Abstract: A fuel filter element includes an outer casing within which is located an annular filter medium which surrounds an inner tube. The filter medium is supported by upper and lower annular support plates. The upper support plate is provided with apertures to allow fuel flow and the lower support plate has a series of apertures which are located adjacent the outer peripheral edge of the plate.

Abstract: An optical displacement sensor is used to measure the rotary displacement between two shafts which rotate together. By connecting the shafts together by means of a torsion bar, the sensor may be used to measure transmitted torque. The sensor comprises first and second coaxial discs mounted on the shafts and having slots formed therein. A light source directs light through the slots onto an array of photodetectors and a data processor determines the displacement or torque from the positions on the array of images of the slot edges.

Abstract: A piston pump for the delivery of hydraulic fluid, in particular for ABS braking systems, comprises a pump housing 10 with an inlet 12 and an outlet 14 for the hydraulic fluid. A piston 16 is guided in the pump housing 10 without a sliding sleeve and supplies hydraulic fluid from the inlet 12 to the outlet 14 of the housing 10. A valve assembly 20 together with the piston 16 and a return spring 34 for the piston is joined as an asseembly capable of being handled independently and arranged directly in the pump housing 10.

Abstract: A method of operating a drive circuit of a solenoid of an electromagnetic device including an armature, the drive circuit including switch means in series with the solenoid, comprising closing the switch means to achieve a high rate of current increase in the solenoid, opening the switch means when the current reaches a predetermined level and allowing the current to decay, the movement of the armature from a first to a second position being completed whilst the current is decaying and monitoring the decaying current using a sensing circuit which includes means responsive to a discontinuity in the decaying current flow when the armature reaches the second position.

Abstract: A brake and actuator assembly is disclosed, and includes a brake having an actuating shaft operable to cause friction elements of the brake to be urged against a rotary braking member. The assembly also includes a brake actuating mechanism to which the shaft is operably connected for brake actuation. The shaft forms a splined connection, at a location spaced from the actuating mechanism, with a coupling device coupled to an output member of a power device, enabling the position of force application from the power device to the shaft to vary along the shaft to accommodate friction element wear in the brake. The line of force application between the output member and the shaft lies generally in a radial plane extending through the member, coupling device and splined connection.

Abstract: The clamping device comprises at least one plunger (30) which is displaceable in the direction of a plunger axis (C) for applying a brake pad to a brake disc, and at least one eccentric (24) which is rotatable about a transverse axis (B). A roll body (28) is carried on the eccentric (24) for transmitting actuating forces to the plunger (30). An adjusting member (70) is rotatable about an adjusting axis (D) extending at an angle to the transverse axis (B) to compensate for lining wear. A pin (76) is fixed to the eccentric (24) and cooperates with the adjusting member (70) to transmit the torque for effecting an adjustment to compensate for lining wear. The pin (76) forms part of a safety mechanism (76, 98) by which the roll body (28) is prevented from inadmissibly moving in the direction of the transverse axis (B) with respect to the eccentric (24).

Abstract: A commutation control strategy for eliminating torque ripple and noise from a brushless motor which has a plurality of motor phases connected in a bridge, each phase having a top switching device provided between a phase winding and a positive voltage supply and a bottom switching device provided between the phase winding and a less positive voltage supply in which following commutations of the motor, when the current flowing in a first phase is decaying towards zero and the current in a second phase is rising from zero, the switching devices are operative between a state in which the current flowing in the first phase is caused to decay at a first rate, and another state in which the current flowing in the first phase is caused to decay at a second rate which is lower than the first rate so that the rate of decay of the current in the first phase substantially matches the rate of rise of the current in the second phase.

Abstract: A pump is disclosed having a variable cam arrangement under the influence of which a plunger is reciprocable. The variable cam arrangement comprises a plurality of cam rings which in an embodiment of the pump are relatively moveable in order to adjust the shape of the effective cam surface of the cam arrangement, and hence adjust the delivery rate of the pump.

Abstract: A clamping sleeve (12) for joining a pressure hose (14) with a metal braided sheathing with a fitting (10) comprises a tubular metal base member (40) with a first end which faces the fitting (10) and an opposite inlet end. At least in the area of the inlet end, the base member (40) is provided with a hollow cylindrical plastic insert (42) which extends at least to the inlet end of the plastic insert (40) the inner diameter of which in its axially inner end portion with respect to the base member corresponds at least approximately to the inner diameter of the base member (40) in a portion axially adjacent to the plastic insert (42). In the axially outer end portion of the plastic insert (42) the inner diameter of same continuously increases towards the axially outer end in order to prevent notch effects.

Abstract: Disclosed is a flow sensor comprising a cylinder and a piston movable within the cylinder and dividing the cylinder into first and second chambers. The first chamber communicates with an inlet and the cylinder has an orifice which cooperates with the piston to define an outlet from the first chamber. The area of the orifice varies with the position of the piston within the cylinder. The apparatus operates to vary the pressure in the second chamber so as to move the piston in response to fluid flow to maintain a substantially constant pressure drop between the inlet and outlet, each unique axial position of the piston within the cylinder indicating a particular flow rate. A transducer senses the position of the piston and thus the direction and rate of flow.

Abstract: A valve assembly (10) for controlling a pneumatic brake booster comprises a valve housing (16) with a first and a second valve seat (18, 20) as well as with a valve body (26) adapted to be applied to both valve seats (18, 20). In one position of an operating member (24) the valve body (26) is lifted off the first valve seat (18) only, while in another position of the operating member (24) it is lifted off the second valve seat (20). Radially outside the valve housing (16) an annular third valve seat (64) and a control sleeve (60) surrounding the valve housing are arranged, which as an additional valve body can be axially moved by means of the operating member (24) relative to the valve housing (16).

Abstract: A cruise control system for a road vehicle having apparatus which, when cruise control is engaged, is arranged to inform the driver of the vehicle when a maximum braking force allowed by the cruise control system is being applied, so that the driver can make a decision as to whether or not to take over control of the vehicle from the cruise control system.

Abstract: A brake cylinder means (1) for a motor vehicle, comprises a cylinder/piston means (2) adapted to be operated by a brake pedal means for generating pressure in a hydraulic brake system of the motor vehicle, characterized in that the cylinder/piston means (2) is provided in an outer cylinder means (3) in an axially movable manner, a spring means is provided to resiliantly bias said cylinder/piston means (2) against said outer cylinder (3), in an normal actuation position said cylinder (2a) of said cylinder/piston means (2) being essentially non-movable with respect to the piston (2b) of said cylinder/piston means (2), such that the cylinder/piston means (2) being movable against the spring forces of said spring means (4) in said outer cylinder (3).

Abstract: A pressure regulation valve is disclosed which comprises a housing including first and second ports, a support for slidably supporting a tubular member defining a valve seat against which a valve element is engageable. The tubular member and valve element are spring biased into engagement with one another. In use, the application of pressurized fuel to the first port pushes the tubular member against the stop, the valve element being able to leave the valve seat in order to permit fuel flow through the valve. If the second port is at a higher pressure than the first port, the valve element moves into engagement with the valve seat, the application of a high pressure resulting in the valve element and tubular member moving until the valve element engages the support, further movement of the tubular member permitting fuel flow through the valve from the second port to the first port.

Abstract: A measuring system for linear and angular movements with a first length or angle sensor (3) which operates in accordance with a first measuring method and which converts an input value (s, alpha) in the form of a linear or angular movement into an electrically processible first output value (UPOT) is further developed to increase the functional reliability and to avoid "coomon model" errors in such a manner that a second length or angle sensor (1) which is mechanically coupled with the first length or angle sensor (3) is provided which operates to a measuring method that is different from the first measuring method, and which converts the linear and angular movement (s, alpha) into an electrically processible second output value (UPULS), with the first and second output value (UPOT, UPULS) being available for subsequent processing and evaluation.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the brake pressure in a vehicle brake system equipped with an electronically adjustable brake booster (10), comprising an actuator (22) which transmits the actuating movement of the brake pedal to a master brake cylinder and has assigned a path limiting element (80) which limits the axial actuating movement of the actuator (22) in that it is received between abutments (90, 92), the apparatus being characterized in that a switch is actuated by the path limiting element (80) together with one of the abutments (90), said switch supplying a signal to the brake booster when the path limiting element (80) abuts the one abutment (90).

Abstract: In order to improve an electrically actuatable automotive parking brake with mechanical emergency actuation, the brake pads (52, 54) of the parking brake, which may be either a disk brake or a drum brake, can be applied or released via gear arrangement (100) arranged within or at the brake. The gear arrangement (100) has one power input and one power output, with the power input being coupled with the one end of a flexible shaft, the other end of which being arranged remote from the brake can be coupled with a manual crank, in order to be able to actuate the parking brake mechanically in the case of a failure of the electric actuation.

Abstract: A cruise control system for a road vehicle having means for the establishment of a number of interlock conditions which, if broken, cause the cruise control system to adopt an intermediate condition wherein, if the vehicle is still moving, the cruise control system is arranged to be disabled, and, if the vehicle is stationary, the cruise control system is arranged to hold the vehicle at rest until either overridden by the driver or positively reselected by the driver.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hydraulic power unit for a vehicle braking system comprising an electronic controller (22, 24) arranged in a housing (12), a valve block (14) for accommodating electromagnetic valves for the control of hydraulic fluid in the braking system, and a pump motor (16) for a pump delivering a hydraulic fluid, with the housing (12) of the controller (22, 24) being connected with the valve block (14) and the pump motor (16) and is characterized in that a wall (12a) of the housing (12) at its outer surface (12a') facing the valve block (14) carries at least one solenoid (20) for the electromagnetic valves in the valve block (14).

Abstract: A rotary electrical connector comprising first and second relatively rotatable housing parts, a spacer provided between the housing parts and rotatable with respect thereto, an elongate conductor carried, at one end, by the first housing part and, at the other end, by the second housing part, the conductor defining a first coiled portion between the spacer and the first housing part and a second coiled portion between the spacer and the second housing part, the first and second coiled portions being wound in opposite directions, and a bearing locating the spacer for rotational movement within the housing defined by the first and second housing parts.