Abstract: An engine is equipped with a gas feeding system, including main gas injectors each associated with an intake duct of a respective engine cylinder, a gas distribution manifold communicating with said main injectors, a gas tank, connected to the manifold, where pressurized gas is accumulated, a controlled pressure valve interposed between the tank and manifold, and a control unit for controlling the pressure valve to establish a gas pressure in the manifold. A spark plug of each cylinder is mounted within a support body that defines a combustion pre-chamber and a channel for auxiliary gas injection within the pre-chamber, communicating with a respective auxiliary gas injector. The auxiliary gas injectors are in communication with the manifold, downstream of the pressure valve. In the channel, a non-return valve and a restricted passage are provided in series, providing for passage of gas flow proportional to a volume of the pre-chamber.

Abstract: A motor-vehicle includes one or more electrically-operated valves, arranged on the structure of the motor-vehicle in a lower position with respect to the windows, for providing a communication between a passenger compartment and the external environment, and one or more electronic control units programmed to activate a ventilation mode of the passenger compartment when the motor-vehicle is parked with the engine off, even with the driver outside the vehicle. The ventilation mode includes controlling at least partial opening of one or more windows and the opening of one or more of the valves to generate a flow of natural air from the bottom upwards through the passenger compartment of the motor-vehicle.

Abstract: A motor-vehicle seat, in particular a rear motor-vehicle seat, includes a backrest frame having an upper cross-member, and a headrest connected to the upper cross-member and tiltable between an upright operative position and an inoperative position rotated forwardly relative to the operative position. The headrest is rotatably mounted on the upper cross-member of the backrest frame, whereby it is adapted to tilt between its operative and inoperative positions around a transversal axis which is vertically located substantially at the same height of the cross-member.

Abstract: A welded joint between at least one metal material element and at least one thermoplastic material element is obtained by pressing the elements against each other while applying heat. Contact surfaces of the metal material, which are in contact with the thermoplastic material, are provided with uneven surface portions having a distribution of asperities. With heat applied, the thermoplastic material fills spaces between these asperities and maintains this configuration after subsequent cooling, thereby improving strength of the joint. The uneven surface portions are obtained in a preliminary forming step of the metal material in a press mold, which is configured with a forming surface for generating the uneven surface portions by mechanical deformation and/or with a device for guiding a laser or electron beam. By this technique, hybrid components are obtained made of one or more elements of metal material between which a shaped component of thermoplastic material is interposed.

Abstract: A deformation detecting device includes weft yarns and warp yarns woven together. At least some of the weft yarns, or some weft yarns, and some warp yarns, are electrically conductive. The weft yarns include a flocking made up of non-electrically conductive fibers protruding substantially radially from the weft yarns. The electrically conductive yarns are connected to conductive ends for applying an electrical voltage, such that yarns that are connected to conductive ends with different polarities define respective plates of a capacitive sensor, while the fibers of the flocking of the weft yarns define a dielectric material interposed between the capacitive sensor plates. The device comprises an electronic control and processing unit configured to detect a deformation of the fabric based on a capacitance variation of the capacitive sensor.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes a thermal control system having a first high temperature cooling circuit, a second low temperature cooling circuit and a third cooling circuit for cooling/heating a battery pack. A system of valves is configured to connect the third circuit with the second circuit so as to create a loop consisting of a main portion of the third circuit and a main portion of the second circuit including the cooling portion of one or more electric motor assemblies of the hybrid vehicle, one or more additional components of the motor-vehicle, such as a turbocharger assembly and an intercooler assembly. In this operating condition, circulation of the liquid in the loop thus-formed can be activated by the pump of the third circuit and causes heating of the battery pack by the heat generated by the electric motor assemblies and, preferably, by the aforesaid additional components of the motor-vehicle.

Abstract: Described herein is a unit for conversion of thermal energy designed in particular for installation along an exhaust-gas line of a motor vehicle and configured for exchange and conversion of the thermal energy of the exhaust gases.

Abstract: An elastic support for on-board suspension systems of a motor-vehicle includes at least one body formed of polymeric elastomeric material supplemented with carbon-based nanofillers. An outer surface is provided with one or more piezo-resistive areas where a polymeric material supplemented with carbon-based nanofillers has been made locally piezo-resistive by laser irradiation so as to define one or more electric deformation sensors configured to detect the load applied on the elastic support.

Abstract: Described herein is a system for controlling a solenoid valve, which includes a driving circuit for driving a solenoid of the solenoid valve and a control unit for controlling the driving circuit. The control unit is configured for generating in the solenoid, during operation of the solenoid valve: first current signal for moving the open/close element from a first position to a second position, which is generated by the external supply network, to which the solenoid is connected; and second current signal, which is generated exclusively as a result of residual magnetism in the magnetic element of the solenoid valve and is activated when the open/close element is still in the aforesaid second position.

Abstract: A seating system for a motor vehicle provides for a seat and a child safety seat defined by a body, which forms part of a seat cushion of the seat. The system has a releasable fastening apparatus of the ISOFIX type comprising two lower anchoring elements and two upper anchoring elements which can be selectively engaged by connecting elements carried by the body for securing the latter to the seat in a lowered position and a raised position, respectively.

Abstract: Described herein is a system for variable actuation of an engine valve of an internal-combustion engine, where the system is able to actuate the engine valves, selectively, in a four-stroke operating mode and in a two-stroke operating mode, on the basis of the operating conditions of the engine.

Abstract: An auxiliary cross-member structure for supporting elements of a motor-vehicle front suspension includes a metal sheet hollow frame in a form of a hollow shell, with two opposite end portions, for connection of two respective oscillating arms of the suspension. The metal sheet hollow frame is defined by a single metal sheet folded on itself and having portions which are overlapped and welded. In a preferred implementation, within the metal sheet hollow frame is provided an additional filling structure at least partially constituted of synthetic material or composite material incorporating reinforcing fibers. At each end of the auxiliary cross-member structure there are two pairs of holes aligned with each other along two vertical axes which are used both for mounting elastic bushings for connection of a respective oscillating arm, and for the engagement of connecting screws for connecting the auxiliary cross-member structure to the motor-vehicle body.

Abstract: Described herein is a structure of a motor-vehicle door including a multi-thickness metal sheet pressed and shaped to define: a hinge area configured for fastening one or more hinges for connection to the body of a motor vehicle; a panel area configured for receiving an upholstery-trim element for the door; and a frame area configured for receiving a window of the door. The above multi-thickness metal sheet has a first thickness in said hinge area, a second thickness in said panel area, and a third thickness in said frame area.

Abstract: A cooling system for an internal combustion engine of a motor-vehicle presenting a circuit for a coolant of the engine. The circuit includes a thermally insulated tank for the coolant of the engine, connected to an outer portion of the cooling circuit. The tank is arranged in the circuit to retain a defined quantity of coolant at a temperature above the ambient temperature when the engine is inactive, and for causing this quantity of coolant to flow, at a temperature above the ambient temperature, into the cooling circuit of the engine, after a subsequent start of the engine, during an engine warm up stage. The circuit also includes an expansion vessel connected to the outer circuit portion of the coolant of the engine. The expansion vessel has a thermally insulated body and constitutes the thermally insulated tank for the engine coolant.

Abstract: A management of the operation of automotive dual battery electrical system in which the automotive electronic control unit is configured to: determine the current operation status of an automotive dual battery electrical system defined by the current electric charge statuses of a main electrical energy source and of an auxiliary electrical energy source and by the current electrical energy demand of electrical loads, determining which operation area of an operation plane of the automotive dual battery electrical system the current operation status of the automotive dual battery electrical system belongs to, and control the operation of the automotive dual battery electrical system, and enable or disable the implementation of one or more of the functionalities of automatic start and stop of the internal combustion engine, of regenerative braking and of electric charging depending on the operation area which the current operation status of the automotive dual battery electrical system belongs to.

Abstract: Described herein is a system for variable actuation of an engine valve of an internal-combustion engine, where the system is able to actuate the engine valves, selectively, in a four-stroke operating mode and in a two-stroke operating mode, on the basis of the operating conditions of the engine.

Abstract: An automotive electronic control system configured to detect and signal the presence of a passenger left unattended in a motor vehicle based on signals from an automotive sensory system comprising: one or more radar sensors arranged in the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle to allow the presence of one or more passengers sitting on one or more seats of the motor vehicle to be determined, one or more door sensors associated with one or more doors of the motor vehicle to allow locking and unlocking, and opening and closing, of one or more doors of the motor vehicle to be determined; one or more seat sensors associated with one or more seats of the motor vehicle to allow the presence of one or more passengers sitting on one or more seats of the motor vehicle to be determined; one or more safety belt sensors associated with one or more safety belts of the motor vehicle to allow fastening and unfastening of one or more safety belts to be determined; the automotive electronic control system is configured

Abstract: A motor vehicle seat is provided with a backrest and a seat portion having a fixed element and at least one body which can be moved between a lowered configuration, in which it forms with the backrest a place for an adult passenger, and a raised configuration, in which it forms a booster seat suitable for supporting a child; the body is releasably fixed in the raised configuration by means of a fastening device and carries a side support element, which is arranged next to the body and is movable between an operating configuration, in which it protrudes upwards with respect to an upper surface of the body, and a rest configuration, in which it is arranged lower or flush with respect to said upper surface.

Abstract: A joint for constructions includes a first element having a first coupling interface, a second element having a second coupling interface, and an interface element configured for coupling to the first coupling interface and the second coupling interface to impose a desired relative angular position on the first element and the second element of the joint. The interface element includes a first positioning structure configured for engaging with the first coupling interface, and includes a second positioning structure configured for engaging with the second coupling interface. The first positioning structure and the second positioning structure of the interface element are angularly staggered with respect to one another.

Abstract: A motor-vehicle engine suspension elastic device has a main body of metal and/or composite material elongated in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the motor-vehicle. The elastic device has a first end that can be connected to a structural connecting element of a motor-vehicle, and a second end that can be connected to a motor-vehicle engine. The main metal body of the elastic device includes at least one portion elastically deformable in the aforesaid longitudinal direction.