Abstract: Resistance welding device of the type comprising two welding electrodes (21, 31) that are displaceable in relation to one another and can clamp between them the sheet metal to be welded. One of said electrodes (31) is connected to driving means formed by a screw-nut mechanism (8, 9) operated by an electric motor (6), said driving means being connected to electronic control means (7) capable of controlling the force with which the electrodes (21, 31) clamp said sheet metal to be welded by controlling the supply current of the electric motor (6). The device of the invention is characterized in that said screw-nut mechanism transmitting the force of the motor (6) to the electrodes (21, 31) is highly efficient and reversible, and in that said electronic means (7) control the clamping force of said electrodes by a closed control loop using the value of the supply current passing through the electric motor (6).

Abstract: Method of measuring the yaw velocity of a vehicle. An estimate of the yaw velocity is made by either a gyrometer or a steering angle sensor. This estimate is selectively readjusted when a fixed obstacle is sensed using periodic updates of the longitudinal speed of the vehicle, the distance from the fixed obstacle and the relative transverse speed of the obstacle.

Abstract: This device applies to all internal combustion heat engines. It includes an electronic unit (10) associated with a ring gear (12) of the inertial flywheel and with sensor (22) with variable reluctance such as those used for electronic ignition engines. Instantaneous period d.sub.i of advancement of teeth (14-16) is produced (26-30-32-34). From signal d.sub.i, period T.sub.4 of the fraction of revolution of the flywheel corresponding to a period of the combustions is calculated (36) and stored (38). A magnitude D'.sub.4, representative of a projection of the alternating component of the angular velocity of the flywheel at the frequency of the combustions is also calculated (40-42). A calculating stage (44) combines (T.sub.4 and D'.sub.4) with constants A and B suited to the type of engine for producing signals for measuring the average gas torque for each combustion of the gas mixture in the cylinders of the engine.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine at least two intake valves and one exhaust valve per cylinder. The valves are actuated by an intake camshaft and an exhaust camshaft operating with variable timings. The internal combustion engine is also provided with an intake system having separate intake ducts leading to the intake valves. One control flap is provided in at least one intake duct. To optimize the operation of the internal combustion engine with regard to exhaust emissions, fuel consumption, performance, and torque, the timings of the valves and the throughputs of the intake ducts are influenced as a function of the defined characteristic map areas of a torque-rpm graph.

Abstract: A vehicle data display device which draws the attention of the driver to a particular sector of the road scene, including an optical system that presents to the driver a reduced virtual image of the road scene embellished with a luminous signal. The luminous signal can be used to designate a target for the driver and can be under the control of an onboard driving assistance system. The vehicle data display device can be integrated into the steering column or dashboard of the vehicle and facilitates perception of driving assistance or navigational data without the driver having to turn his attention away from the road.

Abstract: A device for microwave treatment of materials includes a mold (1) used to hold the material (3) to be treated and a microwave generator which is used to apply to the mold (1) the microwave energy necessary for treatment of the material. The mold includes at least two dielectric materials (4,5,6,7) surrounding the material (3) to be treated. The dielectric materials have dielectric permittivities which differ so that the attenuation of one elementary segment of length l located between the points of side z(n-1) and zn of the longitudinal dimension of the material (3) to be treated which includes at least one section broken up into segments of length l, is controlled by the relationship: ##EQU1## in which: .alpha. is the attenuation in the elementary segment in question,.alpha.o is the initial attenuation in the body of the section which includes the elementary segment in question,Po is the microwave power applied to the section, P(n-1) is the microwave power transmitted in the plane of side z(n-1).

Abstract: A control process for a fuel pump installed in a fuel circuit of a motor vehicle internal combustion engine. The fuel pump is of the electric drive type and is controlled by the engine control system. The fuel pump is actuated in advance of the operation of the starter for a predetermined time period when the electronic engine control system is switched on. The duration of the predetermined delay time period is adjusted as a function of predetermined criteria such as whether the engine has been previously operated and if a manual signal such as the accelerator pedal to a full throttle position has been given by an operator.

Abstract: Apparatus for surface treatment by cataphoresis of metal parts (5) particularly of motor vehicle bodies, supplied by direct current. A tank (1) whose sides carry anodes (2) is provided where the treatment occurs. An overhead conveyor is provided which brings the bodies (5) to be treated in swingtrays spaced apart by a regular spacing .lambda.. A carriage or main body (4) equipped with two contact slides (41, 42) mounted on two parallel conductive rails (11, 12) and located above the tank (1), provide electrical connection to each body. The bodies (5) to be treated effectively becoming the cathodes. The two rails (11, 12) are divided regularly into portions or dividing rails (111, 121) by an insulating material, each portion connected to the negative terminals (31) of rectifiers (3), supplying the current. Each mobile body (4) is always in electrical contact with a divided rail (111, 121) to ensure that no unnecessary cut offs of current occur, thereby preventing coating defects.

Abstract: A process for supplying fuel to an internal combustion engine of the multi-cylinder type with controlled fuel injection and comprising a controlled fuel vapor recovery system. During predetermined operating phases of the engine, the fuel injection is stopped for a given period, while the fuel vapors trapped in the recovery system are recycled into an intake circuit of the engine.

Abstract: An idling engine clutch release control device of an automatic transmission, which includes an electric switch connected to the accelerator pedal and to an element for metering the fuel, wherein closing of the switch prevents release of the stationary clutch. The switch is controlled by two opposed springs, which close the switch when the pressing force of the driver on the accelerator pedal is significant.

Abstract: A motor vehicle seat support includes a carrier frame on which front forks and rear forks are designed to work respectively with fastening rods that are integral with the floor of the vehicle. Each one of the front and rear forks carries a mobile catch to lock each one of the forks with the corresponding rod, and a device for operating the catches to bring the latter into an unlocked position, so as to make possible the disengagement of the fork in relation to the fastening rods. The front and rear forks are carried by two lower guide rails in contact with upper guide rails braced by a base for holding a seat.

Abstract: A hand brake lever in a vehicle includes a stationary support mounted in a passenger compartment of the vehicle and having a mounting slot. A sound insulating material covers at least a portion of the stationary support, the sound insulating material defining a sealing surface surrounding the mounting slot. A brake lever member having a handle is pivotally mounted to the stationary support such that the handle extends through the mounting slot and into the passenger compartment. A lever base is mounted to the brake lever member and extends so as to cover an area above the sealing surface. The lever base has an elastic peripheral edge positioned so as to come into support contact with the sealing surface to seal the mounting slot when the brake lever member is pivoted to a brake release position. The sealing surface may be flexible and have a rectangular shape.

Abstract: A system for producing a signal for marking cylinders for control of a phased sequential multipoint injection in an engine including a crankshaft sensor for providing a marking of passings of a top dead center for each of the cylinders and a system for detecting combustion misfires. The system includes the following successive steps. First, injection of fuel for a predetermined reference cylinder is stopped. An occurrence of a combustion misfire for the predetermined reference cylinder is then detected. The moment of stopping of the injection and the moment of detecting the combustion misfire is then compared, and the moment of passing of the intake or firing top dead center for the predetermined reference cylinder is identified. A signal for marking cylinders in phase with the top dead center signal is then produced, initialized at the moment of passing an intake or firing top dead center of the reference cylinder and resuming the sequence of the combustions.

Abstract: Automatic transmission control device with stepped gears comprising a torque converter (1) equipped with bridging means (6, 6'), a planetary gear train (2), several hydraulic receivers (E.sub.i, F.sub.i) assuring the switching of planetary gear train (2), and a hydraulic distributor (16, 17) delivering a line pressure PL, which makes it possible to feed selectively receivers (E.sub.i, F.sub.i) under the control of a computer, according to the data concerning the operation of the vehicle equipped with the transmission, characterized in that at least one switching element (8) is dimensioned to be able to slip in a controlled manner, particularly when converter (1) is bridged, in response to a momentary reduction of line pressure PL, and in that this slipping is servocontrolled, by line pressure PL, at set values depending on torque Cm and engine speed .omega.m.

Abstract: Device for recovery of fuel-vapors from a tank of a motor vehicle includes a filter (1) containing a material that adsorbs these vapors, this filter (1) being connected by a pipe (3) to a source of air for regeneration of the adsorbent material. The intake opening of the pipe (3) comes out in the vicinity of temperature exchanging means element of the engine cooling system.

Abstract: Process for controlling the exhaust gas recirculation system of an internal combustion engine 1 of the type comprising a pipe (4) assuring the connection between the exhaust manifold (3) and the intake manifold (2), said pipe being equipped with an E.G.R. valve (5) controlled from the electronic system (6) for engine control to assure the recirculation of a given rate of exhaust gas, characterized in that said engine control system is equipped with means for calculating the values Tm.sub.-- i of a representative magnitude of the torque produced by each of the combustions of the engine and in that the opening of the E.G.R. valve is controlled, for given operating conditions of the engine, as a function of said values Tm.sub.-- i.

Abstract: A motor vehicle luggage compartment having a luggage rack element mounted to a bottom portion of the trunk lid. A storage module or piece of luggage is removably mounted to the luggage rack element and the storage module can be immobilized within the luggage rack element. The storage module is slid into and out of the luggage rack when the trunk lid is open but immobilized when the trunk lid is closed.

Abstract: In internal combustion engines in which residual burnt gases (GBR) exist and in which a recirculation of exhaust gases (RGE) is provided as well as the engines in which the gas mixture is low in gasoline or in the case of diesel engines, a digital value Cg, representative of the average gas torque per combustion and provided by a system, not shown, is corrected as a function of total rate q of recirculation of the exhaust gases and the presence of the residual burnt gases. The correcting device comprising calculating means (56) for producing a correction factor Q.sub.2 -(1-p.sub.2.q), in which p.sub.2 is a constant close to 0.50 and q, the value of said total rate, then applying this factor Q.sub.2 to value Cg, if necessary previously corrected as a function of richness r of the gas mixture when r<1, for providing a corrected digital value (Cg).sub.q or (Cg).sub.r,q. Other devices are provided for correcting Cg in the case of excess oxidant and in the case of diesel engines.

Abstract: This device in which the elements are linked by two information transmission lines (2, 3) and each of which includes information sending and reception circuits (4, 5), linked to a protocol handler (6), is characterized in that the reception circuit (5) of each element (1) comprise three comparators (7, 8, 9), a first comparator (7) receiving the signals transiting on the two lines (2, 3), a second comparator (8) receiving the signals transiting on a line (2) and a third comparator (9) receiving the signals transiting on the other line (3) and, interposed between the output of these comparators (7, 8, 9) and the information input (RC) of the handler (6), a circuit (10) for selective connection of the output (R0) of the first comparator (7) or of the output of a circuit for logically combining the outputs (R1, R2) of the second and third comparators (8, 9), to the input of the protocol handler (6), under the control of the latter as a function of the state of the signals present at its input, in order to permit

Abstract: A unit for measuring shape defects of a part includes an installation plane (1), a presentation unit (2) receiving part to be measured, a measuring machine (10) mobile along three axes (X,Y,Z) and equipped with a sensor (17), and a computer (20). The sensor continuously follows the shape of the part, the variations recorded by the sensor determining a fourth axis (W). Shape deviations are displayed based upon the instantaneous acquisition of the four measuring displacements.