Abstract: In a braking system in which brake application is controlled electronically by the use of electrically controlled actuators (5, 6), a pedal-operated hydrostatic master cylinder (31) is connected to a brake (12) through at least one of the actuators (5). A first normally open valve (7) is provided so that upon failure of the electronic means (15a, 15b, 60), the value opens to permit hydrostatic pressure to apply both the front wheel brakes (1, 2) by putting them in fluidic communication. A second normally-open isolator valve (44) can be provided which is closed during normal brake operation to prevent hydrostatic pressure from being utilised to apply the brake, the valve opening automatically upon failure of the electronic means (15a, 15b, 60).

Abstract: An electrically operated disc brake assembly for vehicles of the kind in which a friction member (9) is adapted to be applied to a rotatable brake disc (2) by a brake applying mechanism which includes an electric motor (3) and a transmission which is adapted to apply an axially directed brake applying force to the friction member (9) in response to operation of the motor (3) so that the transmission acts on the friction member (9) at circumferentially spaced locations. This produces a substantially even loading across the friction member/disc interface, reducing the magnitude of the reaction torque. In one embodiment, the transmission comprises a pair of axially spaced screw devices (4,5) which are rotatable by the motor (3) acting through a common gear train (6), and the motor may further be provided at the center of mass of the brake.

Abstract: A brake booster operated, in particular, by a vacuum has an input member (32), into which an actuating force is introduced, and an output member (42) for emitting an increased force to a downstream subassembly, for example a master cylinder (12). Since each component of the brake booster (10) has a tolerance range, length tolerances necessarily occur along the actuating travel, and these have an undesirable influence on the characteristic of the brake booster and therefore have to be eliminated or at least reduced. In order to avoid a series of sensing disks (36) and distance disks (62) of different thickesses having to be kept ready for length compensation, it is proposed to calibrate the length of the input member (32) and/or of the output member (42) by the compressive forming of the latter to a desired length which is obtained from a comparison between an actual dimension and a desired dimension, and then to install said member in the brake booster (10).

Abstract: In a hydraulic braking system, during normal service braking, the output from a master cylinder (3) is disabled and a brake (12) is applied from a high pressure hydraulic source (24) under the control of electric control means (30) including a solenoid operated actuator (6) responsive to electrical signals from a transducer (2) associated with the pedal (1), and upon failure of the electrical control means a direct flow path is defined between the master cylinder (3) and the brake (12) and through which the brake can be applied from the master cylinder by movement of the pedal in the "push through" mode.

Abstract: A contactor comprises first and second armatures which are urged towards contact-making positions by first and second windings, respectively. Each of the armatures displaces the other armature from its contact-making position when moving towards its own contact-making position. A controller actuates each of the windings before deactuating the other of the windings.

Abstract: An electronic braking system which recognizes differential braking across an axle. A stored adaptive capability is provided whereby a braking controller is able to learn the braking imbalance and correct for this by introducing differential pressure adjustments such as increasing braking at the wheel of the lower brake output and/or reducing braking at the wheel with a higher brake output. The learning process is completed over selected parts of several vehicle stops and is repeated continuously.

Abstract: A control method as described, the method being intended for use controlling the operation of a compression ignition internal combustion engine having an accelerometer associated therewith and arranged to sense vibrations of the engine, and a monitor arranged to monitor the output signal of the accelerometer, by monitoring the output signal during a detection time interval and a reference time interval, using the output signal during the reference time interval to compensate for background noise, and using the noise compensated signal in controlling the operation of the engine.

Abstract: A rotary solenoid is disclosed which comprises a support member, a U-shaped core secured to the support member such that a limb of the core extends through an opening provided in the support member, a coil encircling part of the core, the coil being carried by the support member, and an armature rotatably mounted upon the support member.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electronically controllable vehicle braking system for a motor vehicle with a cylinder/piston arrangement providing a brake fluid, which, by actuating a brake pedal, is caused to provide brake fluid acting on the brake of the motor vehicle, with the cylinder/piston arrangement being connectable with a pump arrangement and a pressure accumulator. The pressure accumulator has a housing which comprises a fluid connection for a fluid flowing into and out of the housing as well as a spring arrangement against whose force brake fluid flowing through the fluid connection is acting, with at least one part of the spring arrangement being formed by at least one part of the housing wall.

Abstract: A vehicle hydraulic braking system of the brake-by-wire type is disclosed in which proportional solenoid-operated valves (12, 13) are adapted to control the pressure in wheel brake actuators of the brakes (8, 9) on a single axle of a vehicle, and a balance valve (20) is provided to enable individual hydraulic brake circuits to be hydraulically connected so that the pressure applied to each brake is guaranteed to be substantially the same, a first one (13) of the proportional valves (12, 13) is adapted to be isolated so that the hydraulic circuit is fed by a second, single, proportional valve (12). Applying both brakes under the control of a single proportional valve ensures that any fluid leakages are balanced since substantially equal brake-applying pressures are generated.

Abstract: A master cylinder (10) for a hydraulic vehicle braking system comprises a housing (12) which has a bore (14) extending along a longitudinal axis (A), whose one end is closed by an end wall associated with the housing (12) of the master cylinder (10) and whose other opposite end is sealingly closed by a closure element (16). In the bore (14) adjacent to the closure element (16) a piston (18) is accommodated sealingly and axially movable which can be actuated through same, which has a central valve (20) which enables a fluid connection between a fluid reservoir and a pressure chamber (28) which is defined in the bore (14) by the end wall and the piston (18). When the piston (18) is not actuated, the central valve (20) is held in the open position by means of an abutment member (transverse pin 34) acting on the closure element (16).

Abstract: An exhaust gas recirculation valve assembly for an internal combustion engine comprising a passage communicating in use with the exhaust of the internal combustion engine and a rotary valve in said passage controlling flow of exhaust gases through said passage to mix in use with the inlet charge of the engine.

Abstract: A fuel injector comprising a nozzle body, a bore provided in the nozzle body within which a valve needle is slidable, the valve needle and the bore being shaped to include a guide region where the valve needle and the bore are of substantially identical diameter, the engagement between the valve needle and the bore in the guide region serving to guide the valve needle for sliding movement within the bore, wherein the fuel injector includes a collar extending around part of the nozzle body, the collar engaging the nozzle body to restrict dilation of the bore in at least part of the guide region.

Abstract: An injector includes a nozzle body having a bore and defining a seating, and a fuel flow path along which fuel flows, in use, towards the seating. A needle is slidable through a range of movement within the bore, and engagable with the seating to control fuel flow to an outlet aperture. The needle includes a thrust surface against which fuel at high pressure acts, in use, to lift the needle from its seating. The bore and needle together define a restriction to the flow of fuel along the fuel flow path towards the seating. The restriction is located upstream of the thrust surface, and the restriction is arranged to restrict the rate of flow of fuel towards the seating throughout the range of movement of the needle. In a preferred embodiment, the restriction is arranged such that the rate of fuel flow towards the seating through the restriction varies as the needle separates from the seating.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electromagnetic valve arrangement, preferably for a pressure medium of a vehicle braking system, comprising an electromagnet arrangement which is coupled with a valve closing means which can be brought into several positions, a housing with a first, a second, a third, and a fourth connection of which, in a first position, the first and the second connection are in flow connection with each other, and the third and the fourth connection are blocked; in a second position, the first, the second, the third, and the fourth connection are blocked; in a third position, the first and the second connection are blocked, and the third and the fourth connection are connected with each other; and in a fourth position, the first and the third connection are connected with each other, and the second and the fourth connection are blocked.

Abstract: A structural unit for a drum brake comprises at least one brake shoe (12) and an adjusting device (32) which comprises an adjusting strut (34), a ratchet-detent wheel mechanism and an adjusting lever (40) which comprises the ratchet (52). The brake shoe (12) has a web (22) against which the adjusting strut (34) rests and on which the adjusting lever (40) is pivotably mounted by means of a bearing pin (56). In order to enable the structural unit with the adjusting device (32) to be easily retrofitted also in the case of older drum brakes the bearing pin (56) is attached to a separate carrier member (66) which can be slid onto the web (22) of the brake shoe (12) in a clamping manner and which comprises at least one first offset (84) which positively engages a recess (86) provided in the web (22). In this manner, the bearing pin (56) is reliably and true-to-position secured at the brake shoe web (22).

Abstract: A brake booster (10) for a vehicle brake system comprises a housing (12) which is divided, by means of at least one movable wall (14), into a vacuum chamber (18) and a working chamber (16). A control valve arrangement (20), which is associated to the brake booster (10) and which optionally connects the working chamber (16) to atmospheric pressure or to a vacuum, comprises a control valve housing (21) which is connected to the movable wall (14) for joint relative movement with respect to the housing (12). An electromagnetic actuation unit (26) is received in the control valve housing (21), said actuation unit having a solenoid coil (44), a magnet armature (28) operating against the spring bias and which is rigidly coupled to a first valve seat (32) of the control valve arrangement (20), and an armature counter-element (46). For improving the magnetic flux in the electromagnetic actuation unit (26) while simultaneously reducing the number of parts, an insert (92) made of diamagnetic and preferably lightweight.

Abstract: An advance arrangement comprises an advance piston slidable within a bore, the advance piston cooperating, in use, with a cam arrangement of a fuel pump to adjust the timing of fuel delivery by the pump, a servo-piston slidable in a bore provided in the advance piston, a light load piston moveable relative to the advance piston against the action of a light load control spring, a servo control spring engaged between the light load piston and the servo-piston, a light load control valve operable to control the application of fuel to the light load piston to adjust timing under light load conditions, and an independent temperature control valve operable to control the application of fuel to the light load piston depending upon the engine temperature to permit adjustment of the timing of fuel delivery to compensate for cold conditions.

Abstract: In an electronically controllable braking system for motor vehicles with a brake pressure generator unit which comprises a master cylinder for generating a brake pressure, a brake pedal via which an actuation force can be introduced into the brake pressure generator unit for actuating the brake pressure generator unit, an electronically controllable brake booster, either for amplifying the actuation force introduced via the brake pedal for the actuation of the brake pressure generator unit, or for effecting an actuation of the brake pressure generator unit, as well as sensors which sense the brake pressure generated by the brake pressure generator unit and a parameter for an electronic control unit, which is related to the amplification of the electronically controllable brake pressure booster, there is provided, in order to comply with a very high safety standard at relatively low cost expenditures, that the electronic control unit determines the actuation force which is introduced via the brake pedal from t

Abstract: A fuel injector is described which comprises an outer valve needle biased into engagement with a seating to control the supply of fuel to one or more outlet apertures, an inner valve member slidable within a bore formed in the outer valve needle and engageable with a seating to control the fuel supply to one or more further outlet apertures, the inner valve member and outer valve needle together defining a control chamber. A control valve controls the operation of the inner valve member by controlling the fuel pressure within the control chamber.