Abstract: A linear vibration damper and/or absorber includes a centre shaft (12) having bearing regions (18) and friction contact regions (20), and a housing (2) including finger assemblies (22) which are mounted with a small radial clearance for accurate location on the bearing regions (18) for axial displacement with respect to the centre shaft (12) along a central axis (X), the finger assemblies (22) each including resilient fingers (38) which extend axially from respective body sections (26) and have contact faces (40) which resiliently engage, i.e. are pressed by the resilience of the fingers (40) into contact with, friction surfaces (20) of the contact regions of the centre shaft (12), whereby relative linear displacement between the centre shaft (12) and the housing (2) is opposed by frictional contact between the friction surfaces (20) and the contact faces (40).

Abstract: A linear vibration damper and/or absorber includes a centre shaft (12) having bearing regions (18) and friction contact regions (20), and a housing (2) including finger assemblies (22) which are mounted with a small radial clearance for accurate location on the bearing regions (18) for axial displacement with respect to the centre shaft (12) along a central axis (X), the finger assemblies (22) each including resilient fingers (38) which extend axially from respective body sections (26) and have contact faces (40) which resiliently engage, i.e. are pressed by the resilience of the fingers (40) into contact with, friction surfaces (20) of the contact regions of the centre shaft (12), whereby relative linear displacement between the centre shaft (12) and the housing (2) is opposed by frictional contact between the friction surfaces (20) and the contact faces (40).

Abstract: A valve control mechanism for an internal combustion engine includes a camshaft carrying cams which cooperate with and thereby actuate valves which control the induction of fluids into, and the exhaustion of fluids from, a combustion cylinder during the operating cycle of an engine. The camshaft is axially movable within a predetermined range of movement. At least one of the cams has a profile which, when viewed in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the camshaft, varies as a function of the position along the camshaft axis and is such that, when the camshaft is moved axially to one extreme of its permitted movement, interaction between the cam and the valve with which it is associated generates no valve movement when the cam is rotated.

Abstract: A valve control mechanism for an internal combustion engine is disclosed which includes a camshaft carrying a plurality of cams, the cams cooperating with and thereby serving to actuate valves which control the induction of fluids into, and the exhaust of fluids from, a combustion cylinder during the operating cycle of the engine; wherein: