Abstract: A method for the continuous measurement of the efficiency of a battery, especially a battery installed in motor vehicles, comprising the following phases: —determination of the state of charge SOC % of the battery installed in the vehicle, both during key-off phase and key-on phase, without the direct measurement of current through progressive readings of battery voltage, both in the absence and in the presence of electrical load and considering the time elapsed since the beginning of each discharge phase; —determination of the state of health SOH of the same battery through the application of a controlled current load and the comparison of the resulting voltage drop compared to predetermined parameters; —determination of the state of function SOF of said battery through an estimation of its residual autonomy in function of the discharge rate or current rate and of the evolution of SOC %; —correlation and normalization of the above described parameters (SOC, SOH, and SOF) depending on the battery operating te

Abstract: A method for the continuous measurement of the efficiency of a battery, especially a battery installed in motor vehicles, comprising the following phases: —determination of the state of charge SOC % of the battery installed in the vehicle, both during key-off phase and key-on phase, without the direct measurement of current through progressive readings of battery voltage, both in the absence and in the presence of electrical load and considering the time elapsed since the beginning of each discharge phase; —determination of the state of health SOH of the same battery through the application of a controlled current load and the comparison of the resulting voltage drop compared to predetermined parameters; —determination of the state of function SOF of said battery through an estimation of its residual autonomy in function of the discharge rate or current rate and of the evolution of SOC %; —correlation and normalization of the above described parameters (SOC, SOH, and SOF) depending on the battery operating te

Abstract: An improved modular handle for a tool having a plurality of handle segments, at least a grasping segment and a support segment for the tool, the segments being provided with either a male end or a female end for coupling to each other by a forced introduction. The male end has a reduced diameter zone with a undulate end section, and the female end having a hollow section with an inner diameter to receive, by a forced coupling, the undulate section of the male end.

Abstract: An acoustic-signal emitting device for vehicles comprises an electronic control circuit (50) for generating driving signals and a loudspeaker (LDSK). The loudspeaker includes a transducer device (1) connected electrically to the electronic control circuit (50) in order to receive the driving signals and to convert them into acoustic radiation. The transducer device (1) being a moving-coil device with a compression chamber and having dimensions such that it can generate acoustic radiation characteristic of an alarm siren in a first operative condition and acoustic radiation characteristic of an acoustic warning device in a second operative condition. A twisted horn (2) is coupled acoustically with the transducer device (1) in order to propagate the acoustic radiation emitted in the two operative conditions, outside the emitting device (100).

Abstract: An electronic control circuit (50) of a loudspeaker (LDSK) for vehicles, for emitting at least a first acoustic signal characteristic of an alarm siren is characterized in that it comprises storage means (Flash) for storing a plurality of digital samples representative of at least a portion of a reference acoustic signal which can be generated by a sample acoustic warning device, processing means (&mgr;P) for generating, on the basis of the plurality of samples, a modulated electrical signal (S1, S2) carrying at least a portion of the harmonic content associated with the reference acoustic signal, (S1, S2) and supplying to the loudspeaker (LDSK) a corresponding driving signal for the emission of a second acoustic signal substantially reproducing the at least one portion of the reference acoustic signal.

Abstract: A signal generator comprising one or two horns and an electrically operated ir compressor is secured to a vehicle body, directly or indirectly, by a screw connection which includes a bolt with a hexagonal head received in a seat on a muff of each horn, the seat being formed by an open-ended channel accommodating the head and an adjacent narrower slot traversed by the shank of the bolt. This bolt may be inserted into a hole in the vehicle body or, in the case of two horns, may engage a strap bolted to that body; alternatively, such a strap with a pair of horns fastened thereto can be bolted to the associated air compressor which for this purpose has two diametrically opposite seats each similar to the one on the horn muff, one of these latter seats serving for the bolting of the compressor to the vehicle body.

Abstract: An electromagnetic sound generator, such as an automobile horn, has a thialled ferromagnetic coil housing with a rim bent back upon itself to form an outwardly projecting peripheral flange embracing a marginal zone of a membrane. A collar formed as an annular extension of that flange, overlying the membrane, engages a thermoplastic ring with freedom of radial expansion of the latter, the ring being cemented or otherwise secured to an overlying resonator with a convoluted shell.

Abstract: A pneumatic sound generator, such as an automobile horn, comprises a genely cup-shaped housing spanned by a membrane that rests against a central tubular boss forming a seat for the mouthpiece of a cornet through which air admitted into the housing via a lateral inlet escapes as the oscillating membrane is lifted off the boss. The cornet abuts an inner annular shoulder of the boss, together with a tubular insert which is either thermoplastic, received between the metallic cornet and housing, or metallic, seated within the mouthpiece of the thermoplastic cornet. In either case, the thermoplastic part--which preferably has a polygonal or corrugated inner cross-section--is tightly squeezed between two metallic members forcing an annular bead thereof into a surrounding groove of the inner periphery of the boss to form therewith an airtight seal.

Abstract: An insulated wire subjected to mechanical vibrations, such as a supply lead or an electromagnetic coil of an automobile horn or other sound generator, is partly received in a groove of a conductive connector plate overlain by a conductive or nonconductive retaining plate. The groove has a width and a depth substantially corresponding to the diameter of the insulated wire but is constricted near its bottom, over part of its length, by one or two inwardly projecting ledges with sharp edges cutting into the insulation and contacting the bare wire which deforms into the narrowed groove portion, the cross-sectional area of the groove in its constricted part being substantially equal to that of the insulated wire.

Abstract: A vehicular warning device comprises a sound generator of electromagnetic electropneumatic type with two components, one of them including a diaphragm, that are relatively axially movable in a generally cylindrical housing supporting both components. The peripheral housing wall has a corrugated zone forming at least one annular bulge which can be compressed between a pair of clamping jaws during tests following assembly. Such compression, with permanent deformation of the housing wall, reduces the axial height of the housing so as to narrow the air gap between a membrane-supported electromagnetic armature and a confronting core member or to intensify the pressure exerted by the diaphragm upon an entrance end of an air channel normally blocked by that membrane.