connected to the control electrode of a respective transistor in the transistor/diode assemblies. A heat sink has its electrically insulating layer on one major surface thereof and in thermal contact therewith. Each transistor is in thermal contact with the heat sink by way of a bus bar part, and each of the bus bar parts is secured to the insulating layer so as to be in thermal contact with the heat sink.

Abstract: A fuel pumping apparatus for supplying fuel to a compression ignition engine includes a low pressure pump having an outlet connected to an air/fuel separation chamber. The chamber is connected to a high pressure pump through a passage. Fuel is supplied to an inlet of the low pressure pump through a first passage formed in a rotary part of the apparatus, the passage extending into a cavity in the apparatus. A fuel supply passage connects with the cavity and a second passage connects the upper part of the cavity with the fuel inlet of the low pressure pump. The second passage incorporates a non-return valve. Air in the cavity is directed by vortex action to the first passage and can be drawn into the low pressure pump and expelled from the separation chamber through a restricted outlet. If too much air collects in the cavity air will be supplied to the high pressure pump and will cause irregular operation of the engine.

Abstract: An oxygen sensor which exhibits a change in electrical resistance as a function of oxygen partial pressure comprises at least one of strontium ferrate, barium ferrate and strontium barium ferrate, in which part of the iron in the ferrate lattice has been replaced by at least one element of valency greater than 3, such as titanium, cerium, niobium or tantalum.

Abstract: A linear inductive transducer includes a non-magnetic former which has a bore in which is slidable a core formed from magnetic material. The core in use is moved axially within the former by the component whose axial position it is required to sense. The former has three circumferential grooves in which are located coils connected together to form the transducer winding the inductance of which varies with the axial position of the core. The widths of the coils and the number of turns in each coil varies so as to produce a substantially linear variation of inductance as the core is moved. A temperature responsive resistor is mounted in close proximity to the winding and is connected in a resistance network which includes the winding. The inductance of the winding is checked by applying a step voltage to the resistance network and monitoring the change of current in a part of the network.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a fuel injection pump includes the step of broaching a bore in a pump body to accomodate a cylindrical pump barrel. The broached bore is of non-circular section and has at least three flat sides which contact the cylindrical surface of the barrel. In addition the broached bore defines a tongue which locates in a groove in the barrel to prevent rotation of the barrel in the body.

Abstract: A battery charging system comprises a battery which may be selectively connected to a load or a battery charger. The system further includes a discharge monitor the output of which is connected to five of the address inputs of ROM, the remaining five inputs of which are connected to the output of a counter driven by a clock. The output of ROM is connected to the input of a D/A converter, the output of which is connected to the current control input of a charger. ROM is programmed with a set of charging schedules of equal duration. In operation, at the commencement of a charging cycle, a particular schedule is selected by the discharge monitor and the system is then driven through the selected schedule by the counter and the clock.

Abstract: A fuel injection nozzle includes a valve member biased by resilient means into contact with a seating to prevent fuel flow through an outlet from an inlet, the valve member being responsive to the pressure at the inlet and opening to allow fuel flow when the pressure attains a predetermined value. A piston member defines a surface against which fuel under pressure in a chamber can act to assist the action of the resilient means. The fuel under pressure in the chamber is obtained from the fuel inlet and is controlled by a valve element slidable within a bore in the piston member. One end of the bore is open to the chamber and the other end to a drain. The element is biased by a spring towards the one end of the bore so that its position in the bore depends upon the pressure in the chamber. The valve element and wall of the bore define groove and a port which form part of a passage means connecting the inlet and the chamber.

Abstract: A control circuit for controlling the operation of an electrically powered heating device includes supply terminals for connection to a source of d.c. supply, one of the terminals of the heating device being connected to one supply terminal and the other terminal of the device being connected to the other supply terminal by way of a relay contact. The junction of the contact and device is connected by way of a resistor to one plate of a capacitor the other plate of which is connected to the one supply terminal. A comparator monitors the voltage across the capacitor and controls the operation of a relay winding. The comparator is supplied with a reference voltage which can be equal to the design operating voltage of the heating device, this being less than the nominal supply voltage. The relative values of the two resistors are chosen so that when the supply voltage exceeds the design voltage the power supplied to the heating device is controlled.

Abstract: A fuel injection nozzle for supplying fuel to an internal combustion engine includes an outwardly opening valve member having a head which co-operates with a seating formed on a tubular member. The head is lifted from the seating to allow fuel flow to the assciated engine. The tubular member is also slidable within a bore and defines orifices which are exposed beyond the bore to allow fuel flow to the engine before the valve head is lifted from the seating. Improved atomization of the fuel at low pressure is therefore obtained.