Patents Assigned to Lucas Industries public limited
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Patent number: 5556031
    Abstract: A fuel injection nozzle has a valve member engageable with a seating to prevent fuel flow through an outlet orifice. The valve member is engaged by the narrower end of a stepped piston member the surface of which remote from the valve member is subjected to fuel under pressure to bias the valve member into engagement with the seating. A tubular valve element the interior of which is connected to a drain, is engageable with the surface but can be moved away from the surface to lower the pressure applied to the surface. The valve member lifts away from the seating when the pressure applied to the surface is reduced by fuel pressure acting on a further surface defined on the valve member. The valve element is connected to the armature of a solenoid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventors: Michael P. Cooke, George N. Felton
  • Patent number: 5556177
    Abstract: An ABS skid detection protection system for a wheeled vehicle detects a predetermined level of deceleration at a wheel; detects, memorizers and holds for a prescribed period the wheel speed value at that predetermined deceleration level; detects whether the angular acceleration of the monitored wheel first falls below and then re-establishes the predetermined deceleration level within the prescribed level; and corrects the memorizsed value of wheel speed by subtracting from it an amount equal to the vehicle deceleration multiplied by either the elapsed time since the wheel speed value was memorized or the elapsed time since the initiation of a short-duration pulse by which the actuating pressure applied to a brake can be temporarily dumped upon detection of the predetermined level of deceleration of the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventors: Alan L. Harris, Mark I. Phillips, Mark L. Howell
  • Patent number: 5553490
    Abstract: Volumetric metering equipment, especially but not exclusively for use in metering the volume of fluid pumped through one or more injectors by a diesel-engine fuel injection pump, having means which serve to cause the inertia of a moveable member, and/or a return force applied to a moveable member to reduce the time taken for a desired back pressure to be built up following a draining operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventors: Paul Nicholls, Aaron Walsh
  • Patent number: 5551399
    Abstract: A mounting for an advance piston comprises a sleeve having flanges arranged to extend outwardly and arranged to engage a pump housing in order to secure the sleeve thereto, the sleeve extending within a passage provided in the pump housing. One or more of the flanges may be securable to the sleeve for example, by screw threaded engagement, or by means of bolts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1996
    Assignee: Lucas Industries public limited company
    Inventor: Peter A. G. Collingborn
  • Patent number: 5547130
    Abstract: A lock is provided for locking a first door and a second door of an engine thrust reverser. The lock comprises a first and a second locking element for the first and second doors, respectively. The first and second locking elements are movable between a first and a second position for respectively preventing and permitting deployment of the first and second doors. A third locking member is provided and is movable between a first and a second position for preventing and permitting, respectively, movement of the first and second locking elements from the first positions and second positions thereof. An electromechanical actuator is arranged to move the third locking element from a first position to a second position thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1996
    Assignee: Lucas Industries public limited company
    Inventor: Stephen H. Davies
  • Patent number: 5544815
    Abstract: A fuel injection nozzle has a valve member engageable with a seating to prevent fuel flow through an outlet orifice. The valve member is engaged by the narrower end of a stepped piston member the surface of which remote from the valve member is subjected to fuel under pressure to bias the valve member into engagement with the seating. A tubular valve element the interior of which is connected to a drain, is engageable with the surface but can be moved away from the surface to lower the pressure applied to the surface. The valve member lifts away from the seating when the pressure applied to the surface is reduced by fuel pressure acting on a further surface defined on the valve member. The valve element is connected to the armature of a solenoid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1996
    Assignee: Lucas Industries public limited company
    Inventors: Michael P. Cooke, George N. Felton
  • Patent number: 5540310
    Abstract: A brake shoe (12) is guided on an anchor plate (10) of a drum brake and held down by a pin (32) which extends through a hole (34, 36) each in the anchor plate and in a web (18) of the brake shoe (12). The pin (32) has a foot (38) which is supported on the anchor plate (10) and a head (42) which has a bottom of rotationally symmetrical configuration with respect to the pin (32) and rises radially outwardly. Between the head (42) and the web (18) a spring (46) is arranged which has a receiving portion (50) formed with a recessed seat (52) for the head (42) and with a slot (60) which serves for radially slipping the receiving portion (50) on to the pin (32). The seat (52) is shaped like a funnel having a circular upper edge (54). The slot (60) is defined by a pair of outer edges (62) and a pair of adjoining inner edges (64). The outer edges (62) of the slot (60) converge in the direction of the upper edge (54) of the seat (52).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Assignee: Lucas Industries public limited company
    Inventors: Peter Ludtke, Hermann Brix
  • Patent number: 5537872
    Abstract: An angular rate sensor comprises a wafer of silicon etched to form tines with teeth which are interdigitated. The tines are excited into oscillation in the plane of the wafer, by applying suitable drive signals to create electrostatic forces between the tines. Rotation of the tines out of the plane of the wafer is detected by a suitable detector, such as a piezo-resistor on a support of the tines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Assignee: Lucas Industries public limited company
    Inventors: Peter E. M. Frere, Russell W. Craddock
  • Patent number: 5538337
    Abstract: An anti-skid braking system for wheeled vehicles having fluid actuated brakes associated with the vehicle wheels, speed sensors associated with the vehicle wheels and a cyclically operating control device which is responsive to speed signals from the speed sensors to actuate a pressure dump device to periodically release the fluid pressure applied to the brake of any wheel which is determined to be about to lock and to later re-apply the actuating pressure to that brake when the tendency of that wheel to lock has reduced, and wherein the pressure dump phase is arranged to be cancelled during wheel-lock when the aggregate dump time for the current cycle exceeds a limit value based upon a weighted-average dump time of previous cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventors: Alan L. Harris, Mark I. Phillips
  • Patent number: 5531382
    Abstract: A fuel injection nozzle has a valve member engageable with a seating to prevent fuel flow through an outlet orifice. The valve member is engaged by the narrower end of a stepped piston member the surface of which remote from the valve member is subjected to fuel under pressure to bias the valve member into engagement with the seating. A tubular valve element the interior of which is connected to a drain, is engageable with the surface but can be moved away from the surface to lower the pressure applied to the surface. The valve member lifts away from the seating when the pressure applied to the surface is reduced by fuel pressure acting on a further surface defined on the valve member. The valve element is connected to the armature of a solenoid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1996
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventors: Paul Buckley, Christopher Wood