Abstract: Control device for a transmission unit comprising a clutch and a gear shift which are coupled respectively to a first and a second actuator unit in order to operate the actuation of the clutch and the selection and engagement/disengagement of the gears. The device comprises a transmission control circuit in which a main microprocessor formulates control signals for the first and second actuator unit and an auxiliary microprocessor determines a state of malfunctioning of the main microprocessor in order to transfer the control of the transmission unit to the auxiliary microprocessor in the event of a fault.

Abstract: The movable reflector of the headlight of a motor vehicle can be orientated by means of an orientation adjustment device located inside the body of the headlight. The orientation of the reflected light beam is controlled with the help of an adjustable graduated scale which is connected to the reflector and which can move with respect to a stationary indicator fixed to the headlight, so as to indicate the changes in orientation of the reflector. The graduated scale is set to zero by means of a manual adjustment carried out by specialized personnel using a special tool, once the reflector has been correctly orientated by means of the adjustment device. The stationary indicator and the graduated scale are located so that they are clearly visible inside the headlight, beneath the transparent cover of a porthole which can be opened in order to set the scale to zero.

Abstract: Between the two half-molds (2, 3) fixed against each other in order to form an envelope (1), one-piece blow-molded air tubes (12a, 12b) are mounted; the outlet (14a, 14b) of the tubes is held in a half-mold (3) by means of a fixing clamp (6) to the cylinder-head of the engine while being sealingly connected to an opening (7) of the clamp (6) for supplying one cylinder by means of a tubular nozzle formed of a cradle (20a, 20b) molded with the clamp (6) and the half-mold (3), and a staple (22a, 22b) fixed to the cradle to hold a ring (17) on the outlet of the tube while compressing a seal (18) between the tubes (12a, 12b) and the nozzle. Application particularly to intake manifolds of engines with multipoint injection and controlled ignition.

Abstract: A circuit for diagnosing the state of a load connected to a driver includes a DMOS transistor interposed between a terminal of the load and voltage comparator circuits. The DMOS transistor limits the maximum voltage input to the comparators to thereby reduce the circuit area occupied by the comparators and consequently to reduce the cost of the diagnosis circuit.

Abstract: A structure for supporting an electric fan and fixing it to the radiator of a vehicle having climate control, comprising a unitary injection-moulded plastics material body including a rectangular frame, a plurality of arms for fixing the structure to the body of a vehicle, a housing for receiving a rotatable cooling fan and a mount for the electric motor for driving the fan. The structure also includes a support surface and a seat for supporting and fixing a dehydration filter forming part of the climate control system of the vehicle.

Abstract: Starter device comprising an electric starter motor and a main switch of the normally open type connected between a supply input of the electric motor and a battery. The device comprises a main switch activation circuit comprising a first and a second switches arranged in series with each other and connected between the battery and a main switch activation device. The first switch is in the form of a manually operated switch operated by an ignition key and the second switch, of the normally open type, is closed by a power enable signal output by an electronic control circuit designed to inhibit the production of the enable signal when the voltage of the battery falls below a threshold value. An electrical connection device extends between the supply input of the main switch and a control input of the second switch in order to provide a supply voltage to the control input and keep the second switch closed independently of the production of the enable signal.

Abstract: The detection device engages with a selector rod able to move in axial translation and in angular rotation to select the row of the gear and engage/disengage the gear in a vehicle gearbox. The detection device comprises a rotary sensor provided with an activating member and able to output a signal correlated with the angular position of the activating member, and a motion conversion device interposed between the activating member and the selector rod and able to convert the movements of both translation and rotation of the selector rod into a rotation of the activating member. The motion conversion device comprises a supporting part fixed on the selector rod and having a cam defining a striker surface extending along a portion of a helix, and a follower fixed on the activating member and having a contact portion able to slide along the aforesaid striker surface.

Abstract: The fuel and comburent feed assembly of a combustion engine comprises a container having an internal chamber and housing an intake manifold of the engine, a filtration element of the comburent, a multiplicity of injection devices of the fuel to the intake pipes of the engine, a throttled body arranged at the inlet of the manifold to regulate the inflow of the comburent inside the manifold itself, sensors for measuring quantities essential to the operation of the engine, and an electronic unit for controlling the injection devices according to the data recorded by sensors.

Abstract: A flip-flop circuit able to commute in correspondence with any logic transition of the input signal using a flip-flop and a logic gate of the EXNOR type receiving at its input a signal and the inverted output of the flip-flop. To the output of the EXNOR gate is connected a set-reset flip-flop which allows a reset to be effected after each commutation of the circuit in order to prepare it for the next transition.

Abstract: A fluid-controlled actuator assembly for a gearbox of a vehicle. The actuator is provided with a four-position mobile element, with a first and a second chamber separated in a sealed manner from the mobile element, and with auxiliary positioning elements suitable for determining a stop position of the mobile element. Also included are first and second solenoid valves suitable for supplying pressurized fluid respectively to the first and to the second chamber and for discharging it from them, such that when the fluid is supplied into both the chambers, the mobile element is maintained by the auxiliary positioning elements in the stop position. When the fluid is supplied into one of the chambers and is discharged from the other, the mobile element adopts one of two lateral positions with respect to the stop position.

Abstract: A double half-wave rectifier circuit with earth shift using an input differential amplifier and two current mirrors in cascode configuration in such a way that the input current is transferred to the output via one or the other of the current mirrors depending on whether the input signal voltage is greater than or less than an input reference voltage and therefore the current is positive or negative.

Abstract: The method enables a fan rotor to be balanced by the addition of material in at least one selected position on the fan rotor. It is characterized in that the material is added by the application of one or more metal staples.

Abstract: An injector control circuit for a motor vehicle electronic injection system utilizing current recirculation to control an injector actuation winding provided with a circuit configuration containing a constant current generator operable to eliminate the problems of instability and sensitivity to supply line interruptions to which prior art control circuits are subject.

Abstract: Engine-control device, in which an internal combustion engine coupled to a transmission group is controlled by a central electronic unit which receives at an input a plurality of information parameters measured in the engine and calculates control signals for operating groups of the engine itself. The device comprises an external processing unit communicating with a control circuit of the transmission group and with the central control unit. The processing unit is capable of being activated by commands originating from the control circuit to modify the control signals, regulating alternately the torque generated by the engine and the speed of rotation of the engine itself.

Abstract: In the reflector according to the invention based on unsaturated polyester resins the surface of the unworked piece has an average surface peak-to-valley height of less than 0.5 .mu.m. It is produced by injection molding of a molding compound based on unsaturated polyester resins and subsequent application of a metal coating on that surface of the unworked piece which is to be reflecting wherein the polyester molding compound is free of fibers and styrene.

Abstract: A non-return fuel supply system for an internal combustion engine operating with at least one cylinder and comprising: at least one intake manifold connected to the cylinder, at least one injector for injecting fuel into the intake manifold, a fuel tank, a pump substantially positioned in the tank in order to deliver fuel to the injector, and a control station comprising a first calculating unit adapted, for each injector, to calculate the value of the average pressure difference between the ends of the injector during each injection phase, and a second calculating unit connected to the first calculating unit and adapted, for each injector, to calculate the average value of the flow rate of the injector during each injection phase on the basis of the value of the average pressure difference between the ends of the injector during the injection phase.

Abstract: A condenser for air-conditioning systems for vehicles comprises at least one row of tubes fixed to a pack of substantially flat fins by the mechanical expansion of the tubes after they have been inserted in aligned holes in the fins. At least a substantial number of the fins have side portions which are thicker than the remaining portions of the fins.

Abstract: The efficiency of a catalyser is evaluated starting from output signals of two lambda probes disposed upstream and downstream respectively of the catalyser. In particular, a signal obtained by calculating the difference between the time averages obtained by integration and subsequent division for the duration of an integration window of output signals of these probes is used as the signal indicative of efficiency.

Abstract: A motor vehicle headlamp has a dished housing (10) in which a light source is located and which is closed at its front by a light transmitting cover. A ventilation passage (16, 26, 30) provides communication between the interior and exterior of the housing. The ventilation passage is defined by a tubular portion (12) extending from the housing (10) and by a cap (20) mounted on the tubular portion (12) so that an end wall (28) of the cap (20) is spaced outwardly from a housing-remote end of the tubular portion (12). The tubular portion (12) has a continuous side wall. The end wall (28) is joined to mutually spaced lateral walls (24) of the cap (20) whereby there is defined a downwardly opening slot (26) forming part of the ventilation passage (16, 26, 30). The end wall (28) of the cap (20) projects downwardly beyond lower edges of the lateral walls (24) of the cap (20).

Abstract: Electronic system for calculating injection time in which an electronic unit with microprocessor receives as input a multiplicity of signals measured in the engine and a signal proportional to the engine load, for example a signal generated by a pressure sensor arranged in the intake manifold of the engine. The electronic unit comprises a circuit for compensating for the delay times due to the response inertia of the engine load sensor, the conditioning (filtering, conversion and processing) of the load signal and physical actuation of the injection. The electronic unit also comprises a circuit for the dynamic compensation of the "film/fluid" effect.