Abstract: In an internal combustion engine having a butterfly valve driven by an electric motor and located within an inlet pipe made at least in part of a plastic material, electrostatic charges forming in the area of the inlet pipe are diverted away by a connection, containing a resistor, located between the butterfly valve section and the terminals of the electric motor used to control the butterfly valve's regulating flap.

Abstract: A control system for a butterfly valve in the intake tract of an internal combustion engine is described. The control system utilizes an actual value sensor to determine the relative position of a motor control part. The actual value sensor changes its sensitivity, using a high resolution only across a part of its total range of movement and a lower resolution across the remainder, allowing the same actual value sensor to be used for idle control and speed control.

Abstract: An operating device for a throttle valve is described, wherein the maximum angle of aperture of the throttle valve is determined mechanically, while smaller angles can also be actuated electrically. An idling admission control can be integrated into an electric actuation, and a stop ensures a mechanically determinable minimum angle of aperture >0.degree.. A constant force distance line in the actuation of the accelerator is additionally ensured.

Abstract: Mechanical emergency override assembly for an electronic throttle valve assembly of the type having a servomotor to control the closure of the throttle valve flap in the range of from 0.degree. to about 4.degree.-15.degree. in accord with predetermined criteria. The mechanical emergency override improvement comprises dual stop assemblies, which in emergency operation are counteractive when disabled to provide a mechanical stop at about a 5.degree. opening and permit a snap linkage between the setting unit and throttle flap arm to be engaged for mechanical (gas pedal) operation throughout the full range of opening. The servo is spring linked to a second throttle flap arm and can disengage this mechanical override. Normal throttle wider opening, and emergency operation at angles from 5.degree. to full open, are controlled by the driver actuating the gas pedal, but the actual valve flap opening angle is microprocessor-controlled via the servo to be less than the pedal angle on a predetermined curve.

Abstract: Throttle valve assembly having a servomotor to control the closure of the throttle valve flap in the range of from 0.degree. to about 4.degree.-15.degree. in accord with predetermined criteria. Wider opening is controlled by the driver actuating the gas pedal. Upon sudden release of the gas pedal, mechanical linkage permits the throttle flap to close to a preset opening in the range of approximately 4.degree.-15.degree., and thereafter the servo permits delayed or timed closing to 0.degree. (plus idle setting). A setting control unit is provided to permit a full range of idle control adjustments. The setting control unit also provides a solenoid stop in the event of failure of the servo motor, and also for cruise control setting. Desired value and actual throttle opening value transmitters provide signals to a microprocessor which integrates the information into control of the servo and the stop assembly solenoid.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the operation of an electromagnet by comparing the frequency of its holding current pulses against a reference frequency and by initiating another energization cycle if a difference exceeding a predetermined value is detected.

Abstract: A gearshift lever interlock is provided that allows movement of the gearshift lever of an automatic transmission from the neutral or park positions only if the brake pedal is actuated. The improved locking device locks the gearshift lever in the park position in the event of a malfunctioning electrical locking system but will not lock the gearshift lever in the neutral position. A mechanical release is provided to override the electrical gearshift lever interlock sytem.

Abstract: The invention relates to solid-state circuitry, including a freewheeling circuit, for controlling the operation of an electromagnetically actuated fuel intake or exhaust valve of an internal combustion engine by alternatingly energizing, by way of a current switching element, the coil of the electromagnet at a high level of current for attracting the armature of the electromagnet into engagement with the stator, thus driving the valve into its open or closed position, and maintaining, by way of a transistor, lower level current pulses in the coil sufficient to maintain the engagement.

Abstract: A method is proposed for operating an internal combustion engine provided with gas exchange valves in which the gas exchange valves are maintained in their open and closed positions by the holding force of magnets. When internal pressure within a cylinder increases sharply during the combustion process the holding force for maintaining the valve in its closed position is reduced.

Abstract: Methods for operating an inlet valve for internal combustion engines to improve fuel efficiency and reduce pollution, more particularly for operating electromagnetically operated inlet valves for optimum fuel-air mixture filling at low loads (up to about 20-25% of full throttle) by not holding the gas exchange (inlet) valve in the open position, but by re-attracting it immediately after its release from the closed position by the electromagnet allocated to the closed position. In a principal embodiment, this is achieved by de-energizing the closed position electromagnet but not thereafter energizing the open position electromagnet, then letting the anchor plate rebound from the spring compression on the open valve side of the anchor plate, and re-energizing the closed position electromagnet.

Abstract: A method of detecting movement of an electromagnetically actuated valve of the kind useful in internal combustion engines for controlling fuel intake or exhaust emission, by monitoring the increase in energizing current for detecting a brief drop in the rising current characteristic of the armature of the electromagnet engaging the stator. A signal generated in response to the detected current drop, or the absence thereof, may be used to control the further operation of the valve.

Abstract: An electromagnetically-actuated positioning mechanism for opposed spring-biased reciprocating valve actuators in displacement machines, having an electromagnetically-actuated adjusting solenoid device for shifting the locus of equilibrium of the actuators' spring systems at startup. While the position of equilibrium is predetermined when the adjusting solenoid is in the energized state, it is unnecessary for valves to be in the fully closed position when the adjusting solenoid is in the non-energized state. In the position of equilibrium as shifted by adjusting device, the distance of a gas exchange valve from one of the two operating positions is approximately 10% to 40% of the total distance between the two operating positions, and is at least partly open. The invention is particularly applicable to lifting valves and sliding gate valves, and for valves in internal combustion engines.

Abstract: A circuit and method for actuation of a gas intake or exhaust valve which is electromagnetically held in its opened and closed positions by an actuator assembly having a ferromagnetic element attractable by actuating solenoids. Control of the holding current flow through the solenoid coil is provided by a relaxation circuit element, and the excitation current is directly monitored and measured. Upon deexcitation of the coil and relaxation circuit-element activation, the decay current is not measured but is instead simulated. The relaxation circuit is supplied with pulsed current during the stationary phase of the valve, the current being measured in the pulse cycle during current supply, and is turned off upon exceeding a ceiling value. After the decay current has reached a threshold value, the current is turned on and permitted to rise momentarily. It is thereafter cycled off and on between an I.sub.1 and I.sub.2 value which is only about 10-20% of I.sub.max, the capture current.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for activating an electromagnetic positioning means or actuator of the kind sometimes known as an electrical cam with relatively low currents, by alternately energizing, or energizing with currents of opposite polarity, two electromagnets to move an armature positioned therebetween between two terminal positions. The device is activated from an inactive or passive to an active state by energizing currents having at least initially a frequency greater than the resonant frequency of the positioning means. With increasing oscillations of the armature the frequency of the energizing current is reduced to zero as the device reaches its fully activated state, i.e. when the armature has oscillated in a step-like manner to one of its terminal positions. The device may be have utility for driving gas exchange valves of internal combustion engines.

Abstract: A windshield wiper is operated by a wiper motor from an electric source, with a control circuit operating the motor. This control circuit has a continuous-wipe switch which when closed operates the wiper continuously. A discontinuous-wipe switch can be closed to start an oscillator, with this oscillator connected to a backward counter which counts backwardly synchronously with the oscillator. A comparator compares the instantaneous numerical output of the counter with a fixed numerical output generated by a settable memory, and operates the wiper briefly when the two outputs agree. A set switch is connected to the memory and can reset it so that when this set switch is operated the fixed numerical output of the memory is fixed at the instantaneous numerical output of the counter, thereby setting the interval between successive wipes of the wiper.