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: 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: 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 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: In a cooling module arrangement with a seal element for a motor vehicle having an engine including a cooling fan with a fan housing component connected to the engine and a fan cowl component connected to a radiator of the motor vehicle with a gap provided between the fan housing and the fan cowl components, wherein a sealing element is connected to one of the components and includes in the area of its free end a circumferential bead, so that, in a pre-installation position, it is firmly held folded back onto the one component so as to facilitate installation of the components but, when unfolded, extends in its operative position across the gap between the components and firmly engages with its free end the other component.

Abstract: A vehicle technician time clock tool comprises a computer-implemented interface to a database, wherein the database contains vehicle service task-related information and time-related information, the vehicle service task-related information and time-related information pertaining to at least one vehicle technician, and a computer-implemented graphical user display (GUI), wherein the GUI displays in real time at least some of the vehicle service task-related information, at least some of the time-related information, and at least one calculation based on at least some of the time-related information.

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: A surge tank comprises a liquid inlet portion designed to dissipate the energy of coolant flowing into the surge tank. Desirably, fluid is delivered into a pool of liquid in an initial chamber rather than into an air gap above a pool of liquid such that the pool of liquid assists in dissipating energy of the entering coolant. Coolant from the last of a series of initial chambers desirably exits in a manner that reduces the distance air bubbles must rise to separate from the coolant. Also, when coolant flows from one initial chamber to at least one other initial chamber, desirably the direction of flow of at least a major volume of the coolant is changed, such as by locating an outlet passage from one chamber at a lower portion thereof and the passage from a subsequent chamber at an upper portion thereof. Passageways between the various chambers may be of a progressively increasing total cross-sectional area to assist in reducing the velocity of fluid flow from one chamber to the next.

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 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 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 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: The invention relates to a device and a method for identifying an object O in an opening that can be closed by means of a mobile element (12). Light is fed into at least one fiber-optic light guide (33, 34) from a light source (1, 2), and variations in the received light are detected by means of at least one receiver (Ea, Eb), the fiber-optic light guide being arranged at least partially along the edge of the opening (11). A first fiber-optic light guide sends light transversally to the length thereof, said light being then received by a second fiber-optic light guide transversally to the length thereof. The second fiber-optic light guide (34) is connected to the receiver (Eb). The fiber-optic light guides are arranged on the edge of the opening (11) in such a way that a light field (F) at least partially bridging the opening is produced.