Abstract: An adjustable viscous shear coupling comprises a housing containing a viscous fluid therein, an inner part such as a shaft extending into the housing, a set of outer disks non-rotatably connected to the housing, a set of inner disks non-rotatably connected to the inner part, the inner disks and the outer disks being interleaved so that adjacent disks are separated by a gap, and an axially movable piston which acts on the disks to adjust the width of the gaps. The adjustable viscous shear coupling is constructed so that sealing intervals are formed between the outer disks and the inner part and between the inner disks and the housing so that the overflow of viscous fluid from one gap to another is greatly inhibited. In a preferred embodiment, the adjustable viscous shear coupling includes inner choke elements disposed between the outer disks and the inner part, and outer choke elements disposed between the inner disks and the housing, the choke elements creating the sealing intervals.

Abstract: The invention concerns a clamping tool for non-positive and high-precision clamping of workpieces by means of an expansion element, which is held inside the clamping tool and, in the unclamped state, is matched to the workpiece with little play but movably, and to which force may be applied radially over a large area. When force is applied, the expansion element expands reversibly, and bears non-positively against the workpiece, and holds it in place with high rotational accuracy and high clamping force. In order to be able to permit a high expansion rate of the expansion element in conjunction with a closed configuration of the latter, the invention proposes for the expansion element a so-called shape memory alloy, which is operated in the austenitic state with reversible stress-inducible possibility of change of the microstructure into the martensitic state.

Abstract: A reciprocating piston is disclosed with variable compression height for internal combustion engines in particular. For structural simplification of the temperature-dependent change in the compression height of the reciprocating piston, a spring is provided which consists of a shape memory alloy and interacts with the pressure limiting valve. This permits temperature-dependent change in the compression height of the reciprocating piston exclusively by the pressure limiting valve so that structural simplification is achieved.

Abstract: A controllable semiconductor switching device having integrated overload protection of a load current path, including a switching section in the load current path and a multiplicity of main switching cells acting in parallel and having load-side terminals and non-load-side terminals including control terminals. The control terminals of the main switching cells are directly connected in a highly conducting manner among one another. A multiplicity of auxiliary switching cells are provided which carry a part of a total load current in parallel with the main switching cells in order to achieve an overload protection, and having load-side terminals and non-load-side terminals. The number of auxiliary switching cells are less than the number of main switching cells. The main switching cells and the auxiliary switching cells form the switching section.

Abstract: A method for detecting the motion and position state of a component of an inductive electric load. The component can be moved between two end positions by magnetic interaction, in which the total waveform of the drive current is divided into a plurality of states. By evaluating these individual states, comprehensive error diagnostics and a setting of operating parameters of the inductive electric load to operating conditions are possible.

Abstract: A drive mechanism for a motor vehicle windshield wiper device has a crank which is driven in a rotating manner and produces a pivoting movement of a windshield wiper via a drive rod. If the movement of the windshield wiper is obstructed by a snow wedge building up in the wiper socket, the drive mechanism provides for an obstruction evading movement of the drive rod in such a way that the crank can fully rotate unimpeded. In order to obtain a low loading of the drive rod and its joints in the event of obstruction of the windshield wiper and to obtain a uniform wiping zone in normal wiping operation, the novel drive mechanism for the drive rod is firmly coupled to the crank and a lost motion drive means is arranged on the wiper shaft.

Abstract: The application is concerned with a cover of an airbag unit in a motor vehicle which is equipped with a tear-open line and has a foam-backed foil and the process for making the cover. The process includes:a) heating a foil in the region of the intended tear-open line;b) forming a channel in the foil which is drawn-in in relation to the adjoining face of the foil in the region of the tear-open line;c) creating a reduction in wall thickness of the foil at the tear-open line, located at a channel bottom, by high-frequency embossing;d) introducing the foil into a mold and foam backing the foil;e) producing a smaller wall thickness in the foam backing in the region of the tear-open line.

Abstract: A motor-vehicle seat is disclosed with a spring core resting on a subframe and surrounded by a topframe, each topframe portion pointed in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle being supported relative to the subframe via a stay preventing floating movements and limiting lateral compression movements. In order to allow retrofitting and to prevent reactions on the topframe under compression movements the stay consists respectively of a foam block which is fixed to the subframe and which is inserted between two springs stretched from the subframe to the topframe and at least partially surrounds these positively.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing the transmission of vibrations from an engine to a transmission line having two flywheel elements capable of rotation relative to one another, the first element being drivingly connected to the engine and the second element being drivingly connected to the transmission line. The two flywheel elements are connected by a spring mounting and abutments. A first abutment of the spring mounting is frictionally connected with limited rotational capacity to the second flywheel element. The frictional contact between the first abutment and the second flywheel element is smaller than the frictional contact between the second abutment and the first flywheel element.

Abstract: An adjustable viscous shear coupling suitable for use in a high performance four-wheel drive vehicle comprises a housing containing a viscous fluid therein, a shaft extending into the housing, a set of outer disks non-rotatably connected to the housing, a set of inner disks non-rotatably connected to the shaft and interleaved with the outer disks, and an axially movable pressure piston which bears against the disks and adjusts the gap width between the inner and outer disks. One of the sets of disks is provided with frictional linings. The disks are brought to bear against each other in a controlled manner so that torque can be transmitted therebetween in a smooth, hump-less manner by a combination of frictional engagement and viscous shear.

Abstract: A process for producing a hollow composite-fiber body from wound fibers, running in a plurality of directions and embedded in a curable or fusible plastics composition, having at least one lug integrated without any interruption into the fiber-composite and protruding from the hollow fiber-composite body. This process includes forming a plastics-impregnated and circumferentially continuously wound jacket by winding one layer over the other on a shaping core a plurality of layers of at least one prepreg web having web-bound, crossing groups of parallel-running fibers. The lug is shaped and secured by a support corresponding to a set-up lug shape and which protrudes during winding from the shaping core. Immediately after the running on of the prepreg web onto the shaping core or the wound body which is forming, into the prepreg web for each separate layer a lug free cut is made that corresponds to the position and contour of the respective lug.

Abstract: A remote control system having of one or more independent transmitters transmitting code words to a receiver, wherein the code word includes an unalterable code portion, transmitted upon each code transmission together with a code portion which is variable in accordance with a predetermined algorithm, being stored in object-specific fashion both in each transmitter and in the receiver fixed to the object. A synchronizing procedure between a transmitter and the receiver, which can in any case only be carried out in dependence on a mechanical key restriction, is only possible if the individual object-specific code portion of the respective transmitter has been stored and is retrievable in the receiver.

Abstract: A method of shortening the braking distance in critical driving situations uses the criterion of exceeding of a first threshold value by the actuating speed of the brake pedal (v.sub.BP) by the vehicle driver for initiating an automatic braking operation. A brake pressure (p.sub.B,max) which corresponds to the value of the brake pressure with optimum deceleration of the vehicle is built up automatically immediately after initiation of the automatic braking operation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the sequential coating of motor-vehicle bodies using a preprogrammed painter-robot is provided. As a result of wear, the signal/response delay times of valves and other control elements deviate from the information stored in the program. According to the subject invention, the actual signal/response delay time is measured and compared with the stored information stored in the program. In the event of unacceptable deviations in the actual verses stored signal/response delay times, the actuating times controlled by the program are changed in response thereto, and signals warning of excessive actual delay time are given.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manually controlling a windscreen wiper drive motor in a motor vehicle in several speed steps, by which the drive motor can also be automatically switched from a manually switched-on speed step into a lower speed step when the speed passes through a predetermined threshold value of the motor vehicle travelling speed from a higher travelling speed. The apparatus and method provide automatic switching of the drive motor from each manually switched-on speed step into a lower speed step when the speed passes through the threshold value, cancellation of the current automatic switching until the speed again passes through the threshold value from a higher travelling speed when the control switch has been operated below the threshold value of the travelling speed and after the drive motor has been automatically switched into a lower speed step, and switching-on of each speed step of the drive motor selected by this operation of the control switch.

Abstract: The invention relates to a compound turbo-drive for a two cylinder bank V-form internal-combustion engine with an exhaust-gas turbocharger for each cylinder bank that together feed a re-expansion turbine. To obtain a space-saving arrangement, the re-expansion turbine has a double-flow turbine housing with two integrated side inlet housings to which the exhaust-gas turbines of the exhaust-gas turbochargers are arranged horizontally.

Abstract: A locking device for a door lock in a motor vehicle has a locking position which can be selected, even by remote actuation, by an outer security element and in which the influence of outer and inner lock handles and of inner security elements on this locking position is prevented as a result of an interruption of the force flux at disengageable couplings.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an arrangement for holding and laying a multiplicity of jointly guided cables in an installation space of a motor vehicle, the cables connecting units being laid along a predetermined line having at least one curvature, and so as to cover a mounting space at least partially and being fixed releasably alone this line, the cables being mounted at the end points of the line so as to be swivellably movable freeing the mounting space lying below them.

Abstract: A split flywheel for reducing the transmission of vibrations from the engine to the drive shaft at certain frequencies of the flywheel is provided. Included are two flywheel elements drivingly connected to one another wherein one of which is connected or can be connected in a driven manner to the engine and the other of which is connected or can be connected in a driven manner to the drive line. The resonant frequency of the split flywheel unit is well below the frequency of engine vibrations which occur during normal traveling, so that only slight amplitudes of vibration occur between the flywheel elements during normal travel operation. However, during start-up of the engine, the resonant frequency of the flywheel is passed through. The drive connection between the elements a slip clutch having a greater friction contact than the maximum torque of the engine, placed in series with a spring mounting and positioned between the two flywheel elements.