Abstract: A hinged body assembly for a motor vehicle, in which a backing-frame carrying a cover panel is fixed by bolts to a frame provided with bosses. The bosses, constructed of an easily trimmed and drilled material, allow optimum adjustment of the backing-frame with its fitted cover panel, relative to already assembled vehicle parts before the backing-frame/cover panel subassembly is finally mounted to the frame.

Abstract: A flow regulating valve incorporating a core of ferromagnetic material, a spring which repositions the core, an electromagnet which in turn comprises at least one coil wound onto a magnetic yoke, in which the yoke has an internal cavity in which the core is located so that it can move in an axial direction and a hydraulic circuit controlled by a needle obstructor integrally mounted on the core, is described.

Abstract: A convertible automobile in which the body is provided with a housing having a cover element and located to the rear of a pair of seats in proximity to the rear axle, and with a roof panel connecting the windscreen to the rear window; the roof panel, the windscreen, the rear window and the body define the automobile passenger compartment; the roof panel and the rear window are two rigid elements which are separated from each other and are mobile between a position in which they define the passenger compartment roof and a position in which the passenger compartment is uncovered. The roof panel and rear window remain connected to the body of the automobile during each stage of the uncovering of the automobile and of their positioning in the housing.

Abstract: The vehicle is provided with a system able to simultaneously control all the mobile closure elements (windows installed in the doors, and possible sunroof). The system is conveniently activated by a switch element installed in the vehicle passenger compartment, and/or by the centralized vehicle door locking device. The system can simultaneously close all windows and a sunroof by the actuation of a switch while the ignition switch Is is turned on. The system can simultaneously close all windows and a sunroof, and additionally lock all the doors, by the continuous actuation of a different switch (either K1 or K2) for more than two seconds if the ignition switch is not turned on.

Abstract: An engine equipped with driving belts is provided with an automatically regulated belt-stretching device, arranged in the vicinity of one belt, mounted on a support fixed to the engine. The device includes a pin extending from the support and defining a longitudinal axis, the pin being provided with a pair of shoulders at a distance from one another, between which two bushings are inserted. The bushings are adaped to define, together with the pin, a pair of housings. Springs capable of displacing the bushings relative to the shoulders and to the longitudinal axis of the pin are housed in the respective housings. A bearing which rotates in contact with one belt is provided on the outer surface of each bushing.

Abstract: The device measures the number of revolutions completed by the shaft of a permanent magnet electric motor in a period of time during which it is set in motion by the effect of its connection to a respective electrical supply source, essentially by means of calculation of the integral of the counter-electromotive force which the motor develops in the aforementioned period of time.

Abstract: An alarm device is described which can be installed in vehicles equipped with a catalytic exhaust muffler, to protect the same from overheating due to an excess of unburnt substances in the exhaust gases; the device consists of a second catalytic converter arranged upstream from the exhaust muffler along the exhaust pipe, and provided on the inside with a temperature sensor; when the temperature of the second converter exceeds a predetermined threshold, this is signalled by the sensor, possibly to an engine control system.

Abstract: A double caliper braking system of differential action, operated by a pressure circuit with two parallel branches connected to the calipers. One of the brake calipers is of smaller dimensions than the other. One of the two branches is provided with a pressure regulator device to cause only one of the two calipers present in the system to act up to a certain threshold value.

Abstract: A system for controlling the speed of a vehicle featuring a throttle valve controlling a feed device on the vehicle and counteracted by an elastic return spring. The system consists of an electromechanical actuator designed to generate a torque as a function of its supply voltage; and an electronic control unit connected to a speed sensor and designed to vary the supply voltage to the actuator. The actuator operates an arm connected mechanically to the throttle valve via drive elements, and is designed to generate on the throttle valve a predetermined torque capable of counteracting that generated by the elastic return spring subsequent to rotation of the throttle valve via operation of the accelerator pedal on the vehicle.

Abstract: An interconnected control arm suspension for a front wheel of a vehicle includes a hub-holder linked by way of respective fastening brackets and respective ball-joints of its own to a first and a second control arm. The first and second control arms are, in turn, cross-hinged, in accordance with a double transverse triangle configuration, to a supporting structure of the vehicle. There is a bracket hinge-linked to the lower control arm that is articulated to the upper control arm by means of a link rod. This bracket supports a body of a shock absorber having a through rod and a spring tight-mounted between a first cap borne by a first end of the rod and a second cap borne by the shock absorber body; a second end of the rod, coming out of the shock absorber body on the side opposite the first end, is hinge-linked to the supporting structure.

Abstract: A device for adjusting the position of a gear-shift lever in a vehicle in which a lever operating flexible cables for gear selection and engagement is disposed on a plate which is mobile by pivoting and is provided with a slot member engaged with a pin provided with a locking lever. The position assumed by the plate and consequently the position assumed by the gear-shift lever are determined by sliding the slot member engaged with the pin. As an alternative to the slot member with the pin and locking lever a motor-reduction gear unit can be used to impose movement on the plate via a strut.

Abstract: A variable-speed drive is activated by an actuator controlled by an electronic control system on the basis of engine and vehicle operating parameters. The control system according to the present invention is characterized by the fact that it comprises an actuating member located and operated manually on the gear lever; a detector for detecting the position of the actuating member and generating electric signals proportional to the same; and at least an electric circuit for generating electric signals for controlling and setting the actuator to predetermined positions corresponding to velocity ratios of the variable-speed drive proportional to the aforementioned electric control signals.

Abstract: A frame supports several fixed and moveable and closing panels and a floor pan defining the bottom of the interior of a vehicle. The floor pan is provided with attachment devices for fixing the floor pan to the lower surface of the frame. Several mechanical parts and assemblies can be secured to the floor pan to form a single unit prior to the floor pan being installed on the frame.

Abstract: A method for preventing the driving wheels of a motor vehicle with a mechanical gearbox from slipping consists of detecting the rate of rotation of the vehicle's engine, the speed of the vehicle, the angular velocities of the driving wheels and the gear ratio engaged, and obtaining corresponding signals indicative of the parameters detected. By means of these signals, the rate of rotation of the driving wheels is controlled and reduced automatically to below the slippage threshold by the adjustment of the engagement of the friction clutch, the adjustment of the rate revolution of the engine and the application of a suitable braking torque to one or both of the driving wheels. The control procedure depends on the speed of the vehicle and may also take account of its sideways acceleration.

Abstract: A disengageable four-wheel-drive transmission system for motor vehicles with transverse gearbox includes a gradually-engageable hydraulic clutch controlled automatically by an electronic control unit in dependence on operating parameters including the torque transmitted by the engine of the vehicle at the time in question. The electronic control unit is arranged to cause the clutch to be engaged gradually from a disengaged condition in which the drive is transmitted from the gearbox only to the front differential or the rear differential of the transmission system.

Abstract: The lock is formed from a fork which engages a striker pin and is itself engaged at one end by a catch; its main characteristic is that between the fork and catch there is interposed a rotatable insert which pivots at one end against the catch and is arranged to cooperate at its other end with the hook-shaped end of the fork, the insert being dragged rigidly with the catch by a spring connected to the insert eccentric to the position in which this latter pivots against the catch.

Abstract: A vehicle door of the type comprising a window opening defined by a frame having a pair of posts and a cross-member, and a window glass for closing the window opening selectively movable between the window opening and an underlying accessory opening provided within the door; the frame presents an outer front surface provided with a channel-shaped cavity, and the window glass is mounted slidably in a perimeter strip rigid with a supporting element the shape of which mates with that of the channel-shaped cavity of the frame; the glass, the strip and the supporting element constituting a preassembled self-supporting unit which is fastened to the window frame by snap-hooking means housed within the channel-shaped cavity.

Abstract: The backrest is composed of a rear layer of high rigidity and a softer front layer, the latter having transverse recesses or cavities in its face which is in contact with the rear layer. The backrest is suitable for front and rear seats.

Abstract: A McPherson-type suspension unit for motor vehicles, in which the rod is connected to the motor-vehicle body by means of a resilient connection formed so that the plane in which the rod bears against the body is displaced below the free end of the rod. The connection includes an annular block of elastomeric material whose internal surface is joined to an inverted cup-shaped member fixed to the free end of the rod and whose external surface is joined to a hollow body which surrounds the cup-shaped member and the upper end of which carries a member for fixing the connection to the body at a level substantially corresponding to that of the free end of the rod.

Abstract: A servo-assisted device for operating a parking brake of a moto vehicle is described, consisting of a control lever for a brake cable or rod, mounted rotatably on a pivot, a ratchet mechanism adapted to permit rotation of the lever in a predetermined direction and a push button for disengaging the ratchet mechanism; the principal characteristic of the invention consists in the fact that the brake cable or rod is connected to the control lever through an actuator pivoted beneath the control lever and to a movable element of which the said brake cable is fixed.