Abstract: In order to transmit information relating to vehicle or vehicle component testing or monitoring at a test site, the test information is processed for example in a computer memory and the resulting image signal is sent via a transmission medium to a remote terminal where it is reconstructed. As a result only the image signal is sent requiring reduced bandwidth.

Abstract: A method of identifying a valid version of a data value and voting on separate instances of the data value is described. A processor receives an instance of the data value generated by one processor and a transmitted version of that generated instance transmitted by another processor and compares the received values to validate them. The processor further determines an agreed version of the data value from a comparison of the validated instances. As a result a simple and robust voting system is provided.

Abstract: A fluid coupling containing a magnetically responsive fluid (27, 76) is in series with a digital clutch (71). Disengagement of the clutch (71) ensures that during times of no torque transmission, the fluid (27) does not cause parasitic drag, and is not subject to degradation because of continual shear. Wear of the necessary fluid seals (28) is also reduced.

Abstract: A vehicle control system includes at least one driver input, a supervisor and at least one sub-system controlled by the supervisor. The supervisor assesses the driver input to establish actual driver demand and controls the sub-systems accordingly. As a result intuitive driver demand is identified and met.

Abstract: A vehicle control system includes at least one driver input, a supervisor and at least one sub-system controlled by the supervisor. The supervisor assesses the driver input to establish actual driver demand and controls the sub-systems accordingly. As a result intuitive driver demand is identified and met.

Abstract: An emission reduction apparatus includes first and second exhaust paths carrying respective first and second Nox traps. One trap has a smaller capacity than the other and is operative while the larger trap regenerates, allowing symmetric operation.

Abstract: A carburettor is connected into the inlet duct (48) of an internal combustion engine. The inlet duct is divided by a dividing wall (64) into a rich passage (42) and a lean passage (44). The carburettor includes a fuel chamber (4) and defines a flow duct divided by a planar partition (66) into a rich duct (30) and a lean duct (32) which communicate with the rich and lean passages, respectively. The partition (66) defines an aperture (40) in which a planar butterfly valve (20) is pivotably mounted. A number of fuel supply orifices (61, 62) communicate with the fuel chamber (4) and with the duct (30) at a position opposite to the aperture (40).

Abstract: The system carries out continuous in-vehicle data measurement and storage for subsequent processing. A given driving manoeuvre is sub-divided into facets and the measured vehicle data is processed to provide a local rating for each of the facets using empirically derived transfer functions. The local ratings are weighted and combined to provide an overall rating which is converted to a rating out of ten based on a further transfer function based on correlations between derived and subjectively observed ratings. As a result, driveability rating and engine calibration/development can be accelerated and targeted.

Abstract: An engine management system for an internal combustion engine, which has at least one cylinder pressure sensor and at least one engine actuator, includes a data processor arranged to receive and process cylinder pressure data from the cylinder pressure sensor and the actuator controller arranged to control the actuator to optimize engine performance based on the processed data, in which the cylinder pressure data is obtained during a performance optimized engine cycle or cycles. The processor processes the data to construct a cylinder pressure variation function for the engine cycle or cycles and derive control data therefrom for the actuator controller.

Abstract: An emission reduction apparatus includes first and second exhaust paths carrying respective first and second Nox traps. One trap has a smaller capacity than the other and is operative while the larger trap regenerates, allowing symmetric operation.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes one or more pistons (3) connected to a common crankshaft (4), a balancer shaft (10) connected to the crankshaft (4) to be rotated thereby at the same speed as the crankshaft (4) but in the opposite sense, the balancer shaft (10) carrying mutually offset eccentric weights (14) at its ends and an integrated starter generator unit (26) including a stator (27) and a rotor (23). The rotor (23) is mounted to rotate about the axis of the balancer shaft (10) and is connected to the balancer shaft (10) by step up gearing (18, 20, 22) such that the rotor (23) rotates in the same sense as the balancer shaft (10) but at a substantially greater speed.

Abstract: A reciprocating piston engine (2) includes an exhaust system comprising an exhaust pipe (8) which communicates with a silencer (10), whose upstream portion (11) is divergent in the direction of gas flow through it, an oxidising catalyst (12) and an air supply pipe (14) communicating with the exhaust pipe at a position upstream of the catalyst and silencer. The air supply pipe (14) includes a Reed valve (16) which is adapted to open under a pressure differential to permit air to flow into the exhaust pipe. In order to maximise the air flow into the exhaust pipe the effect of pressure pulses within the exhaust pipe is utilised and for this purpose 3L2−(2L1+L2) is equal to ±0.25 to 0.

Abstract: A crankcase scavenged two-stroke engine includes a piston reciprocably mounted in a cylinder. The cylinder wall has an exhaust port and a rear transfer port opposed thereto formed in it. The rear transfer port communicates with the interior of the crankcase via a rear transfer passage and is arranged to open before the exhaust port closes, whereby, in use, the cylinder is scavenged. An inlet duct is arranged to supply combustion air to the crankcase and a throttling valve is arranged to throttle the flow of air through the inlet duct. A carburettor is arranged to supply fuel into the inlet duct. The interior of the crankcase is divided into at least two separate crankcase volumes, a rich volume (V1, V2) and a lean volume (V3). Each crankcase volume communicates with the cylinder via a respective hole in the crankcase wall. The cylinder wall also has at least one lateral transfer port formed in it at a position between the rear transfer port and the exhaust port.