Abstract: In order to soften or stiffen the support offered by an elastic sheet, and in particular a vehicle seat back, the device comprises a flat spring (1) which is at each of its ends connected to the sheet (38), and fixed to a case (2, 3) containing an inclined disc (10, 12). Two discs are fixed to a control rod (24) which is mounted in the frame (36) of the seat and, when this rod is rotated, they cause the cases to be pivoted symmetrically, so that the spring is extended and stiffens the sheet or is shortened and renders the seat more soft.

Abstract: In a slide structure employing balls comprising an outer element formed by a U-section element 1 provided with flanges 2, the inner element 8 is constituted by a tube which is deformed in such manner as to include two lateral wings 10 each one of which is between two concave grooves for receiving the balls 16. Beyond the portion of the tube deformed in this way, the tube is bent and devoid of flanges so as to enable it to extend through the opening 3 of the U-section element 1 before resuming its initial section. The tube terminates in fixing tabs. Sheared and deformed portions which are evenly spaced apart along a central longitudinally extending boss 18 of the inner element constitute a rack for driving or locking the inner element relative to the outer element.

Abstract: The forming punch (18) comprises two planar surfaces (20, 22) interconnected by an edge (23), two portions of a cylinder which passes through the edge (23) and a curved surface centered on this edge. This punch (18) is inserted in the tube to the point of the tube to be deformed and then the tube is compressed between a V-shaped groove (34) in a die (36) and a curved groove (40) in a compression member (38). The punch (18) is thereafter withdrawn from the tube by axially sliding the punch out of the latter.

Abstract: The steering column is mounted to be pivotable about the same axis as the steering shaft which extends through the column. The column carries a support plate for associated controls which is locked on the casing tube of the column which is pivotally mounted on a bracket for fixing the whole of the column to the body of the vehicle. An unlocking lever, pivotally mounted in the vicinity of the steering column, is extended by a curved rod which terminates in the vicinity of the steering wheel. A first travel of the lever puts an arm in contact with a pivotal cam, then a second travel of the lever pivots the cam and unlocks the column which can then be pivoted about its pivotal mounting on the bracket and adjusted to the desired height.

Abstract: The muffler comprises a resonator (6) which communicates by way of an outlet orifice (14) with a chamber (5). A flexible valve member (16) regulates the section of the passage through this orifice in accordance with the rate of flow of the gas through the outlet of the resonator under the action, for example, of the pressure prevailing in the resonator. When the running speed of the engine decreases, the valve member reduces the section of the passage through the orifice (16) and modifies the acoustic attenuation in the resonator. The valve member may be controlled by other parameters of the flow of the exhaust gas inside the muffler.

Abstract: An adjusting system comprising two pivot device 6 and 7 which are symmetrical and have extending therethrough means defining a stepped central aperture whose dimension increases from the interior of the seat structure to the exterior of the latter. A rod 10 which is extended at each end by a square-sectioned bar 23 is slidably mounted in the apertures of the two pivot devices and is fitted at one end in a sleeve rigid with a control element 30. A locking hairpin element locks the control member to the rod but may be withdrawn at any time so as to permit reversing the direction in which the seat structure is positioned.

Abstract: The vehicle comprises four compartments for receiving accumulator batteries. Two of these compartments are placed on each side of the frame of the vehicle in the median part of the latter. The other two compartments are disposed on each side of the rear wheel of the vehicle. The motor of the vehicle is preferably disposed under and at the rear of the saddle. Many advantages result from this arrangement which enables an increased production of this type of vehicle to be envisaged.

Abstract: At least one of the ends of the silencer an end chamber is defined between an intermediate planar dished wall and an end dished wall which is provided with a rounded and hollow boss. The boss substantially extends two exhaust gas tubes in front of which it is located and its apex is spaced from the intermediate dished wall by a distance which is slightly greater than the radius of the tubes so that the boss guides the change in direction of the gas flow between the tubes.

Abstract: The drive unit comprises mainly a motor-gearing down relay assembly (M, R) whose single case (1, 2) carries suspension arms (3, 4) which rearwardly extend the assembly and support the driving wheel of the vehicle and a suspension system such as springs (19).

Abstract: The device comprises a conventional arrangement for opening the decompression valve comprising a manual actuating lever connected to the valve and operative to open the valve in opposition to the action of a return spring which biases the valve to the closing position. A delay device is provided for delaying the return of the valve to the closing position when the actuating lever has been released. The delay device comprises a control member connected to the connection between the actuating lever and the valve and movable substantially in a plane between a first position for opening the valve and a second position for closing the valve.

Abstract: The installation includes a main load supplied with power by an a.c. source such as a magnetic flywheel of a moped and a current detector connected in series in the supply circuit of the main load. This detector provides, as a function of the current detected for, the automatic supply of power to a system for monitoring the operation of the main load or of a secondary load also supplied with power by the source.

Abstract: The device is especially intended for a pipe supplying a fluid which must be supplied, simultaneously or alternately, with another fluid. The device comprises a tank for a control fluid which surrounds the vertical supply pipe and in which a permanent magnet moves in accordance with the amount of control fluid contained in the tank. The magnet shifts a valve member inside the supply pipe so that the valve member closes the latter in one of the end positions of the magnet. The magnet is rigid with a float which freely extends around the supply pipe. The device can in particular ensure that fuel is supplied to an engine only if oil is supplied to the latter.

Abstract: A steering mechanism lock which may be closed when the steering mechanism is turned to the full in a given position, a hood for covering the fuel tank and the pump and other accessories mounted on the sides of the tank, and a hook sliding in the steering mechanism tube and fitting in an opening of the upper part of the hood. Inside the tube, a pin cooperating with a sleeve precludes the raising of the hook out of the opening so long as the steering mechanism has not been turned to the full in the direction opposed to the direction for locking the steering mechanism.

Abstract: The starter comprises a flywheel rotated by an electric motor and an electromagnetic clutch for rendering the flywheel rigid with the crankshaft of the engine to be started. The flywheel carries on one side the armature of the motor and on the opposite side the inductor of the clutch. The motor inductor is carried by a flat disc which is parallel to the flywheel and defines a planar airgap of the motor. The flywheel has a part which is common to the magnetic circuits of the motor armature and the clutch inductor and has sufficient section to permit the circulation of the motor or clutch magnetic flux but is saturated by the circulation of the flux of the motor so that a remanent flux of the clutch will be cancelled out as soon as the magnetic flux of the motor is produced.

Abstract: The plunger tube of the handle-bar stem adapted to be blocked in the fork tube of the vehicle is provided at its end with at least one inclined outer face. A nut adapted to cooperate with the inclined face has the same number of inclined faces which are inclined in the opposite direction. An expanding member is tightened against each face of the tube and against the corresponding face of the nut and urged outwardly by the translation of the nut axially of the plunger tube so that the nut bears against the fork tube and blocks the two tubes.

Abstract: The guard for a transmission including a chain and chain wheels comprises a fixed cover surrounding a first reach of the chain and a first of the chain wheels. A tube for surrounding and protecting a second reach of the chain is pivoted to the cover at a point corresponding to the point of tangency of the second reach of the chain with the first chain wheel.

Abstract: The trolley has a lower platform which is provided with rollers and carries two fixed lateral grills and a movable grill between the fixed grills. At least one horizontal shelf is pivotably mounted on a first of the fixed grills and is pivotable between a withdrawn position against the first fixed grill and a horizontal position in which the shelf bears against a rod of the second fixed grill. A gate mounted on one of the fixed grills to be movable inwardly of the space defined by the three grills from a closed position to an open position prevents the shelf from being pivoted to its withdrawn position so long as the gate is in its closed position. A fixed gate is disposed above the lower platform. The distance between the gates and the shelf immediately above them is less than the height of the objects to be transported by the trolley.