Abstract: When laser beam welding one or more work pieces faults may occur, which lead to unacceptable losses in quality. A check process is provided, which reliably recognizes seam faults in a seam which is introduced into one or more workpieces by means of laser beam welding. Characteristic signals are detected from the region of the seam using a sensor and compared with an index value or set value, and only signals are taken into consideration which are detected in a characteristic time interval following the laser beam welding, which begins, at the earliest, following the solidification of the seam.

Abstract: In a method for cold-running or warm-up operation of a spark-ignition, direct-injection 4-stroke internal combustion engine having an exhaust gas catalytic converter, wherein fuel is injected into the cylinders of the internal combustion engine by means of injectors and is externally ignited by means of spark plugs, in an intake stroke fuel injection a lean, combustible but non-ignitable lean mixture is produced in the cylinders, in a compression stroke fuel injection following the intake stroke injection, by a compression stroke fuel injection, a combustible and ignitable fuel/air mixture is formed in the combustible but non-ignitable lean mixture in the cylinders and, subsequently, in a stratified fuel injection which is close in timing to an ignition time, a rich fuel/air mixture is locally formed in the region of the spark plug and is then ignited by the spark plug so as to provide for rapid heat up of the cold exhaust gas catalytic converter with reliable combustion and smooth engine operation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for automatically monitoring a motor vehicle, especially for automatically monitoring a vehicle (E) in a traffic jam. Said system comprises at least one sensor (2) for monitoring the space in front of the vehicle (E), and an electronic regulating device for regulating travel, braking and steering. According to the invention, said sensor is designed in such a way that it detects the movement of a vehicle (A) changing lanes in front of vehicle (E). The control of the vehicle is returned to the driver, or the driver is requested to regain control of the vehicle, when motor vehicle (E) shows a desire to follow the lane change of vehicle (A), and when it is determined, by means of the signals of the lateral sensor (8, 10), that during the monitoring, vehicle (E) is not at a sufficiently safe distance from a vehicle (B) detected by the lateral sensor. One such system for automatically monitoring a motor vehicle thus increases road safety in a simple manner.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a dual purpose spring holder mounting bracket pivotally receives a rear suspension spring arm and also receives a tensioning member extending to a forwardly positioned mounting bracket.

Abstract: In a method of operating an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle during an engine warm-up phase, the engine having a cylinder including a piston defining in the cylinder a combustion chamber, wherein fuel is injected into the combustion chamber in a pilot injection, a main injection and, selectively, a post-injection, and during the heat-up phase of the engine, the center position of the combustion is retarded relative to a center position of the combustion in the normal engine operating mode in order to more rapidly heat the engine and the coolant in the engine cooling circuit for rapid heating of the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle.

Abstract: In a method for detecting an inverter hardware failure in an electric power train comprising high voltage cables, at least one electric machine and at least two inverter legs with two power electronic switches respectively for pulse-width-modulating a DC voltage from a high voltage battery for energizing the at least one electric machine, and including at least one mid-pack voltage sensor for detecting isolation faults, wherein all power electronic switches are demanded to open; at least one of the power electronic switches of one of the inverter legs is opened and closed at a time at a given duty cycle and a given frequency; a mid-pack voltage is measured using the mid-pack voltage sensor; the closed switch is identified as functional in case a common mode voltage is detected by the mid-pack voltage sensor or otherwise the closed switch is identified as non-functional.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for coating particles of a plastic, metal and/or ceramic powder material for producing an adhesive-containing coating material, in particular for producing appropriate particles by compressing a 3D binder. Said coating is applied to fluidized particles in a gaseous phase by means of a coating solution, at least the particles and/or coated particles being exposed to ionized particles. A method for producing bodies or sintered bodies from organic liquid binders by compressing the 3D binder and the use thereof are also disclosed.

Abstract: In a supercharged internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders which are arranged in at least one cylinder bank, preferably a V-type engine with an exhaust gas turbocharger including a compressor, which is arranged in an intake line of the internal combustion engine and a turbine which is arranged in an exhaust gas collection line, the exhaust gas of a plurality of cylinders of the cylinder bank is combined in an exhaust gas collection line, while at least one cylinder of a cylinder bank has a separate exhaust gas line which bypasses the exhaust gas turbocharger and joins the exhaust gas line downstream of the turbine.

Abstract: An apparatus or a method serves for humidifying a gas flow flowing to a fuel cell. A humidifier and a bypass line passed around the humidifier are thereby present. The gas flow is partially passed around the humidifier and partially through the bypass line, so that an appropriate humidity level adjusts itself in the gas flow when it has been mixed again. In order to realize this, at least one valve is arranged either in the bypass line and/or in the area of the humidifier. This valve can be switched in a clock form between two positions, specifically an open position and a closed position.

Abstract: An exhaust diffuser is disclosed for coupling to an exhaust system of a vehicle that, when in one orientation, is designed to exhaust gasses laterally and downwardly from the exhaust diffuser.

Abstract: A method for air conditioning a motor vehicle, in which, in a heating mode, the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle is heated via a passenger compartment heat exchanger (5) through heat pump operation of a refrigerating circuit (1). To prevent fogging of the windows of the motor vehicle from the outset, the temperature and humidity in the passenger compartment are recorded by measurement technology, and when the temperature is in a predefined range and the atmospheric humidity reaches a defined threshold, the mass flow of refrigerant in the circuit is throttled upstream of the passenger compartment heat exchanger (5), in such a manner that the moisture contained in the air stream passing the passenger compartment heat exchanger (5) is at least substantially condensed at the passenger compartment heat exchanger (5), and the moisture which has already condensed at the heat exchanger (5) remains at the heat exchanger (5).

Abstract: In an exhaust gas turbocharger for an internal combustion engine including an exhaust gas turbine in the exhaust line and a compressor in the intake tract of the internal combustion engine, and the exhaust gas turbine includes a gas inlet passage with a variable guide vane structure supported on one side of a support ring arranged in the inlet flow passage to the turbine wheel, the support ring is mounted in a floating manner such that the side thereof, which faces away form the guide vanes is exposed to the gas pressure in the inlet flow passage in order to bias the support ring toward the opposite inlet flow passage wall and spacer sleeves with expansion properties similar to those of the guide vanes are provided between the support ring and the opposite flow passage wall for delimiting the clearance between the guide vanes and the opposite flow passage wall.