Fiat Auto S.p.a.

Vittorino Torrielli

Virginio Maggioni

Fabio Giavarini

A flow regulating valve incorporating a core of ferromagnetic material, a spring which repositions the core, an electromagnet which in turn comprises at least one coil wound onto a magnetic yoke, in which the yoke has an internal cavity in which the core is located so that it can move in an axial direction and a hydraulic circuit controlled by a needle obstructor integrally mounted on the core, is described. The valve is of a shape such that the magnetic reluctance of a magnetic circuit comprising the yoke, the electromagnet and the core is maintained substantially almost constant as the relative axial position between the core and the yoke changes, and, in combination, the spring is housed so as to bear against an axial shoulder in the cavity and one end of the core so that in use it exerts a return force against the core, the change in which resulting from relative displacement between the yoke and the core is greater than the change in the attractive force exerted on the core by the electromagnet as a result of that displacement.

Flow regulating valve

A system for controlling the speed of a vehicle featuring a throttle valve controlling a feed device on the vehicle and counteracted by an elastic return spring. The system consists of an electromechanical actuator designed to generate a torque as a function of its supply voltage; and an electronic control unit connected to a speed sensor and designed to vary the supply voltage to the actuator. The actuator operates an arm connected mechanically to the throttle valve via drive elements, and is designed to generate on the throttle valve a predetermined torque capable of counteracting that generated by the elastic return spring subsequent to rotation of the throttle valve via operation of the accelerator pedal on the vehicle.

Vehicle speed control system

A throttle-controlled hydraulic power brake employing a pressurized fluid produced via a pump and preferably stored in an accumulator for enabling servo-assisted displacement of a push rod acting on the master cylinder of a brake pump (of the same type employed on vacuum-operated power brakes) subsequent to axial displacement of a second push rod controlled directly by the brake pedal. Displacement of the second push rod towards the first provides, against the action of elastic means, for opening a first face seal valve, which feeds the pressurized fluid into a variable-volume accumulating chamber, so as to displace a piston connected axially to the first push rod and defining a movable wall of the accumulating chamber, and so close the valve. Opposite displacement of the second push rod, on the other hand, provides for opening a second face seal valve connecting the accumulating chamber to a drain.

Throttle-controlled hydraulic power brake booster

A hydropneumatic suspension system having the characteristic of being able to vary at will, and independently of each other, the rigidity of the sustaining and load-adaptation means of each vehicle wheel, consisting of a series of sensors for measuring the dynamic attitude of the vehicle connected to a central electronic control unit, and respective hydraulic dampers of adjustable internal pressure, which support the wheels and are connected to respective hydropneumatic service accumulators the internal pressure of which is controlled by solenoid valves controlled by the central control unit; hydraulic energy can be supplied to the accumulators by, for example, the servo-steering system pump via a common main accumulator. (FIG. 1).

Hydropneumatic vehicle suspension system of variable attitude

An electromagnetically operated rotary servovalve particularly suitable for controlling hydraulic actuators, for example forming part of vehicle suspensions is described; the servovalve comprises a valve body provided with at least one series of respective radial ducts disposed angularly spaced apart, a rotary distributor of cock type which depending on its angular position either blocks said radial ducts or selectively connects them together in pairs, a pair of linear electromagnetic actuators, and transmission means mechanically connecting said electromagnetic actuators to said rotary distributor and arranged to convert with a predetermined step-up ratio the linear motion of said actuators into rotary motion of said distributor.

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Turin, Italy

Vittorino Torrielli