Abstract: A brake pedal (1) for actuation of a brake cylinder (10) of a motor vehicle, comprises a lever (2), having at an end portion of one lever (3) a stepping plate (4) for actuation by a driver, and an articulation location (5) for introducing actuation forces into the brake cylinder (10), characterized in that the lever (2) comprises a first rotational axis (6) and a second rotational axis (7), the lever (2) rotating about the first rotational axis (6) during a normal actuation, and the lever (2) rotating about the second rotational axis (7) during an emergency actuation.

Abstract: A stator component is described which comprises first and second limbs defining respective pole faces. Each limb includes an outer surface which is provided with a pair of elongate recesses, each extending in a direction angled to the pole faces. The recesses conveniently intersect one another, and are conveniently formed using a plunge cutting technique.

Abstract: A rotary position transducer comprises a sensor cooperating with a toothed wheel which has nominally evenly spaced teeth and which may, for instance, be mounted on the crankshaft of an internal combustion engine. The times at which the teeth pass the sensor are stored. The time intervals between consecutive teeth are calculated, for instance during fuel cut-off operation of the engine. An error in the angular spacing between consecutive teeth is calculated for the time interval between consecutive teeth, a time interval between further teeth disposed symmetrically about the consecutive teeth, and the nominal angular spacing between the further teeth.

Abstract: A valve arrangement comprises a piezo electric member arranged to control fuel flow through an orifice, the piezo electric member being operable to flex away from the orifice to allow an increased rate of fuel flow therethrough. The piezo electric member is also engageable with a valve member of a pressure relieving valve to control lifting of the valve member from a seating.

Abstract: An electronically controlled brake booster for a vehicle brake system including a housing having a vacuum chamber and a servo chamber separated from the vacuum chamber by a movable wall. The brake booster further includes a control valve operable by an electromagnet. The control valve is coupled to the wall for common relative movement with respect to the housing. The electromagnet is connectable to a control unit generating a drive signal to operate the electromagnet. A braking pressure generation unit is connected to the movable wall for generating a braking pressure for a brake of the vehicle in dependance on the position of the movable wall. The drive signal is generated in the control unit in dependance on a control parameter, the parameter being adjusted in dependance on a dead time of the braking pressure between supplying the electromagnet with the signal and a rising of the braking pressure in response thereto.

Abstract: A fuel supply system for supplying fuel to the cylinders of an associated engine is disclosed. The system comprises a fuel pump for supplying high pressure fuel to a delivery line, a plurality of injectors connected to the delivery line and means operable to deliver fuel through the injectors to respective cylinders of an associated engine, and a control valve connected to the delivery line and operable to control the pressure of fuel within the delivery line.

Abstract: A wear sensing system for the brake linings of a vehicle. Since the sensors are mounted within the brake mechanism, the reduction in the disc thickness must be taken into account to supply an accurate reading. A non-volatile memory stores the position of the brake before replacement and is compared to the position after replacement. However, the latter reading is established only after a predetermined number of brake applications to take up any starting clearances.

Abstract: An electrical generator provides an output at a main stator winding which is excited by a main rotor winding. The main rotor winding is connected via a rectifier to a main exciter rotor winding which is excited by a main exciter field winding. A control circuit controls excitation of the main exciter field winding so as to stabilise the generator output voltage. The control circuit includes a detector for detecting excessive generator output voltage and a transistor switch for connecting a resistor in the current recirculation path of the main exciter field winding so as to prevent transient over-voltages caused by sudden load reductions.

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 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 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 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: 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 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: 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: 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 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: A shaft (34) is supported in the bottom (22) of a casing (20) and is rotatable for mechanical brake application. A ramp assembly (40) which is fixed to the casing and designed as an annular plate is supported on the bottom (22) around the shaft (34) and prevented from rotating by an off-center twist stop (42), and it is centered in the casing (20) in a way bypassing the shaft (34). Moreover, a rotatable ramp assembly (50) is arranged inside the casing (20) so as to be axially displaceable and is connected to the shaft (34) for torque transmission. The rotatable ramp assembly (50) is supported in such manner on the ramp assembly (40) which is fixed to the casing that it converts torque applied to it by the shaft (34) into an axial actuating force (B).

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.