Abstract: In an internal combustion engine for motor vehicles with an engine shutdown driven capability, wherein the engine has intake and exhaust valves with a variable timing valve actuating system permitting the generation of an engine braking torque depending on the state of vehicle operation, the intake and exhaust valves are controlled during shutdown engine driven operation such that at least on type of valves, that is either all the intake or all the exhaust valves remain closed.

Abstract: The invention provides a sensor system which has a measuring element which has a PT1-action, such as an engine oil temperature sensor for an internal-combustion engine of a motor vehicle. A measured-value analysis unit connected behind the measuring element adds to the measured values supplied by the measuring element a correction value equal to the product of the measuring element time constant and a sliding average change value of the successively sensed measured values.

Abstract: An operating-element arrangement has a user-actuatable operating element which, when actuated in a first actuation direction, brings about an increase in the longitudinal direction of a motor vehicle. When actuated in a second actuation direction opposite to the first direction, the arrangement brings about a reduction in the longitudinal movement of the vehicle. The actuating force exerted on the operating element determines the change in longitudinal movement to be brought about. The rest position of the operating element is displaced in dependence on the longitudinal movement of the vehicle. The user consequently receives a perceptible and/or visible acknowledgement of the respective vehicle speed or of the deviation between the actual and the desired speed. Alternatively, the operating element can be configured isometrically, in that it remains in a fixed position irrespective of the actuating force.

Abstract: In an arrangement for mounting pipe end flanges to the exhaust gas passages of a cylinderhead of an internal combustion engine, the cylinderhead has pockets formed at one side of the exhaust gas passages and the pipe end flanges have projections projecting in opposite directions. One of the flange projections is received in the respective pocket while the opposite one is engaged by a guide strap holding the flange in engagement with the cylinderhead. A gasket and spring structure is disposed between the flange and the cylinderhead for controlling the engagement pressure between the flange and the cylinderhead.

Abstract: In a fuel tank venting system for a vehicle with an internal combustion engine having an air intake duct and an adsorption filter in which fuel vapors are adsorbed, a venting line extends from the adsorption filter to the air intake duct and includes a regeneration valve, and a bypass line is disposed in parallel with a section of the venting line and includes an air pump for pumping air from the adsorption filter to the air intake duct to provide for venting air flow particularly when the engine is operating under a high load where little vacuum is generated in the air intake duct.

Abstract: In a gasoline internal combustion engine with direct fuel injection a spark plug with a center electrode is mounted in the cylinder top so as to project into the combustion chamber. A mass electrode is disposed on the piston so as to project upwardly into the combustion chamber and is movable with the piston toward and from the spark plug center electrode. An ignition system is provided for timely generating a spark between the spark plug electrode and the movable mass electrode for igniting a fuel/air mixture in the combustion chamber. A fuel injector is mounted in the cylinder top and adapted to provide a cone-like fuel beam with an envelope disposed between the spark plug electrode and the mass electrode such that a spark generated between the two electrodes extends through the fuel injection beam envelope.

Abstract: In an exhaust gas turbocharger turbine for an internal combustion engine with a turbine housing having an annular flow path, a control sleeve axially movably supported in an annular space formed in the turbine housing adjacent the annular flow path and having at its front end a flow guide structure with vanes for guiding the exhaust gas flow when the flow guide structure is disposed in the annular flow path, a ring is disposed at the front end of the control sleeve in front of the flow guide structure such that the annular space is covered and sealed when the control sleeve is fully retracted into the annular space whereby flow losses are substantially reduced.

Abstract: In a fuel injector for a fuel injection system of an internal combustion engine including an injector housing with an injection nozzle controlled by a valve needle extending through a cylindrical fuel pressure space from which fuel under pressure is supplied to the fuel injection nozzle, the fuel pressure space includes a flow limiting piston with a seating surface at its end adjacent the needle tip and the injector housing has a valve seat disposed opposite the piston seating surface for blocking fuel flow to the injector nozzle when the flow limiting piston is seated on the valve seat and the flow limiting piston is spring-biased away from the valve seat with a force which is sufficient to normally hold the flow limiting piston away from the valve seat, but which permits closing of the valve when the fuel flow to the injector nozzle becomes excessive.

Abstract: In a method of controlling adjustable operating parameters of an internal combustion engine with direct fuel injection which includes at least one cylinder having a piston delimiting a combustion chamber, a fuel injector and a spark plug, wherein air supplied to the combustion chamber through an air intake passage forms with the fuel injected by the fuel injector a fuel/air mixture which is compressed and produces a plasma cloud which is then ignited by a spark generated between the electrodes of the spark plug, the ionization degree of the plasma cloud is measured and an ionization signal is formed and supplied to an electronic control unit where it is utilized to control at least one operating parameter of the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and an apparatus for obtaining a high-hydrogen, low-carbon-monoxide gas which is suitable for feeding low-temperature fuel cells in electric vehicles. A high-hydrogen gas mixture is generated by means of a methanol reforming reaction, using a Cu- and ZrO-containing catalyst material. The carbon monoxide content of the gas is decreased to a concentration of less than approximately 100 ppm by means of a selective methanization using a Ru- and TiO.sub.2 -containing catalyst material and/or by means of a selective oxidation using a Pt- and TiO.sub.2 -containing catalyst material.

Abstract: In a rear view mirror for a motor vehicle with a housing connected with an air source, traversed by air guide channels, and holding a mirror glass, with the outlets of the channels being arranged along the edge of the mirror glass to allow air to escape opposite to the direction of forward travel of the vehicle, modified guidance and processing of the escaping air reduces the danger of contamination of the mirror glass by the wind blast as well contamination of the side window associated with the mirror. This is also intended to improve the flow resistance of the mirror as well as its noise behavior. For this purpose, a plurality of separate air channel outlets is provided that are located within a guiding device and/or are equipped with one that produces vorticized air streams that emerge and are stable at each of the air outlets.

Abstract: An ergonomically shaped exterior contour of a vehicle interior handle area, support area, or resting area is provided. The contour is formed by a flexible shaped element filled with an electro-rheologic fluid to which an electrical circuit operable from the interior is connected to reduce or increase the internal friction of the fluid to accommodate changes in shape of the contour.

Abstract: In a vehicle operating pedal unit, which may include clutch and brake pedals, mounted on a front wall of a vehicle passenger compartment and including a pedal support structure on which the pedals are pivotally supported by bolts, the pedal support structure includes a portion which extends upwardly so as to be disposed on top of a transverse frame member to which it is mounted and which is sufficiently strong to withstand forces to which a brake unit mounted on the opposite side of the front wall may be subjected during a crash. At least the brake pedal has an extension projection to a point adjacent the transverse frame member to prevent the brake pedal from being tilted by a brake operating rod into the leg room of the vehicle if the brake unit and the operating rod are pushed inwardly during a crash.

Abstract: A method for regulating the full-load injection quantity of a diesel internal combustion engine having a fixed steady state full-load injection quantity includes the following phases: a first transient phase, in which the full-load injection quantity is increased to a value which exceeds the steady state full-load injection quantity; a second time-limited phase, in which the full-load injection quantity is maintained at the excess level and, at the end of this phase, is reduced to the full-load injection quantity in the steady state; and a third phase, in which the full-load injection quantity in the steady state is supplied to the diesel internal combustion engine in a known way.

Abstract: In a hydraulic power steering for a motor vehicle with a hydraulic servomotor and a servovalve arrangement in communication with opposite servomotor actuating chambers by way of separate communication conduits through which the actuating chambers can be pressurized or depressurized for the operation of the servomotor depending on a force applied by an operator to a steering means, the communication conduits include valve arrangements permitting, when they are open, the release of hydraulic fluid from the actuating chambers but blocking the release of hydraulic fluid when they are closed thereby hydraulically locking the power steering.

Abstract: A laser system generates read, green and blue beams from a single laser beam generated by an IR continuous-wave laser using rare-earth or transition elements. Semiconductor diodes are used to excite IR continuous-wave laser and simple passive non-linear frequency conversion is used to generate the red, green and blue effective beams.