Abstract: A device is described wherein a pair of thermal or electrothermal actuators (3, 4; 103, 104) actuate a member, such as a pinion (5), between two stable positions. The actuators are alternately activated for moving the pinion between the stable positions. For this purpose, they are arranged close to each other, so that they can act upon the pinion on opposite sides, the pinion being held in the stable positions by a releasable engagement element. The device of the invention ensures low energy consumption because the actuators (3, 4) operate only for moving the pinion from one stable position to the other.

Abstract: An electro-thermal actuator device includes a case defining a cavity in which are housed a thermal actuator, an electrical heater and, at least partially, an actuating shaft. The device comprises a multipolar connector for the rapid, secure and reliable coupling to a respective source of electrical power supply for the heater. The connector can be configured as an adapter unit distinct from the case, suitable to transform a traditional electro-thermal actuator device into the actuator device described above.

Abstract: An anti-flooding safety device for a user apparatus includes: a first connection body defining a first duct, the first duct having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet of the first duct being provided for connection to a supply point of a mains supply. An inner flexible hose and an outer flexible hose are impermeable to water, wherein the inner hose has a proximal end, which is sealingly fixed in a position corresponding to the outlet of the first duct, and a distal end for connection to the user apparatus, and wherein the inner hose extends longitudinally within the outer hose so that between at least part of the two hoses a gap is defined designed to convey to the user apparatus and/or to withhold inside it any possible leaking water. A valve arrangement on the first connection body can be switched from a position of opening of the first duct to a position of closing of the first duct following upon detection of a leakage of water.

Abstract: An anti-flooding safety device includes two connection bodies, a valve arrangement that includes a valve member, a retention member for withholding the valve member in a respective opening position, and an inner hose and an outer hose impermeable to water. The inner hose hydraulically connects the two connection bodies and extends at least in part within the outer hose so that defined between the two hoses is a gap designed to withhold inside it any possible leaking water. A connection body has a control chamber that is at least in part delimited by a movable element, and a control member is coupled to the movable element so that a displacement of the latter will cause a displacement of the control member towards a respective position of release, wherein the valve member is free to pass into its closing position. The gap is in fluid communication with the control chamber, to obtain a substantially closed volume therewith.

Abstract: A long-life substance dispensing device for a washing machine, particularly a dishwasher, comprises: —a body (20?, 30?) designed to be sealingly fixed to a structure of the washing machine, —a support means (40) adapted to contain a total amount of a substance sufficient for performing a plurality of washing cycles, —an actuation system (47?, 50?, 61?) which is electrically controllable for causing delivery of at least one dose of the substance contained in the support means (40). The actuation system (47?, 50?, 61?) comprises at least one drive element and one driven element (47?) capable of cooperating to obtain the delivery. The actuation system (47?, 50?, 61?) is arranged for being able to take on an operative condition, wherein the drive element (61?) is operatively coupled with the driven element (47?), and an inoperative condition, wherein the drive element (61?) is decoupled from the driven element (47?).

Abstract: A pressure sensor device comprises a casing (2a, 3 a) defining a chamber (20) and an inlet passage (14a, 14b) of the chamber. Accommodated in the chamber (20) is a pressure sensor (17) having a sensor body with a cavity and a membrane capable of deformation under pressure action of a fluid present in the inlet passage (14a, 14b). The device further comprises a circuit arrangement (26, 27, 30) to which the pressure sensor (17) is electrically connected, the circuit arrangement including a circuit support at least partially accommodated in the chamber (20). The sensor body is not rigidly associated to the casing (2a, 3 a) and/or to other parts of the device (26, 27, 30, 35), i.e. it is mounted elastically or in a moveable manner with respect to the casing (2a, 3 a) and/or to said other parts (26, 27, 30, 35) inside the chamber (20).

Abstract: A pressure sensor device comprises: —a casing (2a, 3a) defining a cavity (7) with an inlet passage (8a, 8b), —a pressure sensor (30) having a body accommodated in the cavity (7), for detecting the pressure of a fluid present in the inlet passage (8a, 8b), —a circuit arrangement including a circuit support (20) at least partially accommodated in the cavity (7) according to a respective laying plane, the pressure sensor (30) being mounted on the circuit support (20). Associated to the circuit support (20) is a protection body (31) surrounding the pressure sensor (30), the protection body (31) externally defining a seat for positioning a respective seal member (35), in particular a radial seal gasket, intended to cooperate with an internal surface of the casing (2a, 3 a).

Abstract: A pressure-sensor device (1) comprises: —a pressure-sensitive component (9) having a body, defined in which is a blind cavity, and having a membrane portion (9a), operatively associated to which is a detection element (R); and —a connection structure (2), which has a duct in communication with the cavity of the pressure-sensitive component (9) and is to receive a fluid, a pressure of which is to be detected. The connection structure (2) comprises a supporting body (2a) of the pressure-sensitive component (9), which defines a respective passage (2b), and a compressible element (12, 18) that is designed to be in contact with the fluid and is configured for compensating possible variations of volume thereof. The compressible element (12, 18) is positioned at least in part within the cavity (11) of the pressure-sensitive component (9) and/or in a stretch of the passage (2b) of the supporting body (2a) that is close to the cavity (11) of the pressure-sensitive component (9).

Abstract: A biomedical microfluidic device for separating a sub-population of particles from a first fluid, particularly a biological fluid, has means for separation and/or filtration of the fluid, which include a first microfluidic path defined in a first body of the device, a first inlet for introduction of a first fluid in the first path and at least a first outlet for discharge from the first path of a sample of fluid enriched in the sub-population of particles.

Abstract: A pressure sensor device (1) comprises: a pressure sensor (9) having a sensor body (9a) defined in which is a cavity (11) with a bottom surface (11a) belonging to a membrane portion (9?) of the body itself, a detection element operatively being associated to the membrane portion (9?), a connection structure (2) having a duct (2a, 15, 19) in communication with the abovementioned cavity (11), designed to receive a fluid a pressure of which is to be detected. The connection structure comprises a body (2) for supporting the pressure sensor (9), defining at least one respective passage (2a), and one compressible element (12) designed to be in contact with the fluid and configured to compensate possible volume variations thereof, the compressible element (12) being positioned at least partially within the cavity (11), in such a manner to substantially divide it into two opposite regions.

Abstract: An electro-thermal actuator device includes a case defining a cavity in which are housed a thermal actuator, an electrical heater and, at least partially, an actuating shaft. The device comprises a multipolar connector for the rapid, secure and reliable coupling to a respective source of electrical power supply for the heater. The connector can be configured as an adapter unit distinct from the case, suitable to transform a traditional electro-thermal actuator device into the actuator device described above.

Abstract: A device for dispensing washing agents has a body defined in which is a reservoir for a liquid substance that can be dispensed. The reservoir has a charging passage that can be engaged by a plug. Operatively set between the body of the dispenser and the plug is an articulated connection, provided for keeping the plug mechanically connected to the dispenser even following upon removal of the plug from the charging passage. Preferably the articulated connection is of a “hide-away” type and comprises a movable member to which the plug is constrained so as to present a number of degrees of freedom.

Abstract: An electric heater for fuel of endothermal engines, in particular for fuel systems called “common rail” and the like, includes a heating part and a terminal adapted to be associated with one end of the hollow body of a fuel feeding duct; advantageously, the terminal is at least partly made of plastic material. A fuel feeding duct to which the heater is applied, as well as to a fuel warm-up device, are also provided.

Abstract: An electro-thermal actuator device includes a case defining a cavity in which are housed a thermal actuator, an electrical heater and, at least partially, an actuating shaft. The device comprises a multipolar connector for the rapid, secure and reliable coupling to a respective source of electrical power supply for the heater. The connector can be configured as an adapter unit distinct from the case, suitable to transform a traditional electro-thermal actuator device into the actuator device described above.

Abstract: A device for monitoring the tire of a wheel of a vehicle is configured for detecting and transmitting to a receiver, through a wireless connection, information regarding at least one characteristic quantity of a state of the tire, in particular its inflating pressure. The monitoring device has a body for housing a circuit designed to transmit the information to the receiver. The body includes a first body part, made of a first material, and a second body part made of a second material, the first and second body parts defining between them a housing for the circuit. At least the second material is a synthetic material having an electrical permittivity that is substantially constant at the at least one predetermined frequency. Preferably the first and second body parts are rigid and are fixed together by clinching or local mechanical deformation of the first body part on the second body part.

Abstract: A switch for vehicles, in particular of the type adapted to be actuated by a linkage or kinematic system of the vehicle, used for signaling an operating condition, includes: a body, electric terminals housed within the body, an actuation element at least partly movable within the body when subjected to a control action, so as to put at least two of the electric terminals in electric contact with each other, wherein the actuation element is at least partly deformable when a higher stress is applied thereto than necessary for closing the contact between the electric terminals.

Abstract: A dispenser of washing agents for a dishwasher has a body with a reservoir configured for containing a total amount of a liquid substance sufficient for performing a number of cycles of operation of the dishwasher. The reservoir has a charging passage that can be engaged by a removable plug, and the dispenser has a system for dosage of the liquid substance contained in the reservoir. The plug is configured for co-operating with an adjustment element belonging to the dosage system when the plug itself is at least partially inserted in the charging passage, particularly in such a way that a movement of rotation manually imparted on the plug will bring about a movement of rotation of the adjustment element.

Abstract: A sensing device includes at least one electrode pair (2, 3, 4) and one sensing circuit (140) connected to the electrode pair (2, 3, 4). The sensing circuit (140) switches the value of its own output voltage when a substance establishes contact across the electrodes (2, 3, 4). The device further includes one output circuit (180) connected to the output of the sensing circuit (140) and adapted to provide an output signal (s7) representative of the presence of a substance across the electrode pair (2, 3, 4). The device also allows the output signal to take different voltage and/or current and/or frequency values, in particular such that values can be discerned which are representative of the presence or level of substances and/or representative of faults of the device.

Abstract: An actuation device includes a driving member, a driven member and an actuating arrangement operable for producing a movement of the driving member. The driven member has a seat into which is operatively inserted, with the possibility of relative movement, an engagement part of the driving member. The driving member has a seat which, in at least one position of the actuation device, at least partially faces the seat of the driven member. The two seats are longitudinally extended and the actuation device further includes at least one floating body, capable of moving between the two seats when they face each other at least in part. The driving member and the driven member are configured for preventing accidental or irregular displacements of the floating body, particularly accidental or irregular displacements due to knocks, vibrations and similar mechanical stresses.

Abstract: A pressure-sensor device (1) comprises: —a pressure-sensitive component (9) having a body, defined in which is a blind cavity, and having a membrane portion (9a), operatively associated to which is a detection element (R); and —a connection structure (2), which has a duct in communication with the cavity of the pressure-sensitive component (9) and is to receive a fluid, a pressure of which is to be detected. The connection structure (2) comprises a supporting body (2a) of the pressure-sensitive component (9), which defines a respective passage (2b), and a compressible element (12, 18) that is designed to be in contact with the fluid and is configured for compensating possible variations of volume thereof. The compressible element (12, 18) is positioned at least in part within the cavity (11) of the pressure-sensitive component (9) and/or in a stretch of the passage (2b) of the supporting body (2a) that is close to the cavity (11) of the pressure-sensitive component (9).