Abstract: A rubber mixture containing at least one rubber component, at least one filler, and conventional additives that it contain at least one first gel as a filler, which is essentially comprised of a rubber, has a particle size of 3×10−9 to 1×10−6 m, and has a swelling index in toluene of 1 to 15, and at least the surface of this gel has acid or base groups, where these groups have not been produced by means of reaction with dithiophosphoric acid, and comprises: a) at least one second gel as an additional filler, which is essentially comprised of a rubber, has a particle size of 3×10−9 to 1×10−6 m, and has a swelling index in toluene of 1 to 15, which is in a position to undergo a neutralization reaction with the acid or base groups of the first gel and/or b) contains at least one substance as an additional additive, which is capable of undergoing a neutralization reaction with the acid or base groups of at least one gel.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining the rotational speed of a motor vehicle wheel (4), which rotates about a rotational axis (2), by an acceleration sensor (10). The acceleration sensor (10) is mounted on the motor vehicle wheel (4) at a spacing (r) to the rotational axis (2) in such a manner that the force-sensitive axis of the acceleration sensor (10) is perpendicular to the rotational axis and is perpendicular to the centrifugal force which acts on the acceleration sensor (10) with a rotation of the motor vehicle wheel (4) about the rotational axis (2). The rotational speed of the motor vehicle wheel (4) is measured in that the rotational axis (2) is aligned horizontally so that a periodic measurement signal is generated in the acceleration sensor (10) by the gravitational force. The frequency of the measurement signal corresponds to the rotational speed of the motor vehicle wheel (4) about the rotational axis (2).

Abstract: Process and drum for constructing a green tire on a radially expandable drum having a substantially horizontal axis of rotation. The process includes collapsing the radially expandable drum at a minimum first diameter, and positioning a casing on the radially expandable drum to form a drum periphery being composed of an elastic material, and having an inner diameter at least as great as the first diameter, and including a plurality of voids coupled to an evacuating pump. The radially expandable drum is radially expanded from the first diameter to a second diameter greater than the first diameter to expand the casing, and producing a carcass, having at least one carcass ply with at least one of sidewalls and an air-tight inner layer, on the drum. A vacuum is produced in the voids to suction the carcass onto the drum periphery and at least axial end areas of the expandable drum are radially compressed to a third diameter to enable bead cores to traverse the drum periphery without touching the drum periphery.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a pneumatic vehicle tire includes the step of folding the carcass ply in the overlap zone of the leading and trailing ends into at least one fold to form an overlength of the reinforcement elements in the overlap zone for preventing the constriction in the overlap zone within the vulcanized, inflated tire. Subsequently, in both methods, the green tire is completed on the building drum and the green tire is then vulcanized to produce the finished tire.

Abstract: Expandable drum for constructing a green carcass of a tire has a periphery and includes a plurality of metal segments positioned to form a substantially cylindrical arrangement, adapted for radial expansion and compression. A thick-walled casing, positioned over the plurality of metal segments, forms the drum periphery. The thick-walled casing includes rubber and a plurality of voids arranged to have an outer periphery in the thick-walled casing. An evacuating pump is coupled to the plurality of voids. The plurality of voids form suctioning voids to suction the green carcass onto the drum periphery during compression of the drum periphery, and are coupled at radially outermost extents to a network of grooves arranged to provide wave-free and smooth contraction of green carcass during its compression, thereby avoiding bulges and creases in contracting green carcass. Radially innermost extents of the voids are coupled to evacuating pump to create vacuum in the grooves.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a level control system for a motor vehicle wherein the controllable valves (8a to 8d and 10) are controlled by a first control unit (24). The first control unit (24) transmits a signal to a second control unit (36) at time intervals. If the second control unit (36) does not receive the signal expected from the first control unit, then the second control unit (36) assumes the control of the valves (8a to 8d and 10) in such a manner that the motor vehicle is transferred into a dynamically safe driving condition.

Abstract: Unvulcanized rubber mixture includes at least one rubber, aggregate, and at least one filler, wherein a surface of the at least one filler has been modified with a stimuli-sensitive substance. A filler for unvulcanized rubber mixtures includes a surface which has been modified with a stimuli-sensitive substance. A process for making an unvulcanized rubber mixture including at least one rubber, aggregate, and at least one filler, wherein a surface of the at least one filler has been modified with a stimuli-sensitive substance. The process includes coating a surface of at least one filler with a stimuli-sensitive substance to form at least one coated filler, and mixing the at least one coated filler with unvulcanized rubber and aggregate. A rubber product formed from an unvulcanized rubber mixture includes at least one rubber, aggregate, and at least one filler, wherein a surface of the at least one filler has been modified with a stimuli-sensitive substance.

Abstract: A rubber composition which contains a rubber mixture that can be vulcanized with a vulcanizing agent, which includes at least one rubber component, at least one filler having nucleophilic groups, gel particles comprising a rubber, having a particle size between about 3×10−9 and about 1×10−6 m and a swelling index in toluene of about 1 to about 15 and whose surface has electrophilic centers, and a substance acting as a coupling agent between the filler having nucleophilic groups and the additional filler, the substance acting as a coupling agent having the following structure: X—R1—Si—(R2)3, wherein X is a nucleophilic group, R1 is an alkyl group having up to about 6 carbon atoms or a phenyl group, and R2 may be the same as or different from each other and from R1 and is an alkyl or alkoxy group having up to 6 carbon atoms and at least one of R2 is an alkoxy group.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for operating an electromechanical brake system 2 of a motor vehicle that contains two brake circuits 24 and 28 that are powered by the on-board network 20 in the normal mode and by the respective emergency power storage mechanisms 22a and 22b in the emergency mode. In the emergency mode of the brake system 2, one of the two brake circuits 24, 28 is only operated by the control unit 10 until the emergency power storage mechanism 22b assigned to this brake circuit 28 has reached a residual power value that is sufficient for locking the wheels of this brake circuit at least once while the motor vehicle is at a standstill.

Abstract: A method for adjusting or altering the play between brake linings and friction surfaces of motor vehicle brakes by means of controllable and adjustable lifting and return movements of the brake linings is disclosed. In this case, the play is altered as a function of the actuation of the gas pedal, such that the play is reduced if the pressure exerted on the gas pedal is reduced and/or if the gas pedal is released. The device for adjusting or altering the play between brake linings and friction surfaces of motor vehicle brakes contains a brake control/brake regulator (4) for acquiring and processing electronic signals delivered by a brake pedal sensor (2) and, if so required, other sensors, and for actuating electromechanical brake actuators (5).

Abstract: The invention relates to an electric brake system for a motor vehicle wherein each wheel of the vehicle includes a brake actuator (2) assigned thereto. The invention also relates to a brake actuator for an electric brake system. During a braking operation, the brake linings (20a and 20b) are pressed against the brake disc (30) with a pregiven braking force by a braking-force device (10) of the brake actuator (2). At least one of the brake actuators (2) includes a sensor with which an elastic deformation of the braking-force device (10) or the brake yoke (18) is measured. This elastic deformation occurs during a braking operation. The braking force is determined from the measured elastic deformation and this braking force is then available for the control of the brake system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system having an air spring flexible member (6) which is clamped between a cover plate (4) and a rolloff piston (10). The movement of the rolloff piston (10) is pregiven by a curved path (16). The rolloff piston (10) is curved with the curvature being at least segmentwise of the same orientation as the curvature of the curved path (16). Because of the curvature of the rolloff piston (10), a lateral offset of the flexible member (6) to the cover plate (4) can be substantially avoided when the rolloff piston (10) plunges into the flexible member (6). The formation of a rolling lobe (20) having a different width over its periphery is also avoided.

Abstract: A method for controlling or regulating a compressor 4 that can be switched on and off on demand, wherein a control unit 6 that switches the compressor 4 on and off is provided with the compressor. In a method of this type, it must be ensured that the compressor 4 is not damaged due to overheating. This is attained due to the fact that the control unit 6 operates the compressor 4 continuously during a regulating process until a limiting value is reached, and that said control unit operates the compressor in a cyclic manner once the limiting value is reached. This method makes it possible to complete regulating processes even if a critical limiting value is already reached.

Abstract: A vehicle tire has a plurality of first marks arranged in a circular pattern on a radially outer area of the vehicle tire. A plurality of second marks is arranged in a circular pattern on a radially inner area of the sidewall. Passing of the first and second marks is detectable by magnetic or inductive sensors. The derived signals are used to determine the longitudinal force acting on the tire or the tire spring travel or the footprint length or the load/pressure ratio during rotation of the tire.

Abstract: The invention relates to a roller spindle assembly (2) having a spindle rod (4) and a spindle nut (6) and roller bearings (10). The roller bearings are journalled between the spindle nut (6) and the spindle rod (4). The spindle rod (4) and the spindle nut (6) move relative to each other and, for a relative movement of the spindle rod to the spindle nut (6), the roller bearings (10) are displaced out of a start position. The roller bearings (10) are journalled in a cage (8) resiliently biased by a return spring (12). With the cage (8), the roller bearings (10) are guided back into the start position after a completed displacement from the start position when the spindle rod (4) and spindle nut (6) are at rest. In this way, it is not necessary to provide a conventional return of the roller bearings (10) with the aid of complex return-guide channels in the spindle nut (6).

Abstract: A rubber composition, which contains a rubber mixture that can be vulcanized with a vulcanizing agent, which includes at least one rubber component, at least one filler, gel particles comprising a rubber, having a particle size between about 3.times.10.sup.-9 and about 1.times.10.sup.-6 m and a swelling index in toluene of about 1 to about 15 and whose surface has electrophilic centers, and a substance which acts as a coupling agent between the gel particles and which has the structure A--R--A, wherein A is a nucleophilic group, and R is a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group. The rubber composition has improved hysteresis behavior in the vulcanized state so that when this rubber composition is used in tires, the rolling resistance is reduced and the wet slippage behavior is improved in relation to the conventional rubber compositions. A method of formulating the rubber composition as well as a composition useful for tire treads and vehicle tires containing the composition are disclosed.

Abstract: A vulcanization mold for manufacturing pneumatic vehicle tires has mold segments for forming the tread strip of a pneumatic vehicle tire. The mold segments have a radially inwardly facing honeycomb lamella pattern in a radial direction of the vulcanization mold. The honeycomb lamella pattern has first zigzag lamella members mounted in the mold segments and second zigzag lamella members mounted in the mold segments. The first zigzag lamella members extend in a first main direction and the second zigzag members extend in a second main direction. The first and second main directions cross one another. The first zigzag lamella members have first lamella elements and the second zigzag lamella members have second lamella elements, wherein the first and second lamella elements form honeycomb walls of the honeycomb pattern.

Abstract: The invention relates to a level control arrangement for a vehicle having air springs (8) via which the chassis of the vehicle is suspended relative to at least one vehicle axle. A pneumatically-controllable directional-control valve (18) is arranged between the compressor (4) and the air dryer (6) and the directional-control valve (18) has two control inputs (20 and 22). In the base state of the level control arrangement, the compressor (4) is connected via the pneumatically-controllable directional-control valve (18) to the air dryer (6). When the control line (26) of the first control input (20) is connected via a controllable directional-control valve (30) to the atmosphere, the pneumatically-controllable directional-control valve 18 transfers into the other switching state and the air spring (8) can be vented via the air dryer (6).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for carrying out the allocation of the wheel position to tire pressure control devices (6a to 6d) in a tire pressure control system of a motor vehicle. The tire pressure control devices (6a to 6d) transmit their individual identifiers to the central unit (10) of the tire pressure control system at pregiven time intervals. The individual identifiers are transmitted at transmitting time points. At these time points, the wheel assumes a defined angular position so that a defined angular offset is present between two transmission time points. The rotation signals, which are supplied by the rpm sensors (4a to 4d), are checked in the central unit (10) as to which rotation signal exhibits the same angular offset. In the central unit (10), the tire pressure control devices (6a to 6d) are allocated to that wheel position whose rpm sensor (4a to 4d) likewise has measured the pregiven angular offset.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a level control arrangement for a vehicle having air springs (8) via which the vehicle is suspended relative to at least one vehicle axle. Directional valve (18) conducts moist air and is configured as a pneumatically controllable valve in order to prevent icing thereof. For controlling or switching, directional valve (18) is charged via the control line (22) with pressurized air generated by the compressor (4). The control line (22) can be connected via a third directional valve (20) to the atmosphere so that, when the compressor (4) is not running, the second directional valve (18) can transfer from a switching state wherein the compressor (4) is connected to the air dryer (6) into an other switching state wherein the air dryer (6) is connected to the atmosphere.