Abstract: A fuel cell system has at least one fuel cell, a hydrogen storage tank in which hydrogen is stored at a pressure above atmospheric and which communicates via a hydrogen supply line with an anode chamber of the fuel cell. An anode circuit, via which unreacted hydrogen is able to be recirculated from a region downstream of the anode chamber into the hydrogen supply line, is provided. At least one pumping device is provided between the outlet of the anode chamber and its inlet in the anode circuit and/or the hydrogen supply line. Between the hydrogen storage tank and the anode chamber, a turbine is provided, which supplies at least a portion of the power required for driving the pumping device.

Abstract: A seat system for the interior of a motor vehicle, such as a driver's cab of a truck, has a vehicle seat that is movable from a home position, set on a seat support on the vehicle, into at least one further position. The vehicle seat is separable from the seat support and has a roller element device by which the vehicle seat can be moved into a position separated from the seat support. The seat support can include at least one coupling element for a connection line, with the coupling element being connectable to a coupling element on the vehicle seat.

Abstract: In a method for operating a spark ignition engine, wherein the inlet valves of the spark ignition engine are closed very early or very late, and a combustion air flow which is supplied to the spark ignition engine is compressed by means of a charger, and, under full load operation, the inlet valves are closed either early or late to avoid knocking of the engine, a partial flow of re-circulated exhaust gas is supplied to the combustion air flow supplied to the engine also during full load engine operation.

Abstract: In a group transmission having a number of countershafts, wherein three input constants are provided on a transmission input shaft for driving a countershaft such that the group transmission is of very short construction, the transmission input shaft is connectable to an intermediate shaft for direct power transmission, with the countershaft being disconnectable in the direct gear in order to avoid drag losses.

Abstract: A powertrain system includes an engine coupled to an input member of a transmission operative to transmit power between the input member, a torque machine and an output member. The torque machine is connected to an energy storage device. The engine is selectively operative in engine states comprising an engine-on state and an engine-off state. A method for controlling a powertrain system includes determining a first power range for output power of the energy storage device, commanding the engine to transition from a first engine state to a second engine state, and expanding the first power range of the energy storage device and controlling the torque machine based upon the expanded power range of the energy storage device during the transition from the first engine state to the second engine state.

Abstract: A convertible motor vehicle with at least two vehicle seating rows and with at least two side doors is provided. A respectively associated door column is arranged in between the doors, and an active rollover protection system is provided in the region thereof. The door columns end upwards in the region of an associated waistline of the motor vehicle, and the rollover protection system is at least substantially arranged below the waistline of the motor vehicle in a retracted position.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for starting an internal combustion engine for a motor vehicle, wherein the internal combustion engine has an associated electrical machine (1) which is operated as a starter/generator. During starting, the electrical machine (1) is supplied with a voltage which is obtained from addition or from subtraction of the voltages which are produced on a first energy store (3) and the voltages which are produced on a second energy store (4).

Abstract: A method of charging a powertrain includes detecting an external power source in electrical communication with the powertrain, establishing a virtual network between charging control module, and transferring charge from the external power source to the powertrain.

Abstract: In a method for the diagnostics of an internal combustion engine exhaust gas system that includes a particle filter, first and second sets of value vectors are determined, each including associated values for absolute pressure upstream and downstream of the particle filter, a differential pressure determined from the values of the absolute pressure, an exhaust gas volume flow through the particle filter, and a temperature of the exhaust gas volume flow. After a temperature-standardization of the pressure values, characteristics for dependence of the pressure values are generated from temperature-standardized values of the first set of value vectors and possibly stored as reference characteristics. By comparing temperature-standardized values for the absolute pressure on the inlet and outlet sides of the particle filter and the differential pressure of the second set of value vectors with reference characteristics, flow anomalies can be determined in the exhaust gas system.

Abstract: A hybrid powertrain system includes a transmission operative in a plurality of operating range states. An operating range state can be secured, including assigning each operating range state to a group that can be verified, monitoring a transition path from a first to a second operating range state, and monitoring a torque equation for the present operating range state.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell with a cathode region and an anode region. The fuel cell system also includes at least one device, which is flown through by an intake air flow flowing to the cathode region and by a used air stream discharged from the cathode region. It also includes catalytic material for the thermal conversion of fuel-containing gas. A first unit with catalytic material is arranged in the flow direction of the intake air flow upstream the at least one device. An exhaust gas from the anode region can be fed to this first unit as a fuel-containing gas. A second unit with catalytic material is arranged in the flow direction of the used air flow downstream of the at least one device.

Abstract: An exhaust gas treatment device for an internal combustion engine, with a first particle filter and a second particle filter arranged downstream of the first particle filter in the flow direction of the exhaust gas through the exhaust gas treatment device. The second particle filter includes a support device that can be flown through by the exhaust gas, on which a filter unit is disposed. A pore size of the filter unit is less than a pore size of the support device. A method for operating an exhaust gas treatment device for an internal combustion engine is also provided.

Abstract: A fuel cell system comprises a fuel cell with a cathode region and anode region. The fuel cell system includes an exchanging device, which is flown through by an intake air flow flowing to the cathode region and by a used air flow discharged from the cathode region. In the exchanging device, heat is transferred from the intake air flow to the used air flow, and water vapor is simultaneously transferred from the used air flow to the intake air flow. At least part of the exchanging device is provided with a catalytic material at the intake air side. Furthermore, an exhaust gas from the anode region is fed to the exchanging device at the intake air side.

Abstract: In a method for operating an air-compressing fuel-injection internal combustion engine having an exhaust gas post-treatment system with a particle filter and a nitrogen oxide reduction catalytic converter, a plurality of internal combustion engine operating settings are provided, each having respective predefined values for predefined internal combustion engine operating parameters. A heating operating setting is set when the internal combustion engine is warming up, while a basic operating setting is set in the warmed-up state. When the temperature in the exhaust gas system exceeds a predefinable first value, the heating operating setting is changed over to the basic operating setting. In the warmed-up state, at least one further, (third) operating setting, with an exhaust gas recirculation rate that is reduced compared to the basic operating setting, is provided in addition to the basic operating setting.

Abstract: A method for controlling a powertrain includes operating a transmission in a neutral operating range state, monitoring commands affecting an input speed, monitoring a tracked clutch slip speed, determining constraints on an input acceleration based upon the commands, determining a clutch slip acceleration profile based upon the constraints on the input acceleration, determining an input acceleration profile based upon the clutch slip acceleration profile, and controlling the powertrain based upon the clutch slip acceleration profile and the input acceleration profile.

Abstract: A method for controlling a powertrain system includes monitoring operating conditions of an engine, a transmission device, and an energy storage device. The method further includes determining a first power constraint, filtering the first power constraint utilizing a first filter response time when the first power constraint changes in a first direction, and filtering the first power constraint utilizing a second filter response time when the first power constraint changes in a second direction.

Abstract: Methods and systems for manipulating inputs relating to transmission shifting events in a hybrid-engine powered vehicle equipped with an electro-mechanical hybrid transmission include sets of preferability factors inputted from engine sensors are combined in a microprocessor or computer with other preferability factors generated during engine and vehicle operation to provide an output for a transmission control module, which may execute an operating range or engine state change. Desirable input speeds for a transmission are determined by defining minimum input speeds for each potential transmission operating range state, and ascribing biasing costs to potential transmission input speeds which are slower than the minimum input speeds defined for each potential transmission operating range state.

Abstract: A fuel cell system comprising a fuel cell stack, a fuel recirculation line provided with a jet pump and a valve controlled by a control unit based on the anode-cathode pressure differential such that the valve is closed to reduce or stop fuel supply when the anode-cathode pressure differential reaches a predetermined value, and opened again to circulate more fuel through the jet pump when the pressure differential is below a predetermined value, to create a pulsed fuel supply that improves the fuel recirculation at low loads and ensures adequate water removal from the anode flow field channels.

Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine comprising an exhaust gas cleaning system that includes a SCR catalyst. In conjunction with a cold start and/or a warm-up of the internal combustion engine, the internal combustion engine is operated using a cold start engine operation method having predefineable values for predefineable operating parameters of the internal combustion engine. An amount of nitrogen oxides stored in the SCR catalyst is estimated, and the cold start engine operation method is activated when the estimation indicates that the nitrogen oxide storage amount exceeds a predefineable nitrogen oxide storage amount limit value.