Abstract: An engine fuel system includes an accumulator chamber in which fuel is stored at high pressure and a three way valve having two settings in the first of which when a valve actuator is energised fuel flows from the accumulator chamber to a fuel injection nozzle and in the second of which when the actuator is de-energised fuel flows from the supply line of the nozzle to a drain. The valve includes a valve member directly coupled to the actuator and controlling the flow of fuel from the accumulator chamber to the nozzle, and a valve element which is resiliently coupled to the valve member and controls the flow of fuel from the line to the drain. The valve member and valve element cooperate with respective seatings and when the actuator is de-energised the valve element can move away from its seating against the action of the resilient coupling to allow a rapid reduction of fuel pressure in the line.

Abstract: The vehicle brake system including an electronically controlled brake booster (10), comprising a first actuator (350) which is connected to a second actuator (360) for transmitting to the same an actuating movement (P) of a brake pedal, wherein the second actuator (360) transmits the movement to a master brake cylinder, a signal generator (365) disposed between first and second actuators (350, 360) for generating a signal to be supplied to the controller of the brake booster (10), wherein the signal generator (365) is triggered by a relative movement between the first actuator and the housing of the brake booster.

Abstract: A fuel pumping apparatus of the rotary distributor type has an annular cam ring (12) which is coupled to a tangentially disposed piston (15) slidable in a cylinder (16) formed in a body part (10). The body is formed from light alloy and the piston from steel. The piston is provided with a blind recess (28) at one end and a steel spigot (19) is slidable within the recess. The blind end of the recess communicates with the adjacent end of the cylinder (16) through a restricted passage (23) and a non-return valve (26). Fuel at a varying pressure is applied to the one end of the cylinder to vary the setting of the cam ring.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly is disclosed which comprises first and second elements rotatable with one another and housing a conductor electrically connecting respective terminals provided on the first and second elements. A locking assembly is provided to restrict removal of the connector assembly from a support structure, the locking assembly including a locking member moveable in response to movement of the second element relative to the first element to and from a datum position such that the locking assembly permits removal or replacement of the connector assembly when the second element is in the datum position and prevent such removal or replacement when the second element does not occupy the datum position.

Abstract: A master cylinder (10) for a hydraulic brake system comprises a quickfill stage (28) which in the initial phase of an actuation of the master cylinder rapidly fills an associated brake system with hydraulic fluid upon a relatively short actuation travel. A housing (12) of the master cylinder (10) extends essentially along an axis (A) and comprises at least one pressure chamber (14) formed therein which is open at the actuation end of the master cylinder (10). A quickfill piston and a quickfill chamber of the quickfill stage (28) are essentially formed by a cup shaped component (30) which is guided on the acutation end of the master cylinder housing (12) in a telescopical and pressure chamber sealing manner. This solution can be manufactured economically and requires little installation space.

Abstract: A fuel injection nozzle includes a fuel pressure actuated valve member which is biased by a first spring into engagement with a seating. A pre lift stop is engaged by a surface which moves with the valve member after a predetermined movement of the valve member away from the seating. The lift stop is movable against the action of a second spring to allow continued movement of the valve member. The lift stop position is determined by a yieldable abutment which during the closing movement of the valve member towards the seating, yields under the action of the inertia of the pre lift stop to assist the closing movement of the valve member.

Abstract: An electronically controllable braking system for ground vehicles, comprising a cylinder/piston arrangement (6) which is able to introduce friction forces (F.sub.akt) into a friction element (8) which is coupled with a vehicle wheel by subjecting a hydraulic chamber (4) of the cylinder/piston arrangement (6) with hydraulic fluid, is developed further in that an electrically actuatable displacement element (12) projects into the hydraulic chamber (4) of the cylinder/piston arrangement (6) which is actuatable as a function of control signals from an electronic controller (22) for increasing or decreasing the pressure acting on the hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic chamber (4) in order to increase or decrease, respectively, the friction forces (F.sub.akt) which, during a braking operation, are introduced into the friction element (8).

Abstract: A fuel system for use in supplying fuel to an injection nozzle is disclosed. The system comprises a fuel pump arranged to charge first and second accumulators, and control valve means operable to select which of the first and second accumulators is used to supply fuel to the nozzle. The system further comprises valve means interposed between the fuel pump and the second accumulator, the valve means being operable to permit fuel to flow from the fuel pump to the second accumulator once the fuel pressure within the first accumulator has attained a predetermined value.

Abstract: A governor mechanism for use with a fuel pumping apparatus includes a centrifugal weight mechanism which is coupled to an output member the latter being coupled to a fuel control member so that with increasing speed the quantity of fuel supplied by the apparatus is reduced. A governor spring opposes the movement of the output member but in addition a leaf spring is provided to supplement the action of the governor spring. The leaf spring is formed by one end of a torsion spring which is wound about a cylindrical member. The cylindrical member and the torsion spring are axially movable relative to each other to alter the effective number of turns of the torsion spring connected in series with the leaf spring.

Abstract: A fuel pumping apparatus comprises a pumping plunger reciprocable in a bore to supply fuel to the cylinders of an associated engine. A spill valve arrangement is provided to control fuel delivery, the spill valve arrangement including a valve member coupled to a first piston which is slidable within a first cylinder. Passage means are provided in the first piston interconnecting the ends of the first cylinder permitting restricted flow therebetween. A second piston slidable within a second cylinder is arranged to engage an end of the first piston, a spring biasing the second piston towards the first piston and biasing the valve member into engagement with a valve seat. In use, at high engine speed the pressure of fuel between the pistons increases, separating the pistons permitting fuel to escape through a passage provided in the second piston. Such an escape of fuel results in additional fresh, cool, fuel being drawn into the pumping apparatus thus cooling the pumping apparatus.

Abstract: A brake booster with a master cylinder (10) comprises: a primary piston (12) and a secondary piston (14), with the secondary piston (14) being limited in its axial movability by a stop pin (25) being accepted transversely to a longitudinal axis (L) of the master cylinder (10) in a hole (24), and a reservoir (16) for brake fluid, comprising a connection (17) via which the reservoir (16) is connected with the master cylinder (10), with the connection (17) being arranged in the radial extension of the stop pin (25), with the connection (17) comprising a transverse web (28) in its flow cross sectional area which covers the hole 24 at least partially.

Abstract: An improved torque sensor, or relative angular movement sensor, comprises an input member, an output member, LED light sources, a pair of photodetector units adapted to receive light from the LED light sources, and signal processing means, in which said signal processing means is adapted to receive output signals from the photodetector units, the output signals of the photodetector units being dependent upon the light signals which they receive, and the signal processing means being adapted to process the output signals from the photodetector units so as to produce a modified output signal indicative of the relative angular displacement between, or torque applied between, the input and output member. The improvement comprises the provision of diagnostic means which continuously monitors a sum signal, .SIGMA., which comprises the sum of the output signals from the photodetector units, and which detects any variation in the sum signal due to failure of the sensor.

Abstract: An electronic braking system for a multi-axle road vehicle, having a foot-operable braking transducer which generates electrical braking demand signals representative of a driver's braking demand, load transducers which generate electrical load signals representative of the respective load on different axles of the vehicle, and in electronic controller which receives the braking demand signals and load signals and generates electrical output signals for controlling the operation of braking devices for the wheels carried by axles, the controller including adaptive load compensation device which acts to modify the output signals of the controller to the various braking devices so as to take account of prevailing loads on the respective axles.

Abstract: An electric-powered vehicle having a drive system which includes at least one electric motor which is controlled and monitored by an electric control system for driving at least one vehicle wheel in a traction mode of the motor and also for selectively providing a contribution to overall braking torque when operated in a braking mode, and which also provides a hydraulic braking system which is actuated by the vehicle driver and which operates on at least the front wheels of the vehicle. The hydraulic braking torque produced by the driver by way of the hydraulic braking system, is adjusted in such a manner that, for the purpose of modulating the overall braking torque effective at the vehicle wheels the variation of the electric torque is arranged to stay within the "regenerative range" of operation of the electric motor, at least under predetermined operating conditions of the vehicle.

Abstract: A brake shoe for an internal shoe drum brake has an arcuate platform carrying a lining of friction material on its outer face. A web extends perpendicularly from the inner face of the platform and provides a shoe tip intended to be supported on an angled surface of the brake abutment. This shoe tip has a pair of differently directed surface portions. The invention also embraces an internal shoe drum brake incorporating a pair of the aforesaid shoes of which the abutment shoe tips are arranged so that the abutment is engaged respectively by non-corresponding ones of the shoe tip surface portions.

Abstract: A torque limiter comprises input and output shafts connected together by a clutch which disengages to prevent excessive torque from being applied to the output shaft and to allow the input shaft to rotate freely. As the clutch disengages, a brake is applied to the output shaft to prevent it from rotating. When the brake is applied, a latch holds the brake on. The clutch comprises balls which are held in clutch plate recesses to transmit torque but which ride out of the recesses and fall into pockets so that the clutch becomes permanently disengaged.

Abstract: A fuel system for an engine (10) includes a fuel pump (13), a controller (14) which controls the operation of the fuel pump so that fuel is delivered to the engine at the required time and in the desired quantity, and a transducer (15) for supplying a demand signal to the controller. The system also includes a transducer (16) which provides signals in response to the passage of indicia on a wheel (12) driven by the engine. The system further comprises means for determining the indicia spacing errors and further means responsive to the generally sinusoidal fluctuation of engine speed which corrects the determined spacing. errors.

Abstract: A switch assembly having a relatively fixed component, a first switch operating member rotatable relative to the fixed component between first and second stable positions, a second switch operating member rotatable with respect to the fixed component between first and second stable positions, switch contacts associated with each of the switch operating members in order to control the operation of respective electrical circuits, and a latch member responsive to the first operating member occupying its first position for applying a moment to the second operating member to restore it to its first position.

Abstract: A fuel system for an internal combustion engine comprises a plurality of pump/injectors each of which comprises a housing within which is provided a plunger-type fuel pump, a spill valve, an injector and a non-return valve. The pump is arranged to supply fuel at high pressure to the injector and to a port of the spill valve. The other port of the spill valve is connected to a source of fuel through a non-return valve, and also to the spring chamber of the injector through the non-return valve. The spring chamber communicates through a restrictor with a common passage the pressure within which is controlled by a valve.

Abstract: A fuel system for an internal combustion engine includes a controller which controls the operation of an engine fuel pump. Signals are supplied to the controller by a transducer which is responsive to the passage of teeth formed on the periphery of a wheel 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 from the transducer signals by using a cross-correlation technique to correct the transducer signals for interval variation due to cyclic fluctuation of engine speed following which the tooth spacing errors are calculated to be used in subsequent calculations of the engine speed.