Abstract: In an all-wheel drive train for a motor vehicle wherein the drive torque of the engine of the motor vehicle is transmitted from the transmission output shaft partially to the rear axle and partially to the front axle via an offset transmission structure and a laterally arranged drive shaft extending from the offset transmission structure past the transmission to the front axle of the motor vehicle extends from the offset transmission forwardly at a certain opening angle in close proximity to the transmission structure which narrows down toward the rear so that the rear end of the lateral drive shaft is relatively close to the center axis of the transmission.

Abstract: In a method of operating a 4-stroke internal combustion engine selectively in a compression ignition operation, in which an outlet valve of the internal combustion engine is closed at a comparatively early closing time point with respect to a crank angle (?) and in spark ignition operation, in which the outlet valve is closed at a comparatively late closing time point with respect to the crank angle (?), during the changeover from the spark ignition mode of operation to the compression ignition mode of operation, the closing time point of the outlet valve is transferred from the late closing time point to the early closing time point in steps distributed over multiple 4-stroke cycles.

Abstract: A hydraulic stabilizing device for vehicles having an actuator which can be acted on in opposite directions comprises a switching device, which is formed by a directional control valve, and, in series with the switching device, a switching apparatus, which is formed by two separate directional control valves which are connected in parallel and correspondingly have a blocking position and different pass-through positions.

Abstract: In an internal combustion engine comprising a mechanical charger in the form of a positive displacement compressor connected to the engine intake duct for supplying compressed air to the engine and a turbo-compound including an exhaust gas turbine connected to the engine exhaust duct for converting energy remaining in the exhaust gas to power, the exhaust gas turbine being connected to the engine via a reduction gear drive, the mechanical charger and the turbo-compound are coupled to the engine by a common belt drive including a first belt pulley mounted on the crankshaft of the engine, a second belt pulley mounted on the shaft of the reduction gear drive, and a third belt pulley mounted on the shaft of the mechanical charger.

Abstract: In a multi-disk clutch comprising a rotary body having splines formed thereon so as to extend helically along the surface thereof, with a number of disks having central openings with inwardly projecting teeth via which the discs are in rotationally positively locking engagement with the rotary body, the teeth are twisted so as to extend in a plane normal to the surface of the helically extending splines of the rotary body so that the end face areas of the teeth are in planar contact with the spline surfaces of the rotary body for the transmission of torque between the rotary body and the disks.

Abstract: An off-road vehicle, a pickup, or other such vehicle has an underprotection device with an impact plate fitted to the underside of the motor vehicle. To provide an improved underprotection device, the impact plate is fitted to the underside in a manner such that it is movable between retracted and extended positions.

Abstract: In a double clutch transmission with a winding path power flux arrangement, which has two countershafts arranged coaxially with respect to one another and with seven forward gears and a plurality of reverse gears, for selected gears the power flux extends from a part region of the transmission forward and then again back to another part region of the transmission in such a way that only four shift clutches are needed for shifting through all the gears.

Abstract: In a device for noise configuration in a motor vehicle which has an internal combustion engine with at least two gas conduits connected to different cylinders of the engine, the gas conduits are interconnected by means of a cross-flow section formed by a housing which encloses the gas conduits and which has at least two chambers in each of which one of the gas conduits is disposed, each of the gas conduits being in communication with the respective chamber by which it is enclosed by means of a respective cross-flow opening and the two chambers being in communication with one another by means of at least one cross-flow opening which is remote from the cross-flow openings of the gas conduits so as to provide for a phase shift of the sound waves of the gas flowing through the housing.

Abstract: In a camshaft adjuster for an internal combustion engine including a gear mechanism, an input drive element, a camshaft as an output element, and a brake mechanism for braking an adjustment input for the adjustment of a phase position of the camshaft, a coupling mechanism is provided for locking the adjustment mechanism at a particular phase position while the brake mechanism is inactivated.

Abstract: In an adjusting mechanism which is connected to first and second camshafts of a camshaft drive arrangement including a control device for adjusting the phase position of at least one of the camshafts relative to a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine, and having a drive device for driving the camshaft arrangement, a first partial mechanism for driving the first camshaft and a second partial mechanism for driving the second camshaft are provided so as to be driven in parallel by means of a common drive device for adjusting the angular position of the first and second camshafts relative to the crankshaft of the engine.

Abstract: In a centrifugal oil separator for blow-by gases of an internal combustion engine comprising a rotating component which has at least one inflow port for the introduction of blow-by gases from the crankcase of the internal combustion engine, at least a first outflow port for the discharge of air and at least a second outflow port for the discharge of oil, and also a driveshaft (12) driving the rotating component for driving the rotating component, the driveshaft of the rotating component is connected via a mechanical coupling to a transmission driven by a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A method and a device for determining the condition of roadway surfaces includes transmitting electromagnetic radiation at at least two different frequencies in the GHz range, reflecting and/or scattering the electromagnetic radiation by the roadway surface and subsequently receiving the electromagnetic radiation at the at least two frequencies. The condition of the roadway surface is determined on the basis of a comparison of the radiation intensities received at the different frequencies.

Abstract: A method for starting a gas generating system serving to generate a hydrogenous gas used for operating a fuel cell. The gas generating system includes: devices for converting starting materials into the hydrogenous gas; devices for conditioning at least a portion of the starting materials; devices for purifying the hydrogenous gas by removing unwanted gas constituents, and; a starting burner. According to the method, in a first method step, at least one fuel is combusted inside the starting burner. The hot waste gases resulting from this combustion firstly heat the devices provided for conditioning at least a portion of the starting materials, and the residual heat of these waste gases subsequently heats at least one additional component. In parallel thereto, the devices for converting the starting materials are heated by an electric heating.

Abstract: In a shifting device comprising a shiftable double member arrangement and a shifting element for shifting the double member arrangement, the shifting element is arranged at least partially at a side of and next to, the double member arrangement.