Abstract: The present invention relates to a hydrophobic cement-based material composition comprising a bacterial biofilm, or at least one hydrophobicity-conveying component of a bacterial biofilm, an additive for a cement-based material composition comprising a bacterial biofilm or at least one hydrophobicity-conveying component of a bacterial biofilm and the use of such biofilm or component therefore for decreasing the wettability of a cement-based material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hydrophobic cement-based material composition comprising a bacterial biofilm, or at least one hydrophobicity-conveying component of a bacterial biofilm, an additive for a cement-based material composition comprising a bacterial biofilm or at least one hydrophobicity-conveying component of a bacterial biofilm and the use of such biofilm or component therefore for decreasing the wettability of a cement-based material.

Abstract: A method is described for producing a micro-gripper, which comprises a base body and a gripping body connected integrally to the base body, which projects beyond the base body and provides a receptacle slot on a free end area in such a way that a micrometer-scale or sub-micrometer-scale object may be clamped in the receptacle slot for gripping and holding, as well as a micro-gripper according to the species.

Abstract: In a method for operating an injection valve, in particular a fuel injector of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, one component of the injection valve, particularly a valve needle, is disposed in a manner allowing movement relative to other components of the injection valve, and preferably is able to be driven at least partially by an actuator. A structure-borne-noise signal is detected by a structure-borne-noise sensor, and the structure-borne-noise signal is evaluated in order to infer an operating state of the movably disposed component.

Abstract: A method is described for producing a micro-gripper, which comprises a base body and a gripping body connected integrally to the base body, which projects beyond the base body and provides a receptacle slot on a free end area in such a way that a micrometer-scale or sub-micrometer-scale object may be clamped in the receptacle slot for gripping and holding, as well as a micro-gripper according to the species.

Abstract: In a method for operating an injection valve, in particular a fuel injector of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, one component of the injection valve, particularly a valve needle, is disposed in a manner allowing movement relative to other components of the injection valve, and preferably is able to be driven at least partially by an actuator. A structure-borne-noise signal is detected by a structure-borne-noise sensor, and the structure-borne-noise signal is evaluated in order to infer an operating state of the movably disposed component.

Abstract: A method is described for producing a micro-gripper, which comprises a base body and a gripping body connected integrally to the base body, which projects beyond the base body and provides a receptacle slot on a free end area in such a way that a micrometer-scale or sub-micrometer-scale object may be clamped in the receptacle slot for gripping and holding, as well as a micro-gripper according to the species.

Abstract: In an hydraulic actuator, a movement of an actuating element of the actuator is effected in that a working chamber of the actuator, with the aid of a valve device, is able to be selectively connected to, and disconnected from, a fluid reservoir in which pressurized hydraulic fluid is stored. The lift of the actuating element of the actuator is a function of a fluid volume present in the working chamber. It is provided that, to ascertain an instantaneous operating performance of the actuator, the working chamber is briefly connected to the fluid reservoir, the corresponding pressure drop in the fluid reservoir is recorded, and the corresponding lift is determined from the pressure drop with the aid of known geometrical variables of the actuator.

Abstract: A method for treating food products (12), in which the mass of the food products to be treated is measured, and an amount of liquid, adjusted to the measured mass, is injected into the food products, and the mass of the food products (12) is determined radiometrically.

Abstract: A method for controlling the opening of at least one intake valve of a combustion chamber in a periodically working piston engine, at least one intake valve of the combustion chamber being opened during a first partial period of a working period of the piston engine for charging the combustion chamber; and at least one intake valve of the combustion chamber being opened during a second partial period of the working period, wherein the second partial period begins after the combustion of the combustion chamber charge and has no overlap with the first partial period.

Abstract: A device for controlling gas-exchange valves of an internal combustion engine is provided, which device has hydraulic valve actuators each allocated to one gas-exchange valve. Each valve actuator has an actuating piston acting on the gas-exchange valve, and two hydraulic working chambers delimited by the actuating piston, of which the first working chamber acting upon the gas-exchange valve in the closing direction is constantly filled with fluid under pressure, and the second working chamber acting upon the gas-exchange valve in the opening direction is able to be alternately filled with fluid under pressure and relieved via two electric control valves. For the purpose of cost reduction, provided for each valve-actuator pair is a single first electric control valve that is acted upon with the fluid pressure on the intake side, and is connected on the outlet side to the second working chamber of one valve actuator.

Abstract: Disclosed is a simple, easy-to-produce, and reliable connection between a shaft of a gas exchange valve and an actuator. This connection is detachable and, as a result, can be connected and disconnected multiple times. It is also possible to dispose the coupling piece on the shaft of the gas exchange valve and provide circumferential grooves on the control element of the actuator.

Abstract: In an hydraulic actuator, a movement of an actuating element of the actuator is effected in that a working chamber of the actuator, with the aid of a valve device, is able to be selectively connected to, and disconnected from, a fluid reservoir in which pressurized hydraulic fluid is stored. The lift of the actuating element of the actuator is a function of a fluid volume present in the working chamber. It is provided that, to ascertain an instantaneous operating performance of the actuator, the working chamber is briefly connected to the fluid reservoir, the corresponding pressure drop in the fluid reservoir is recorded, and the corresponding lift is determined from the pressure drop with the aid of known geometrical variables of the actuator.

Abstract: A method and a device for operating an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders are described, each cylinder having at least one intake valve and one exhaust valve having fully variable valve control, a fuel feed to at least one first cylinder of the plurality of cylinders being deactivated, a first quantity of fresh air being drawn in by opening the at least one intake valve of the at least one first cylinder in a first downward movement of the piston of the at least one first cylinder, and a second quantity of fresh air being ejected by opening the at least one exhaust valve with a first upward movement of the piston of the at least one first cylinder.

Abstract: Disclosed is a simple, easy-to-produce, and reliable connection between a shaft of a gas exchange valve and an actuator. This connection is detachable and, as a result, can be connected and disconnected multiple times. It is also possible to dispose the coupling piece on the shaft of the gas exchange valve and provide circumferential grooves on the control element of the actuator 5.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a connection between a shaft end of a gas exchange valve of an internal combustion engine and a sleeve-shaped actuating element of a valve actuator, which is guided in an axially movable manner within a pressure region, which is able to be pressurized with a pressure medium, of the valve actuator and at least partially surrounds the shaft end. The present invention provides for the connection to be situated outside of the pressure region and in the region of an opening, which is formed on the side of the valve actuator away from the combustion chamber, and is, for example, coaxial to the shaft end.

Abstract: A method for controlling the opening of at least one intake valve of a combustion chamber in a periodically working piston engine, at least one intake valve of the combustion chamber being opened during a first partial period of a working period of the piston engine for charging the combustion chamber; and at least one intake valve of the combustion chamber being opened during a second partial period of the working period, wherein the second partial period begins after the combustion of the combustion chamber charge and has no overlap with the first partial period.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a hydraulic system with a hydraulic pump. A lubricant system for moving parts of the engine is also provided, which includes a lubricant pump. To enable making the engine smaller, it is proposed that the hydraulic pump is connected to the lubricant system in such a way that it can be lubricated by the lubricant.

Abstract: A gas exchange valve device for an internal combustion engine is provided with a hydraulic apparatus which includes a fluid circuit and at least one pressure reservoir connected to the fluid circuit and containing piston prestressed by a device, and also includes a controllable actuating device. A gas exchange valve is also provided, whose valve element is acted on by the actuating device. In order to achieve a simpler design of the gas exchange valve device the pressure reservoir is disposed so that in an approximately unpressurized state of the pressure reservoir, its piston at least indirectly locks the valve element of the gas exchange valve in an essentially closed position.

Abstract: A device for controlling gas-exchange valves of an internal combustion engine is provided, which device has hydraulic valve actuators each allocated to one gas-exchange valve. Each valve actuator has an actuating piston acting on the gas-exchange valve, and two hydraulic working chambers delimited by the actuating piston, of which the first working chamber acting upon the gas-exchange valve in the closing direction is constantly filled with fluid under pressure, and the second working chamber acting upon the gas-exchange valve in the opening direction is able to be alternately filled with fluid under pressure and relieved via two electric control valves. For the purpose of cost reduction, provided for each valve-actuator pair is a single first electric control valve that is acted upon with the fluid pressure on the intake side, and is connected on the outlet side to the second working chamber of one valve actuator.