Abstract: A video camera or equivalent sensor is mounted on a vehicle and used to detect the lane markings on the road (usually the white painted lines). An associated signal processor (11) estimates the vehicle's lateral position in relation to the lane markings. An electric motor (4) coupled to the steering mechanism (1) is used to provide a torque input to the steering which may either assist or oppose the steering torque from the driver. The processor (11) is designed to assist the driver to maintain the vehicle's lane position by holding the vehicle at a set-point using a biasing torque. This simulates the effect of the lane being cambered upwards towards the lane edges. However the driver is able to override or cancel the effect if the driver applied steering torque exceeds a prescribed torque threshold.

Abstract: A cruise control system arranged to determine whether the closest targeted vehicle ahead of a vehicle being controlled is running in its lane or an adjacent lane and if it is determined that the closest vehicle is running in an adjacent slower lane, allowing the controlled vehicle to overtake the closest vehicle if the way ahead is clear, and if it is determined that the closest vehicle is running in an adjacent faster lane, selecting that closest vehicle as a prime target to control the acceleration of the controlled vehicle unless there is another vehicle running in the same lane as the controlled vehicle which requires deceleration of the controlled vehicle, in which case the vehicle running in the same lane is selected as the prime target.

Abstract: A valve arrangement, particularly for a fluid brake circuit with anti-slip control, comprising a first, a second and a third fluid connection (16, 20, 46) of respective, predetermined flow cross-sections, at least one valve element (44) which is biased by a first spring arrangement (106) in a first position in which the first and second fluid connection (16, 20) are communicating via a flow path and the third fluid connection (46) is closed, and a valve actuating means (42) by which the valve element (44) can be moved in order to assume a second position in which the first and third fluid connection (16, 46) are communicating via a flow path and the second fluid connection (20) is closed, with the bias of the first spring arrangement (106), the force that can be applied to the valve element (44) by the valve actuating means (42), and the flow cross-sections of the fluid connections (16, 20, 46) being so dimensioned that with a predetermined fluid pressure at the second fluid connection (20), the valve element

Abstract: An AICC cruise control system which operates in accordance with a driver's headway request given in terms of a desired time interval between the controlled vehicle and the preceding (target) vehicle, wherein, upon slowing of the target vehicle towards zero velocity, the calculated station of the controlled vehicle behind the target is changed from being a pure time-based interval into a time interval which is calculated to include a proportion of a desired residual range at standstill, the proportion being dependent upon the velocity of the controlled vehicle.

Abstract: A fuel supply apparatus for supplying fuel to a compression ignition engine comprising a rotary distributor member having a delivery passage which can register in turn with outlet ports connected to the injection nozzles of the engine. Fuel is supplied to the delivery passage from an accumulator under the control of a valve. The accumulator is charged with fuel by means of a high pressure pump which is a cam actuated pump and fuel is supplied to the high pressure pump by a low pressure pump. A valve is provided to control the output pressure of the low pressure pump so that the amount of fuel supplied to the high pressure pump can be varied for the purpose of controlling the fuel pressure within the accumulator. This pressure is sensed by a transducer which supplies a signal to a control system which controls the flow of electric current in the valve.

Abstract: A pneumatic brake booster (10) and a hydraulic master cylinder (60) are arranged in a series along a common axis (A) to form an assembly which includes a booster housing (12), a power input member (30) and a power output member (40). A mechanical power transmitter (32) is arranged between the power input member (30) and the power output member (40). A sleeve (50) is rigidly attached at a valve housing (22) to enclose a portion of the power output member (40). At the booster housing (12) a master cylinder housing (62) is attached which has a guide (68) facing the power transmitter (32). A primary piston (70) is guided in the master cylinder housing (62) and includes a support (72) for the power output member (40) as well as an extension (74) which extends towards the power transmitter (32) and is guided in the guide (68). The sleeve (50) extends to near this support (72) and is provided with a head portion (52) which bears against the master cylinder (60) via the guide (68) in a radial direction.

Abstract: An electronically controlled brake booster for a road vehicle brake system having a housing comprises a vacuum chamber (16) and a servo chamber (14) separated from said vacuum chamber (16) by a movable wall (18), an electromagnetically operatable control valve device (20) which is coupled to said movable wall (18) for common relative movement with respect to the housing of the brake booster and a sensor (32) which, for an electronic control device (ECU), senses operating conditions of the road vehicle brake system and produces signals characteristic for these operating conditions which signals are evaluated by said control device (ECU) for producing drive signals (S.sub.1a, S.sub.1b) for said control valve device (20), wherein the sensor is formed as a pressure sensor (32) and senses at least the pressure (p.sub.AK) prevailing in said servo chamber (14).

Abstract: An electronically controlled brake booster for a road vehicle brake system having a housing comprises a vacuum chamber (16) and a servo chamber (14) separated from said vacuum chamber (16) by a movable wall (18), an electromagnetically operatable control valve device (20) which is coupled to said movable wall (18) for common relative movement with respect to the housing of the brake booster and a sensor (32) which, for an electronic control device (ECU), senses operating conditions of the road vehicle brake system and produces signals characteristic for these operating conditions which signals are evaluated by said control device (ECU) for producing drive signals (S.sub.1a, S.sub.1b) for said control valve device (20), wherein the sensor is formed as a pressure sensor (32) and senses at least the pressure (p.sub.AK) prevailing in said servo chamber (14).

Abstract: A vehicle braking system with an electronically controllable brake servo unit which comprises a first pneumatic working chamber (13) and a second pneumatic working chamber (14) which are separated from each other by a movable wall (11), wherein a travel sensor (20) is provided for the detection of displacements of the movable wall (11) relative to a stationary wall (5b) of at least one of the two working chambers (13, 14) is improved to simplify assembly and adjustment of the travel sensor in such a manner that a wall (11) is provided with an opening (19) through which a measuring element (10) being connected with another wall (5b) is projecting, and that the travel sensor (20) converts a relative movement between the measuring element (10) and the travel sensor (20) in the direction of the movement of the movable wall (11) into a signal used for controlling the brake servo unit.

Abstract: A system for measuring loads in a vehicle comprising strain and/or displacement sensing elements and a local electronic interface which are adapted to be linked to a main electronic unit in a vehicle with which the load measuring system is associated. The load measuring system comprises an internal micro-controller within the interface which is adapted to receive signals from the main electronic unit to switch elements of the load measuring system into both zero setting and calibration modes. The micro-controller has electrically alterable, non-volatile memory which is adapted to store zero setting and calibration data for subsequent use in a normal operating, load measurement mode of the system.

Abstract: An injector is described which includes a holder having an inlet, and a passage for supplying fuel from the inlet to a valve needle seating, an adjustable spring abutment plate being located between the inlet and passage. Adjustment of the position of the plate adjusts the compression of a spring arranged to bias a valve needle into engagement with the seating, hence adjusting the fuel pressure necessary to lift the needle from the seating. The plate is provided with an opening whereby the inlet communicates with the passage.

Abstract: A fuel system for an internal combustion engine (10) includes a controller (14) which controls the operation of an engine fuel pump (13). Signals are supplied to the controller by a transducer (16) which is responsive to the passage of teeth formed on the periphery of a wheel (12) which is mounted on the engine crankshaft. In order to generate an engine speed signal it is necessary to know the tooth spacing errors and these are determined by recording two time pulse sequences of signals from the transducer at different engine speeds and loads and then processing those signals to firstly determine the periodic component of the signals due to the fluctuation of engine speed which occurs due to the individual power strokes of the engine.

Abstract: For the purpose of routing an electric cable through the movable wall of the two pneumatic working chambers of an electronically controllable bake booster, comprising a first pneumatic working chamber and a second pneumatic working chamber which are separated by a movable wall, where a simple assembly and a high functional reliability are to be ensured, a cable feed-through for at least one electric cable penetrating the movable wall is provided, with a portion of the cable-feed through penetrating the movable wall, and a holder which limits the movability of the cable feed-through at least in its longitudinal direction, and a seal surrounding the cable feed-through in the area of the movable wall.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pneumatic brake booster comprising a housing (10) which is divided into a vacuum chamber (14) and a working chamber (12), in which a dual valve arrangement (20) having a first valve (24, 26) between the vacuum chamber (14) and the working chamber (12) and a second valve (24', 26') between the ambient atmosphere (A) and the working chamber (12) is arranged at the housing (10), in which the valve arrangement (20), in an inoperative position, allows having pressure levels in the vacuum chamber (14) and in the working chamber (12) which are different from the ambient atmospheric pressure (A), and in an operative position, keeps the vacuum chamber (14) sealed off and allows communication between the ambient atmosphere (A) and the working chamber (12), wherein, in normal operation, the first valve (24, 26) and the second valve (24', 26') are actuatable by a common actuating rod, and, in a controlled operation, an electromagnetic actuator (40, 46) which is independent of the actuating rod

Abstract: A solenoid-operated flow control valve is disclosed which comprises a housing having a bore, a solenoid coil, an armature, an inlet and an outlet, a permanent communication between an inlet and an outlet comprising a first and a second flow path connected in parallel between the inlet and the outlet, the first flow path being closable and the second flow path providing permanent communication between the outlet, an exhaust, a seating and a valve assembly including a hollow valve body working in the bore, the armature being responsive to the coil to open the exhaust to determine a pressure differential across the valve body, the pressure differential in turn causing the valve body to move in the bore so as to co-operate with the seating, whereby the valve body provides selective communication between the inlet, outlet and exhaust, and whereby upon deenergisation of the coil the flow control valve controls the rate of reapplication of pressure to the outlet.

Abstract: A method for preventing the driven wheels of an automotive vehicle from spinning provides that whenever one of two driven wheels of one axle of the vehicle has a lower friction coefficient with the road surface than the other wheel of said axle and the one wheel shows a spinning tendency, brake pressure is built up at said wheel, with the rotational speed of the other wheel being measured, and whenever the rotational speed exceeds a specified value with respect to a vehicle reference speed, the brake pressure at the one wheel is reduced or maintained constant.

Abstract: A rotary distributor fuel injection pump includes a pumping plunger housed in a bore and has a spill valve member integrally formed with an actuator piston contained in a cylinder. High pressure fuel from the bore can be admitted to the one end of the cylinder to move the actuator piston and valve member away from the seating by opening an on/off valve. When the spilled fuel has been returned to the bore further fuel flows to the bore by way of the on/off valve and this fuel flows to the on/off valve through a non-return valve from a source of fuel under pressure.

Abstract: A method of testing a fuel system of an internal combustion engine comprises measuring the instantaneous speed of a component of a pumping apparatus of the system this speed decreasing as fuel is pressurised to achieve fuel delivery to the engine as compared with the nominal engine speed due to "wind up" in the drive to the engine. The speed profiles obtained as fuel is supplied to each injection nozzle and compared to determine if the injection nozzles are working correctly.

Abstract: In a hydraulic anti-lock braking system a flow control valve operates with a single-acting solenoid operated valve (35) and the flew control valve incorporates a spool (17) working in a bore (8) in a housing (7) with the flow directed through a passage (20) passing substantially through the center of the spool (7). A fixed orifice (21) is located at the one end of the spool which defines a chamber (19) for a control spring (18), and a variable orifice is defined between a port (33) in the housing (7) end a metering edge on the input side of an annular groove (24) in the spool (17) and which communicates with the passage (20) in the spool (17). A chamber containing the spring (18) being of a larger bore than the bore containing the spool (17).

Abstract: A lever 22, which comprises a slot 28 and an abutment 30, is supported on a housing 18 so as to pivot about a pivot axis A. A cable 40, which is supported against the abutment 30 via an enlarged butt end 42, is placed in position in the slot 28, such that the lever 22 can be pivoted by a pulling force C of the cable. The lever 22 comprises a projection 34 which, in extension of the cable 40 and defining an intermediate space 32, is disposed opposite the abutment 30. The end 42 is accommodated in the intermediate space 32 and is supported against the projection 34 for transmitting a pushing force D of the cable. The projection is provided, at its side facing away from the abutment 30, with a ramp 38, on to which ramp the end 42 of the cable 40 is adapted to be placed, when the cable is inserted in the slot, and from which ramp the end 42 slides downward into the intermediate space 32 when a pulling force C is exerted on the cable.