Abstract: A process for increasing or reducing the internal pressure of at least one hollow body (HK—1, HK—2, HK—3) to a specified set internal pressure. The set internal pressure is adjusted so that several pressure-increasing steps or pressure-reducing steps are conducted successively until the internal pressure deviates from the set internal pressure at most by a specified tolerance. Each of these steps brings about a pressure increase or pressure reduction the amount of which is not larger than a specified upper limit. In this way, impairments of comfort owing to the rise in pressure or the reduction in pressure are especially avoided. The actual internal pressure is only measured at the beginning of the process, the amount is calculated. In one design of the invention, this amount depends upon the volumes of the hollow bodies (HK—1, HK—2, HK—3) and a supply line (VL) as well as (in the case pressure is increased) from the pressure which a pressure generator generates.

Abstract: A ceramic sheathed-element glow plug is proposed in which a metallic tubular holder holds a ceramic U-shaped heating device in a cantilevered fashion at its combustion chamber side end and has a terminal stud for applying a voltage to the ceramic heating device on the end remote from the combustion chamber. At its end enclosed by the holder, the ceramic heating device has a segment of greatest diameter and is coated with an insulating layer which has recesses for an electrical contacting. One recess is provided at the end of the ceramic heating device remote from the combustion chamber and a second recess is provided on the external wall of the ceramic heating device. A for an electrically conductive sealing compound is provided between the external wall of the ceramic heating device and the internal wall of the holder.

Abstract: A sheathed-element glow plug to be mounted in a combustion chamber is proposed, a rod-shaped heating element being situated in a concentric bore hole of the housing. The heating element has a first current-carrying layer (11), a second current-carrying layer (12), and an insulating layer (15), the insulating layer (15) separating the first current-carrying layer (11) and the second current-carrying layer (12). The first current-carrying layer (11) and the second current-carrying layer (12) being connected at the end of the heating element on the combustion chamber side by a conducting-layer crosspiece (13). The first current-carrying layer (11) and the second current-carrying layer (12) are different lengths, the cross section of the first current-carrying layer (11) in a first section (21) at the end of the heating element away from the combustion chamber being greater than the cross section of its remaining length, and the second current-carrying layer (12) not extending into the first section (21).

Abstract: A sheathed element glow plug having an ionic current sensor and a method of operating such a sheathed element glow plug are provided. The sheathed element glow plug includes a housing and a rod-shaped heating element arranged in a concentric bore in the housing. The heating element has at least one insulation layer, a first feeder layer, and a second feeder layer, the first feeder layer and the second feeder layer being connected by a web on the combustion chamber-side end of the heating element, the first and second feeder layers and the web being made of an electrically conducting ceramic material, and the insulation layer being made of an electrically insulating ceramic material. The heating element has at least one ionic current detection electrode made of an electrically conducting ceramic material.

Abstract: An Internet portal system for accomplishing a multi-component task involving interaction with one or more Internet Web sites includes an Internet-connected server having access to client-related data, an internet-capable client station usable by a client, and software executing on the server for managing individual component tasks in execution of the multi-component task. The software, in response to initiation of a multi-component task specified by the client, defines the component tasks, identifies Internet Web sources for completion of the tasks, manages interaction with the identified Web sites gathering results of the interactions, integrates the gathered results, and communicates final results to the client at the client station. Tasks may be such as trip planning and may include payment for services rendered at Web sites, such as airline reservations, car rentals and the like.

Abstract: A sheathed-element glow plug having an ionic-current sensor, as well as a method for operating a sheathed-element glow plug having an ionic-current sensor are described, the sheathed-element glow plug having a housing (3) and a rod-shaped heating element (5) arranged in a concentric bore hole of the housing. The heating element (5) has at least one insulating layer (11) as well as a first lead layer (7) and a second lead layer (9), the first lead layer (7) and the second lead layer (9) being connected via a bar (8) at end (6) of the heating element (5) on the combustion chamber side, the first and second lead layers (7, 9) and the bar (8) being made of electroconductive ceramic material, and the insulating layer (11) being made of electrically insulating ceramic material. The heating element (5) has a first electrode (33) for detecting ionic current and a second electrode (33′) for detecting ionic current which are embedded in the insulating layer (11) or are applied on the insulating layer (11).

Abstract: Proposed is a passive, high-temperature-resistant resistor element for measuring temperature, the resistor element having an essentially interior insulating layer (9; 10) and two exterior conducting layers (8) of a ceramic composite structure; the conducting layers being connected to one another at the tip (11) of the resistor element; and the ceramic composite structure including trisilicon tetranitride, a metal silicide, and yttrium oxide or trisilicon tetranitride, a metal silicide, and a matrix phase of SixOyCzNw, where x signifies 1-2, y signifies 0-2, and w signifies 0-2. Further proposed is a combination element (3) of this resistor element and a sheathed type glow plug, for example.

Abstract: A ceramic sheathed element glow plug has a tubular metal casing holding a ceramic U-shaped heating device cantilevered at its end facing the combustion chamber, and on the end remote from the combustion chamber, it has a terminal pin for applying a voltage to the ceramic heating device. In the metal casing, a ceramic bushing and a ring follow the ceramic heating device at the end remote from the combustion chamber.

Abstract: A software application for creating and distributing non-sensitized summaries from sensitized data aggregated on behalf of users is provided. The software application comprises, a data processing portion of the software for de-sensitizing data and incorporating the de-sensitized data into the form of a data summary, a data caching portion of the software for storing, managing, and serving non-sensitive data summaries and a user-interface portion of the software for enabling requests for data summaries and for enabling display of the requested summaries. A user operating the interface portion of the software initiates a request to the data-caching portion of the software, the request triggering service of a completed, non-sensitive data summary or summaries created by the data processing portion of the software. In preferred embodiments, the software is implemented on cooperating nodes connected to a data-packet-network, which may be the Internet network.

Abstract: An Internet portal system for accomplishing a multi-component task involving interaction with one or more Internet Web sites includes an Internet-connected server having access to client-related data, an internet-capable client station usable by a client, and software executing on the server for managing individual component tasks in execution of the multi-component task. The software, in response to initiation of a multi-component task specified by the client, defines the component tasks, identifies Internet Web sources for completion of the tasks, manages interaction with the identified Web sites gathering results of the interactions, integrates the gathered results, and communicates final results to the client at the client station. Tasks may be such as trip planning and may include payment for services rendered at Web sites, such as airline reservations, car rentals and the like.