Abstract: A steering robot for attachment to a vehicle's steering wheel has its own steering wheel attached to a rotor of an annular motor. The latter has a stator. Fitted to the forward (in use) side of rotor is an annular mounting plate, having three tabs extending slightly inwards for receiving mounting bolts. A clamp formed of a ring having equally spaced around it three slotted radial lugs. The lugs provide attachments for three clamping fixtures, by means of which the clamp can be attached temporarily to the vehicle's steering wheel. The stator has a pair of torque reaction lugs via which steering torque exerted by the motor to effect a steering maneuver under test or investigation can be reacted. The steering robot is open-centered, whereby steering wheel mounted controls can be operated normally.

Abstract: A steering robot for attachment to a vehicle's steering wheel has its own steering wheel attached to a rotor of an annular motor. The latter has a stator. Fitted to the forward (in use) side of rotor is an annular mounting plate, having three tabs extending slightly inwards for receiving mounting bolts. A clamp formed of a ring having equally spaced around it three slotted radial lugs. The lugs provide attachments for three clamping fixtures, by means of which the clamp can be attached temporarily to the vehicle's steering wheel. The stator has a pair of torque reaction lugs via which steering torque exerted by the motor to effect a steering manoeuvre under test or investigation can be reacted. The steering robot is open-centred, whereby steering wheel mounted controls can be operated normally.

Abstract: An air-operated percussive tool incorporates apparatus for reducing vibration transmission from a working end portion (1) to a hand grip (2), thereby to reduce vibration transmission to the hand/arm of the user. The apparatus includes a male frustoconical portion (3) whose tip is located facing a female bed (4) with the base of the frustoconical part attached to the handle grip (2) while the bed (4) is attached to the working end portion (1). Three rubber balls (5) are trapped between the portion (3) and bed (4) and the balls (5) are located in their mean positions under compression. Oscillatory movement of the female bed parallel to the longitudinal access of the frustocone causes the balls to roll on the male and female surfaces and effectively provide a rising spring rate or stiffness. Apparatus is also disclosed for reducing vibration transmissions from the working portion to a casing (12) of the tool.

Abstract: An air-operated percussive tool incorporates apparatus for reducing vibration transmission from a working end portion to a hand grip, thereby to reduce vibration transmission to the hand/arm of the user. The apparatus includes a male frustoconical portion whose tip is located facing a female bed with the base of the frustoconical part attached to the handle grip while the bed is attached to the working end portion. Three rubber balls are trapped between the portion and bed and the balls are located in their mean positions under compression. Oscillatory movement of the female bed parallel to the longitudinal access of the frustocone causes the balls to roll on the male and female surfaces and effectively provide a rising spring rate or stiffness. Apparatus is also disclosed for reducing vibration transmissions from the working portion to a casing of the tool.

Abstract: A vehicle engine suspension system in which, in order to reduce `shake` electrically actuated engine mounts are provided, power being supplied to the engine mounts by a control system responsive to vehicle body accelerations (e.g. in the vertical direction). The arrangement is such that when a tendency of the body to move is detected, e.g. by an accelerometer mounted on the body, the engine mounts are actuated so as to generate, between the engine and the body, forces which are of such amplitude and phase as to reduce the shake of the body.

Abstract: A vehicle engine mounting arrangement wherein a pair of interconnected fluid-tight chambers containing gas are employed, one arranged between the engine and the body and the other arranged between the body and the suspension system. The two chambers are each deformable under load and changes of pressure which are communicated between the chambers act on the respective chambers so that dynamic forces exerted on the body via one chamber tend to be counteracted by corresponding oppositely directed forces exerted on the body via the other chamber, hence reducing shake.

Abstract: A rubber flap type damper valve, particularly intended for incorporation in a hydraulic suspension unit for a vehicle, the valve including rubber flaps which are precompressed resiliently against bump and rebound ports in a port plate, the invention being characterized in that each rubber flap covers one or more ports with each port so covered consisting of a hole of a diameter not exceeding 3 mm with the object of preventing the rubber flaps from becoming adhered to the port plate by sticking in the holes thereof. As a further measure of preventing adherence of the flaps to the port plate the undersurface of each flap may be corrugated, or otherwise rendered uneven. Respective different flaps may be precompressed against the port plate to different extents.