Patents Assigned to Lucas Industries
  • Hydraulic systems for vehicles
    Patent number: 5066077
    Abstract: In a combined booster and hydraulic master cylinder assembly the reservoir connection is adapted to serve as an inlet for high pressure fluid and by way of which the assembly can be operated independently of the pedal. High pressure fluid is supplied to the connection under the control of auxiliary control valve responsive to signals for a sensor. The sensor may be arranged to enable the assembly to be used in a variety of modes, for example for traction control, as a `hill holder`, and for remote control of the speed of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1991
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventor: Glyn P. R. Farr
  • Fuel supply apparatus
    Patent number: 5064357
    Abstract: A supply passage communicates with the inlet of a first centrifugal pump. A second, smaller centrifugal pump has its outlet connected to a delivery conduit. A valve arrangement is selectively operable to connect the inlet of the second pump either to the output of the first pump or directly to the supply passage, both the inlet and outlet of the first pump being shut off in the latter condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1991
    Assignee: Lucas Industries public limited company
    Inventor: Trevor S. Smith
  • Engine throttle control system
    Patent number: 5062404
    Abstract: An engine throttle control system actuates a throttle by means of a motor. In order to overcome static friction, a differentiator differentiates a throttle position demand signal and adds the differentiated signal to the demand signal. This composite signal is used by a control unit to drive the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1991
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventors: Peter G. Scotson, John M. Ironside
  • Processing circuit for optical combustion monitor
    Patent number: 5063287
    Abstract: A processing circuit is provided for use in an optical combustion monitor for an internal combustion engine. The circuit includes a variable gain amplifier for amplifying a signal from one or more opto-electric transducers sensitive to combustion light in the engine cylinders. A gain control circuit including a peak detector controls the variable gain amplifier so that the peak amplitude of the amplifier output signal is substantially constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1991
    Assignee: Lucas Industries
    Inventors: Adrian L. Trace, Mark J. Basten
  • Road surface sensing system for a vehicle
    Patent number: 5061932
    Abstract: A system for sensing road irregularities from a vehicle modifies an operational system of the vehicle, such as a suspension system, according to the type and severity of the sensed irregularity. The system employs a Doppler Microwave radar sensor arranged to project radiation at a road surface ahead of the vehicle and includes means for detecting radiation reflections of which the carrier frequency is amplitude modulated according to the surface irregularities. An electronic circuit differentiates the modulated signal to produce a control signal representative of said surface condition and a controller receives said signal and modifies the operation of the vehicle system in response thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1991
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventors: Raglan H. A. H. Tribe, Neil G. Thomson
  • Electrical connection arrangement and method of providing an electrical connection
    Patent number: 5061193
    Abstract: An electrical connection arrangement (20) provides an electrical connection between an electrical device (14) inside a vehicle engine casing (10) and an electrical termination (15) outside the casing. The connection arrangement comprises a PCB (21) which is sealed to an edge surface (21) of the casing around an opening (26) therein. The PCB bears a number of electrically conductive tracks (e.g. 22), one part (e.g. 22a) of each track being located inside the housing and being connected to the device (14) and another part (e.g. 22b) of each track being located outside the housing and being connected to a termination (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1991
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventor: Robert B. Seaman
  • Actuating device with automatic readjustment for a vehicle brake
    Patent number: 5060765
    Abstract: A one-piece casing (20) comprising a bottom (22) and a shell (24) formed with a cylindrical bore (26) houses a piston (30) for hydraulic actuation of a brake. For mechanical parking brake actuation, a shaft (34) is supported in the bottom (22) of the casing and a ramp arrangement (50) is rotatable by the shaft, thereby being displaceable axially away from a ramp arrangement (40) which is secured to the casing. Two strut members (60,64) which are screwed together constitute an adjustable strut between the axially adjustable ramp arrangement (50) and the piston (30). A return spring (90) is positioned under axial bias between a thrust bearing (92) secured to the casing and a thrust bearing (58) at one of the two strut members (60). The thrust bearing (92) which is secured to the casing is formed at an insert (84) by which one of the strut members (60) is guided non-rotatably.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1991
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventor: Manfred Meyer
  • Fuel pumping apparatus
    Patent number: 5059096
    Abstract: A rotary distributor type fuel pumping apparatus has an annular cam ring having internal cam lobes which impart inward movement to a pumping plunger as the distributor member is rotated. A piston is movable in a cylinder to vary the angular setting of the cam ring and the piston is coupled to the cam ring by means of a member having a gear tooth profile which is located in a recess in the piston. The member is integrally formed with a mounting having a pair of oppositely extending arms which are individually secured against mutually inclined flats on the periphery of the cam ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1991
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventor: Kenneth M. Harris
  • Method and electrode for forming passages in workpieces
    Patent number: 5059289
    Abstract: A deformable electrode for electrochemical machining (ECM) of passages, in particular curved passages or passage sections in workpieces, is constructed from a deformable, electrically insulating tube having electrically conductive electrode tip means arranged around the end of the tube to form the working tip of the electrode. Electrical conductor means are connected to the electrode tip means and extend along the tube. During ECM of a passage an electrolyte solution is supplied along the center of the tube, and a voltage is applied between the workpiece the electrode tip means, via the conductor means, so that dissolution of the workpiece occurs near the electrode tip means at the working face of the passage being machined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1991
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventor: David J. Gaskell
  • Temperature dependent power supply for use with a bridge transducer
    Patent number: 5053692
    Abstract: In order to compensate for the effects of temperature variations on a transducer such as a piezo-resistive bridge, the bridge is fed from a temperature dependent power supply circuit. The power supply circuit comprises a temperature sensitive element with first and second adjustment means for adjusting the slope of supply voltage for the transducer against temperature on first and second sides, respectively, of a predetermined temperature. The second adjustment means provides an adjustment which is independent of the first adjustment means so that repeated temperature cycling during calibration is unnecessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Assignee: Lucas Industries P.L.C.
    Inventor: Russell W. Craddock
  • Control system for an internal combustion engine
    Patent number: 5050556
    Abstract: A control system for an internal combustion engine has an ignition timing control device and a combustion duration control device such as a mixture controller. Sensors detect the start and end of combustion which are compared with a look-up table of target values for the engine speed and load to provide error signals. The processed error signals provide corrections which are added to base values from look-up tables of ignition timing and mixture and supplied to the control devices so as to tend to eliminate the error signals, so that the engine runs with its designed start of combustion and combustion duration values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1991
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventors: David Williams, David K. Bryers, David Nutton
  • Trailer braking in electronically controlled braking systems
    Patent number: 5050938
    Abstract: An electronic braking system (EBS) for a towing vehicle which provides for trailer service brake pressure supply via an additional EBS sub-system, and wherein, in order to speed up the application of trailer braking, the electrical signal representing the driver's braking demand is processed to generate an additional pressure pre-pulse of predetermined amplitude to pressurise the trailer braking circuit in advance of the proportional pressure setting determined by the driver. The pre-pulse is made up of two parts, a preset fixed duration pulse followed without break by a variable duration continuation pulse. The variable duration of the variable duration pulse is determined primarily by the rate of increase of the driver's demand signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1991
    Assignee: Lucas Industries public limited company
    Inventors: Malcolm Brearley, Richard B. Moseley
  • Fuel injection pump
    Patent number: 5044898
    Abstract: A rotary distributor type fuel pumping apparatus for supplying fuel to an internal combustion engine has a distributor member an enlarged portion of which is formed with a transverse bore in which is mounted a pair of pumping plungers and blind bores located in side by side relationship with the transverse bores, the blind bores are located between the transverse bore and a body which supports the distributor member for rotation. The blind bores are in communication with drillings which lie in a plane containing the axes of the transverse bore and the blind bores and which extend from the end of the distributor member. The drillings interset the transverse bore that the ends of the drillings opening into the transverse bore are sealed by the pumping plungers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1991
    Assignee: Lucas Industries
    Inventor: Kenneth M. Harris
  • Power switching semiconductor device
    Patent number: 5045909
    Abstract: A semiconductor power switching device has an insulated gate which establishes charge carrier flow between an additional terminal and a base region to provide current flow through the device between collector and emitter terminals. The device in effect comprises a bipolar transistor with an integral MOSFET for driving its base, so that a small signal applied to the gate drives the bipolar transistor into saturation. In use the collector is connected to a supply rail through a load and the additional terminal is connected directly or indirectly to the same rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1991
    Assignee: Lucas Industries public limited company
    Inventors: John Z. Lucek, Roger H. Moult
  • Alternators
    Patent number: 5046150
    Abstract: An alternator for mounting on an internal combustion engine has a pair of stator assemblies mounted in end to end relationship with a shaft running through the assemblies. The shaft carries a pair of rotor assemblies and the energizing windings for the rotor assemblies are mounted on bridging members which extend from the adjacent end portions of the casing of the alternator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1991
    Assignee: Lucas Industries public limited company
    Inventors: Terence Rom, Barrie C. Skinner
  • Fuel injection apparatus
    Patent number: 5044893
    Abstract: A fuel pumping apparatus of the rotary distributor type includes a spill passage 20 connected with the bore 12 which houses the pumping plungers 9. A seating 22 is defined about the spill passage and a valve member 23 is provided for cooperating with the seating. A piston 25 is coupled to the valve member and is slidable in a cylinder. The piston defines a surface against which fuel under pressure from the bore 12 can act to lift the valve member from the seating. The application of fuel under pressure to the surface of the piston is controlled by an electro-magnetically operable control valve 32A.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1991
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventor: Peter A. G. Collingborn
  • Fuel pumping apparatus
    Patent number: 5044899
    Abstract: A fuel pumping apparatus of the rotary distributor type is provided with a spill control muff on the distributor member and which controls flow of fuel from a bore containing the pumping plungers to a chamber. Slidable in the chamber is a spring loaded piston formed with a valve element which controls flow of fuel from the bore into the chamber through a spill passage. With the spill passage closed by the valve element deliver of fuel through an outlet takes place until fuel is admitted to the chamber under the control of the spill muff. The admission of fuel causing the piston to move the valve element to allow fuel into the spill passage through the spill passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1991
    Assignee: Lucas Industries
    Inventor: Stuart W. Nicol
  • Fuel pumping apparatus
    Patent number: 5044345
    Abstract: A distributor type fuel injection pump has a main pumping plunger and an auxiliary plunger operable in synchronism by a cam. Also provided is a fluid pressure operable spill valve which is opened when the pressure of fluid developed by the auxiliary plunger becomes sufficiently high. The fluid displaced by the auxiliary plunger causes movement of a shuttle and the movement of the shuttle is halted to cause operation of the spill valve, by an hydraulic lock which is created when the movement of the shuttle closes an escape path from the end of the cylinder in which it is located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1991
    Assignee: Lucas Industries public limited company
    Inventor: Peter A. G. Collingborn
  • Control system for and method of controlling an internal combustion engine
    Patent number: 5044337
    Abstract: A control system is provided for controlling the composition of a gas and fuel mixture supplied to an internal combustion engine. The output of an engine roughness detector (spark ignition engine) or an exhaust smoke detector (compression ignition engine) is compared with a limit value to provide a correction to a base value of mixture composition from a look up table. The magnitude of the correction is limited to a predetermined value and the corrected base value controls the composition of the mixture supplied to the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1991
    Assignee: Lucas Industries public limited company
    Inventor: David Williams
  • Electrical coupling circuit for passing a varying signal and blocking a direct component thereof
    Patent number: 5043610
    Abstract: An output of a first amplifier is coupled to the input of a second amplifier by a coupling capacitor. A resistor connects one plate of the coupling capacitor to a reference voltage supplied by a potential divider. A field effect transistor is connected across the resistor with its gate connected to the connection between a further resistor and a further capacitor which are connected in series between power supply lines so that the coupling capacitor is rapidly charged when power is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1991
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventor: Russell W. Craddock