Abstract: An armored vehicle having a floor, a roof above the floor, and a side wall extending vertically between the floor and the wall, is provided with a seat having a rigid frame, at least one ceiling mount suspending the frame from the roof, a cover on the frame forming surfaces adapted to hold a seated occupant, a harness on the frame retaining the occupant seated on the cover. The frame and cover is wholly disengaged and disconnected from the floor. The cover includes an upright back panel engaging a back of the occupant of the seat, a seat panel engaging underneath and supporting the occupant of the seat, and a pair of side panels flanking the occupant of the seat and connected to the back panel and seat panel.

Abstract: A power transmission unit with a hydraulic coupling dependent on a rotational-speed difference, in which, when a rotationalspeed difference occurs between the input member (1) and the output member (6), a hydrostatic displacement machine (20) produces in a pressure space (34) a pressure that acts on a piston (27) acting on a friction clutch (31), has a housing (4). To compensate for the centrifugal force acting on the working fluid in the pressure space (34), at least one centrifugalforce element (11, 12, 13) is provided in the housing, exerting on the piston (27) a force counter to the pressure produced by the centrifugal force in the pressure chamber (34).

Abstract: An inwardly bend bottom plate, having at least one bending line, is provided on the underside of an armored vehicle body as a protection against mine detonation and can be additionally armored by modular armor plates. Above the bottom plate is a floorboard so spaced therefrom that the dynamic inward buckling of the bottom plate can take place in a deformation space between the bottom plate and the floorboard without injury to an occupant of the vehicle.

Abstract: A drive unit for driving at least two axles of an all-wheel drive vehicle, having a housing (3), an input gear (5) meshing with an output gear (4) of a gear-shift transmission (2), a center differential (6) coaxially disposed relative to the input gear (5) and one of the axles. To yield maximum rigidity at minimum structural dimensions the input gear (5) is rigidly mounted to a cage (20) of the center differential (6), the cage (20) being journalled at one end in a first tapered roller bearing (35) seated in the housing (3). A further output member (28) of the center differential (6) extends from the opposite end of the cage (20) and is rigidly connected to an output gear (10; 40) journalled in a second tapered roller bearing (36) seated in the housing (3) and provided with a third tapered roller bearing (37) wherein the other end of the cage (20) is journalled.

Abstract: A seating system for a weapon operator of a military vehicle such as a tank has adjustable chest and back supports which can be locked to secure the weapon operator in position with respect to weapon controls in spite of highly dynamic changes in the position of the vehicle.

Abstract: A transfer case for motor vehicles with off-the-road gear comprises a casing, an input shaft, a first output shaft, coaxial with the latter, a second output shaft, offset therefrom, a speed-reduction unit, a coupling unit and an offset drive. The speed-reduction unit comprises a central drive gearwheel, connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the input shaft, a central driven gearwheel and at least two intermediate transmissions, rotatable about spindles fixed to the casing, each with two intermediate gearwheels, one of which meshes with the central drive gearwheel and the other meshes with the central driven gearwheel, a first driven shaft, connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the central drive gearwheel, and a hollow second driven shaft, connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the central driven gearwheel, which driven shafts lead to a coupling unit.

Abstract: An automatic tire-filling apparatus for a motor vehicle has an electronic controller which, in response to sensors for the operating state of the vehicle, controls pneumatic valves for the tires and a compressor to enable the tire pressure to be matched to such conditions as travel speed, vehicle load, roadway conditions and terrain. The compressor is in a normal operating state part of a closed system with the tire and the pressure reservoir and is directly connected to the pressure reservoir without the intermediary of a switching element.

Abstract: A fastening system has a mounting plate of substantially greater area than a flange of a part being attached to a hardened plate. This mounting plate is sandwiched between the flange and an outer face of the hardened plate and has an outer periphery spaced well outward of the flange. A plurality of nuts bear on an inner face of the hardened plate in line with the flange. Respective bolts extend through the flange, mounting plate, and hardened plate into the nuts and press the flange and mounting plate against the outer face of the hardened plate. A weld at the outer periphery secures the mounting plate to the hardened plate.

Abstract: A tire-filling system has an electronic control unit response to the tire pressure and the vehicle operating conditions for automatically operating pneumatic tire-filling valves to increase or reduce the tire pressure to setpoint values determined by the electronic control unit and matching the driving conditions. The pressure is delivered from a variable volume source in which a control element increases or decreases the volume. The system can be operated as an open system or a closed system.

Abstract: A power-split transmission for motor vehicles with off-road travel consists of a case (1), of an input shaft (2), of a first output shaft (3) coaxial with the latter, of a second output shaft (4), of a reduction unit (5), of a clutch unit (6) and of an offset drive (7).

Abstract: A system for reducing the infrar d visibility of an amphibious vehicle that generates hot exhaust gas when it is in a body of water has a nozzle directed downward at and closely juxtaposed with a surface of the body of water. This nozzle expels the hot exhaust gas downward at the surface so as to form a water-droplet cloud that cools the gas and masks the vehicle. the nozzle is set at an angle of at most 60° to vertical.

Abstract: A device for compensating the inertia forces in reciprocating piston machines consists of a balance shaft housing (5) and of balance shafts (6, 7) mounted in the latter in friction bearings (30) and having compensating weights (8), the balance shaft housing (5) being fastened in one part and to the engine block. In order to achieve the highest possible sufficient lubrication along with minimal production costs and simple assembly, a) the friction bearings (30) of the balance shafts (6, 7) are arranged, together with the main bearings (3) of the crankshaft (2), in a plane (9) perpendicular to the crankshaft axis, b) the friction bearings (30) are cylindrical bores in the balance shaft housing (5) which are machined as bearing surfaces (31), c) the balance shafts (6, 7) are cylindrical shafts of essentially constant diameter, on which the compensating weights (8) are fastened individually.

Abstract: A speed-difference-dependent hydraulic clutch comprises a drive housing (27), which rotates in a housing (25) that is fixed in space and forms a reservoir, a hydrostatic displacement machine (35), an output shaft (30), a friction clutch (36) and a piston (5) for acting on the friction clutch (36), a pressure being produced in a pressure chamber (4) when a difference occurs between the speed of the drive housing (27) and that of the output shaft (30), this pressure giving rise to action upon the friction clutch (36).

Abstract: A tire-filling system has an electronic control unit response to the tire pressure and the vehicle operating conditions for automatically operating pneumatic tire-filling valves to increase or reduce the tire pressure to setpoint values determined by the electronic control unit and matching the driving conditions. The pressure is delivered from a variable volume source in which a control element increases or decreases the volume. The system can be operated as an open system or a closed system.

Abstract: A fastening system has a mounting plate of substantially greater area than a flange of a part being attached to a hardened plate. This mounting plate is sandwiched between the flange and an outer face of the hardened plate and has an outer periphery spaced well outward of the flange. A plurality of nuts bear on an inner face of the hardened plate in line with the flange. Respective bolts extend through the flange, mounting plate, and hardened plate into the nuts and press the flange and mounting plate against the outer face of the hardened plate. A weld at the outer periphery secures the mounting plate to the hardened plate.

Abstract: An automatic tire-filling apparatus for a motor vehicle has an electronic controller which, in response to sensors for the operating state of the vehicle, controls pneumatic valves for the tires and a compressor to enable the tire pressure to be matched to such conditions as travel speed, vehicle load, roadway conditions and terrain. The compressor is in a normal operating state part of a closed system with the tire and the pressure reservoir and is directly connected to the pressure reservoir without the intermediary of a switching element.

Abstract: An front wall of an armored vehicle is formed with a large-diameter hole and has a tow hitch in turn having a generally cup-shaped reinforcement plate having an outer periphery engaging an inner face of the front wall around the hole. This plate is forwardly concave toward the hole and the outer periphery is welded to the inner face of the wall by a weld. A tow-eye bar fixed to the center of the reinforcement plate extends forward through the hole. The hole and plate are circular and the plate is of greater diameter than the hole.

Abstract: Tire pressure is automatically checked when the motor vehicle is started. At the same time, the type of operation, either off-road operation or on-road operation, is detected. According to the inventive method, in the on-road operation of the motor vehicle, the speed of all four wheels is measured and it is made sure whether or not there is an inadmissible difference in wheel speed. If the wheel speeds do not differ, the theoretical tire pressure is determined. If the actual tire pressure differs from the theoretical pressure, the inflation or deflation valves of the tires are actuated until the theoretical value is achieved, thereby adjusting the theoretical value. If the wheel speeds differ, as for example, during the operation state of the off-road mode, the vehicle speed is measured and is compared with a threshold value.

Abstract: A method for joining a first part to a second part wherein the first part comprises machine cast iron and the second part comprises case-hardened steel comprises abrading a surface on each of the parts which are to be welded together with a groove, fitting the abraded surfaces together to form a welding groove and high-energy beam welding within austenitic welding wire for joining the parts together.

Abstract: A tire inflating device for a motor vehicle has a lubricant reservoir connected with a sealed area of the tire bearing. The device has a rotational insert disposed in an external component which has the seal acting upon an inner component. There is a connection member on the wheel support for inflating and deflating a tire mounted on the wheel, a control valve on the hub and bores formed in the wheel support for connecting the connection member with a control valve for the inflation and deflation.