Abstract: A supply system for supercharged diesel engines which has the purpose of obtaining high power for short periods of time without making it necessary to introduce changes to the engine, but simply by adding to a normal supercharging circuit a predetermined threshold on the fuel delivery regulator, a control operated by an electrically operated valve and controlled by the accelerator.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for cleaning horizontal surfaces, such as the grated flooring of paint workshops, by hydrodynamic action. The apparatus includes a carriage which can be moved back and forth over the surface to be cleaned, and a winding drum which is carried by the carriage and is arranged to pay out and wind in a high-pressure water supply hose as the carriage moves back and forth. The hose feeds water under pressure to nozzles carried at the ends of rotary arms mounted at the front and to both sides of the carriage. Water under pressure is also supplied to nozzles provided on two transverse arms of the carriage. These latter arms are angularly orientable about their longitudinal axes.

Abstract: The valve of the invention is provided with a movable slide valve operable to open a first flow passage between a supply duct, which connects a source of fluid under pressure with the valve, and a utilization duct, which connects the valve itself with the utilizer, and a second flow passage between this utilization duct and a discharge duct; the slide valve is in equilibrium between a resilient force generated by a spring which acts on it and the force, in the opposite direction, generated by the fluid pressure which is supplied to a control chamber and the discharge flow cross section of which is controlled by a valve member operated by an electromagnet.

Abstract: A modular power plant comprises an internal combustion engine coupled to an electrical machine. The electrical machine may be used to start the engine and to generate electrical energy. The power plant is provided with an electronic control and protection system comprising an electronic processing and control unit arranged to operate in a first mode when the power plant is used alone, and in a second mode when the power plant is used together in a coordinated manner in an installation comprising a further n power plants. In this second mode of operation the processing and control unit may act as a master unit for controlling and coordinating the operation of the processing and control units of the other n power plants in a predetermined manner, or as a slave unit controlled by another control and processing unit of one of the other n power plants. Means are provided for assigning the roll of master unit to one of the control and processing units of the n+1 power plants.

Abstract: A tappet for use in internal combustion engines having variable-profile camshafts comprises an oscillating sliding block with a flat surface for contact with a cam, a bearing saddle for the block having anti-rotation guides, and a cup with shoulders for retaining the bearing saddle.

Abstract: An overhead conveyor installation for motor-vehicle bodies is provided which is particularly suited for use in electrophoresic paint lines. The installation includes a loading station whereat body carriers conveyed by conveyors of the installation are loaded up with respective vehicle bodies supplied to the loading station by robot trucks. Each body carrier comprises front and rear dependent arms arranged to be introduced through the wind-shield and rear window openings of a vehicle body and engaged with internal apertures preformed in the body. Each body carrier also comprises an electrical contact member enabling connection of a body loaded onto the carrier to a voltage source, and a locking arrangement for locking the arms and contact member in their positions of engagement with a motor-vehicle body.

Abstract: A reciprocating engine, in particular for motor vehicles, incorporating a drive shaft, at least one pair of opposed pistons rigidly connected together by a rod, and a swash plate mechanism incorporating a pair of rotating swash plates coupled for rotation with the drive shaft and defining an annular cavity in which at least one oscillating plate is rotatably housed. Coupling means pivotally connect each oscillating plate with at least one respective rod connecting a pair of pistons, and a hydrodynamic thrust bearing is interposed between each of the two rotating plates and the facing surface of the oscillating plate.

Abstract: A device for stopping and holding a sliding door on a vehicle in the open position includes a sheet metal support fixed to the door, a V-shaped lever pivoted on the support and a guide rail having a spaced apart triangular projection and end stop for cooperation with a pivoted lever. The distance between the triangular projection and the end stop is such that in the last portion of the opening strip of the door one of the slopes of the projection causes the lever to rotate against the action of a spring and that in the open position of the door the free end of an arm of the lever will abut against the end stop and the roller carried by the other end of the lever will abut against a side of the triangular projection which is inclined toward the end stop.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises a distributor device having two inlets connectible to two sources for supplying the gases to be mixed and a plurality of outlets each of which is connected to a first end of a respective capillary tube. The distributor device is arranged to connect each capillary tube to one or other of the two supply sources so that mixtures of the two gases are formed in a mixing chamber into which the other ends of the capillary tubes open, the mixtures containing the two gases in proportions which differ according to a number of capillary tubes traversed by each gas. The apparatus includes control means for causing the sequential formation of mixtures containing different proportions of the two gases and the supply of these mixtures to an outlet from the apparatus.

Abstract: In generator apparatus for the combined production of electrical energy and heat, of the type comprising a support casing housing an internal combustion engine with an air filter the inlet of which communicates with an aperture in a side wall of the casing, an electrical machine coupled to the engine, and electronic circuits for controlling the operation of the engine and the electrical machine, a covering and protecting element is fixable sealingly and removably to the outer surface of the side wall of the casing to define a region between the element and the wall. The electronic circuits are supported by at least one plate fixed to the outer surface of the side wall in the region between the wall and the covering and protecting element, and the element has at least one aperture through which this region communicates with the exterior. In operation of the apparatus, the electronic circuits are ventilated by air which is drawn in by the engine and flows into the region through said at least one aperture.

Abstract: The apparatus is enclosed in thermally and acoustically insulating panels supported by a framework. Each panel has a peripheral gasket which seals against adjacent surfaces of the framework to provide improved thermal and acoustic insulation.

Abstract: A process for fixing the roof to a bearing structure of the body of a vehicle, in which the roof is mounted in contact with a bead of an adhesive substance applied onto an inner rim of the bearing structure, and an outer rim of the roof is fixed by welding to an outer rim of the bearing structure, the body thus obtained being subsequently baked at a predetermined temperature for a period of time sufficient to polymerize and harden the said adhesive substance.

Abstract: A modular strip fuse carrier assembly for motor vehicles comprises one or more identical component blocks which have respective attachment means on their opposite faces so that they can be engaged with each other or with support members fixable to the vehicle bodywork. The engagement between the blocks or between the blocks and the support members is maintained by respective resiliently interengageable locking means. The support members may comprise two brackets or a connector of a remote control switch carrier.

Abstract: In a motor vehicle suspension comprising a rigid axle (10) provided with attachment members (12,112,18) for pivotally connecting the axle to the support structure (T) of a motor vehicle and to the reaction rods (20), and with support members (14,22,112,26,108) for the rotary support of a pair of wheels (12) and for the support of resilient elements (16) and shock absorber elements (28) of the suspension, both the attachment members and the support members are fixed to the rigid axle solely by mechanical connection means such as screws, bolts, and the like.

Abstract: The inner ring of a rolling bearing is mounted on one end of a rotary shaft where the shaft is of reduced diameter. The inner ring of the bearing bears on the larger diameter part of the shaft but projects beyond this part to define an annular space with the reduced diameter part of the shaft. A circular-sectioned ring of elastomeric material is located in this annular space. This ring is pressed into the annular space by a washer of smaller diameter than the internal diameter of the bearing, which is mounted on the end of the shaft and is locked against the ring by screw means engaging the end of the shaft.

Abstract: A Roots-type rotary volumetric compressor with two double-lobed rotors in which, for each of the four quadrants defined by the major and minor axes of the rotor, each rotor has a particular profile constituted by seven arcs of circles which extend from the point of intersection with the minor axis to the point of intersection with the major axis. The coordinates of the respective centers of curvature (C.sub.1 to C.sub.7) of the arcs in a frame of reference having its origin at the center of the rotor and its axes of the asbcissae (X) and ordinates (Y) coincident with the minor and major axes of the rotor, and the values of the respective radii of curvature (R.sub.1 to R.sub.7), are given. The arcs have respective angular extents (A.sub.1 to A.sub.7) of substantially 12.degree., 40.degree., 1.degree., 29.degree., 88.degree., 13.degree. and 6.degree..

Abstract: A fuel tank for motor vehicles, provided internally with a fuel feed pipe for connection to a fuel supply system of a motor vehicle engine, includes an inner wall extending between the lower wall and the upper wall of the tank, and surrounding the fuel feed pipe to define a chamber having a smaller capacity than the capacity of the tank and containing the fuel feed pipe. This chamber communicates with the remaining part of the tank through apertures in the inner wall. The tank is constituted by lower and upper plastics half shells which are welded together and have opposing main walls which define the lower wall and the upper wall of the tank respectively. The lower and upper half shells are provided with ribs which project into the tank, the ribs projecting from the opposing main walls being in contact with one another so as to define the inner wall.

Abstract: A supporting device for a vertically movable window panel of a motor vehicle comprises a guide element mounted on the motor vehicle structure, a slide member slidably mounted on the guide element and carrying the said window panel, and a pair of support elements for the window panel slidably mounted on the slide member for sliding in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of sliding of the slide member on the said guide element. Each of these support elements is provided with a resiliently deformable lug which can be snap engaged in a corresponding hole in the window panel.

Abstract: A process for inspecting and checking the internal surface of a hollow cylindrical workpiece which has undergone mechanical working, particularly finishing by grinding or the like following which the internal surface has two sets of intersecting, helical score lines, consists in the examination of the diffraction pattern generated by laser radiation incident normally on the internal surface of the workpiece, so as to obtain a series of indications related to the characteristics of the two sets of intersecting helical score lines. The device for carrying out the process includes, as well as means for detecting the said diffraction pattern, means for providing an indication of the degree of roughness of and the presence of possible surface defects on the internal surface of the workpiece.

Abstract: The invention relates to an injector for diesel engines with precombustion chambers, particularly of the low turbulence type, including an atomizer nozzle in which a needle slides to act as a shutter member for controlling the fuel flow towards an outlet hole in dependence upon the rate of flow of the fuel fed to the atomizer nozzle, and has a terminal portion which includes a cylindrical part, a tapering frusto-conical part and a shaped end part. In order to prevent the formation of carbonaceous deposits on the terminal portion of the needle, the latter has at least one flat face lying in a plane tangential to the periphery of the smaller end of the frusto-conical part.