Abstract: A method for the continuous in-register embossing of a stretchable film is provided where a repeating printed image or a laminate may be formed by way of the stretchable film in an embossing station. The embossing station may include a rotating embossing roll having an embossed image and an associated rotating counter-roll. The printed image length of the film may be stretched longitudinally before the embossing contact with the embossing roll to a length greater than or equal to or smaller than or equal to the embossed image length or the circumference of the embossing roll. The maintenance of register of the embossing may be achieved by way of a relative speed between the circumferential speed of the embossing roll and the web speed of the film in the embossing station.

Abstract: A method for the continuous in-register embossing of a stretchable film is provided where a repeating printed image or a laminate may be formed by way of the stretchable film in an embossing station. The embossing station may include a rotating embossing roll having an embossed image and an associated rotating counter-roll. The printed image length of the film may be stretched longitudinally before the embossing contact with the embossing roll to a length greater than or equal to or smaller than or equal to the embossed image length or the circumference of the embossing roll. The maintenance of register of the embossing may be achieved by way of a relative speed between the circumferential speed of the embossing roll and the web speed of the film in the embossing station.

Abstract: An independently functioning or centrally controlled wall light switch is configured to operate in normal mode and a Jewish holiday mode wherein the state of the light is fixed, regardless of the user's physical manipulation of the light switch. The control system automatically activates holiday mode by combining a geographically determined Jewish religious clock executed by software and hardware that utilizes the current time, date and geographical location of the apparatus in accordance with the Jewish definition of time and laws for calculating numerous religiously significant shifting daily points in time. The control system further incorporates several energy saving and preference modes by utilizing a particular day's calculated religious points in time in conjunction with holiday behavior patterns common to most Jewish families to provide the user with a greatly simplified means of programming an automatically adjusting on/off light timer and dimming overlay functionality during holiday mode.

Abstract: A process for producing a composite material or a precursor thereof includes the steps: (i) printing a support material (A1) with an ink (D) which can be cured by irradiation with light, the support material (A1) (a) being impregnable with a curable resin (B) which after curing is transparent and light-stable, and (b) having a translucency, based on the overall thickness, of 10-95%, preferably 20-90%, more preferably 30-80% for light in the wavelength range of 200-500 nm; (ii) curing the ink (D) by irradiation with light; (iii) impregnating the thus-treated support material (A1) with a curable resin (B) which after curing is transparent and light-stable, and optionally combining the support material (A1) with at least one further support material (A2); and (iv) curing the curable resin (B) simultaneously with or after step (iii); and also relates to the material obtainable by this process.

Abstract: An independently functioning or centrally controlled wall light switch is configured to operate in normal mode and a Jewish holiday mode wherein the state of the light is fixed, regardless of the user's physical manipulation of the light switch. The control system automatically activates holiday mode by combining a geographically determined Jewish religious clock executed by software and hardware that utilizes the current time, date and geographical location of the apparatus in accordance with the Jewish definition of time and laws for calculating numerous religiously significant shifting daily points in time. The control system further incorporates several energy saving and preference modes by utilizing a particular day's calculated religious points in time in conjunction with holiday behavior patterns common to most Jewish families to provide the user with a greatly simplified means of programming an automatically adjusting on/off light timer and dimming overlay functionality during holiday mode.

Abstract: The invention relates to a biocidal composition comprising at least one nanoscale metal oxide of the transition elements and at least one organic biocidal compound. The invention further relates to a resin composition comprising at least one aminoplast and a biocidal composition according to the invention. The invention also relates to composite materials and laminates containing the disclosed biocidal composition or the disclosed resin composition such that the surfaces thereof have biocidal properties.

Abstract: In a device for operating rail switches, in which a plurality of mutually coupled hydraulic operating devices are arranged in an offset manner in the longitudinal direction of the rails, the cylinder-piston units of the hydraulic operating devices are connected to be driven in the same direction. The working volumes (13) of the hydraulic cylinder piston units (7) each comprise two regions (18, 19) with defined cylinder cross sections, wherein the respective regions (18) containing end-position securing means (20, 21), safety locking means and/or sensors, of the cylinder-piston units (7) arranged in an offset manner in the longitudinal direction of the rails have equal cross sections and the respective other regions (19) of the cylinder-piston units (7) arranged in an offset manner in the longitudinal direction of the rails have cross sections differing from one another. (FIG.

Abstract: In a device for operating rail switches, in which a plurality of mutually coupled hydraulic operating devices are arranged in an offset manner in the longitudinal direction of the rails, the cylinder-piston units of the hydraulic operating devices are connected to be driven in the same direction. The working volumes (13) of the hydraulic cylinder piston units (7) each comprise two regions (18, 19) with defined cylinder cross sections, wherein the respective regions (18) containing end-position securing means (20, 21), safety locking means and/or sensors, of the cylinder-piston units (7) arranged in an offset manner in the longitudinal direction of the rails have equal cross sections and the respective other regions (19) of the cylinder-piston units (7) arranged in an offset manner in the longitudinal direction of the rails have cross sections differing from one another.

Abstract: A method for operating a hybrid drive system of a motor vehicle includes the steps of operating the traction drive using an electrical motor (3) with power supplied from an auxiliary power unit (8), supplying power from an energy storage device (7) to the electric motor (3) when the traction drive demands power which are greater than the maximum possible power output of the auxiliary power unit (8), and supplying power from an internal combustion engine (2) only when the traction drive's power demand is greater than the total maximum possible power output from the auxiliary power unit (8) and from the energy storage device (7).

Abstract: A method for operating a hybrid drive system of a motor vehicle includes the steps of operating the traction drive using an electrical motor (3) with power supplied from an auxiliary power unit (8), supplying power from an energy storage device (7) to the electric motor (3) when the traction drive demands power which are greater than the maximum possible power output of the auxiliary power unit (8), and supplying power from an internal combustion engine (2) only when the traction drive's power demand is greater than the total maximum possible power output from the auxiliary power unit (8) and from the energy storage device (7).

Abstract: An exhaust line for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine having a catalytic converter, the exhaust line being located upstream of the catalytic converter with respect to the flow direction of exhaust. The exhaust line has an externally applied heat-conducting layer preferably made of a metallic material and an internally disposed insulating layer made of a heat-insulating material. The insulating layer and the heat-conducting layer are connected directly and forcewise with one another. The layer thickness of the insulating layer is less than 2 mm, the specific heat capacity c of the insulating layer is less than 106 J/(m3h), and the heat diffusivity &kgr; of the insulating layer is less than 0.01 cm2/s.

Abstract: In a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine having at least two cylinder banks each with an exhaust system including a catalytic converter, wherein one of the cylinder banks can be deactivated when the engine operates only under partial load, the exhaust systems have exhaust pipe sections which are interconnected by a cross-over structure disposed upstream of the catalytic converters so that exhaust gas can flow also through the catalytic converter of the deactivated cylinder bank, and a length compensating element is disposed in at least one of the exhaust pipe sections and the cross-over structure.

Abstract: A method operates an improved internal combustion engine by heating the fuel before entry into the cylinder, at least during the cold-start phase of the engine. In order to undertake the heating step in a favorable way, at least areas in the region of an intake valve are irradiated with an electromagnetic radiation of radiation source, and thereby heated without contact. As a result, liquid fuel in the valve region is heated by contact with the areas of the valve region, and condensation of the fuel is at least reduced.

Abstract: In an internal combustion engine with at least two groups of cylinders of which each has an exhaust pipe with a catalytic converter and of which one group can be shut down so that it is inoperative during part-load engine operation, the exhaust pipes are joined downstream of the catalytic converters by a common pipe section, and vacuum generating means are provided for subjecting the exhaust pipe of the inoperative cylinder group upstream of its catalytic converter during part load operation when the one cylinder group is shut down to vacuum for pulling exhaust gas from the common pipe section into the catalytic converter of the inoperative cylinder group.

Abstract: In a device for facilitating the re-positioning of moveable rails or rail components, in particular of tongue rails (7), in which the rails (7, 7'), during the re-positioning operation are supported on rollers (10, 10') forced against the underside of the rail base by spring action, the rollers (10, 10') in at least one end position (7, 7') of the re-positioning operation are pressed by the force of the spring against one edge (14, 15) of the rail base. In this way it is possible to combine the advantages of reduction of the sliding friction during the re-positioning operation with a flexible securing of the end position of the currently involved adjusted position of the moveable rail or rail component (7, 7').

Abstract: A polymer mixture reinforced by an in situ, melt-polymerized microphase whereby the rigidity of the base material is increased, a process for manufacturing same, and use thereof for providing reinforced compositions and articles in which the polymer mixture is prepared by polymerizing a component B in a melt of a component A composed of at least one thermoplastic polymer. Component B is composed of at least one compound having the structure ##STR1## The reaction of component B in a melt of component A results in linear, branched or cross-linked, high or low molecular weight polymers constituting a microphase. Preferably, the microphases have the form of microfibers. In the structure of component B, X is NH.sub.2, NHR.sup.3, OH or an N-substituted, Y-activated lactam of the ##STR2## type which is activated with an electrophilic substituent Y, where Y is CO, SO.sub.2, or R.sup.5 P.dbd.O; R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.

Abstract: A polymer mixture reinforced by an in situ, melt-polymerized microphase whereby the rigidity of the base material is increased, a process for manufacturing same, and use thereof for providing reinforced compositions and articles in which the polymer mixture is prepared by polymerizing a component B in a melt of a component A composed of at least one thermoplastic polymer. Component B is composed of at least one compound having the structure ##STR1## The reaction of component B in a melt of component A results in linear, branched or cross-linked, high or low molecular weight polymers constituting a microphase. Preferably, the microphases have the form of microfibers. In the structure of component B, X is NH.sub.2, NHR.sup.3, OH or an N-substituted, Y-activated lactam of the ##STR2## type which is activated with an electrophilic substituent Y, where Y is CO, SO.sub.2, or R.sup.5 P=O; R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.

Abstract: A plasma burner has an annular passage extending along an insulated tube defining the outer wall of the electrode lance and located between the electrode lance and the multi wall burner shell to deliver the auxiliary gas outwardly of the plasma gas. The nozzle forming end of the electrode lance has a coolant circulation as has the burner shell and the annular passage extends substantially to the coolant inlets and outlets of the burner. The construction avoids the formation of parasitic arcs.

Abstract: An electrochemical storage cell based on sodium and sulphur includes a metallic housing. A solid electrolyte disposed in the housing defines an anode space and a cathode space mutually separated by the solid electrolyte and outwardly bounded by the housing. A felt is disposed in the cathode space to form an electrode. The felt is impregnated with sulphur and folded at least twice. The felt has graphite or carbon fibers disposed substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the storage cell and substantially perpendicular to the surface of the solid electrolyte.

Abstract: A filtering and post-combustion device for waste gases, particularly of internal combustion engines, is designed with a plurality of filtering elements which are mounted at equally spaced radial locations within a circular or oval housing and are radially transversable by the gas stream which enters and leaves axially through funnels. At the inner filtering elements, the outlet chambers are separated from the adjacent inlet chambers of the respective following filtering element by axially extending walls. Each individual filtering element comprises a perforated retaining shell, a filter body, such as a wire mesh, permeable to gas, and a perforated supporting wall.