Patents Assigned to Lucas Industries public limited company
  • Ignition apparatus
    Patent number: 5621278
    Abstract: A charging circuit charges a first capacitor to a first voltage and a second capacitor, via a potential divider to a second voltage smaller than the first voltage. A trigger circuit repeatedly triggers a thyristor which discharges the second capacitor into the primary winding of a pulse transformer whose secondary winding is connected across a diode in series with the first capacitor between output terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1997
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventor: Martin J. Chambers
  • Fuel pumping apparatus
    Patent number: 5619970
    Abstract: An accumulator type fuel injection system has a cam actuated plunger pump for charging an accumulator chamber with fuel under pressure and valve means which in one position connects the accumulator chamber with a fuel delivery passage to cause delivery of fuel and in its other position to connect the delivery passage to a drain channel to terminate delivery of fuel. The drain channel includes a restrictor. The system includes a piston slidable in a cylinder having one end connected to the plunger pump through a valve and to the outlet of a low pressure pump. The other end of the cylinder is connected to the drain channel upstream of the restrictor. The piston acts to displace fuel in the one end of the cylinder to the plunger pump when the valve means is moved to its second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1997
    Assignee: Lucas Industries, Public. Limited Company
    Inventor: Peter A. G. Collingborn
  • Fuel injection nozzles
    Patent number: 5617998
    Abstract: A fuel injection nozzle includes a fuel pressure actuated valve member of the inwardly opening type which is movable by the action of fuel under pressure away from a seating to allow fuel flow from a nozzle inlet through an outlet. Mounted on the nozzle body is a spill valve which when operated allows fuel to escape from the nozzle inlet so as to lower the fuel pressure applied to the nozzle valve member. The spill valve is actuated by hydraulic means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Assignee: Lucas Industries, Public Limited Company
    Inventors: Paul Buckley, Gordon M. Reid
  • Asynchronous rear dump logic in ABS control systems
    Patent number: 5613742
    Abstract: An anti-lock ABS braking system for a road vehicle includes a respective dump valve for each brake actuator which enables pressure to be selectively dumped from that actuator to release the braking action of the relevant rear wheel. Whether a given rear wheel of the vehicle is still operating in a stable condition is established, as is the aggregate dump valve time of the rear wheel opposite to that under consideration. The brake pressure at the still stable rear wheel is allowed to continue to rise for a prescribed period and then its dump valve is actuated for a period corresponding to the measured aggregate dump time of the opposite rear wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Assignee: Lucas Industries public limited company
    Inventors: Alan L. Harris, Mark I. Phillips
  • Variable rate pump
    Patent number: 5613839
    Abstract: A variable rate pump including a distributor member rotatable within a sleeve. The distributor member is provided with a bore within which a pumping plunger is reciprocable under the influence of a first cam lobe and a second cam lobe. A valve is provided for selecting whether fuel is supplied due to the motion of the plunger under the influence of the first cam lobe or the second cam lobe. An arrangement is also provided in which the distributor member carries first and second plungers each reciprocable under the influence of respective cam lobes. A valve is provided for selecting whether the fuel is supplied by the first plunger or by the second plunger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventor: Paul Buckley
  • Pneumatic brake booster and process for manufacturing same
    Patent number: 5611257
    Abstract: A pneumatic brake booster with a booster housing part includes a vacuum chamber and a working chamber separated therefrom by a movable wall, and a valve body part including a control valve assembly and an electromagnet assembly. The control valve assembly can be actuated both by an actuation rod as well as by the electromagnet assembly, in order to make connections between the vacuum chamber and the working chamber, or between the working chamber and the ambient atmosphere. To improve the heat dissipation and to simplify the assembly the valve body part comprises several separate portions at least the first portion of the valve body part being at least partially designed as a magnetic return of the electromagnet assembly and is coupled with the second portion of the valve body part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventor: Rudiger Eick
  • Optical torque sensor
    Patent number: 5606137
    Abstract: An optical torque sensor for incorporation in a vehicle steering system comprises a light-emitting diode (LED) 1, a light sensor 2 which receives a light signal, a signal processor for receiving output signals from the light sensor 2, and a light-transmitting medium which alters the direction of propagation of light propagating through the medium to an extent which is dependent on the torque applied to the medium. The medium is defined by a generally cylindrical body 5 which is attached to input and output ends 7 and 8 of a torsion bar 10. In one construction, the body is formed of a plurality of optical fibres 6 or a plastics material having polarised strata along the length of the cylinder. In an alternative construction, the medium is a material having a refractive index which is dependent on the torque applied to the medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventor: David M. Penketh
  • Arrangement for torque measurements in motor vehicles
    Patent number: 5604317
    Abstract: An arrangement for torque measurements in motor vehicles includes a measuring hub which has first and second peripheral zones, a first adapter fastened to the first peripheral zone and adapted to be mounted on a vehicle hub, and a second adapter which is fastened to the second peripheral zone of the measuring hub and on which a wheel body can be mounted. The wheel body belongs to a test wheel and has an inner diameter which is greater than the outer diameter of the vehicle hub. The test wheel includes a rim which corresponds to the rim of a vehicle wheel normally mounted on the vehicle hub. The measuring hub is arranged essentially radially within the wheel body of the test wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1997
    Assignee: Lucas Industries public limited company
    Inventors: Detlef Jachmann, Gregor Waldorf
  • Method of and apparatus for monitoring operation of a catalyst
    Patent number: 5602737
    Abstract: The operation of a catalyst can be monitored using a two part test. An engine management system is arranged to perturb the oxygen concentration of the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine such that an oxygen concentration of the gas entering the catalyst varies between oxygen rich and oxygen deficient. A first test involves counting the number of transitions of the gas leaving the catalyst between two predetermined oxygen concentrations in response to a predetermined number of transitions of the gas entering the catalyst. A second test is performed if the first test indicates the catalyst to be faulty. The second test involves forming an integral of the oxygen concentration of the gas leaving the catalyst and correcting the integral for gas flow through the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1997
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventors: Hector Sindano, Paul W. Birkett
  • Fuel pump
    Patent number: 5596967
    Abstract: A rotary distributor pump for supplying fuel to a six cylinder engine is adapted to supply fuel to a three cylinder engine by connecting its three inactive outlet ports to chambers and by arranging that no fuel is supplied to its pumping chamber prior to registration of its delivery passage with an inactive outlet port. In order to minimise the risk of cavitation of the fuel within the chambers they are vented to a low pressure source of fuel just before the delivery passage registers with an inactive outlet port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1997
    Assignee: Lucas Industries public limited company
    Inventor: William R. Burborough
  • Method of and apparatus for analyzing internal combustion engine speed data
    Patent number: 5592388
    Abstract: Variations in the speed of an internal combustion engine are measured and the distribution of the variations is analyzed for asymmetry, which indicates engine misfire. A threshold is generated as a function of engine speed increases and compared with engine speed decreases to detect asymmetry in the distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventors: Benjamin J. Bradshaw, Michael Holmes, Russell W. Jones
  • Electronically controlled vehicle braking system and method for operating same
    Patent number: 5590937
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electronically controlled vehicle braking system with a brake booster comprising an electromagnetically operable control valve arrangement, an electronic control device supplying the control valve arrangement with control signals for initiating or cancelling an automatic braking sequence, and a load sensor connected with the electronic control device for sensing the pedal actuation force acting upon a brake pedal coupled with the brake booster, characterized in that the electronic control device is adapted to effect a brake pressure relief depending upon a reduction of the pedal actuation force acting on the brake pedal after the initiation of an automatic braking sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: Lucas Industries public limited company
    Inventor: Helmut Heibel
  • Edge filter with v-shaped channels
    Patent number: 5584999
    Abstract: An edge filter for liquid has a filter body which is produced by a metal injection moulding process followed by a heat treatment process. The body which incorporates "V" section flow channels is then ground so as to establish when the filter body is in a bore, controlled clearances between the wall of the bore and ribs defined between adjacent flow channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Public limited company
    Inventor: Michael P. Cooke
  • Fuel pumping apparatus
    Patent number: 5575253
    Abstract: A fuel pumping apparatus comprises a body defining a first bore within which a pumping plunger is reciprocable. The first bore communicates with a spill valve. A pilot piston is moveable within a pilot bore under the influence of the pressure within the first bore. A piston member is slidable within a blind drilling provided in the pilot piston such that upon movement of the pilot piston, fuel within the drilling is pressurised to a higher pressure than fuel within the first bore. Passage means connects the drilling with a fuel injection nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventors: Malcolm D. D. Lambert, Adam M. Cox, Colin T. Timms
  • Multiplexing valve
    Patent number: 5570718
    Abstract: A multiplexing valve is provided having a spool axially movable within a valve casing under the control fluid pressure introduced into variable volume chambers. The spool has passages formed therein such that, with appropriate positioning of the spool, fluid flow communication can be selectively established or inhibited between fluid sources and/or sinks and a given port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Assignee: Lucas Industries public limited company
    Inventors: Trevor S. Smith, John D. Pritchard, John H. Buscher
  • Differential pressure transducer wherein a bridge connects two pressure diaphragms
    Patent number: 5569856
    Abstract: A differential pressure transducer is provided in which first and second diaphragms are formed within a block of material, such as monocrystalline silicon. Each diaphragm carries a support for a bridge. The supports are offset from the center of the diaphragms such that deflection of the diaphragms imparts a degree of lateral motion to the respective support. The bridge is held within an evacuated cavity and the resonant frequency of the bridge is a function of the difference in pressure action of the diaphragms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1996
    Assignee: Lucas Industries public limited company
    Inventor: Alan J. Jacobs-Cook
  • Fuel injection nozzle
    Patent number: 5564633
    Abstract: The present invention embodies a fuel injector that takes up limited space when installed on the cylinder head of an associated engine. According to the invention in a fuel injection nozzle of the kind specified the wider portion of the nozzle body is provided with a slot which extends from the step toward the nozzle holder, the portion of the nozzle holder adjecent the nozzle body being provided with a slot. A chip member located in the slot secures the collar to the nozzle holder to retain the nozzle body relative to the nozzle holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Assignee: Lucas Industries, Public Limited Company
    Inventors: Martin P. Hardy, John W. Stevens
  • Control valve
    Patent number: 5564394
    Abstract: A control valve includes a valve member shaped for engagement with a seating which is defined about a flow passage. The valve member is movable between the open and closed positions by an actuator. Formed in the valve member is a blind drilling in which is located a plunger engageable with a fixed reaction surface external of the valve member. The inner end of the drilling communicates with a passage which communicates with the flow passage. The valve member is slidable in a bore which adjacent the seating is of enlarged diameter to define a recess which communicates with a further flow passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Assignee: Lucas Industries public limited company
    Inventor: Christopher Wood
  • Overfill prevention valve
    Patent number: 5562123
    Abstract: An overfill prevention valve is provided in the fill line of a tank. The valve is arranged such that the valve is held at a closed position unless an overflow for the tank is open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventor: Rodney S. Howard
  • Hydraulic boosters for vehicle hydraulic systems
    Patent number: 5558002
    Abstract: A control valve for controlling the pressurisation of a power chamber of the booster comprises a spool working in a bore in a boost piston. The spool carries longitudinal spaced radial seals, a first one of the seals being disposed so as to prevent fluid from a radial high pressure supply port entering the power chamber through the spool at least when the booster is in an inoperative position. Movement of the spool in a forward operating direction, in response to an input force, causes the first one of the seals to uncover the port so that fluid can enter the power chamber through the spool. The other seal is adapted to uncover a radial return port connected to a reservoir when the input force is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Assignee: Lucas Industries, Public Limited Company
    Inventors: Keith J. Robbins, Michael Williamson, Andrew R. Broadwell