Abstract: A pre-chamber ignition apparatus for an internal combustion engine comprising an apparatus body associable with the cylinder head of an internal combustion engine for communicating with a combustion chamber of the cylinder head through at least one connection hole, a microwave ignition device for generating microwaves to cause ignition of an air/fuel mixture in a pre-chamber formed within the apparatus body. The apparatus body comprises an upstream portion configured to allow the housing and fixing of the microwave ignition device and a hollow downstream or head portion, delimiting the pre-chamber, in fluid communication with the combustion chamber. The downstream portion is provided with at least one connection hole.

Abstract: A throttle valve for adjusting the feeding of a gas to a fuel cell, which includes: a valve body, divided into a first and a second portion; a gas feeding duct obtained in the first portion; a throttle plate arranged in the feeding duct; a shaft which is rotatably mounted in the first portion and supports the throttle plate; and an actuator which is mounted in the second portion and is configured to rotate the shaft. The throttle valve further comprises a magnetic joint, which transmits the motion from the actuator to the shaft and is divided into a first half coupled to the shaft, and a second half facing the first half and coupled to the actuator. The throttle valve also includes an insulating wall which insulates the first partition, in a pneumatically sealed manner, from the second portion of the valve body and is arranged between the two halves of the magnetic joint.

Abstract: A cooling module for an electrical energy storage system for an electric drive vehicle. The cooling module has an exchanger plate that is hollow on the inside so as to have, on the inside, a circulation chamber that is designed to contain a cooling liquid. The exchanger plate has: an inlet opening that is obtained through a front wall of the exchanger plate and is designed to allow the cooling liquid to flow into the circulation chamber, and an outlet opening that is obtained through a rear wall of the exchanger plate and is designed to allow the cooling liquid to flow out of the circulation chamber. The cooling module has a plurality of interface elements, which are placed inside the circulation chamber, are shaped like a wave, and are arranged in rows.

Abstract: A throttle valve for adjusting the feeding of a gas to a fuel cell, which includes: a valve body, divided into a first and a second portion; a gas feeding duct obtained in the first portion; a throttle plate arranged in the feeding duct; a shaft which is rotatably mounted in the first portion and supports the throttle plate; and an actuator which is mounted in the second portion and is configured to rotate the shaft. The throttle valve further comprises a magnetic joint, which transmits the motion from the actuator to the shaft and is divided into a first half coupled to the shaft, and a second half facing the first half and coupled to the actuator. The throttle valve also includes an insulating wall which insulates the first partition, in a pneumatically sealed manner, from the second portion of the valve body and is arranged between the two halves of the magnetic joint.

Abstract: An intercooler for a turbocharged internal combustion heat engine; the intercooler has: a cooling chamber, which is provided with an air inlet opening and an air outlet opening opposite one another; a plurality of exchanger plates, which are stacked on top of one another inside the cooling chamber, are arranged parallel to an air flowing direction from the inlet opening to the outlet opening, are spaced apart from one another so as to define corresponding air passage channels between one another, and are internally hollow; a circulation circuit, which allows a cooling fluid to circulate inside the exchanger plates; and a plurality of thermoelectric cells, each of which is mounted on a corresponding exchanger plate, and has a cold side resting on the exchanger plate and a hot side delimiting a corresponding air passage channel.

Abstract: A cooling module for an electrical energy storage system for an electric drive vehicle. The cooling module has an exchanger plate that is hollow on the inside so as to have, on the inside, a circulation chamber that is designed to contain a cooling liquid. The exchanger plate has: an inlet opening that is obtained through a front wall of the exchanger plate and is designed to allow the cooling liquid to flow into the circulation chamber, and an outlet opening that is obtained through a rear wall of the exchanger plate and is designed to allow the cooling liquid to flow out of the circulation chamber. The cooling module has a plurality of interface elements, which are placed inside the circulation chamber, are shaped like a wave, and are arranged in rows.

Abstract: An intercooler for a turbocharged internal combustion heat engine; the intercooler has: a cooling chamber, which is provided with an air inlet opening and an air outlet opening opposite one another; a plurality of exchanger plates, which are stacked on top of one another inside the cooling chamber, are arranged parallel to an air flowing direction from the inlet opening to the outlet opening, are spaced apart from one another so as to define corresponding air passage channels between one another, and are internally hollow; a circulation circuit, which allows a cooling fluid to circulate inside the exchanger plates; and a plurality of thermoelectric cells, each of which is mounted on a corresponding exchanger plate, and has a cold side resting on the exchanger plate and a hot side delimiting a corresponding air passage channel.

Abstract: A combined actuator provided with: a mobile element; a driver for displacing the mobile element; and a rheological control brake, which is mechanically coupled to the mobile element to adjust the displacement of the mobile element; the rheological control brake has: two contiguous adjustment chambers; a rheological fluid contained in the two adjustment chambers; a sliding piston, which tightly separates the two adjustment chambers and is mechanically connected to the mobile element; at least one external connection pipe, which reciprocally connects the two adjustment chambers; and a driving device which is coupled to the external connection pipe so as to apply a variable electromagnetic field to the rheological fluid contained in the external connection pipe for varying the viscosity of the rheological fluid between a minimum value and a maximum value.

Abstract: A tumble system for the intake manifold of an internal-combustion engine is provided with a number of cylinders. The tumble system is provided with at least one throttle valve for varying the section of passage of air through an intake pipe, which connects a cylinder with the intake manifold. The throttle valve has a throttle butterfly mounted so as to rotate under the thrust of an actuator device equipped with at least one actuator element, which is made of a shape-memory material that generates a torque by modifying its own geometry following upon application of an external stress of a physical nature.

Abstract: A valve for adjusting the air flow rate in an internal combustion engine; the valve presents: a valve body; a cylindrical tubular pipe obtained within the valve body and in which an air introduction channel is defined; a valve seat obtained along the air introduction channel of the tubular pipe; an actuation system; a shutter, mobile under the bias of the actuation system; and a connection flange, which is integral with a first end of the tubular pipe and presents a plurality of through holes which are crossed in use by corresponding fastening screws for rigidly fixing the valve body; the connection flange is provided with a lower plate and an upper plate, which are reciprocally parallel, facing and distanced and are arranged radially with respect to the cylindrical tubular pipe, and a number of ribs, which reciprocally connect the plates, are arranged perpendicularly to the plates, and are arranged axially with respect to the cylindrical tubular pipe.

Abstract: An actuator having a fixed part, a movable part movable with respect to the fixed part in a travelling direction, and a non-contact position sensor connected to the movable part to read the position of the movable part. The position sensor has a reading device connected to the fixed part and having a ferromagnetic core; and a magnetic cursor, which is integrated in the movable part, is defined by a magnetized portion of the movable part, and is so magnetized as to locally saturate the ferromagnetic core at the magnetic cursor.

Abstract: A combined actuator provided with: a mobile element; a driver for displacing the mobile element; and a rheological control brake, which is mechanically coupled to the mobile element to adjust the displacement of the mobile element; the rheological control brake has: two contiguous adjustment chambers; a rheological fluid contained in the two adjustment chambers; a sliding piston, which tightly separates the two adjustment chambers and is mechanically connected to the mobile element; at least one external connection pipe, which reciprocally connects the two adjustment chambers; and a driving device which is coupled to the external connection pipe so as to apply a variable electromagnetic field to the rheological fluid contained in the external connection pipe for varying the viscosity of the rheological fluid between a minimum value and a maximum value.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of a shaft provided with a magnet for an air flow rate adjustment valve in an internal combustion engine; the method presents the steps of: arranging a first mold which negatively reproduces the shape of the shaft and determines the formation of a seat for the magnet; injecting a molten plastic material inside the mold in order to form the shaft provided with the seat for the magnet by injection molding; arranging a second mold which surrounds the seat for the magnet; and injecting a molten magnetic polymer in the second mold for forming the magnet by injection molding.

Abstract: A valve for adjusting the air flow rate in an internal combustion engine; the valve presents: a valve body; a cylindrical tubular pipe obtained within the valve body and in which an air introduction channel is defined; a valve seat obtained along the air introduction channel of the tubular pipe; an actuation system; a shutter, mobile under the bias of the actuation system; and a connection flange, which is integral with a first end of the tubular pipe and presents a plurality of through holes which are crossed in use by corresponding fastening screws for rigidly fixing the valve body; the connection flange is provided with a lower plate and an upper plate, which are reciprocally parallel, facing and distanced and are arranged radially with respect to the cylindrical tubular pipe, and a number of ribs, which reciprocally connect the plates, are arranged perpendicularly to the plates, and are arranged axially with respect to the cylindrical tubular pipe.

Abstract: A choke device for an intake system of an internal combustion engine; the choke device has at least one choke body fitted movably inside an intake conduit, and an actuating device for moving the choke body to and from a work position in which the choke body reduces the cross section of the intake conduit; and the actuating device has a filiform actuating member made of a shape-memory material that changes shape when subjected to physical external stress, and having a first portion embedded in the choke body, and a second portion located outside the choke body and secured mechanically to a fixed part.

Abstract: An actuator having a fixed part, a movable part movable with respect to the fixed part in a travelling direction, and a non-contact position sensor connected to the movable part to read the position of the movable part. The position sensor has a reading device connected to the fixed part and having a ferromagnetic core; and a magnetic cursor, which is integrated in the movable part, is defined by a magnetized portion of the movable part, and is so magnetized as to locally saturate the ferromagnetic core at the magnetic cursor.

Abstract: A choke device for an intake system of an internal combustion engine; the choke device has at least one choke body fitted movably inside an intake conduit, and an actuating device for moving the choke body to and from a work position in which the choke body reduces the cross section of the intake conduit; and the actuating device has a filiform actuating member made of a shape-memory material that changes shape when subjected to physical external stress, and having a first portion embedded in the choke body, and a second portion located outside the choke body and secured mechanically to a fixed part.

Abstract: A tumble system for the intake manifold of an internal-combustion engine is provided with a number of cylinders. The tumble system is provided with at least one throttle valve for varying the section of passage of air through an intake pipe, which connects a cylinder with the intake manifold. The throttle valve has a throttle butterfly mounted so as to rotate under the thrust of an actuator device equipped with at least one actuator element, which is made of a shape-memory material that generates a torque by modifying its own geometry following upon application of an external stress of a physical nature.

Abstract: A choke valve for an intake manifold with a retracting tumble system for an engine provided with a number of cylinders, the choke valve being adapted to vary the passage section of the air through an intake duct which connects each cylinder with the intake manifold and is regulated by at least one intake valve; the choke valve comprises a butterfly mounted to rotate about an axis of rotation disposed transversely and externally with respect to the corresponding intake duct under the thrust of a corresponding rotary electric motor which comprises a stator and a rotor housed directly in the butterfly.

Abstract: A choke valve for an intake manifold with a retracting tumble system for an engine provided with a number of cylinders, the choke valve being adapted to vary the passage section of the air through an intake duct which connects each cylinder with the intake manifold and is regulated by at least one intake valve; the choke valve comprises a butterfly mounted to rotate about an axis of rotation disposed transversely and externally with respect to the corresponding intake duct under the thrust of a corresponding rotary electric motor which comprises a stator and a rotor housed directly in the butterfly.