Abstract: The invention relates to an orthopedic appliance which is designed to support the weight of a patient and comprises a power supply device for an electrical consumer. The aim of the invention is to be able to convert the kinetic energy introduced into the appliance into electrical energy. To this end, the power supply device comprises a stack (7) of piezoelectric ceramic elements, and the force of the weight is introduced into the stack (7) by means of a force transmission system.

Abstract: A belt brake is described for a safety belt for protecting occupants in a vehicle, which belt can be wound onto and unwound from a belt drum mounted rotationally about a belt shaft. A method for locking a safety belt is also described. The invention comprises at least one displaceable braking element for displacement along the belt shaft which is rotationally fixed to the belt shaft and is located between a first and a second thrust bearing. A first thrust bearing is forcibly guided along the belt shaft, thereby enabling the first thrust bearing to be transferred from a first position, in which the safety belt is wound on the belt drum with an axial distance a1 between the at least one braking element and the first thrust bearing, and to a second position, in which the safety belt is at least partially unwound from the belt drum with an axial distance a2 between the at least one braking element and the at least one thrust bearing where a2<11.

Abstract: A device and a method are described for a motor vehicle for protecting passengers during a side impact or during a collision similar to a side impact, in which an energy input acts essentially laterally on a door area of the motor vehicle, a vehicle seat being located on the side of the motor vehicle door facing away from the energy input, having at least one unit stabilizing the motor vehicle door against an energy input acting essentially laterally on the motor vehicle door, which provides at least one lateral impact girder traversing the motor vehicle door internally, which is operationally linked in case of collision to at least two support areas within stable vehicle body areas enclosing the motor vehicle door.

Abstract: The invention relates to an orthopedic appliance which is designed to support the weight of a patient and comprises a power supply device for an electrical consumer. the aim of the invention is to be able to convert the kinetic energy introduced into the appliance into electrical energy. to this end, the power supply device comprises a stack (7) of piezoelectric ceramic elements, and the force of the weight is introduced into the stack (7) by means of a force transmission system.

Abstract: A device and a method are described for a motor vehicle for protecting passengers during a side impact or during a collision similar to a side impact, in which an energy input acts essentially laterally on a door area of the motor vehicle, a vehicle seat being located on the side of the motor vehicle door facing away from the energy input, having at least one unit stabilizing the motor vehicle door against an energy input acting essentially laterally on the motor vehicle door, which provides at least one lateral impact girder traversing the motor vehicle door internally, which is operationally linked in case of collision to at least two support areas within stable vehicle body areas enclosing the motor vehicle door.

Abstract: A belt brake is described for a safety belt for protecting occupants in a vehicle, which belt can be wound onto and unwound from a belt drum mounted rotationally about a belt shaft. A method for locking a safety belt is also described. The invention comprises at least one braking means is mounted to enable displacement thereof along the belt shaft, is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the belt shaft, and is located between a first and a second thrust bearing.

Abstract: In the case of a profile edge of an aerodynamic profile the profile edge (1, 20) comprises multifunctional material on its outside (3, 23) and/or inside (2, 22) or within its structure (11).

Abstract: An actuator (1) having at least one triggerable element (4,5) of variable lengths made of a multifunctional material (6) for large regulating distances is disclosed. The multifunctional material is arranged in layers on a deformable platform carrier structure 93), the carrier structure and the multifunctional material being disposed symmetrically about a longitudinal center plane (7) of the actuator. The carrier structure includes at least a pair of arcuate sections formed on both sides of the longitudinal center plane of the actuator, each such arcuate section describing an arc of at least 180.degree.. The triggerable elements of variable lengths may be actuated with heat supplied by a separate heat source, or by electricity provided from a separate source of electricity so that the triggerable elements either expand or contract, thus moving a stringer (26) formed as a part of the carrier for performing the desired actuation function.

Abstract: The invention relates to an actuator (10) for generating high regulating forces and large regulating distances with a web (12) for the transmission of regulating forces, which actuates an internal pressure, which may be purposefully influenced, in an actuator cavity (14), sealed at least in an indirectly pressure-tight manner, wherein a tubular cavity profile (13) forms the active actuator cavity (14), the shell surface of which is heavily indented in linear form in the effective direction (11) of the regulating forces and in the longitudinal direction of the cavity profile (13) to receive and operate the web (12), and the cavity profile (13) is divided into two mirror-symmetric partial cross-sectional faces (15).