Abstract: This invention relates to electrically operable valves and in particular, but not exclusively, to valves for use in fuel injection system for internal combustion engines. A valve has a housing 13 having a valve 3 seat, and receiving a valve body 2 which can be raised from the valve seat 3 in accordance with a variation in dimension of magnetostrictional device 7 or a piezoceramic device caused by a current flow in the device. The valve body 2 is spring-loaded, by spring 15, in a sense to close the valve and is connected via the device 7 to a movable abutment unit 10,11, which is so constituted that, during the current induced variations in dimension, it acts as a stationary abutment or anchorage for that end of the device, which is remote from the valve body.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for the production of a helical spring from fiber-reinforced plastic, where a strand of fibers and plastic resin is wound onto a rotationally symmetric rotor provided with a spiral groove then hardened and finally removed from the rotor. In order to be able to produce helical springs with desired and in particular circular cross sections of the strand with small tolerances of the shape, a stator with an inner spiral groove is surroundingly disposed around the rotor, which spiral groove together with the spiral grooves of the rotor form the cross-sectional profile of the strand, where the rotor and the stator relative to the rotation of the rotor are shifted axially with respect to each other in an amount corresponding to the slope of the spiral grooves.

Abstract: A transmission comprises a rotatable output; a rotatable input; three planetary gear sets each having rotatable first, second and third elements and planet gears; rigid rotatable couplings connecting the second element of each set with one element of one other set and connecting the third element of each set with a different element of one other set, the remaining elements of each set being uncoupled and being of the same kind; a brake for locking each coupling against rotation; the uncoupled element of one set being driven by the input and the uncoupled element of a second set driving the output; and a clutch arrangement for selectively connecting the uncoupled element of the third set with either or both of the uncoupled elements of the first and second sets.

Abstract: A motor vehicle provided with a combustion engine, an alternator, a battery and a heating installation for the passenger cabin has a heating unit which comprises a heating circuit and a heating exchanger fed by the heating liquid for the heating of air. The alternator is liquid cooled and has a rotor and chambers adapted to receive cooling liquid and is switchable into the heating circuit; and the alternator has filed coils adapted to be short circuited. In this fashion the alternator is switchable as an eddy current brake. Furthermore, the alternator may be a liquid cooled alternator asynchronous generator, whereby its chambers which are cooled by the cooling liquid are switched to the heating circuit.

Abstract: A passive knee restraint for an automotive vehicle is formed by the yieldable rearwardly facing lower wall of a dashboard portion positioned to engage the knees of a seated passenger in an automotive vehicle, thereby restraining the lower portion of the body of the passenger in the seat in the event of sudden vehicle deceleration. According to the invention, this dashboard portion is at least partly swingable on the remainder of the dashboard to afford unrestricted access to the region behind it, thereby allowing repair and maintenance in this region and/or access to articles stored therein as, for example, when a glove compartment is provided behind this swingable part.

Abstract: A window-guiding and sealing assembly for use particularly in a door of a passenger-type automotive vehicle having a window frame comprises a guide member directly attached to the window along a substantially vertical edge thereof and projecting into the interior of the vehicle, this guide member being slidably mounted in a vertical guide rail on the vehicle body. A hollow substantially oval sealing strip is integrally formed with a holder having a resilient clip for forming a snap-lock engagement with a flange and a recess along the members of the window frame, the holder having a guide surface on a horizontal portion for facilitating the engagement of an upper part of the window pane and a horizontal section of the sealing strip upon a closing of the window assembly. The holder is further provided along its entire length with an inwardly facing shoulder for engaging another hollow sealing strip attached to the door frame.

Abstract: A motor-vehicle door has a generally annular door frame having an inner side and outer side respectively releasably connected to inner and outer door panels. A hinge is connected to one vertical edge of the frame between the sides and a latch to the opposite edge. A window pane is vertically displaceable in and above the frame and the mechanism for operating this window and for operating the latch are fixed to the inner panel. The frame is formed by a pair of frame parts together forming a tubular box-girder structure on the two upright sides and lower edge of the door for maximum rigidity.

Abstract: In an arrangement according to this disclosure, a spring element (3, 7) is arranged between a mounting core member (2) and a support (6) and is connected to a damper mass (9, 12). The damper mass has a container (10) which is filled with pressure liquid and/or gas and closed by a diaphragm (13). The spring rate of the diaphragm can be varied as desired, particularly in dependence on the speed of rotation of the machine or engine. For varying the spring rate of the diaphragm, a pressure plate (15) is associated with the diaphragm, and is displaceable relative to the diaphragm by way of an adjusting arrangement (16, 17) dependent on the speed of rotation of the machine or engine, and the relative configurations of the pressure plate and the facing diaphragm are such that this displacement reduces or increases the free area of the diaphragm, and thus varies its spring rate.

Abstract: A method of making a connecting rod for an internal combustion engine having a one-piece crankshaft construction generally consisting of positioning a first crankpin bushing segment having a connecting rod shank consisting of a reinforced resinous material mounted thereon, on a crankpin of the crankshaft, positioning a second crankpin bushing segment on the crankpin, and applying a reinforcing material and a resinous material about a periphery of the connecting rod shank and the second crankpin bushing segment to form an integral unit consisting of the crankpin bushing segments embedded in the connecting rod shank, attached to the crankpin.

Abstract: An internal-combustion engine having an electric starting motor, an ignition system, and an electric power source is provided with a control system allowing the engine to be stopped and restarted very easily. This system comprises a main ignition switch connected in series between the power source and the ignition system and closable to energize the ignition system from the power source. A manual start switch and an automatic start switch are connected in series between the main ignition switch and the electric starting motor and both are closable when the main ignition switch is closed to energize the starting motor from the power source. A speed-sensing circuit is connected to the engine and to the automatic start switch and is set up to open the automatic start switch and thereby deenergize the start motor when the engine is operating above a predetermined rate of approximately 500 rpm.

Abstract: An upholstered seat for a motor vehicle having a seat member and a backrest, one or both of which includes a central part and a U-shaped edge part, at least partly surrounding the central part, and formed with a peripheral support element, said U-shaped edge part being adjustable in a lengthwise direction in relation to the respective central part to change the size of the support area.

Abstract: A device for lubricating a rotary piston air pump driven by an engine penetrated by lubricating oil return conduits. The device includes a rotary housing including a casing and two side walls and rotatably mounted on a stationary axle having an eccentric thereon. The axle penetrates the housing perpendicular with respect to the side walls and receives on its eccentric a rotating piston, which is in camming engagement with the casing and limits volume changing operating chambers. The surface of the eccentric on which the piston is mounted is provided with a recess in communication with a suction conduit and a recess in communication with a discharge conduit. The piston has control openings for successively communicating the recesses with the operating chambers during rotary movement of the piston.

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.

Abstract: This invention provides a fastening device for roof racks which is clamped only on one side of a car. The fastening comprises a support bar 10, a rigid leg 12 which embraces one of the lateral rails 2 which make up the roof of the car and a second leg 13 which is adjustably attached to the other lateral rail.

Abstract: Apparatus is described for recording certain operating conditions of a motor vehicle, those conditions occurring upon the braking of the vehicle, and the apparatus is particularly applicable to vehicles equipped with antilock braking systems. A shift register is controlled by an oscillator in continuously shifting operation. When a predetermined driving condition occurs, the state of the first register location is changed. In the event the device is used for recording a braking condition, there is provided a time delay switch which locks the shift register at the point it has reached when a predetermined delay time is exceeded. The aforementioned shift register can be constructed in the form of an electromechanical shift register which responds to a signal generated through the operation of a stop lamp switch.

Abstract: A motor-vehicle seat adjuster has a sun gear with which at least one planet gear is in continuous mesh. A link has an outer end carrying this planet gear and an inner end pivoted at the axis of the sun gear to allow pivoting of the planet gear between two angularly offset positions in each of which is meshes with a respective output gear. A control element is provided for displacing this gear between these two positions and the sun gear is rotated from an electrical motor. When the planet gear is in mesh with one of the output gears it displaces the seat in one direction and when in mesh with the other output gear it displaces it in another different direction.

Abstract: A continuous fuel injection system for an internal combustion engine including a fuel metering valve 7 operating at a controlled pressure difference between chambers 13,14, the pressure difference being automatically adjusted by a regulating valve 17 including a diaphragm 18 separating two chambers 19,20. Chamber 20 is connected to relief 60 via a movable valve element 35 and the second chamber 19 is connected to the pressure upstream of the metering valve. The pressure difference is determined by a spring system acting on the diaphragm 18 including a stronger spring 33 which acts directly on the diaphragm and a weaker spring 34 which acts as a contact spring holding the valve body 35 lightly in contact with the diaphragm.

Abstract: This invention relates to switching apparatus for mechanical remote control of the gear box of the motor vehicle.A gear lever 1 is connected to one end of a gear selector rod 4 such that movement of the gear lever can cause axial or rotary movement of the rod. A two arm intermediate link 5 is connected to the other end of rod 4 for movement therewith. One arm is operatively connected to main gear shaft 13 by a link (10, 11 and 12) while the other arm is operatively connected to main gear shaft 13 by a link (6, 15, 16-19, 22, 24, 25, 30 and 31). The first mentioned link converts the rotary movement of rod 4 into longitudinal movement of shaft 13, while the second link converts axial movement of rod 4 into rotary movement of shaft 13.The two links are so arranged so as to take up or absorb vibrational or other movement transmitted from the gear box so as to reduce or avoid vibration of gear lever 1.

Abstract: This invention relates to a fuel injection system.The fuel injection system has a fuel proportioning valve (3,4) which is supplied by a fuel feed line (39). The fuel proportioning valve supplies fuel to fuel injection valves (not shown) via a diaphragm valve 25. A differential pressure regulator 35 is provided to alter the pressure in the system in accordance with engine parameters. The pressure in the system is controlled by system pressure valve 41.In operation excess fuel is returned to fuel tank 70. When the engine is switched off a stop valve 63 closes the return line and valve 25 is closed in response to a drop in pressure in the differential pressure regulator 35, thus sealing the system and maintaining the pressure within the fuel supply part of the system to facilitate easy restarting. Seals 73 are provided in the fuel proportioning valve (3,4) to prevent fuel leakage from the seal part of the system between the valve 3 and valve cylinder 4 of the fuel proportioning valve.

Abstract: A self-regulating electrically heated positive-temperature-coefficient (hereinafter PTC) carburetor stove for use in the fuel entry system of a gasoline engine is connected through the ignition system directly to the battery for rapidly heating of the stove upon starting of the car. This system comprises a plurality of PTC pills housed in a container with a high thermal conductivity top plate in direct heat transfer relation with the pills. Gasoline droplets are evaporated on this plate during cold start conditions to minimize the need to run a cold engine in the closed choke gasoline rich mode. During heat-up of the engine the PTC pills reach the anomaly temperature and at that point greatly increase their resistance thereby virtually terminating the power requirement of the stove in the heated engine mode.