Abstract: The anti-roll bar 7 supported by two bearings 9 and connected at each of its ends to a suspension lever 4, is maintained in its axial direction by at least one tie 10. The latter is resiliently deformable in torsion and secured to the bar at 11 and to the structure of the vehicle at 12. This immobilization of the bar is achieved by cheap devices which introduce no friction producing noise or wear. Application in motor vehicles.

Abstract: Each overhead cam-shaft 4, 5 of the engine is journalled in bearings 6, 7, one half of which is formed in the cylinder head 2, while the other half is formed in common caps 8 bolted to the cylinder head. Provided between each cam-shaft and the central fixing bolt 17 of the caps are apertures 18 providing access to the bolts 3 fixing the cylinder head to the cylinder block 1. There is obtained in this way a more compact engine in which the valves 10, 12 are not inclined to an exaggerated extent.

Abstract: A pressure regulator for a pump aspirating a working fluid from a tank comprises a throttle valve at a junction between an inlet pipe extending from the tank and an outlet pipe terminating at the intake port of the pump. The discharge port of the pump is connected to a control port of the regulator housing in line with the inlet pipe, this control port being separated by a partition with a narrow passage from a chamber containing the shiftable valve body. The passage accommodates a small-diameter rod which has a flat tail penetrating that passage only when the discharge pressure of the pump has reached a certain threshold above a point at which that pressure has caused the rod to move the valve body into a blocking position against a countervailing spring pressure. This establishes a connection between the discharge and intake ports of the pump preventing further rises in the pump's delivery pressure.

Abstract: The carburettor comprises a center emulsion tube dividing the passageway for combustion air into an inner circuit and an outer circuit, an air-gasoline emulsion intake passageway opening laterally into the inner circuit. The inner air circuit essentially comprises a cylindrical, thin-walled portion on the upstream side and a truncated, thin-walled portion on the downstream side.

Abstract: A retainer for the parts of the interior assembly of sliding automotive universal joints, for example, of the tripod type constituted, of a splined hub with trunnions which support rollers with interposed bearing means, such as needle bearings. The retainer (1) is a flat slitted ring (2) made of a slightly elastically deformable material and has regularly spaced open seats (L) for receiving rollers (12), and holder (6,7) to retain the rollers (12) and needle bearings (13) in position on the trunnions (11) of the interior assembly of the universal joint.

Abstract: A convertible seat structure for an automobile vehicle includes a seat pivotably connected to the vehicle by a link member and a backrest pivotably connected to the vehicle at a pivot. At least one connecting bar connects the backrest and the seat with a pivotal movement of the backrest moving the seat longitudinally with respect to the vehicle and pivotally about the pivotal connection with the link member.

Abstract: Power steering with rotary drive shaft adapted to drive a pinion cooperating with a rack, comprising a distributor of pressurized fluid which comprises a slide valve coaxial with the pinion and a connecting rod passing axially through the pinion and connecting one end of the slide valve to a piece linked in rotation with said shaft, but free to slide with respect to this shaft, said piece being adapted to cooperate during its rotation with a bearing surface immovable in the direction of the axis of the pinion and sloping with respect to this axis, so that said piece, the rod and the slide valve move axially in response to a rotational movement of the shaft.

Abstract: The back of a retractable shelf is pivotally connected to a rear door or trunk lid, for example, of a hatch-back automobile. A flexible element is connected to the front of the shelf, extends through a bearing on the rear door, and is anchored to the vehicle to support the shelf in a horizontal position when the rear door is closed. The anchor point, and bearing location on the rear door are such that the bearing moves away from the anchor point as the door is opened, thus pulling the flexible element through the bearing to retract the shelf against the door, when the door is fully open.

Abstract: The mechanism comprises a clutch and a gear box having a plurality of speed ratios disposed between a motor and receiving means. Means are provided for acting on the speed of the motor so as to bring the input element and the output element of the clutch to substantially the same speed before the engagement of the clutch. The mechanism further comprises in combination a detector of the speed of the motor, a detector of the speed of the receiving means, a numeric calculator of the theoretical speed of one of these components as a function of the speed of the other component and of the engaged speed ratio of the gear box, and a comparator of the calculated speed and the measured speed which has its output connected to the means for acting on the speed of the motor.

Abstract: The device comprises an induction pipe and an exhaust pipe interconnected by a connecting pipe. A closure member controlled in accordance with the conditions of operation of the engine is inserted in the connecting pipe. The connecting pipe is connected to the induction pipe downstream of a throttle valve member which is capable of assuming two throttling positions in the induction pipe in accordance with the position of the accelerator pedal of the engine.

Abstract: A pre-heating device, for starting an internal combustion engine, of the Diesel type or the like, comprises a pre-heating plug, mounted in each cylinder, adapted to be supplied by a source of electrical energy to ensure the pre-heating of a combustion chamber, and a rapid pre-heating circuit ensuring the connection of each pre-heating plug to a relatively high electrical voltage. The rapid pre-heating circuit is normally put into operation from the start of pre-heating. A slow pre-heating circuit is also provided to ensure the connection of each pre-heating plug to a lower electrical voltage after a rapid pre-heating period determined by, first time delay means. Said first time delay means is combined with means sensitive to the temperature of the engine arranged so that the rapid pre-heating time depends on the temperature of the engine.

Abstract: This device results in a very precise metering of the amount of air introduced by a first injector between two catalysts of an exhaust line. To achieve this, first regulating means are regulated so as to deliver a carburetted mixture which is richer than the stoechiometric composition. A second air injector and a second gas analyzer are placed in this order in the exhaust line between a first analyzer and a triple-function catalyst. The second analyzer is associated with second regulating means which control the flow of air in the second injector so as to bring the composition of the exhaust gases to that which would correspond to a richness of the carburetted mixture between the richness regulated by the first regulating means and the stoechiometric composition. Means are provided for maintaining the flows of air of the first and second air injectors proportional to each other.

Abstract: A universal joint comprising a bowl-shaped drive element connected to a drive shaft and having at least two ball races cooperating with rollers borne by a hub connected to a driven shaft, stop means being provided at the open end of the drive element. These drive means are arranged so that when a roller is supported against these means a part of this roller is outside the drive element, the center of the roller thus retained being situated in the vicinity of the open end. The universal joint is useful for tripod type joints for vehicle transmissions.

Abstract: The device includes an operating member adapted to drive the driven member positively and a frictional rotary assistance mechanism. It includes a transmission device for the motion between the operating member and the driven member comprising two plates, means for the resilient return of the plates towards one another, balls interposed between the plates and cooperating with inclined surfaces provided on these plates. The plates separate from one another during relative rotation and frictional coupling means are provided between an output of the assistance mechanism and at least one plate. The device is used for driven rotary members forming part of a machine tool or of an automobile.

Abstract: The seat structure comprises a seat mounted in the vicinity of the front part thereof to pivot about a transverse axis. A hook device for safety belts is fixed to the seat and means for connecting the hooking device to the floor of the vehicle are provided. The connecting means comprise a latch carried by the hooking device, a keeper pivotally mounted on the floor and driven by the latch to a position of engagement with the latch under the effect of a vertical load applied on the seat in opposition to the action of a release spring. A bolt is provided for locking the keeper in the position of engagement with the latch and manual means are provided for releasing the bolt.

Abstract: An arrangement of a seat structure of a vehicle equipped with a hooking device for safety belts. The seat structure comprises a backrest and a seat and the backrest is mounted at the base thereof on the rear of the seat to pivot about a first transverse axis. The seat is mounted in the vicinity of the front part thereof to pivot about a second transverse axis. The hooking device is fixed to the seat and a connecting assembly is provided for connecting the hooking device to the floor of the vehicle. The connecting assembly comprises a latch carried by the hooking device and a keeper which is pivotally mounted on the floor. A device acting in opposition to elastically yieldable apparatuses is provided for maintaining the keeper engaged with the latch when the backrest is in the operative position thereof.

Abstract: The device is so designed as to be cheap enough to be sold in large numbers and is particularly simple, compact and has a very low power consumption. It comprises a hydrokinetic converter and a gear mechanism having two forward speeds established by means of two pairs of pinions. It is completed by two clutches and a free-wheel disposed in the converter which provide the connection with the two input elements of the mechanism. These two clutches are actuated by a single slidable plate which moves as a function of parameters such as the speed of the vehicle or the load on the engine. The two clutches are disposed on opposite sides of the plate and one clutch is connected in parallel with the free-wheel.

Abstract: Instrument panel including means for displaying the speed of the vehicle consisting of basically horizontal, superimposed scales. The scales are activated at particular ranges of speeds so that at higher speeds the activated scale is higher in the driver's field of vision. The length of the speed display scales is essentially inversely proportional to their height in the driver's field of vision.

Abstract: The device is provided for improving the guiding of the lateral parts of a bumper and preventing the lateral parts from bearing against the fender of the vehicle, which occurs in conventional devices. The device comprises a case which is fixed to the fender and has a lateral wall which has a shape which conforms to the shape of the corresponding lateral part of the bumper and an inner end. Sufficient clearance is provided between the end of the lateral part of the bumper and the inner end of the case to allow the movement of the bumper inwardly of the case.

Abstract: A device is disclosed having means for measuring the speed of an engine, the means including a first sensor, a second sensor offset from the first sensor by an angle .alpha., and a reference element that moves in front of the sensors. The reference element is mounted on a disc, and the disc is rigidly connected to a shaft of the engine. The speed measuring means further includes a first programmable divider down-counter whose input is connected to a clock which delivers thereto signals at a frequency fo and whose output is connected to a counter adapted to count the signals delivered by the divider. The frequency fc of said signals is equal to the frequency fo of the clock signals divided by the value of the angle .beta. equal to the difference between 360.degree. and the angle .alpha. of offset between the first and second sensors.