Patents by Inventor Glyn P. R. Farr

Glyn P. R. Farr has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5468059
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a hydraulic, anti-skid braking system for a wheeled vehicle. A source of hydraulic or other operating fluid is applied to the brakes of the vehicle. A sensor indicates when the speed of wheel rotation exceeds a predetermined value. Responsive thereto, a modulator assembly modulates a supply of the operating fluid to the vehicle brakes. An electronic control unit controls the modulator assembly in order to isolate the source of operating fluid from the brakes and to relieve the pressure of the operating fluid applied to the brakes. At the termination of a sensor caused signal, there is a re-application of the operating fluid to the brakes at a controlled rate. The modulator assembly has a bore, a valve spool working in the bore, a first normally closed solenoid for operating a valve, a passage between first and second ends of the bore, and a second solenoid operated valve in the passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Assignee: Lucas Industries public limited company
    Inventor: Glyn P. R. Farr
  • Patent number: 5460075
    Abstract: A hydraulic master cylinder (1) comprises a body (2) in which conventional output chambers (5,6) are defined. In use, the output chambers are pressurized by a piston (4) which is moved by a combination of mechanical input force applied to an input member (8) and hydraulic pressure within a servo chamber (13) located to the rear of the piston (4). Connection of the servo chamber (13) to a pressure source is controlled by poppet valves (16, 17) which are opened as necessary by ribs (23, 24) of a sleeve (22) mounted on imput member (8). The sleeve (22) is coupled to the piston (4) but free to rotate relative to the input member (8) and is coupled to the input member by means of a helical groove and ball arrangement such that movement of the input member (8) towards the piston (4) causes rotation of the sleeve (22) to open the inlet valve (17), and movement of the input member ( 8) away from the piston (4) causes opposite rotation of the sleeve (22) to close the input valve (17) and open the outlet valve (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1995
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventor: Glyn P. R. Farr
  • Patent number: 5445447
    Abstract: In an hydraulic anti-lock braking system a flow control valve operates with a single-acting solenoid-operated valve (35), and the flow control valve incorporates a spool (17) working in a bore (8) in a housing (7) with the flow directed thorough a passage (20) passing substantially through the centre of the spool (17). A fixed orifice (21) is located at the one end of the spool which defines a chamber (19) for a control spring (18), and a variable orifice is defined between a port (33) in the housing (7) and a metering edge on the input side of an annular groove (24) in the spool (17) and which communicates with the passage (20) in the spool (17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1995
    Assignee: Lucas Industries public limited company
    Inventors: Glyn P. R. Farr, Philip W. Sheriff
  • Patent number: 5403078
    Abstract: An hydraulic braking system for a vehicle comprises a pedal-operated combined hydraulic booster and master cylinder assembly (1) for applying a brake (15, 18) on a wheel (16, 19) and having a master cylinder (6) and a servo chamber (7), an auxiliary hydraulic power supply (10) defining a booster pressure in the servo chamber, a flow valve (17, 20) through which fluid is supplied to the brake, and a solenoid-controlled valve (27) for controlling the setting of the flow valve for brake re-application during ABS by the application to it of control fluid from the servo chamber (7) in response to signals from a control module (38).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1995
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventor: Glyn P. R. Farr
  • Patent number: 5383719
    Abstract: In an hydraulic braking system for vehicles solenoid-controlled valves are located in brake lines between the master cylinder and brakes on front and rear wheels of the vehicle. The solenoid-controlled valves are adapted to operate independently of each other to achieve independent pressure levels in the front and rear brakes by operation of a motor driven pump in response to signals supplied to an electronic control module from pressure sensing apparatus in each respective brake line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1995
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventor: Glyn P. R. Farr
  • Patent number: 5372409
    Abstract: Energization of a fluid-pressure operated booster is controlled solely by operation of a solenoid-operated valve device, suitably first and second solenoid-operated valves, responsive to signals from an electronic controller. The construction of the booster is therefore modified in comparison with known boosters by the omission of the conventional mechanical valve adapted to be operated by the pedal for normal operation of the booster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1994
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventor: Glyn P. R. Farr
  • Patent number: 5180212
    Abstract: A brake pressure reducing valve assembly (1) includes first (2) and second (3) normally open valve sets each for controlling communication between respective associated inlet (4A,15) and outlet (4,16) chambers. The first valve set (2) is controlled by a brake pressure responsive piston (6) and a deceleration responsive member (7). The second valve set (3) is controlled by a pressure responsive piston (14). The respective pressure responsive pistons (6,14) are biased apart by a common compression spring (9). In use, the force applied to the piston (14) of the second valve set (3) by the spring (9) is determined by the position of the piston (6) of the first valve set (2) relative to the valve body. Accordingly the pressures at the outlet chambers (4,16) are maintained equal. The valve provides deceleration responsive brake pressure reduction to the rear brakes of a dual braking system without the need for two separate deceleration responsive members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1993
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventor: Glyn P. R. Farr
  • 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
  • Patent number: 5042884
    Abstract: In an hydraulic braking system for a vehicle the rear wheel brakes are adapted to be applied by a fluid pressure generated by, and dependent upon, the pressure applied to at least one of the front wheel brakes. Control of the rear wheel brakes may be achieved by a fluid power unit under the control of at least one solenoid-operative valve which, in turn, is responsive to signals from sensing means responsive to the behaviour of the rear wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1991
    Assignee: Lucas Industries public limited company
    Inventor: Glyn P. R. Farr
  • Patent number: 4988148
    Abstract: In an hydraulic anti-lock braking system a modulator incorporates a valve responsive to anti-lock signals, a flow valve, and an expansion chamber to which fluid is relieved from a brake in an anti-lock mode. The flow valve is arranged so that the output from a pump is shared between the brake and the master cylinder, and a restrictor located in parallel with the flow valve is adapted to attenuate the pressure oscillations of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1991
    Assignee: Lucas Industries public limited company
    Inventors: Glyn P. R. Farr, Anthony E. Martin, Robert G. Fuller
  • Patent number: 4966248
    Abstract: A traction control system for the driven wheels of a road vehicle includes a modulation unit which controls fluid flow from a master cylinder actuated via a servo unit to supply fluid under pressure to a spinning driven wheel in order to reduce the degree of spin and increase the torque transmitted to the other driven wheel. The servo unit is actuatable independently and by itself when spin control is required, by way of a solenoid valve which causes a part of the normal output force of the servo to be applied to the master cylinder for the purpose of spin control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 30, 1990
    Assignee: Lucas Industries public limited company
    Inventor: Glyn P. R. Farr
  • Patent number: 4941713
    Abstract: Fluid is adapted to be released from a brake to an expansion chamber from which a pump is adapted to withdraw fluid to achieve automatic re-application to the brake. The system includes an inlet valve between a master cylinder and the brake, a re-application valve between the pump and the brake, and a dump valve between the brake and the expansion chamber. The three valves are solenoid-operated and are operable in a predetermined sequence by a control module responsive to signals from means responsive to the behaviour of a wheel braked by the brake. Brake re-application pressure may be held in a "hold" mode by closing the re-application valve to prevent the pump from increasing the pressure within the brake. In a modification a separate, additional, hold valve may be provided to isolate the expansion chamber from the brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 17, 1990
    Assignee: Lucas Industries
    Inventor: Glyn P. R. Farr
  • Patent number: 4929037
    Abstract: In a hydraulic anti-lock braking system a modulator incorporates a solenoid-operated valve responsive to anti-lock signals, a re-application valve and an expansion chamber to which fluid relieved from the brake in an anti-lock mode. The solenoid-operated valve determines the pressure in a control chamber, a poppet valve controls communication between the master cylinder and the brake, and a restricted connection is provided between the master cylinder and the output from a re-application pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 29, 1990
    Assignee: Lucas Industries public limited company
    Inventor: Glyn P. R. Farr
  • Patent number: 4913251
    Abstract: A control device for controlling the operation of a fuel control member 17 of a vehicle engine includes a piston 12 coupled to the control member and connected to the throttle pedal of the vehicle through a lost motion spring 20. The pressure in the chambers 13, 14 defined on opposite sides of the piston can be controlled by valves so that in one mode the movement of the piston and fuel control member are directly under the control of the operator and when the vehicle is driven in a second mode, the piston controls the position of the fuel control member to provide "cruise control" and in a third mode the piston can move the fuel control member in opposition to the setting determined by the driver to provide "torque control".
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1990
    Assignee: Lucas Industries public limited company
    Inventor: Glyn P. R. Farr
  • Patent number: 4893881
    Abstract: An anti-lock braking system incorporates a copy valve adapted to ensure that the behaviour of a brake on one rear wheel of a vehicle is copied by the brake on the other rear wheel when an anti-lock situation arises. For example, a single copy valve may be incorporated in the braking circuit for the rear wheels of a vehicle of which the behaviour of the brakes is controlled by a single modulator. In another construction, two such copy valves are incorporated in a twin assembly of a braking system of the `X` split type. In such a construction both rear wheel brakes respond to operation of one of a pair of modulators, each responsive to signals from a speed sensor on a respective front wheel of the vehicle. The or each copy valve incorporates first and second pistons which are relatively movable in response to differential pressures from the pressure spaces of a master cylinder in order to control operation an isolating valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1990
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventor: Glyn P. R. Farr
  • Patent number: 4883327
    Abstract: A hydraulic anti-lock braking system incorporates a pump for generating the energy necessary to re-apply a brake automatically after pressure applied to the brake from a master cylinder has first been released to prevent the wheel controlled by that brake from locking. The pump is adapted to pump fluid back both to the brake and to the master cylinder. Pumping the fluid back to the brake achieves a satisfactory pedal feel, and pumping fluid back to the master cylinder ensures the use of a fail-safe re-application of brake pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1989
    Assignee: Lucas Industries
    Inventor: Glyn P. R. Farr
  • Patent number: 4846533
    Abstract: An anti-lock hydraulic braking system includes a copy valve which is connected between two independent braking circuits, each incorporating a wheel brake and a respective one pressure space of a tandem master cylinder. The copy valve comprises a housing having a multi-stepped bore in which a piston of complementary outline is located, first and second inlet chambers connected to the respective pressure spaces, and first and second outlet chambers connected to respective brakes, are all defined between the piston and the bore. A valve assembly is adapted to control communication between the inlet chamber and the first output chamber, and between the output chamber and first expander chamber. The other output chamber is connected to a second expander chamber through an anti-lock modulator. The piston is arranged so that only a relatively small axial travel is required to operate the valve assembly, and such movement can be accommodated by flexure of seals on the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1989
    Assignee: Lucas Industries public limited company
    Inventor: Glyn P. R. Farr
  • Patent number: 4822115
    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: March 21, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1989
    Assignee: Lucas Industries public limited company
    Inventor: Glyn P. R. Farr
  • Patent number: 4813338
    Abstract: A pneumatically operated servo booster has a housing divided by a diaphragm assembly into front and rear chambers respectively. A hub movable with the partition carries a vacuum valve seat and a plunger slidable within the hub carries an atmospheric valve seat, the seats co-operating with a spring-urged poppet valve to control fluid flow to the chamber. A stack of Belleville washers normally transmits input force from an input rod, the washers yielding at a predetermined input force to allow a cup member to engage an abutment carried by the hub, causing the hub to move relative to the valve member and temporarily open the valve seat to cause a reduction in boost compensating for the excess input force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1989
    Assignee: Lucas Industries
    Inventors: Ivan Mortimer, Glyn P. R. Farr
  • Patent number: 4779936
    Abstract: A vehicle anti-lock braking system is disclosed in which a supply of fluid from a master cylinder is modulated in accordance with signals from wheel speed sensors to affect brake release and re-application during an anti-lock mode. An electric motor drives a first pump to provide a source of power during the anti-lock mode, and a second pump to charge a hydraulic acumulator. The pressure stored in the accumulator may be used to provide assistance when applying the brakes, and may also be used to apply a portion of the braking system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1988
    Assignee: Lucas Industries public limited company
    Inventor: Glyn P. R. Farr