Abstract: The invention relates to a closing device for a movable element, in particular for a door, a flap or the like, of a vehicle, having a rotary latch which arrests or releases a closing bolt, it being possible for the rotary latch to be arrested by a detent pawl to effect a closed position of the element and it being possible for the detent pawl to be driven by an actuating drive for the purpose of releasing the rotary latch to effect an opening position of the element, the invention making provision for means which control the actuating drive in such a manner that after the actuating drive has been driven from a rest position in the direction of a working position for the purpose of releasing the rotary latch it is returned in a controlled manner from the working position into the rest position.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 24, 1999
Date of Patent:
August 28, 2001
Assignee:
Mannesmann VDO AG
Inventors:
Sigmar Brill, Reinhard Stalter, Gerhard Menz, Klaus Rathmann, Axel Schäfer
Abstract: In a pressure-maintaining device for a fuel supply system of an internal combustion engine (1) of a motor vehicle, a pressure reservoir (5) is arranged in a supply line (7) leading to the internal combustion engine (1). The pressure reservior (5) has a pressure chamber (13), which is bounded by a movable wall (14) that is pretensioned by a compression spring (15). The position of the movable wall (14) is registered by a displacement transducer (18) and forwarded to a regulating device (12). The regulating device (12) regulates the rotational speed of a fuel pump (3) as a function of the position of the movable wall (14).
Abstract: In a fuel tank (1) for a motor vehicle, a carrier (12) of a fuel level sensor (8) is manufactured in one piece with a wall of the baffle (4). As a result, the fuel tank (1) is composed of a very small number of components and can be mounted in a particularly simple way. In the region of a mounting for a lever arm (9) carrying a float (10), the carrier (12) is spaced from the baffle (4). The lever arm (9) can thereby engage round the mounting. The filling level sensor (8) has high stability as a result.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 15, 1999
Date of Patent:
August 21, 2001
Assignee:
Mannesmann VDO AG
Inventors:
Christophe Gette, Stéphane Bouton, Otto Korst
Abstract: An apparatus includes a hand covering and a membrane. The hand covering has a first side, a second side, and an opening into which a hand can be removably inserted. The membrane has a first side and a second side. The first side and the second side of the membrane include a surface adapted for cleaning. The membrane is fixedly attached to a portion of said hand covering.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 26, 1999
Date of Patent:
August 21, 2001
Assignee:
Sweports Limited
Inventors:
Brian E. Le Gette, Ronald L. Wilson, George G. Clarke
Abstract: A gas-pedal module has a gas pedal (12) which is mounted pivotably in a housing and can be actuated, counter to a restoring spring, with pedal-force-dependent hysteresis, a pedal-position sensor producing an electric signal corresponding to the pedal position. In view of the high pedal forces, precise and expensive bearings are necessary in order to avoid jamming of the gas pedal (12). In order to reduce the production costs arid nevertheless reliably to prevent jamming, it is proposed to mount the gas pedal (12) in a floating manner in a bearing element (28) which has play in the upward direction. Specific selection of the coefficient of friction on the contact surface (30) between the bearing journal (18) and the bearing element (28) makes it possible to achieve a hysteresis as is desired in the case of such gas-pedal modules.
Abstract: A fuel supply system for a motor vehicle has two feed units arranged in a fuel tank. The feed units in each case feed fuel out of baffles to an internal combustion engine of the motor vehicle and to suction jet pumps. This ensures a reliable supply of fuel to the internal combustion engine, even in the case of a very high fuel requirement and in the case of an angled design of the fuel tank.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 9, 1999
Date of Patent:
August 21, 2001
Assignee:
Mannesmann VDO AG
Inventors:
Wolfgang Sinz, Karl Eck, Michael Teichert
Abstract: The invention relates to a magnetic position sensor in which at least two stator elements are arranged in a magnetic field, a magnetic field probe being located in the air gap between the stator elements, a means that follows the movement of an object being arranged parallel to the plane spanned by the stator elements.
Abstract: A method for producing an electric resistor, in particular a resistance strain gauge, in which an insulating layer and a resistive layer are sequentially applied to a carrier element. The insulating layer or the resistive layer is applied to a backing sheet, the side of the backing sheet carrying the insulating or resistive layer being covered with a flexible film layer whose adhesion to the insulating layer or resistive layer is stronger than the adhesion of the backing sheet to the insulating layer or resistive layer. The film layer with the insulating or resistive layer is peeled off of the adhesive backing sheet and applied to a carrier element, which is heated to burn off the film layer and sinter on the insulating or resistive layer.
Abstract: In the case of a filling pipe for a fuel tank a branching element is arranged in a section of the filling pipe. The flow of the inflowing fuel preferably runs along an outer wall of the filling pipe, so that a subflow is in each case conducted directly to the antisurge tower through a lower cross-sectional area. Larger volume flows, which completely fill the cross section, pass for the most part directly into the fuel tank. By this means, a sufficient basic supply of the antisurge tower is ensured irrespective of the volume flow produced during filling.
Abstract: In a pressure-regulating arrangement between a pump and a load, in particular between a fuel pump and an internal combustion engine, in which, if the flow from the pump exceeds a predetermined pressure, a cutoff quantity is branched off and fed back into a storage container, according to the invention the pressure regulator (9), together with the cutoff line (14), is combined with a filter (2) in one structural unit.
All three connections (feed (4), flow (7) and cutoff connection (15)) are preferably arranged on the same side of a common housing (1). In a particularly advantageous embodiment, all three connections are arranged coaxially with one another, so that if an appropriate connecting piece is used, installation faults can be ruled out.
Abstract: A method for applying liquid plastic polymers to soil surfaces in order to form a continuous membrane film for soil mulch. The plastic mulch is useful for enhancing crop production, disinfestation of soil by solarization and prevention of soil erosion. Additionally, the invention includes procedures for applying and spraying the liquid plastic polymers to form an effective and economic film.
Abstract: A filling level sensor has a carrier part (1) having a lever wire (3) which is attached to a bracket (2) and is axially guided by a bar-shaped apron (11). The bracket (2) has webs (9, 10) which protrude radially with respect to its pivotable and axially nondisplaceable bearing and over which flange elements (7, 8) of the carrier part (1) engage. As a result, the bracket (2) is at a constant distance from the carrier part (1) and is additionally of particularly simple design.
Abstract: A portable cat litter box and travel case wherein the portable box is comprised of two separate side compartments. One of the side compartments defines the litter box, and the second side defines a compartment within which various items necessary for proper pet care may be stored. The litter box has a substantially air tight sealing member removably secured to the top sidewall around its perimeter. Folding flanges are used to prevent a cat from inadvertently removing litter from the box upon exiting the litter box. Items which may be stored in the travel case include things such as extra food, spare liners for the litter box, a feeding bowl, etc.