Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting the presence of a prescribed heat exchanger, such as a catalytically active radiator, in a motor vehicle are performed during operation of the motor vehicle. The temperature of a heat-exchanger medium is observed together with further current operationally relevant parameters of the motor vehicle for a prespecified time window. An expected temperature gradient over time of the heat-exchanger medium is detected, as well as the current temperature gradient over time of the temperature of the heat-exchanger medium. The presence of a prescribed heat exchanger is detected taking into account the expected temperature gradient and the current temperature gradient.

Abstract: A sound system which has, for example, a radio, a cassette and a CD player is usually already installed in cars as standard or as an option. In addition, a better sound system comprises a box system which has a tweeter and a woofer. In order to provide a speaker box which is suitable particularly for dispensing frequencies below 150 Hz and at the same time has neat pulses accompanied at the same time by little distortion, pulse dynamics and is highly effective, a sound transducer (10) is introduced into the supporting structure of the vehicle. This takes place in such a manner that subcompartments which are separated from each other adjoin each of its two membrane sides. In this case, the two subcompartments of the speaker box are formed by at least two elements (2, 3, 4) of the supporting structure of the vehicle (1).

Abstract: In a supercharged internal combustion engine having an intake duct and an exhaust gas recirculation system and comprising an exhaust gas turbine with two separate flow passages of different flow cross-sections arranged upstream of a turbine rotor of the exhaust gas turbine, each flow passage being in communication with a respective engine exhaust line for supplying it with exhaust gas and an exhaust gas recirculation line extending from one of the engine exhaust lines to the engine intake duct, a bypass line bypassing the exhaust gas turbine is provided and a common control element is arranged in the recirculation line of the exhaust gas recirculation system and in the bypass line for controlling the exhaust gas flow from the recirculation line selectively to none or any of the intake duct and the turbine bypass line.

Abstract: A method for curing a chemical composition, the composition containing at least one or more binders having ethylenically unsaturated groups, as well as one or more initiators for triggering a radical polymerization. The method includes a thermal curing step, in which the curing of the composition is effected by a radical polymerization of the binder, which is triggered by a thermal initiator and is carried out under protective gas. Paint films having improved mechanical properties can be produced using the method according to the present invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to a steel piston for internal combustion engines, comprising at least one piston upper part (12) provided with a combustion cavity (11) and an annular wall (5), and a piston lower part (13) provided with a connecting rod bearing (8). The steel piston is cast as a single component from a reduced-density steel alloy or a special steel alloy in the same material by means of a low-pressure casting method.

Abstract: A displacement control mechanism for a variable displacement compressor includes a first valve hole, a first valve body, a pressure sensing means operable to sense pressures of first and second points in a discharge pressure region to adjust a position of the first valve body, and a pressure-difference-increasing means operable to increase pressure difference between the first and second points when the pressure of a suction pressure region falls below a predetermined standard pressure. The pressure sensing means displaces the first valve body to increase an opening degree of the first valve hole according to increase of the pressure difference when the first valve hole is part of a supply passage. The pressure sensing means displaces the first valve body to decrease the opening degree of the first valve hole according to the increase of the pressure difference when the first valve hole is part of a bleed passage.

Abstract: A vehicle diagnosis system for ascertaining, storing and transmitting diagnosis data from control units in a motor vehicle to a computer outside of the motor vehicle has components which are inside of the vehicle and components which are outside of the vehicle. The onboard components are capable of autonomously requesting diagnosis data from control units, buffer-storing the diagnosis data and of transmitting the diagnosis data to offboard components. The offboard components can be used to configure the onboard components, to visually display the transmitted data and to forward said data to subsequent systems. Access is effected using a communication module, which is preferably implemented in a diagnosis control unit with a dedicated gateway and which is not the control unit for the central locking. A gateway for diagnosis applications is present in the vehicle in the case of vehicles with a diagnosis CAN bus or with another diagnosis bus.

Abstract: Future vehicle headlamps will provide light functions, such as, for example, town light, country road light, motorway light, full beam, poor weather light, etc. A method and a device is therefore provided with which the light functions of vehicle headlamps are controlled in a reliable manner. The device essentially comprises front headlamps with a dipped headlight and full beam, and at least one variable actuator with which different light functions can be realized. In order to select a light function, the variable actuator is set to a predetermined, fixed position. In this case, it is not possible to select a light function in the region between the dipped headlight and the full beam, there being no means of locking the actuator in the intermediate region between the position of the actuator for the dipped headlight and the position for full beam. Only a light function which is matched to the driving situation and can be selected in a reliable manner is therefore possible.

Abstract: The invention concerns a composite material consisting of intermetallic phases and ceramic, in particular in the form of a coating on metallic substrates, as well as an arc wire spraying process for production of the composite material in which the intermetallic phases and the ceramics to be deposited are newly formed during the deposit process from the components of the supplied wires by chemical reaction. The invention further concerns wear resistant layers formed by the composites, tribologic layers and plating or hard-facing materials.

Abstract: A method for detecting speed faults in a hybrid powertrain having engine and electric machine speed inputs includes directly sensing the engine and machine speeds and performing comparisons of sensed engine speed with engine speed determined based upon the machine speeds.

Abstract: This objective is achieved according to the present invention in that in a method for determining the deterioration of a battery, the charge and discharge cycles of the battery are measured by number and depth of the charge/discharge. For each of the charge and discharge cycles, a characteristic deterioration value is determined on the basis of a deterioration curve that is characteristic of the specific battery type. These individual characteristic deterioration values are then summed up to obtain the deterioration of the battery.

Abstract: A multipart composite valve for an internal combustion engine, in which a valve shaft (2) and a valve plate (4) are embodied separately while being joined together in an overlapping area (6). The invention is characterized in that at least some parts of the valve shaft (2) are provided with an intermediate layer (8) in the overlapping area (6). Said intermediate layer (8) forms an integral joint with both the valve shaft (2) and the valve plate (4) in the form of a chemical bond, the valve plate (4) being cast onto the valve shaft (2).