Patents Assigned to Lucas Industries
  • Patent number: 4776563
    Abstract: A throttle body butterfly valve controlled by electrical signals in a drive-by-wire arrangement includes a mechanical coupling cable (9) arranged to close the throttle if the valve is locked in the open throttle condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1988
    Assignee: Lucas Industries PLC
    Inventor: Keith L. Pascall
  • Patent number: 4776647
    Abstract: In an anti-skid hydraulic braking system of the pump/re-apply type fluid is dumping from a working chamber into an auxiliary reservoir between a springloaded piston and the dump valve in response to a skid signal. When the dump valve closes the pump first withdraws fluid from the auxiliary reservoir in an unrestricted manner to re-apply the brake in a first stage up to a knee point at which a valve defined by the engagement of a head on the piston with a seating isolates the pump directly from the auxiliary reservoir. Thereafter the pump draws fluid from a main reservoir but at a reduced rate through a restricted orifice in the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1988
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventor: Ivan Mortimer
  • Patent number: 4776439
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a disc brake having a lever-type caliper, suitable for use on railway vehicles. The lever caliper type disc brake comprises a pair of pivotally mounted lever arms with an actuator arranged to act between said lever arms to cause the lever arms to pivot and apply the brake. An adjustable pad positioning device is connected to one lever arm to limit the available pivotal movement for said one lever arm when said actuator is in a brakes released position. The adjustable pad positioning device thus restricts the available movement for said one lever arm when the actuator is in the brakes released position so that the pad carried by said one lever arm is always held at a defined distance from the rotating disc in the brakes released position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1988
    Assignee: Lucas Industries public limited company
    Inventors: Colin J. F. Tickle, David F. Russell, John Adamson
  • Patent number: 4775036
    Abstract: The friction pad assembly of the present invention has a generally rectangular back plate with two retaining tabs projecting from opposite side edge regions, at an angle to the general plane of the back plate. The support or shoe is also generally rectangular and has a recess formed in each of two opposing side edges, the retaining tabs on the back plate engaging snugly into these recesses. The support has a further H-shaped recess in its front face within which an elongate spring plate is secured so as to project beyond opposing ends of said support. Thus, in use, the friction pad assembly can be quickly and simply mounted on the support and when the brake is operated the end region of the spring plate through which pad drag is passed to pad guides, flexes to thus allow for unhindered axial movement of the friction pad assembly and support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1988
    Assignee: Lucas Industries public limited company
    Inventor: Anthony W. Harrison
  • Patent number: 4775193
    Abstract: In an hydraulic anti-skid braking system for a vehicle of the four wheel type in which an anti-skid modulator is adapted to control the brake on a rear wheel, an apportioning valve is incorporated in a line between each modulator and the brake, and a pressure-responsive control valve assembly is also incorporated in the line. The valve assembly comprises a pressure-responsive member, for example a piston working in a bore, and operable when subjected to a differential pressure in excess of a predetermined value, to restrict the effective area of passage through which fluid is dumped from the brake. This reduces the rate at which the pressure is released from the rear brake, thereby enabling this brake to do more work. Hence the stopping distance for the vehicle can be shortened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1988
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventors: Glyn P. R. Farr, John P. Bayliss, Philip W. Sheriff
  • Patent number: 4775033
    Abstract: A floating caliper of a spot-type disc brake supported for displacement with respect to a carrier member which is fixed to a vehicle and includes two brake pads for pressurizing the brake disc from either side. A hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly in the floating caliper directly pressurizes one of the pads and indirectly pressurizes the other pad by way of the floating caliper, with a sliding guide being provided between the carrier member and the floating caliper wherein one of the pads is supported circumferentially exclusively on the floating caliper and the other pad is exclusively supported on the piston of the piston and cylinder assembly, another sliding guide being provided on the carrier member for engagement by the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1988
    Assignee: Lucas Industries public limited company
    Inventor: Helmut Heibel
  • Patent number: 4774834
    Abstract: An engine sensor includes a radiation response element which in use is coupled by a radiation transmission path with a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine so that a signal is provided when combustion occurs in the combustion chamber. The radiation transmitting path is incorporated into a component such as an engine starting aid which is mounted in a bore in the cylinder head of the engine. In the sample a quartz rod is locating in a tubular member about which is wound an electric heating element. The quartz rod can transmit light through a powdered glass filling to a through quartz rod at the end of which is mounted the sensing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1988
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventors: Michael F. Russell, Russell A. Bruce, John H. Moore
  • Patent number: 4774494
    Abstract: An incremental position encoder comprising a first member arranged for movement with a second member the movement of which is to be monitored, a plurality of light transmissive or reflective elements of three distinct colors, said elements being arranged in a row on said first member, and the elements being arranged in the row in a repeating sequence of said three colors, a light source directing light to said elements and a color sensitive light detector for receiving light transmitted by, or reflected from said elements, said color sensitive detector being arranged to produce, at any given instant, one of three distinct outputs dependant upon the color of the three available, of the element which is at that instant transmitting or reflecting light from the source to the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1988
    Assignee: Lucas Industries public limited company
    Inventors: Philip Extance, Roger J. Hazelden
  • Patent number: 4773715
    Abstract: In a vehicle anti-skid hydraulic braking system of the pump/re-apply type the pump plunger is of differential outline and works in a stepped bore. An annular chamber and a full pump chamber are defined in the bore on opposite sides of the head of the piston. The annular chamber is pressurized by fluid at a pressure dependent on the difference in pressure between the master cylinder and the brake, and the chamber is subjected to the pressure in the annular chamber in one direction and the pressure in the master cylinder in the opposite direction. The system is therefore provided with a pump which forces fluid back to the master cylinder but with torque levels similar to a pump which acts against brake pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1988
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventor: Glyn P. R. Farr
  • Patent number: 4773511
    Abstract: A leaf spring (76) for holding down the pad backplate (72) and the pressure distributor plate, if any, in the pad opening of a disc brake at one side rests on a movable frame (12) of the brake and at the other side pressurizes the lining backplate and the pressure distributor plate, if any. The leaf spring (76) is designed such that, in relaxed condition, it has an arched center portion (106) which is followed at either end by an at least approximately straight side portion (108,108') the end portions (84,84') of which are fixed at the lining backplate and pressure distributor plate, respectively, in the direction of extension of the leaf spring. This is to assure reliable hold-down even at great accelerations in spite of the fact that the brake linings remain easy to be applied and released. Such a leaf spring provides a favorable hold-down characteristic for the lining backplate and the pressure distributor plate without impeding the venting of the brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1988
    Assignee: Lucas Industries public limited company
    Inventors: Wilfried Giering, Alojzija Topic
  • Patent number: 4771869
    Abstract: The present specification discloses a brake actuator incorporating a mechanically operated adjuster, the adjuster compensating for friction pad wear. The brake actuator comprises two adjuster members interconnected by a self-sustaining thread and located between a friction pad and an actuation member, the actuation member being biassed by a main spring to a brakes-on position with at least one hollow piston being displaceable under hydraulic pressure to compress the main spring and move the actuation member to a brakes-off positon, a second piston being carried within the hollow piston and being carried within the hollow piston and being axially displaceable therein under the hydraulic pressure and against a further spring, to cause interengaging clutch elements to rotate one adjuster member relative to the other adjuster member, a stop being arranged to limit the available movement of the clutch elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1988
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventor: Anthony W. Harrison
  • Patent number: 4770141
    Abstract: A fuel pumping apparatus for supplying fuel to an internal combustion engine includes a spring loaded fuel quantity control member which is moved by increasing fluid pressure in a chamber to reduce the amount of fuel supplied. The pressure in the chamber is controlled by a pair of ON/OFF valves, the first valve admitting fluid to the chamber and the second valve allowing fluid to escape from the chamber. When the valves are closed an hydraulic lock is created to prevent movement of the member by mechanical forces applied to it during operation of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1988
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventor: Jean-Claude Bonin
  • Patent number: 4768631
    Abstract: A drum brake comprises two brake shoes (4,5) which are operable hydraulically and/or mechanically. A first brake shoe (4) is supported trailingly in forward travelling direction and leadingly in backward travelling direction. In the forward travelling direction both brake shoes (4,5) are supported trailingly so as to obtain soft response behavior. And a lever (7) is supported at the second brake shoe (5), having one arm pressurized by the piston (2) of the wheel brake cylinder (1), while the other arm (7b) acts directly or indirectly on the first brake shoe (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1988
    Assignee: Lucas Industries public limited company
    Inventor: Helmut Heibel
  • Patent number: 4768625
    Abstract: A disc brake of the spreading type is actuated by means of a "Bowden" cable (20) which acts between radial lugs (25, 29) on the pressure plates (6, 7). The cable (20) is angled with respect to the plane of the plates (6, 7), preferably substantially to complement the helix motion of the balls or rollers (13) co-operating with the ramps in the recesses (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1988
    Assignee: Lucas Industries
    Inventors: Anthony G. Price, Roy Campbell, Andrew P. Green
  • Patent number: 4768400
    Abstract: An actuator arrangement includes epicyclic gearing having compound planetary gears each of whose pinions respectively mesh with a ring gear on a relatively fixed body and with two output ring gears to drive the latter in opposite directions relative to the body. The pinions which mesh with the ring gear on the body are free to rotate with respect to the remaining pinions and also mesh with a sun gear which is separate from, but driven by, the sun gear which drives the remaining pinions. The arrangement permits the gearing to overcome dimensional restraints imposed by prior art systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1988
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventor: Richard J. McKay
  • Patent number: 4768624
    Abstract: A self-energizing disc brake of the spreading type is adapted to be applied by a cable assembly. The cable assembly acts through a lever which is disposed in a plane lying between a pair of pressure plates in order to move the plates angularly in opposite directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1988
    Assignee: Lucas Industries
    Inventors: Andrew P. Green, Anthony G. Price, Roy Campbell
  • Patent number: 4766981
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a disc brake for use on a railway vehicle. The brake includes a service brake for normal brake applications and an auxiliary or parking brake which is spring applied and hydraulically or pneumatically released. The disc brake includes a caliper supporting a service brake actuator and an auxiliary brake actuator arranged to apply opposed friction pads to opposite sides of a braking disc. The auxiliary brake actuator consists of one or more spring elements which engage around outer peripheral regions of the caliper and grip the caliper to apply spring force to the pads from the exterior of the caliper, the spring elements being releasable by a hydraulic or pneumatic piston such that the spring force of the spring elements is then reacted through the caliper. By this arrangement of spring elements, the spring elements being preferably located in grooves on the outer surface of the caliper, a compact disc brake construction is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1988
    Assignee: Lucas Industries public limited company
    Inventor: Anthony W. Harrison
  • Patent number: 4764092
    Abstract: A liquid fuel injection pump of the rotary distributor type has a first groove on the distributor member for registration with fuel supply ports and a second groove for registration with outlet ports. The grooves are connected to the plunger bore and as the distributor member rotates fuel is supplied to the bore through the first groove and delivered to an outlet through the second groove. The distributor member is axially movable to control the quantity of fuel delivered and in the excess fuel position the second groove is arranged to register with a vent port during the initial period of registration of the first groove with an inlet port. This allows air to be purged from the passage and bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1988
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventor: Ian R. Thornthwaite
  • Patent number: 4763873
    Abstract: A fluid control valve comprises a valve member slidable in a bore about one end of which is defined a seating. The valve member has a valve head located in a first chamber which in use is connected to a source of fluid under pressure. Below the valve head the valve member and bore define a second chamber into which fluid can flow from the first chamber when the control valve is open. The first chamber has an end wall which is engaged by the valve head in the open position and the end wall and valve head define a recess. In the open position of the valve the pressure in the recess is low but when fluid is supplied to the recess the pressure therein increases and the valve member moves to the closed position to prevent flow of liquid between the first and second chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1988
    Assignee: Lucas Industries public limited company
    Inventor: Ronald Phillips
  • Patent number: 4762049
    Abstract: A belt of linked cartridges is supplied to a traversable gun by way of flexible chutes, one of which is secured at its respective ends to a relatively fixed part and to a structure which is traversable with the gun. The chute so secured has a loop which rests on a support element and is of sufficient length to accommodate the full range of traverse of the gun.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1988
    Assignee: Lucas Industries plc
    Inventor: Rodney V. Hughes