Abstract: In a power steering device comprising a power steering pump, and to a method for operating a power steering device for a vehicle comprising a hydraulic circuit provided with a rotary slide valve, a steering cylinder and a control valve for adjusting the volume flow of a hydraulic medium as required for steering assistance, the control valve is arranged on the pressure side of the pump in such a way that it divides the volume flow (Q) from the power steering pump into at least a first base partial flow (A) and a second controlled partial flow (B), the base partial flow (A) being independent from the operating state of the control valve and always available for steering assistance, whereas the partial flow (B) is dependent on the operating state of the control valve.

Abstract: In a power steering device comprising a power steering pump, and to a method for operating a power steering device for a vehicle comprising a hydraulic circuit provided with a rotary slide valve, a steering cylinder and a control valve for adjusting the volume flow of a hydraulic medium as required for steering assistance, the control valve is arranged on the pressure side of the pump in such a way that it divides the volume flow (Q) from the power steering pump into at least a first base partial flow (A) and a second controlled partial flow (B), the base partial flow (A) being independent from the operating state of the control valve and always available for steering assistance, whereas the partial flow (B) is dependent on the operating state of the control valve.

Abstract: A circuit configuration for a passenger protection device, such as an airbag, includes at least first and second collision sensors having triggering thresholds individually assigned thereto, for triggering a passenger protection device if the collision sensors exceed the triggering thresholds. The first sensor supplies an output signal exceeding the triggering threshold assigned to it before the second sensor issues an output signal exceeding the triggering threshold assigned to it, in the event of a collision. One of the sensors is a clock-generating sensor setting a beginning of a time period when its output signal exceeds a threshold value assigned to it, during the collision. One of the sensors mechanically actuates a switch and supplies an essentially binary output signal, in the event of a collision. Both of the sensors are required to exceed their triggering thresholds no later than a point in time within the time period, for the protection system to be finally triggered.

Abstract: A firing control device (G) for triggering a passenger restraint system of a vehicle by electrically firing one or more firing pellets (Z1, Z2), having a processor (P) which, during operation, criteria for the necessity of triggering derives from the output signals of one or more crash sensors (S1, S2), having at least one measuring unit (R/DR, DZ1, DZ2) which, during a crash, measures at least the firing current (I1, I2) flowing through the respective firing pellets (Z1, Z2) and/or values (for example voltages) which depend on said firing current (I1, I2), having a PROM memory (M), and having a measuring unit (R/DR) which (R/DR) contains a measuring resistor (R) which is inserted into the firing circuit (I1, I2) of the firing pellet (Z1, Z2) so as not to be usually directly accessible from the outside via external terminals (A0 to A5) of the housing (G) of the firing control device in order to determine data relating to the variation of the firing current (I1, I2) flowing across the resistor (R) during trigg

Abstract: The fluid friction clutch, suitable especially for the cooling fan of an internal combustion engine, has an aluminum housing mounted rotatably by means of a rolling bearing on a drive shaft. The outer race ring of the bearing is seated directly in a tubular bearing extension piece of the aluminum housing. A ring part, held on the bearing extension piece, of a material with lower coefficient of thermal expansion than aluminum, is secured on the bearing extension piece and prevents its widening with rising working temperature.

Abstract: A resistance checker portion for terminal posts of an energy storage device includes a series branch formed of an ohmic resistor at a switch connected in parallel to the energy storage device through the terminal posts. Brief closing of the noramlly open switch causes a voltage jump in the series branch which is a direct measurement of the resistance of the terminal posts. An evaluator measures the voltage jump and calculates the contact resistance of the terminal posts therefrom.

Abstract: The fluid friction clutch comprises a clutch input part drivable about a rotation axis and a clutch output part rotatable coaxially in relation to the clutch input part. The clutch output part together with the clutch input part defines at least one shear gap. A cover which forms a cavity enclosing at least the region of the shear gap is filled partially with viscous fluid and otherwise with gas. The gas-filled volume of the cavity contains less than 18 percent of oxygen by volume, preferably not more than 5 percent of oxygen by volume, in order to preclude a chemical reaction of the viscous fluid with the oxygen under thermal overloading which limits the utility of the viscous fluid. To reduce the proportion of oxygen either the cavity is evacuated or it is filled with a substantially oxygen-free protective or noble gas.

Abstract: The temperature-controlled fluid friction clutch, suitable especially for a cooling fan, comprises a rotor which is arranged in a housing, rotatably in relation to the housing, forming at least one shear gap for the viscous fluid transmitting the torque. A scraper conveys the viscous fluid according to the dynamic pressure principle out of a working chamber containing the rotor into a reservoir chamber. The scraper is connected with the housing and lied radially opposite to the external circumference of the rotor, forming a scraper gap. The housing consists of a material the coefficient of thermal expansion of which is greater than that of the material of the rotor. In this way the scraper gap is enlarged with rising temperature, whereby the pump power of the scraper is reduced with rising temperature. The clutch unites good cold-start behavior with low temperature-actuation hysteresis in the operationally hot condition.

Abstract: The viscous coupling for a cooling air fan, especially of an internal combustion engine, comprises a drive shaft rotatable about a rotation axis, on which a housing is rotatably mounted. A partition divides the housing into a reservoir for a viscous shear fluid and a working chamber. In the working chamber there is arranged a rotor non-rotatably held on the drive shaft. The rotor together with the housing or its partition defines at least one shear gap. A controllable valve device connecting the reservoir with the working chamber controls the inflow of the shear fluid from the reservoir into the working chamber, especially in dependence upon temperature. Adjoining the partition the working chamber possesses in the region of the external circumference of the rotor an annular space formed at least partly by the rotor. The partition contains at least one over-flow opening for the shear fluid, opening into the annular space.