Abstract: An axle drive, includes an axle drive housing, a differential gear cage, and a left and a right roller bearing, by which the differential gear cage is mounted in a rotatable manner in the axle drive housing. The differential gear cage has a left and a right bearing seat for the left or the right roller bearing. The left and the right bearing seat is formed in each case by a separate component, which is different from the differential gear cage.
Type:
Application
Filed:
February 24, 2011
Publication date:
July 28, 2011
Applicant:
Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for informing an occupant of a vehicle of surroundings of the vehicle are provided. A recording unit of the vehicle generates at least two images, which contain different road sections of a road plane in the surroundings of the vehicle. The at least two images are processed by an image processing unit, which generates a depiction in which the at least two images are imaged on a virtual road plane that is displayed in perspective. The depiction is displayed on a display unit in the interior of the vehicle.
Type:
Application
Filed:
January 19, 2011
Publication date:
July 21, 2011
Applicant:
Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
Abstract: A method of fixing, particularly loosely prefixing, at least two components that are to be firmly connected with one another, especially two body parts of a vehicle body that are to be firmly connected with one another, includes the steps of providing a first component on which at least one first form-locking element projecting from the first component is provided, providing a second component which has at least one second form-locking element that interacts with the first form-locking element of the first component, and loosely prefixing the two components by placing them together such that the form-locking elements interlock with one another. As a result, the components are held relative to one another at least in one direction. The at least one first form-locking element is a separate part that differs from the first component and that is connected with the first component only after the manufacture of the first component.
Type:
Application
Filed:
March 29, 2011
Publication date:
July 21, 2011
Applicant:
Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
Inventors:
Johann van NIEKERK, Sonja Wolf, Robert Donharl, Klaus-Peter Sigl
Abstract: A method and apparatus for welding two or more subcomponents together is described. The subcomponents may be welded to one another along seams, whereby sections of the seam that comprise similar materials are heated to a degree suitable for joining together those particular portions of the seam. Other sections of the seam may be heated to a different degree depending upon the material characteristics employed in that section of the seam. Embodiments of the apparatus include features for holding the subcomponents, simultaneously heating seams of each component, positioning the mating subcomponents together, and applying pressure between mating subcomponents to join them together.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 20, 2006
Date of Patent:
July 19, 2011
Assignees:
Lisa Draexlmaier GmbH, Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
Inventors:
Nikolaus Feichtenschlager, Andreas Junger, Christian Auzinger, Philipp Seidl, Erich Katzlberger, Dieter Nagel, Leopold Eisterlehner, Hannes Zaleschak
Abstract: An operating element for a vehicle steerable with a handlebar, in particular a motorcycle, having an operating ring in the area of a handle of the handlebar. The operating ring can be adjusted in multiple degrees of freedom, i.e., it can be rotated, shifted and depressed. Therefore, it can be used multifunctionally for triggering various functions in the vehicle.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 14, 2006
Date of Patent:
July 19, 2011
Assignee:
Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
Abstract: The present invention relates to an exhaust-gas turbocharger (1) having a turbine housing (2) and having a mani-fold section (3) which is connected to the turbine housing (2), wherein the turbine housing (2) and the manifold section (3) are formed as a single-piece cast part.
Type:
Application
Filed:
September 10, 2009
Publication date:
July 14, 2011
Applicants:
BorgWarner Inc., Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
Inventors:
Robert Lingenauber, Patrick Steingass, Jan Velthuis
Abstract: The present invention relates to optical sensor arrangements, especially sensors of the type that can be used in motor vehicles and which can detect hydrogen in a gaseous measured medium.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 16, 2007
Date of Patent:
July 12, 2011
Assignee:
Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
Abstract: A method controls or regulates the charge state of an electrical energy accumulator of a hybrid vehicle, where, in some operating states, the energy accumulator is charged from a low to a higher charge state level by way of an electric machine driven by an internal-combustion engine of the hybrid vehicle and operating as a generator. The level of the charge state to which the energy accumulator is charged by the internal-combustion engine is selected as a function of a parameter representing the load of the electrical system or correlating thereto.
Type:
Application
Filed:
March 21, 2011
Publication date:
July 7, 2011
Applicant:
Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
Abstract: The invention relates to a method for reducing the energy consumption of a motor vehicle having an internal-combustion engine and having at least one electric onboard power supply to which at least a first electric consuming device is connected. In a first operating condition, the internal-combustion engine is operated with a first injection quantity and a first ignition point. In a second operating condition, the internal-combustion engine is operated with a second injection quantity higher than the first injection quantity and a second ignition point. The second ignition point in time is less favorable than the first ignition point in the case of the second injection quantity with respect to the capacity of the internal-combustion engine. Upon detecting a substantially imminent special driving situation, a driving situation detection device causes the internal-combustion engine to change from the first operating condition into the second operating condition.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 26, 2010
Date of Patent:
July 5, 2011
Assignee:
Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
Inventors:
Martin Hauschild, Olaf Lemke, Torsten Herzog
Abstract: A cooling system for a vehicle battery is described. The system has a cooling loop in heat transfer communication with the battery, for removing heat therefrom with a coolant, a first cooling device selectively coupleable to the cooling loop, using a refrigerant fluid to transfer heat with the coolant, and a second cooling device selectively coupleable to the cooling loop, using ambient air to transfer heat with the coolant. Various temperature sensors for sensing an ambient temperature and a battery temperature are provided, and connected to a controller that implements a coolant flow bypass function by commanding operation of a valve to bypass the selected one of the cooling devices in response to the battery and the ambient temperatures.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 27, 2008
Date of Patent:
July 5, 2011
Assignee:
Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
Abstract: A method provides driving operation data in a network for wirelessly exchanging driving operation data. A first motor vehicle connected to the network by communication technology determines the absolute driving operation data of a second motor vehicle by way of at least one environment sensor disposed in the first motor vehicle. The absolute driving operation data of the second motor vehicle are transmitted by the first motor vehicle to at least one other subscriber to the network.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 5, 2010
Date of Patent:
July 5, 2011
Assignee:
Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
Abstract: A method for entering data into at least a first and a second control device of a motor vehicle is provided. Each of the first and the second control device is provided with a sequencing control that has a reversible deactivation state, a programming mode, and an operating mode with operating functions. The first and the second control device are each put into the deactivation state, during which the execution of operating functions of the operating mode is prevented, preferably at least to a large extent. The first and the second control device are each put into the programming mode, during which the reversible deactivation state of each control device is maintained. The deactivation state of all control devices will be canceled after the respective data have been entered into all control devices in the programming mode.
Type:
Application
Filed:
January 28, 2011
Publication date:
June 30, 2011
Applicant:
Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
Abstract: A process for operating a hybrid vehicle in an internal-combustion-engine-driven mode and/or in an electric-motor-driven mode, wherein, on a route section to be traveled and considered for driving in the electric-motor-driven mode, a change to the electric-motor-driven mode will take place only when a threshold value is exceeded which represents, or correlates with the efficiency advantage achievable on the route section by a change from the internal-combustion-engine-driven mode to the electric-motor-driven mode. Starting from the instantaneous position of the hybrid vehicle, the route is examined in an anticipatory manner with respect to such a route section, wherein the threshold value is adapted when such a route section was recognized and a driving through the route section in the electric driving mode would likely lead to a lowering of the state of charge of an electric energy accumulator into a critical state of charge range.
Type:
Application
Filed:
March 8, 2011
Publication date:
June 30, 2011
Applicant:
Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft