Abstract: The invention relates to an electric control arrangement for generating analog manipulated variables, having at least one basic controller circuit having a particular controller structure. The transfer function of the basic controller circuit, which is determined by the controller structure, is established with respect to magnitude by means of controller parameters and is supplied with an analog control-difference signal formed from desired value and actual value. A digital adjusting arrangement is provided for simple adaptation to the particular controlling task with the least possible complexity as to computation. The digital adjusting arrangement 34, on the basis of digital input quantities, selects at least one basic controller circuit 12 having a particular controller structure from several basic controller circuits 12 and switches this basic controller circuit 12 into the analog control loop and/or allows a variation of the controller parameters.

Abstract: Method of shifting the gears of a vehicle automatic transmission between at least first and second different control modes including the step of effecting a changeover from the first to the second control modes when the speed with which the accelerator travels downward exceeds a predetermined limit or when the accelerator travels past a predetermined position. The method also includes effecting changeover from the second control mode to the first control mode when the accelerator travels back a predetermined amount, for example when released, but only if the accelerator pedal does not subsequently travel forward at more than a predetermined rate during a predetermined time of acceleration after the accelerator pedal had moved back. However, changeover from the second control mode to the first control mode can be effected in response to movement of the accelerator pedal below a predetermined position reduced by a fixed amount to account for hysteresis.

Abstract: A shock absorber for use in motor vehicles which includes a piston within a packet, inside the piston the entire quantity of the damping fluid exchanged between two work chambers flows via a throttle cross section the size of which is defined by an electromagnetic adjusting device comprising primarily a magnet coil and an armature. The armature is annular and merges with an annular control slide provided with a slide control edge, which slide, in cooperation with a piston control edge on the piston determines the size of the throttle cross section. The control slide and armature are statically in pressure equilibrium, and because of their annular embodiment they have only a slight weight, so that the shock absorber operates with short adjusting times. By a defined profile of the slide control edge or piston control edge, certain damping characteristics are attainable.

Abstract: A shock absorber useful in motor vehicles which includes a piston inside of which an entire quantity of a damping fluid exchanged between two work chambers flows via a throttle cross section the size of which is defined by an electromagnetic adjusting device comprising primarily a magnet coil and an armature. The armature is annular and merges with an annular control slide provided with a slide control edge, which slide, in cooperation with a piston control edge on the piston determines the size of the throttle cross section. The control slide and armature are statically in pressure equilibrium, and because of their annular embodiment they have only a slight weight of their own, so that the shock absorber operates with short adjusting times. By way of a defined profile of the slide control edge or piston control edge, certain damping characteristics are attainable.

Abstract: A device for actuating a butterfly throttle valve of an internal combustion engine includes a hydraulic setting member for rotating a shaft of the throttle valve. The hydraulic setting member is driven by a branch flow of fuel delivered by a fuel pump and acting as pressure medium. The branch flow passes through a series of connection of adjustable throttles connected in a hydraulic bridge circuit. The throttles are adjusted by a regulating signal corresponding to the difference between an actual position signal delivered by a position sensor coupled to the throttle valve, and a desired position sensor coupled for example to a gas pedal of the motor vehicle.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement for regulating the high-voltage supply of an electrostatic filter for internal combustion motors whose high-voltage output stage (2) is controlled by a pulse-width modulator (3). The high-voltage output stage (2) contains a diode blocking oscillator which gives off a output voltage (U.sub.A) of several kV on the output side. The pulse-duty factor of the output voltage (U.sub.A) is changed as a function of the output current or the output voltage and while taking into account a maximum allowable power. The soot filter (1) can be constantly operated in an optimum operating range in this manner.

Abstract: An afterburner for clearing soot from a particle-laden gas stream has a housing centered on an upright axis and having a generally cylindrical upper portion having a downwardly open lower end, and a lower portion tapering toward the axis from the lower end of the upper portion and having at the axis a downwardly closed lower end. An exhaust tube opens at the axis into the upper housing portion above the lower end thereof. A feed tube opening tangentially into the upper housing portion above the lower end thereof introduces the particle-laden gas stream tangentially into the upper housing portion. Thus the soot particles of the gas stream move inertially radially outward and descend in the housing to collect at the lower end of the lower housing portion. An electrical heating element at the axis at the lower end of the lower housing portion burns the soot particles collecting therein.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing solid particles from internal combustion engine exhaust gases is proposed, in which the flow of exhaust gas travels at a high speed of more than 2.5 m/sec through an elongated tube (4), in which a corona discharge takes place from a coaxial spray disk/electrode arrangement toward the wall of the tube. Inside the tube, the soot particles are agglomerated to form larger particles, which are not deposited on the walls because of the high flow speed, which then carries them to a centrifugal precipitator, leading away from which are a tube carrying scrubbed exhaust gas and an outlet having a small quantity of exhaust gas highly enriched with soot. This soot-enriched flow of exhaust gas can advantageously be recirculated to the intake side of the associated engine for afterburning.

Abstract: A high-voltage insulator which is suitable for use in chambers carrying gas highly charged with solid particles and is used particularly in electrostatic filters used for cleaning an exhaust gas derived from internal combustion engines used to drive motor vehicles. The high-voltage insulator is columnar in structure, having shield-like ribs succeeding one another at intervals, adjacent to each of which in the insulator is one recess. With the remaining insulator parts having a smaller diameter, this recess forms a sharp edge, which defines discharge paths toward the flank of the shield-like ribs. Inside these paths, the insulator is kept free of soot coatings or conductive coatings, so that the insulator itself offers high resistance to leakage currents, which would cause insupportable power losses.