Abstract: Separated air flow in the neighborhood of the leading edge of a butterfly valve plate in a throttle body fuel injection system can result in whistling. To alleviate the noise, a provided with an recess, or relief, on the suction side of the butterfly valve plate, near the leading edge. The recess has sides that are substantially radial lines starting at the outer periphery of the valve plate and extending toward the center of the valve plate. At their centermost ends, they are connected by a substantially straight line running parallel to the axis of rotation of the butterfly valve plate.

Abstract: The invention concerns a direct injection internal combustion engine comprising a camshaft and at least two cylinders (1), having in each cylinder a mobile piston (2) associated with at least to intake valves (4, 5), each located in an induction pipes (8, 9), and at least an exhaust valve (6, 7). The displacement of said valves is independent of the rotation of the camshaft and is controlled by a computer (15). The induction pipes (8, 9) are designed to produce an air velocity field inside the cylinder (1) parallel to said cylinder axis. The computer (15) controls, cylinder by cylinder, the opening and closing times of said at lent two intake valves (4, 5) to adapt the shape of the air velocity field inside the cylinder (1) to the engine power.

Abstract: The invention concerns an intake manifold (1) comprising a plenum (8) and air ducts (13) one of which at least, for each combustion chamber of the engine, has a sudden enlargement (19) of its passage cross-section, immediately followed in downstream direction by a duct portion (20) having a gradually decreasing cross-section and ending (21) upstream of a flange fixing (16) the manifold (1) to the engine and its cylinder head. The plenum (8) and each of the air ducts (13) at least are made of synthetic material, preferably capable of being molded. The invention is useful for equipping internal combustion engine with pistons driven in reciprocating movement in the cylinders.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for detecting clogging in a fuel filter, between a fuel pressure regulator imposing a pressure towards the internal combustion engine downstream of the filter and an electric motor pump compressing fuel coming from the tank towards the regulator through the filter which consists in: determining the fuel pressure at the pump output and by considering it as the fuel pressure at the filter intake; determining the fuel pressure at the filter outlet as being the pressure imposed by the regulator; determining the pressure drop of the filter from the difference between the filter input and output pressure levels, and by comparing at least a value based on the pressure drop with at least a reference value to deduce therefrom information concerning the clogging condition of the filter. The invention is applicable to preventive or predictive maintenance of fuel supply circuits in internal combustion engines.

Abstract: The invention concerns a pump with an electric motor pumping fule in a fuel tank and supplying a ramp of injectors aided by a fuel pressure regulator. The pump motor is controlled by a control unit for adjusting the pump output pressure, evaluated by a relationship between said pressure and at least a mean current of the pump motor, at an objective pressure level determined by the control unit and selected higher than the operating pressure of the regulator, such as a pressure-reducing valve, and whereof the pressure characteristic is known to the control unit. The invention is useful for supplying fuel to direct or indirect injection engines in motor vehicles.

Abstract: The control of the pressure in the high-pressure circuit (22) downstream from the pump (11) consists of controlling the solenoid valve (18) at the inlet of the pump (11) so that the fuel mass delivered by the pump (11) into the circuit (22) is equal to the algebraic sum of a fuel mass to be injected into the engine (1) and a fuel mass required to at least partially compensate a pressure difference between the fuel pressure measured by the sensor (4) in the circuit (22) and a target pressure desired by the control unit (5) in the circuit (22). Applies to pressure control for direct fuel injection into engines, particularly with externally supplied ignition.

Abstract: The invention concerns a combustion chamber delimited by a piston head having, inside a planar peripheral ring, a recess in the form of a concave bowl open towards the chamber and off-center on the piston axis (X—X) side which faces towards the injector inclined on the axis (X—X) and is laterally implanted on the cylinder head for direct injection into the chamber, and on the axis (X—X), a boss having, in layout, a horseshoe or crescent shape which partially enclosed the recess. The boss has an overhanging edge above the connection between the recess and the boss, whereof the upper surface is convex towards the chamber. The width of the overhanging edge is at its maximum in the horseshoe shaped boss base and gradually decreases until it substantially disappears at the tips of the two wings of the horseshoe-shaped boss, thereby ensuring a good preparation for the air/fuel mixture in the center of the chamber, opposite the axial plug at the chamber top.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for automatic adaptation of an injection engine by a computer connected to sensors. The sensors supply an engine filling parameter. An oxygen probe in the exhaust gases, defines, at each adapting cycle, a new line of control magnitude based on the filling parameter and using new coefficients computed from coordinates of two points. Corresponding corrected values of the control magnitude from a working line are filtered and stored during a preceding cycle. One of the two points is acquired previously, and then in adopting a new working line, an intermediate line between the new line and the previous working line is used. The invention is applicable to injection engine control.

Abstract: The injector comprises a tip having at least one outlet orifice (7) for fuel delivered to an engine combustion chamber. A ceramic coating (14) is deposited on the external face of the tip, preferably in a kink (12) bounding a recess in this external face, at least around and immediately downstream of the outlet orifice (7) relative to the direction in which the fuel is delivered. This invention is applicable to fuel injectors with a ceramic coating to protect against deposits of carbon oil for use with spark-ignition and direct injection internal combustion engines.

Abstract: Gas torque (Cg) is determined for each cylinder combustion. Engine speed (N) and air admission manifold pressure (Pca) are measured during the corresponding prior admission phase. A reference torque (Cref), which is a function of N and Pca, is cartographically calculated by interpolation. The reference torque Cref, for example, is corrected by multiplication with a coefficient (KM) associated with the corresponding cylinder in a stabilized engine operating mode. In a transient mode, an additive correction (KA) is also made to derive the expected theoretical torque (Cpr), which is compared with the gas torque (Cg) so as to determine that misfire has occurred if Cpr/Cg>S2, where S2 is a threshold value. The process and device are suitable for generating signals representative of engine operation or indicating that the threshold level of harmful components discharged into the exhaust gases is exceeded.

Abstract: The invention concerns a relief device for a high-pressure direct-injection pump supplying petrol to an automobile vehicle engine injector manifold, the pump being supplied with fuel by a low-pressure electric fuel pump communicating with a fuel tank and the high pressure delivered being regulated by a pressure regulator, said pressure regulator taking the form of a three-way valve supplying fuel to the manifold via the fuel pump below a predetermined engine rotation speed threshold and then supplying the manifold via the top part of the injection pump when the engine speed is above the predetermined threshold.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electromagnetically controlled drive device, in particular a ratio meter, the device being of the type comprising: a set of control coils (10, 20); a frame (50) which carries the set of coils (10, 20); equipment including a magnet suitable for being pivoted by the set of control coils (10, 20); and magnetic shielding (100) surrounding the set of coils (10, 20) and the support frame, at least in part, the device being characterized by the fact that the shielding (100) comprises an annular skirt (110) that is not a circular cylinder.

Abstract: A manifold with air ducts that each include a downstream tube and two upstream tubes of which one is short and the other long, and a pivotable member with an acoustic through-bore between the upstream tubes and the downstream tube. When the member is in one of its end positions, one of the upstream tubes communicates with the downstream tube while the other upstream tube is sealed, and when it is in the other end position, the other upstream tube communicates with the downstream tube while the first upstream tube is sealed. The member is retractable and mounted in a housing and has two contactless-sliding side surfaces extending perpendicularly to the pivot axis of the member and frictionally engaging a respective one of the two side surfaces of the housing as the member is pivoted, whereby a laminar effect is generated which ensures good lateral sealing between the member and the housing. The manifold may be used in internal combustion injection engines, particularly for motor vehicles.

Abstract: A throttle valve body (1) including a flap (6) of which the side pivoting down or up on opening has a shoulder (17) on the flap surface facing upwards or downwards, respectively, defining a gradually widening cross-sectional area with the cylindrical (7) or frusto-conical (9) wall opposite the intake channel (3) through the housing (2). The side of the flap (6) which rotates up or down, respectively, on opening consists of a flat half disk of which the edge is , at first, opposite a tapered surface portion (14) with a complex shape to define a gradually widening cross-sectional area downstream from an inlet convergent (15,12) and upstream from an outlet divergent, respectively.

Abstract: A device with a body and a passage therethrough containing a pivotable throttling member and a shaft rotatably mounted in the body and axially retained therein by a fork with a rounded central portion. The fork includes at least one tooth which engages at least one recess such as a groove in an end portion of the shaft. The end portion being housed in a chamber of the body that is sealed by a cover positioning the fork in the chamber in such a way that it engages the groove. The device is particularly suitable in butterfly valves and flow control components for controlling the flow of supply air in an internal combustion engine or that of recirculated exhaust gases.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a semi-automatic gearbox system, characterized by the fact that it includes control means suitable for controlling an automatic or semi-automatic operating mode for changing gear ratios in the gearbox. When actuated by the driver, the gear lever transmits the driver's request to the computer, via the sensors. After analyzing the legitimacy of the driver's request, the module proceeds to change the gear as requested. The module controls the electrically driven valves for controlling the clutch, and gear selection and engagement, and establishes dialog with the engine control computer for appropriately managing the engine torque and the engine speed during the gear change. The commands are confirmed by the position sensors on the actuators, and by the sensors for sensing the engine speed, and the inlet speed and the outlet speed of the gearbox. The absolute gear ratio engaged in the gearbox is displayed on the display.

Abstract: A semi-automatic gearbox system senses when vehicle wheels are gripping poorly and responds by minimizing variations in engine torque transmitted to the wheels by different parameterization for relationships governing reducing the engine torque as requested of an engine control computer prior to gear changes; declutching prior to gear changes; clutching after gear changes; reestablishing the engine torque as requested to the computer after gear changes; and clutching while the vehicle is starting.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a semi-automatic gearbox system, characterized by the fact that it includes means suitable for causing first gear to be engaged automatically when the system detects that the vehicle has stopped, with the engine running, and with a gear ratio other than neutral or than reverse.

Abstract: Method for identifying cylinder phase in an engine with an ignition and/or injection system wherein each cylinder is individually controlled, and with a sensor cooperating with a rotary target having an indexing element indicating a reference cylinder upper dead center position. The method including the steps of generating, on the reference cylinder, a disturbance other than the interruption of the injection, the disturbance of a type capable of causing a change in the engine torque, detecting the engine torque change by a change in a signal representative of the gas torque, caused by the generation of the disturbance, establishing a relationship between the time of generation and the detection of its result on the engine torque so as to derive the reference cylinder phase at the time of generation of the disturbance, and thereafter the phase of the other cylinders. The method of the present invention being particularly useful for four stroke engines with sequential ignition and/or injection.

Abstract: between two half-shells (2, 3) molded and fixed to each other in order to form an envelope (1), there are mounted air tubes (12a) with a ringed external face (14) and a smooth interbl face (13) which are fixed by means of end sleeves (17a, 18a) to the envelope (1). The outlet sleeve (18a) is held within a half-shell (3) by means of a fixing clamp (6) to the cylinder-head of the engine by being sealingly connected to an opening (7) of the nozzle comprised of a cradle (29a) integrally cast cover (31a) fixed to the cradle in prder to hold a seal (28) to the extremity of the outlet sleeve (18a), the seal being compressed between the sleeve (18a) and the nozzle (29a, 31a). Application particularly to intake manifolds of internal combustion engines, preferably with controlled ignition.