Abstract: A water cooled internal combustion engine, especially for utility vehicles operated with a gas which is stored in a liquid condition in a fuel tank. The internal combustion engine includes a cooling water cycle containing a thermostat, a cooler and a water pump. A fuel vaporizer is heated by the cooling water cycle of the internal combustion engine with an air intake preheater likewise being heated by the cooling water cycle. A throttle valve is arranged between the air/gas mixer and working cylinders of the engine. An externally heated water cycle is additionally provided in such a way that the externally heated water cycle is connected functionally in parallel with the cooling water cycle.

Abstract: A tank closure, especially for a tank of a motor vehicle, with a bayonet cap having a pair of tension clamps. The tension clamps, during a rotation of the cap, are axially displaceable through the bayonet-type thread at the tank neck and are urged against the thread by a helical compression spring. The spring rests on a bracket of a closing pipe guided in a housing of the cap and joined thereto so that the spring urges the closing pipe, especially a flange associated therewith and covered with a sealing ring of rubber or the like, elastically resilient material onto an annular sealing surface of the tank neck. A self-lubricating synthetic resin spacer sleeve, that is, a sleeve which readily slides on metal, is inserted between the flange of the closing pipe and the pair of tension clamps.

Abstract: An inlet valve, an outlet valve and a pump cam are formed on a camshaft. The pump cam is disposed between and axially spaced from the inlet and outlet valve cams. An inlet valve tappet and an outlet valve tappet have end faces engaging said inlet and outlet valve cams, respectively. A cam follower is operable by the pump cam to control a fuel injection pump. A plane which is normal to the axis of said camshaft and defines the axial extent of said pump cam toward one of said tappets intersects said end face of said one tappet to define a line of intersection, whereby said pump has an overlapping portion, which axially overlaps said one tappet, and the axial projection of the periphery of said overlapping portion lies entirely within an envelope which is generated by said line of intersection around said pump cam as said camshaft is rotated.

Abstract: A cap-like cover member clippable on a baseplate of a steering wheel, the cover member is formed of an elastic material and serves to cover an air bag installation disposed inside the steering wheel of a motor vehicle. The cover is adapted to rip open and unfold in the manner of the hindge along predetermined breaking lines when the air bag is deployed. A downwardly pulled edge of a cover member mounted at the steering wheel, when subjected to outwardly directed forces by an inflating air bag, is prevented from being subjected to deformation phenomena by retainers.

Abstract: An independent front wheel suspension for motor vehicles with at least one wheel guide structure that includes a longitudinal guide member extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction toward the vehicle end wall and pivotally connected within the area thereof; the longitudinal guide member is constructed as element deformable under compression with a predetermined deformation characteristic.

Abstract: A heating power plant and a process for operating the power plant with the power plant containing a thermal power installation for producing mechanical motive energy for driving an energy supply device as well as waste heat which may be utlized for heating purposes in the power plant. The thermal power installation may be shut down or operated at slight partial loads during periods of low energy needs with hydrogen being introduced into a metal hydride storage device which is capable of absorbing hydrogen. At times of higher energy need the thermal power installation is kept in operation under greater load conditions and hydrogen is removed from a metal hydride storage device which is capable of releasing such hydrogen. The release enthalpy required for releasing the hydrogen is provided by waste heat from the thermal power installation or by ambient air.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting undesirable combustion characteristics in spark-ignited internal combustion engines. A sensor and a band-pass filter tuned to the frequency of the knock vibration are provided with an output of the band-pass filter being compared with a reference value. The result of the comparison is correlated with undesirable combustion characteristics to be recognized. A rectifier is provided for solid-borne sound signals received by the sensor with the signals passing through the band-pass filter. The signal is rectified in the rectifier to a knock signal and a series circuit made up of a band-stop filter tuned to the frequency of the knock vibration, an rms rectifier, and an amplifier is provided by means of which the sound signal received by the sensor is converted into a reference signal. A comparator is provided when the reference signal and the knock signal are compared with each other and an output signal appears if the knock signal exceeds the reference signal.

Abstract: A cover for lights, especially automobile lights, wherein at least a part of the cover which is located within a flat area of a reflector opening of the light when the cover is installed is provided with a number of individual sections. The sections are staggered in a stepwise fashion within a plane which is horizontal in the installed position and/or in a vertical plane with the sections extending in a direction opposite to an intended direction of travel of the atuomobile.

Abstract: A vehicle frame with an energy-dissipating frame section, which includes at least two longitudinal bearers to be primarily deformed that extend at a distance from one another in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and a cross-bearer connecting the two longitudinal bearers. A stablizing element, disposed between the cross bearer and the longitudinal bearers, is suppported at the cross bearer and at least at frame longitudinal bearers adjoining the longitudinal bearers to be primarily deformed.

Abstract: A covering for a folded gas cushion which is adapted to fold open by pivoting down, and which is provided with a reinforcement embedded in a padding layer; the reinforcement consists of a very strong synthetic plastic fabric that, prior to the foaming of the padding layer, is connected, for example, by gluing with a deformable lower fastening part; an anchoring for the covering is produced by a groove- and spring-like cooperation of at least one section of a boundary edge of the covering with an adjoining fixed vehicle part.

Abstract: An air intake unit for an internal combustion engine, especially for installation in a zone of a roof of a driver's cab of a utility vehicle. The air intake unit includes an approximately square intake box having an inlet port located along a longitudinal side thereof. The inlet port is covered with a perforated plate and an air intake conduit is provided for leading to the internal combustion engine. The intake conduit is connected to an outlet port of the intake box on one end face thereof. And an air baffle is arranged in the intake box in an area of the outlet port for shielding the outlet port with respect to the inlet port. The air baffle is equipped with a plurality of perforations.

Abstract: A soot filter arrangement for an exhaust gas flow of an internal combustion engine, especially an air-compressing internal combustion engine. The filter arrangement includes a housing with feed and discharge connections for the exhaust gas stream in a mineral filter material arranged in the housing. The material is provided on a support pipe equipped with passage openings which enable the exhaust gas stream to enter the support pipe in a radial direction and leave the same in an axial direction. Several support pipes are provided at a mutual spacing in a parallel relationship and the filter material includes a thread of spun silicon dioxide fibers wound onto the support pipes.

Abstract: A straightener or guide frame for motor vehicles, with the frame including longitudinal support members connected by transverse support members. The longitudinal support members are provided with mounting or attachment holes spaced at given intervals for enabling an attachment of cross support members or intermediate supports which, in turn, carry the cross members. The cross support members are adapted to support adapting elements which are aligned with points of attachment of the motor vehicle. The intermediate support members are provided with holes which correspond to the attachment or mounting holes of the longitudinal support members as well as additional holes arranged to form a grid for enabling an attachment of the cross support members.

Abstract: A curved backing insert is held in a backrest frame and adjustable to conform to the spine of a person leaning against the backrest. The backing insert comprises at least one elastic bow having a first end supported by said frame, a second end vertically spaced from said first end, and an intermediate vertex portion including a vertex. First stressing means are adjustable to move said second end so as to change the height and curvature of said bow. Second stressing means are adjustable to adjust said vertex relative to said first and second ends.

Abstract: A control valve arrangement for a servo-steering mechanism which includes a valve control member responsive to arbitrary steering motions of a steering wheel by executing relative movement with respect to a valve housing. The control member is subdivided into two coupling elements movable relative to each other, which coupling elements are mutually resiliently supported. One of the coupling elements is, in a geared manner, connected to the steering wheel with the other coupling element being provided with four control edges cooperating with corresponding control edges of a valve housing. Two of the control edges control a throttling of two pressure medium connections of one working pressure chamber of the servo-steering mechanism with the other two control edges controlling a throttling of two pressure medium connections of a second working pressure chamber of the servo-steering mechanism.

Abstract: A brake force servo-device, especially for motor vehicles, with a control piston, selectively actuatable preferably by a brake pedal, which cooperates with a connecting valve connected with a pressure medium source and which is operable to displace a flow medium out of its cylinder space for the actuation of the connecting valve; a working piston is thereby actuated by the pressure controlled by the connecting valve, whereby the control piston is constructed as one-piece control piston having an annular step and is sealed off, on the one hand, within the area of its entry into the brake force servo-housing and, on the other, in proximity of its end face which projects into a working pressure space; the control piston thereby abuts at the working piston present in the working pressure space while the connecting valve is actuated by the flow medium displaced by the annular-shaped step of the control piston out of the annular space which is formed between its two bearing places.

Abstract: A centrally disposed, torsion-proof carrying tube contains a propeller shaft operatively connected to the driven axle assemblies and equipped with supports for the body of the vehicle. Each axle assembly has a spur gear differential associated therewith and comprises two bevel gear trains succeeding the differential and accommodated in a gear housing flanged to the central carrying tube. The body supports comprise at least two cross members joined to the carrying tube and two longitudinal members secured to the cross members. Each wheel is mounted on a stub axle carried by a longitudinal control arm pivoted to a cross member on an axis which is transverse to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Two universal-joint shafts drive the two wheels of each axle assembly. Each universal-joint shaft is associated with one of the bevel gear trains and is enclosed in a splash-proofing shell tube connected by ball-type joints to the adjacent stub axle and to the adjacent gear housing, respectively.

Abstract: An independent vehicle wheel suspension arrangement which includes a pair of control arms disposed in a superimposed relationship. The control arms are articulated to a wheel carrier and are selectively in a mutually parallel or non-parallel position. A wheel suspension unit is supported on the wheel carrier with a steering knuckle of the wheel being also articulated to the wheel carrier along the steering axis of the steerable wheels. The control arms are articulated to the wheel carrier by means of ball and socket joints and the wheel carrier is supported against a twisting about a substantially perpendicular axis of rotation determined by the ball and socket joints, with respect to the vehicle body, by an additional moment supporting arm. The moment supporting arm is likewise connected to the wheel carrier and the vehicle body by ball and socket joints.

Abstract: A process for the production of oxidation-resistant sintered silicon nitride bodies having improved mechanical strength involves dissolving aluminum oxide, aluminum nitride, or mixtures thereof by diffusion in the surface of the sintered silicon nitride bodies. The diffusion is effected by embedding the bodies within powder of aluminum oxide, aluminum nitride or mixture thereof and by heating the embedded bodies to a temperature of at least 1300.degree. C.

Abstract: A metal hydride storage device with a hydrogenatable storage metal powder and with an encapsulation of non-hydrogenatable material receiving the storage metal powder; the storage metal powder with a substantially uniformly distributed addition of about 2 to 10% by weight of powder-shaped non-hydrogenatable material forming a matrix powder, is contained in the encapsulation as form-rigid compressed or sintered body.