Abstract: The control method comprises the stages of: generating a reference torque signal, the instantaneous value of which indicates the desired value of the torque transmitted through the clutch; generating a reaction signal correlated to the position of an actuating member of the clutch, the position of the actuating member being comprised between a first end-of-travel position in which the clutch is completely open and a second end-of-travel position in which the clutch is completely closed; generating an estimated torque signal, the instantaneous value of which indicates the estimated value of the torque transmitted through the clutch, on the basis of the reaction signal and a transmissibility function of the clutch; and generating a control signal for adjusting the position of the clutch as a function of the reference torque signal and the estimated torque signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electromagnetically controlled drive device, in particular a ratio meter, the device being of the type comprising: a set of control coils (10, 20); a frame (50) which carries the set of coils (10, 20); equipment including a magnet suitable for being pivoted by the set of control coils (10, 20); and magnetic shielding (100) surrounding the set of coils (10, 20) and the support frame, at least in part, the device being characterized by the fact that the shielding (100) comprises an annular skirt (110) that is not a circular cylinder.

Abstract: A unit for supplying fuel to an endothermal engine, the unit comprising a manifold to which injectors are connected in order to supply fuel to the engine, a high pressure pumping device which has its output connected to the manifold and its intake connected to an extraction pump adapted to transfer fuel from the storage tank to this device and a pressure regulator adapted to regulate the pressure of the fuel supplied to the pumping device by supplying surplus fuel along a bleed duct communicating with the tank, the pumping device having at least one piston moving axially within a respective cylinder in order to define a variable volume pumping chamber.

Abstract: A starting device for an internal combustion engine is described comprising a rotating electric machine the rotor of which is axially translatable with respect to the stator between a rest position and a working position. The rotor is fixed to a transmission shaft bearing a pinion capable of engaging with a corresponding toothed ring of the internal combustion engine when the rotor is in the working position. The starting device is further provided with a controlled-conduction semiconductor device disposed in series with the windings of the stator and the rotor, and an electronic control circuit for the semiconductor device for controlling the intensity of the current supplied to the electric machine.

Abstract: A manifold with air ducts that each include a downstream tube and two upstream tubes of which one is short and the other long, and a pivotable member with an acoustic through-bore between the upstream tubes and the downstream tube. When the member is in one of its end positions, one of the upstream tubes communicates with the downstream tube while the other upstream tube is sealed, and when it is in the other end position, the other upstream tube communicates with the downstream tube while the first upstream tube is sealed. The member is retractable and mounted in a housing and has two contactless-sliding side surfaces extending perpendicularly to the pivot axis of the member and frictionally engaging a respective one of the two side surfaces of the housing as the member is pivoted, whereby a laminar effect is generated which ensures good lateral sealing between the member and the housing. The manifold may be used in internal combustion injection engines, particularly for motor vehicles.

Abstract: Machine for removing salt cores from pressure die-cast or injection molded articles, having a washing tunnel, inside which there are a plurality of washing stations, and a conveyor designed to advance the articles one after the other through each washing station where a plurality of nozzles, pointing in a plurality of directions, project jets of a saline solution which is saturated or supersaturated with the same salt as that used to make the cores, on to the articles; the machine also having a tank, positioned underneath the conveyor, to recover the supersaturated saline solution containing, in suspension, the salt from which the abovementioned cores are made, a pump for conveying the saline solution contained in the tank to the nozzles and, lastly, a filtering device for recovering the excess salt in suspension in the tank.

Abstract: A throttle valve body (1) including a flap (6) of which the side pivoting down or up on opening has a shoulder (17) on the flap surface facing upwards or downwards, respectively, defining a gradually widening cross-sectional area with the cylindrical (7) or frusto-conical (9) wall opposite the intake channel (3) through the housing (2). The side of the flap (6) which rotates up or down, respectively, on opening consists of a flat half disk of which the edge is , at first, opposite a tapered surface portion (14) with a complex shape to define a gradually widening cross-sectional area downstream from an inlet convergent (15,12) and upstream from an outlet divergent, respectively.

Abstract: A voltage-regulator circuit with a low voltage drop uses a DMOS power transistor driven by a charge pump. The control circuit includes two feedback loops: a first feedback loop having a high gain and accuracy but low response speed, and a second feedback loop having a wide passband and fast response speed, but low gain.

Abstract: A device with a body and a passage therethrough containing a pivotable throttling member and a shaft rotatably mounted in the body and axially retained therein by a fork with a rounded central portion. The fork includes at least one tooth which engages at least one recess such as a groove in an end portion of the shaft. The end portion being housed in a chamber of the body that is sealed by a cover positioning the fork in the chamber in such a way that it engages the groove. The device is particularly suitable in butterfly valves and flow control components for controlling the flow of supply air in an internal combustion engine or that of recirculated exhaust gases.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a semi-automatic gearbox system, characterized by the fact that it includes control means suitable for controlling an automatic or semi-automatic operating mode for changing gear ratios in the gearbox. When actuated by the driver, the gear lever transmits the driver's request to the computer, via the sensors. After analyzing the legitimacy of the driver's request, the module proceeds to change the gear as requested. The module controls the electrically driven valves for controlling the clutch, and gear selection and engagement, and establishes dialog with the engine control computer for appropriately managing the engine torque and the engine speed during the gear change. The commands are confirmed by the position sensors on the actuators, and by the sensors for sensing the engine speed, and the inlet speed and the outlet speed of the gearbox. The absolute gear ratio engaged in the gearbox is displayed on the display.

Abstract: Control device in which a linear oxygen sensor arranged on a gas exhaust pipe of an internal-combustion engine upstream of a catalytic converter generates a signal supplied to a conversion circuit generating at its output a measured parameter representing the air/fuel ratio of the mixture supplied to the engine. The measured parameter is compared with a target parameter so as to calculate an error parameter which is used, according to an operating method, to generate, where necessary, a bistable dummy signal variable between a positive saturation value and a negative saturation value so as to model the output of an oxygen sensor of the ON/OFF type. The dummy signal is also processed so as to calculate a correction parameter designed to be used for correction of a theoretical value of a calculated quantity of fuel, obtaining a corrected quantity of fuel for an injection system of the engine.

Abstract: A semi-automatic gearbox system senses when vehicle wheels are gripping poorly and responds by minimizing variations in engine torque transmitted to the wheels by different parameterization for relationships governing reducing the engine torque as requested of an engine control computer prior to gear changes; declutching prior to gear changes; clutching after gear changes; reestablishing the engine torque as requested to the computer after gear changes; and clutching while the vehicle is starting.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a semi-automatic gearbox system, characterized by the fact that it includes means suitable for causing first gear to be engaged automatically when the system detects that the vehicle has stopped, with the engine running, and with a gear ratio other than neutral or than reverse.

Abstract: Throttle body in which on the internal wall of the feed pipe there is provided at least one channel the base of which defines together with external edge of the butterfly valve at least one limp-home flow and in which on the internal wall of the feed pipe there is provided a curvilinear section, adjacent to the channel, the base of which defines together with the external edge of the butterfly valve at least one idling flow.

Abstract: A control device for a gearbox of a vehicle is provided with fixed support. A control element carried by the fixed support is able to move along a first axis to carry out a gear rank selection operation and also able to rotate about the first axis to carry out a gear engagement/disengagement operation. An actuator having an output element movable along a second axis is orthogonal to the first axis and cooperating with the control element to rotate it about the first axis. An engagement element carried in an integral manner by the control element is also provided. A cam which can be activated selectively and is suitable for cooperating in a sliding manner with the engagement element to displace the control element axially by a predetermined quantity during the rotation of the control element about the first axis is included. Selective activation of the cam during the gear selection operation is possible.

Abstract: Method for identifying cylinder phase in an engine with an ignition and/or injection system wherein each cylinder is individually controlled, and with a sensor cooperating with a rotary target having an indexing element indicating a reference cylinder upper dead center position. The method including the steps of generating, on the reference cylinder, a disturbance other than the interruption of the injection, the disturbance of a type capable of causing a change in the engine torque, detecting the engine torque change by a change in a signal representative of the gas torque, caused by the generation of the disturbance, establishing a relationship between the time of generation and the detection of its result on the engine torque so as to derive the reference cylinder phase at the time of generation of the disturbance, and thereafter the phase of the other cylinders. The method of the present invention being particularly useful for four stroke engines with sequential ignition and/or injection.

Abstract: between two half-shells (2, 3) molded and fixed to each other in order to form an envelope (1), there are mounted air tubes (12a) with a ringed external face (14) and a smooth interbl face (13) which are fixed by means of end sleeves (17a, 18a) to the envelope (1). The outlet sleeve (18a) is held within a half-shell (3) by means of a fixing clamp (6) to the cylinder-head of the engine by being sealingly connected to an opening (7) of the nozzle comprised of a cradle (29a) integrally cast cover (31a) fixed to the cradle in prder to hold a seal (28) to the extremity of the outlet sleeve (18a), the seal being compressed between the sleeve (18a) and the nozzle (29a, 31a). Application particularly to intake manifolds of internal combustion engines, preferably with controlled ignition.

Abstract: The method of diagnosis determines the state of deterioration of an exhaust gas stoichiometric composition sensor placed downstream of a catalytic converter. The catalytic converter is mounted on an exhaust manifold of an internal combustion engine supplied with an air/fuel mixture, while the sensor generates an output signal correlated with the stoichiometric composition of the mixture. The method comprises the phases of registering a temperature signal correlated with the temperature of the engine; determining the operating range of the engine; determining the stoichiometric composition of the air/fuel mixture; and effecting a hot diagnosis should the temperature signal be greater than a preset reference value, the engine be in the idle operating range and the sensor register a weak stoichiometric composition of the mixture. The hot diagnosis comprises the phases of generating control signals for the engine and of gauging the output signal from the sensor.

Abstract: The electronic interface circuit can perform ratiometric processing and driving of a signal generated by a fuel-level detector of a vehicle. The circuit uses a current mirror configured so as to send one half of the output current to the input resistance and one half of the output current to earth. The current mirror is controlled by a voltage taken from the input resistance and by a voltage taken from a resistive divider, the latter voltage having been filtered by a low-pass filter, so as to achieve ratiometric processing of the input signal.

Abstract: A circuit for controlling the reserve lamp of a vehicle's fuel level indicator instrument. The circuit uses a switch controlled by an extremely asymmetric clock signal periodically to switch, for a very short time, the signal provided by the level sensor coupled to a comparator operable to compare this signal with a threshold value for the purpose of determining the state of the reserve lamp.