Abstract: A distributor is described for a multi-cylinder laser ignited internal combustion engine. The distributor includes a shaft rotatable by the engine and a plurality of flat reflective surfaces on the shaft. The surfaces lie in planes normal to the axis of rotation of the shaft and are axially staggered from one another along the length of the shaft. An optical transmitter directs light from a laser source to impinge at an angle sequentially on the reflective surfaces as the shaft rotates, and a plurality of optical receivers spaced from one another each receive the light reflected from a respective one of the mirror surfaces and direct the reflected light to a respective one of the engine cylinders.

Abstract: A motor vehicle 5 is disclosed having an engine 10 used to drive a number of ancillary devices 12, 14, 16 and 18 via an ancillary drive 11. An electronically controlled disengageable connection 21 is provided to selectively disengage the drive from the engine 10 to the ancillary drive 11 when a high power output is required from the engine 10 to drive the motor vehicle 5. When the ancillary drive 11 is disengaged a source of motive power 12 is used to power the ancillary devices 14, 16 and 18 so as to maintain their operation.