Abstract: Electromagnetic system to control the valves of an engine and having a control unit and for each valve a respective electromagnetic actuator provided with a pair of electromagnets; each electromagnet has a winding which is provided with a power bobbin and an auxiliary measurement bobbin, and a flexible connection cable, which is directly integrated in the respective winding in order to connect the winding itself to the control unit electrically without further interpositions.

Abstract: Method for piloting electromagnetic actuators for the control of the valves of an engine; each electromagnetic actuator is provided with at least one respective electromagnet, which is piloted by a common piloting device by means of the supply of an electric current wave which has two, initial and end control portions in which the intensity of the electric current varies rapidly and an intermediate maintenance portion in which the intensity of the electric current remains substantially constant; the method consists of supplying respective electric current waves cyclically to the electromagnets in order to control the valves according to the drive point, and to vary at a control portion of each wave the value of the intensity of the electric current supplied during the portions of maintenance of the other waves in order to limit the variation of the quantity of electric charge distributed overall by the piloting device.

Abstract: Gear selector device of an automatic transmission in which a first lever which can be operated manually is movable between a rest position and a first operating position to control an down-shift of the gear and a second lever which can be operated manually is movable between a rest position and a first operating position to control an up-shift of the gear engaged. The first and the second lever produce respective second operating positions to control the following operations: the engagement of reverse gear; the selection of an automatic mode of operation of the automatic transmission; and the selection of a ‘sports’-type of mode of operation of the automatic transmission.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine comprising at least one intake valve and/or exhaust valve moving axially between a closed position and a position of maximum opening and means for moving the valves adapted to move, on command, this valve between the closed position and the position of maximum opening, the valve movement means comprising an elastic member adapted to maintain this valve in the closed position, a hydraulic actuator selectively adapted to move this valve from the closed position to the position of maximum opening by countering the action of the elastic member, and a hydraulic circuit adapted to supply pressurized fluid to the hydraulic actuator, the hydraulic circuit comprising a delivery duct connected to the hydraulic actuator and pumping means adapted to supply pressurized fluid into the delivery duct, the pumping means comprising the elastic member and the hydraulic actuator.

Abstract: Method for correction of the spark advance for an internal combustion engine with a continuous phase transformer at the intake and/or exhaust; for each cylinder, the method consists of calculating a theoretical value of the optimum spark advance according to the drive point, calculating a first correction value, which depends on the mass of burnt gas-trapped in the cylinder at the end of the intake phase, calculating a second correction value, which depends on the torque value generated, and calculating the actual value of the spark advance, by adding the two correction values to the theoretical value of the spark advance.

Abstract: Transmission system, in which a single double-effect actuator, used to engage/release the gears, comprises a piston which is mobile with reciprocating motion, and has different areas which face first and second chambers of the actuator. The first and second chambers are supplied respectively, directly by a source of pressurised fluid, and by a valve of the proportional type, which is interposed between the source of pressurised fluid and the actuator.

Abstract: Method for reclosure of the clutch during a change of gear, wherein the clutch is closed in order to adjust the angular speed of the drive shaft to match the angular speed of the primary shaft of the gearbox; the power supply to the engine is stopped, so as not to generate useful torque, the clutch is quickly disposed in a predetermined position, such as to transmit constant torque, which is substantially equal to the drive torque supplied by the engine immediately before the change of gear, and the clutch is kept in the predetermined position, until synchronisation of the drive shaft and the primary shaft takes place.

Abstract: A method of updating the transmissibility function of a clutch during the final stage of a gear change, in which the clutch is closed to cause the angular speed of the drive shaft to equal the angular speed of the primary shaft of the gear change, the engine is set to supply a constant torque, the clutch is disposed in a predetermined position in order to transmit a constant torque greater than the torque supplied by the engine and the actual value of the torque transmitted by the clutch is calculated by subtracting the product of the moment of inertia of the engine and the angular acceleration of the drive shaft from the torque generated by the engine, the actual value of the torque transmitted by the clutch then being used to update the transmissibility function of the clutch.

Abstract: Method for restoration of the drive torque during a change of gear, wherein the clutch is closed in order to adjust the angular speed of the drive shaft to match the angular speed of the primary shaft of the gearbox; when the angular speed of the drive shaft is close to the angular speed of the primary shaft of the gearbox, a reference profile is generated for the angular speed of the drive shaft, and the drive torque generated by the engine is controlled in order to make the angular speed of the drive shaft follow the reference profile, which has a final portion which is substantially tangent to the angular speed of the primary shaft of the gearbox.

Abstract: A control device for controlling a clutch of a vehicle wherein an actuator is connected to and provides for operating the clutch, the work position of which is determined by a position sensor which supplies a measured position signal to a control device receiving an information signal and supplying a control signal for the actuator; the control device has a monitor circuit for determining malfunctioning of the position sensor and supplying a fault signal; and a virtual sensor device for estimating the work position of the clutch to supply the control device, in the presence of the fault signal, with a virtual position signal instead of the measured position signal.

Abstract: Device for controlling a clutch, which is connected to an actuator, which can activate the clutch itself; the control device comprises a position sensor, which can detect the position of the clutch, in order to supply a measuring position signal to a main control device, which receives as input information signals, and generates as output a control signal to control the actuator, a monitoring circuit, which can detect a state of malfunctioning of the position sensor, in order to supply a malfunctioning signal, and an auxiliary control device, which can be activated in the presence of a malfunctioning signal, in order to transfer control of the actuator from the main control device to the auxiliary control device.