Abstract: A suspension including a spring interposed between the body (B) of the vehicle and the wheel (W); a regenerative hydraulic shock-absorbing unit comprising a hydraulic shock-absorber arranged parallel to the spring, a motor and pump unit with a volumetric hydraulic machine and an electric machine coupled to the hydraulic machine), and an electronic control unit arranged to control the torque of the electric machine. A hydraulic actuator is arranged in series with the spring. A reservoir and a hydraulic circuit are connected to each other, the hydraulic shock-absorber, the hydraulic machine the hydraulic actuator and the reservoir. The hydraulic circuit includes a valve assembly for controlling the flow of a working fluid between the hydraulic shock-absorber, the hydraulic machine, the hydraulic actuator and the reservoir.

Abstract: A hydraulic shock-absorber comprises an outer cylindrical tube, an inner cylindrical tube defining with the outer cylindrical tube an annular chamber, a main piston slidably mounted in the inner cylindrical tube and dividing the inner volume of the inner cylindrical tube into an extension chamber and a compression chamber, both containing an incompressible damping fluid, a valve assembly mounted on a bottom wall of the inner cylindrical tube and comprising a first compression valve and a first intake valve, a cup-shaped body mounted in the inner cylindrical tube, inside the compression chamber, and an auxiliary piston rigidly connected to the main piston and configured to slide in the cup-shaped body at least during a final section of the compression phase of the shock-absorber.

Abstract: The actuator comprises a cylinder and a rod. The cylinder comprises an inner cylindrical tube and an outer cylindrical tube which extend coaxially to each other along a longitudinal axis (z). The inner cylindrical tube accommodates a plunger which is rigidly connected to the rod and separates an inner volume of the inner cylindrical tube into a compression chamber and an extension chamber, wherein at least the compression chamber contains oil. The inner cylindrical tube and the outer cylindrical tube enclose with each other a reservoir chamber which is permanently in fluid communication with the extension chamber via at least one first passage provided in the inner cylindrical tube and contains a pressurized gas in a first portion thereof and oil in a remaining portion thereof.

Abstract: A hydraulic shock-absorber comprises an outer cylindrical tube, an inner cylindrical tube defining with the outer cylindrical tube an annular chamber, a main piston slidably mounted in the inner cylindrical tube and dividing the inner volume of the inner cylindrical tube into an extension chamber and a compression chamber, both containing an incompressible damping fluid, a valve assembly mounted on a bottom wall of the inner cylindrical tube and comprising a first compression valve and a first intake valve, a cup-shaped body mounted in the inner cylindrical tube, inside the compression chamber, and an auxiliary piston rigidly connected to the main piston and configured to slide in the cup-shaped body at least during a final section of the compression phase of the shock-absorber.

Abstract: The actuator comprises a cylinder and a rod. The cylinder comprises an inner cylindrical tube and an outer cylindrical tube which extend coaxially to each other along a longitudinal axis (z). The inner cylindrical tube accommodates a plunger which is rigidly connected to the rod and separates an inner volume of the inner cylindrical tube into a compression chamber and an extension chamber, wherein at least the compression chamber contains oil. The inner cylindrical tube and the outer cylindrical tube enclose with each other a reservoir chamber which is permanently in fluid communication with the extension chamber via at least one first passage provided in the inner cylindrical tube and contains a pressurized gas in a first portion thereof and oil in a remaining portion thereof.

Abstract: A suspension including a spring interposed between the body (B) of the vehicle and the wheel (W); a regenerative hydraulic shock-absorbing unit comprising a hydraulic shock-absorber arranged parallel to the spring, a motor and pump unit with a volumetric hydraulic machine and an electric machine coupled to the hydraulic machine), and an electronic control unit arranged to control the torque of the electric machine. A hydraulic actuator is arranged in series with the spring. A reservoir and a hydraulic circuit are connected to each other, the hydraulic shock-absorber, the hydraulic machine the hydraulic actuator and the reservoir. The hydraulic circuit includes a valve assembly for controlling the flow of a working fluid between the hydraulic shock-absorber, the hydraulic machine, the hydraulic actuator and the reservoir.

Abstract: Cross-member for a motor-vehicle front suspension, comprising a first structure of metal, a second structure of composite material joined to the first structure and a plurality of mounting members connected to each other by the first structure to allow mounting of one or more components of the front suspension onto the cross-member, wherein the second structure comprises a base body wholly made of a composite material with a polymer matrix and at least one reinforcement element securely connected to the base body in predetermined areas thereof to contribute to the mechanical strength and stiffness of the whole cross-member whereby the second structure includes a main portion extending in a transverse direction, a pair of longitudinal appendages projecting rearwards from the opposite ends of the main portion, and a pair of struts extending upwards each from a respective longitudinal appendage.

Abstract: The hydraulic shock-absorber comprises a hydraulic stop member having a cup-shaped body, which is adapted to be mounted in a compression chamber, and a plunger, mounted at an end of a rod of the shock-absorber so as to slide in the cup-shaped body when the shock-absorber moves towards the compression end-of-travel position. The cup-shaped body comprises a side wall and a bottom wall which define, along with the plunger, a working chamber in which a damping fluid of the shock-absorber is compressed by the plunger when the latter slides in the working chamber towards the bottom wall of the body. Axial channels are formed on the inner surface of the side wall of the body and allow the damping fluid to flow axially out of the working chamber when the plunger slides in the working chamber towards the bottom wall of the cup-shaped body.

Abstract: The hydraulic stop member comprises: a cup-shaped body mounted in a compression chamber of the shock-absorber. A piston is mounted at an end of a rod of the shock-absorber so as to slide in the cup-shaped body when the shock-absorber is close to an end-of-travel position of the compression stroke. The cup-shaped body includes a side wall and a bottom wall which define, along with the piston, a working chamber where a damping fluid of the shock-absorber is compressed by the piston. A bypass conduit connects a working chamber with the portion of the compression chamber placed above a seal ring. A pressure relief valve keeps the bypass conduit closed as long as the pressure in the working chamber remains below a given threshold value and to open the bypass conduit, thereby allowing the discharge of the damping fluid from the working chamber to the compression chamber through the bypass conduit, when the pressure in the working chamber exceeds the threshold value.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for managing the energy supplied to a low-voltage system of a vehicle. The low-voltage system includes a battery, which supplies the first voltage on a low-voltage bus. A system for charging the battery includes an alternator for supplying a charging voltage to the battery, and motor-vehicle loads supplied by the battery and/or by the alternator. A high-voltage system operates at a second voltage higher than said first voltage. The high-voltage system includes the vehicle energy-recovery stage. The second voltage is supplied through an intermediate energy-storage system and a DC-DC converter. A control module that carries out energy-management operations at least by the alternator. The second voltage of the DC-DC converter is regulated via a control procedure of a hysteretic type.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for managing the energy supplied to a low-voltage system of a motor vehicle that comprises an energy-recovery stage. The low-voltage system, operating at a first voltage, comprises a battery, a system for charging the battery, and motor-vehicle loads supplied by the battery and/or by the alternator. A high-voltage system operates at a second voltage higher than the first voltage. The high-voltage system includes the vehicle energy-recovery stage, which supplies the second voltage. The second voltage is supplied through an intermediate energy-storage system and a DC-DC converter, which converts the second voltage into the first voltage on the low-voltage bus. A module regulates the alternator, that activates at least one first operating mode in which the alternator regulates a voltage of the battery at a nominal operating value.

Abstract: The suspension comprises a mechanical spring interposed between an unsprung mass (UM) and a sprung mass (SM) of the vehicle, a shock-absorber interposed between the unsprung mass (UM) and the sprung mass (SM), in parallel with the mechanical spring, a hydraulic linear actuator, an accumulator, a tank (T) containing an incompressible working fluid and a hydraulic circuit for hydraulically connecting, the hydraulic linear actuator, the accumulator and the tank (T) with each other. A single reversible pump (P) is arranged along the third hydraulic line. A reversible electric motor (M) drives the pump (P) in either direction, and a plurality of valves (V1, V2, V3, V4, V5, VS) control the flow of the working fluid between the accumulator, the tank (T) and the hydraulic linear actuator.

Abstract: The shock-absorber comprises: a cylinder containing a hydraulic working fluid; a piston slidably arranged in the cylinder so as to split the cylinder into two variable-volume working chambers, namely a first working chamber, or extension chamber, and a second working chamber, or compression chamber; an auxiliary conduit in fluid communication on one side with the first working chamber and on the other with the second working chamber; a train of permanent magnets slidably arranged in the auxiliary conduit so as to reciprocally move along the auxiliary conduit, dragged by the working fluid flowing between the first and second working chambers through the auxiliary conduit as a result of the reciprocating motion of the piston in the cylinder; and electric energy generating device for generating electric energy by exploiting the movement of the train of permanent magnets along the auxiliary conduit.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for managing the energy supplied to a low-voltage system of a motor vehicle that comprises an energy-recovery stage. The low-voltage system, operating at a first voltage, comprises a battery, a system for charging the battery, and motor-vehicle loads supplied by the battery and/or by the alternator. A high-voltage system operates at a second voltage higher than the first voltage. The high-voltage system includes the vehicle energy-recovery stage, which supplies the second voltage. The second voltage is supplied through an intermediate energy-storage system and a DC-DC converter, which converts the second voltage into the first voltage on the low-voltage bus. A module regulates the alternator, that activates at least one first operating mode in which the alternator regulates a voltage of the battery at a nominal operating value.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for managing the energy supplied to a low-voltage system of a vehicle. The low-voltage system includes a battery, which supplies the first voltage on a low-voltage bus. A system for charging the battery includes an alternator for supplying a charging voltage to the battery, and motor-vehicle loads supplied by the battery and/or by the alternator. A high-voltage system operates at a second voltage higher than said first voltage. The high-voltage system includes the vehicle energy-recovery stage. The second voltage is supplied through an intermediate energy-storage system and a DC-DC converter. A control module that carries out energy-management operations at least by the alternator. The second voltage of the DC-DC converter is regulated via a control procedure of a hysteretic type.

Abstract: Cross-member for a motor-vehicle front suspension, comprising a first structure of metal, a second structure of composite material joined to the first structure and a plurality of mounting members connected to each other by the first structure to allow mounting of one or more components of the front suspension onto the cross-member, wherein the second structure comprises a base body wholly made of a composite material with a polymer matrix and at least one reinforcement element securely connected to the base body in predetermined areas thereof to contribute to the mechanical strength and stiffness of the whole cross-member whereby the second structure includes a main portion extending in a transverse direction, a pair of longitudinal appendages projecting rearwards from the opposite ends of the main portion, and a pair of struts extending upwards each from a respective longitudinal appendage.

Abstract: A damper with a cylinder and a rod, a spring arranged around the damper and a linear actuator arranged to change in a controlled manner the axial position of a bottom end of the spring relative to the cylinder of the damper. The actuator comprises an inner cylindrical element arranged to be mounted around the cylinder of the damper, an outer cylindrical element, which is mounted so as to be axially slidable relative to the inner cylindrical element and is arranged to support the bottom end of the spring, and a working chamber arranged to be filled with a fluid under pressure to adjust the axial position of the outer cylindrical element relative to the inner cylindrical element. The working chamber is delimited, both radially and axially, only by the inner cylindrical element and by the outer cylindrical element. The outer cylindrical element is provided with a support flange arranged to support the bottom end of the spring.

Abstract: The damper and spring unit comprises a damper, a spring member extending coaxially to the damper, a bottom spring plate and a vehicle height adjustment device for adjusting the height of the vehicle from the ground. A first damper element is connected to a wheel carrier of the suspension and a second damper element is slidable relative to the first damper element along the longitudinal axis (z). The adjustment device is interposed between the first damper element and the spring member to change the linear position of the bottom spring plate, and a bottom end of the spring member, relative to the first damper element. A hydraulic linear actuator comprising a cylinder is secured to the first damper element and a piston drivingly connected for translation with the bottom spring plate along the longitudinal axis (z) of the damper between a bottom end-of-travel position and a top end-of-travel position.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a structural element comprises steps of providing separate first and second half-shells made of at least one layer of composite material including a fiber-reinforced polymeric matrix, providing a core made of ductile material, joining the core to the first half-shell such that at least one cavity is defined inside the structural element, and joining the second half-shell to the first half-shell.

Abstract: The damper and spring unit comprises a damper, a spring member extending coaxially to the damper, a bottom spring plate and a vehicle height adjustment device for adjusting the height of the vehicle from the ground. A first damper element is connected to a wheel carrier of the suspension and a second damper element is slidable relative to the first damper element along the longitudinal axis (z). The adjustment device is interposed between the first damper element and the spring member to change the linear position of the bottom spring plate, and a bottom end of the spring member, relative to the first damper element. A hydraulic linear actuator comprising a cylinder is secured to the first damper element and a piston drivingly connected for translation with the bottom spring plate along the longitudinal axis (z) of the damper between a bottom end-of-travel position and a top end-of-travel position.