Abstract: A torsional vibration damper has an drive-side transmission element with at least one planet carrier rotatable relative thereto. The planet carrier is provided with at least one planetary gear, which is engaged with a sun gear on the one hand and with an internal gear on the other. In addition, there is an output-side transmission element, and one of the transmission elements has a control mechanism for a spring device arranged between the transmission element and at least one planetary gear train element. The planetary gear train element can be driven for a movement that depends on the speed and rotational direction of the two transmission elements relative to one another.

Abstract: A hydrokinetic torque converter is provided with a lockup clutch which comprises a piston which can be displaced in the axial direction and can be connected with the converter housing by means of at least one friction lining. The piston, on its side facing the converter housing, defines a chamber in which, when the lockup clutch is active, a pressure is applied which is lower than the pressure of the converter circuit. In the vicinity of the friction surface, there is at least one depression for the flow of hydraulic fluid from the converter circuit. The depression empties in the vicinity of the radially inner end of the friction lining into the chamber, and has at least one connection to at least one recess in the piston, whereby the recess is designed to generate a pressure reduction with respect to the pressure in converter circuit, and is designed with a smaller cross section area than the connection or the depression.

Abstract: A friction clutch can have a relatively thin application plate with a diameter ratio D.sub.A (outside diameter) to D.sub.I (inside diameter) of less than about 1.4. As a result of such a configuration, the application plate, in spite of the reduction in the size of the friction surface, exhibits an improved ability to transmit the torque in the event of the sudden application of a high frictional load. In accordance with at least one embodiment this same diameter ratio can be given to the corresponding friction linings as well.

Abstract: A torsional vibration damper has an input-side transmission element and an output-side transmission element, at least one of which is connected, preferably by means of a spring device, with at least one moment-transmitting element of a gear train which acts between the two transmission elements. At least one of the moment-transmitting gear train elements can be aligned before the creation of a connection to the corresponding element with some play, or clearance, at least in the radial direction, with respect to this element carrier, and after the application to the gear train of an adjustment moment which effects an alignment of this transmission element with respect to the other transmission elements as a function of the force by moving the two transmission elements into a predetermined relative position, the gear train element in question can be provided with a connection to the element carrier which fixes the element in its position where it has been aligned as a function of the force.

Abstract: A friction clutch has an inertia mass attachable to a drive, a housing that serves to accommodate a pressure spring as well as a pressure plate, and a ring that encompasses the rotational axis of the inertia mass and housing and acts, in connection with a signal receiver, as a pulse generator. This ring, because it is not very thick in the radial direction, can be deformed by even small radial forces, so that its inner diameter can be adapted by enlargement or shrinking to the outer diameter of a component intended for its accommodation, such as an inertia mass or housing, in order to establish a friction locking connection between the ring and the outer diameter of the component.

Abstract: Hinge eye, in particular for a vibration damper, comprising a plastic body with a transverse opening for a fastening means, and a connection opening for the unit to be retained, characterized by the fact that the connection opening has a metal reinforcement sleeve to reinforce the connection.

Abstract: A vibration damper includes a pressure tube in which a piston on a piston rod which can move axially is guided by means of a piston rod guide which closes the pressure tube. The piston divides the pressure tube which is filled with damping medium into two working chambers. A piston ring which covers a peripheral area of the piston has an essentially U-shaped cross section with retaining surfaces, whereby the retaining surfaces are supported on the upper and lower side of the piston. On at least one side of the piston, at least a portion of the piston on which the retaining surfaces of the piston ring are engaged has a profiled surface. The profiled surface is configured such that the distance between one side of the piston and a hypothetical reference plane which runs parallel to the piston side is alternately less than and greater than a specified size of fit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a clutch disc in which the output part is composed of two elements which on one hand run alongside a hub disc for an idle device, and on the other hand are engaged by means of radial arms in apertures of an intermediate part, to apply pressure to two sets of springs which are located in those apertures and connected in series. The two-piece output part can thereby be prefabricated with the intermediate part and the hub disc for the idle damper as a separate unit.

Abstract: Torsional vibration damper for a motor vehicle friction clutch, the torsional vibration damper having a hub with a hub disc, and cover plates located one on either side of the hub disc, which cover plates are fastened together. The cover plates can be rotated with respect to the hub disc against the force of springs by a specified amount, whereby the radial guidance of the parts which can rotate in relation to one another is provided by preferably one cover plate and a bearing element inserted in a central hole of the cover plate. The bearing element permits a limited radial relative movement of the cover plate with respect to the hub, is designed so that in addition to an axial offset, it can also compensate for an angular offset between the crankshaft and the transmission shaft.

Abstract: For control of a frame-vibration damping device with a variable damping force characteristic in a motor vehicle (1), adjustment devices (9) of the vibration dampers (7) being controlled as a function of evaluated measurement signals of a single acceleration sensor (17) detecting the instantaneous value of an acceleration variable. The measurement direction (19) of the acceleration sensor (17) is turned at an angle of 45.degree. in each case to the three axes of motion of the vehicle (longitudinal axis x, transverse axis y, and vertical axis z). Signal separation means (25) separate a first measurement signal component (b.sub.z) by means of a bandpass filter (31) with midfrequency tuned to the natural frequency of the vehicle body (3), which represents the acceleration component in the vertical direction (z). Subtraction means (33), which develop the difference of the measurement signal of the acceleration sensor (17) and the first measurement signal component (b.sub.

Abstract: A friction clutch for a motor vehicle in which a friction lining ring can be clamped directly between the centrifugal mass and the pressure plate. In addition, a radially inward extension of the friction lining rang is riveted directly to a carrier which is fastened non-rotationally on a hub, possibly with the interposition of a torsional damping device.

Abstract: This invention relates to a friction clutch with a membrane spring in a pulled or pushed clutch, in which there is a second membrane spring/plate spring which assists the release force, and which, when the friction clutch is engaged, exerts little or no release force, and generates a release force which increases with increasing release travel.

Abstract: Derailleur with at least two sprockets on a sprocket unit, which is designed so that the chain can be easily shifted between a smaller sprocket and a larger sprocket. For this purpose, at least on the larger sprocket, there is a tooth space which forms a lane for the transfer of the chain between the two sprockets. By means of a side plate support ramp on the larger sprocket, a path of a chain transfer segment which is convexly bent or curved radially outward, viewed in the axial direction, is achieved, whereby the chain transfer segment is formed during the chain transfer from the smaller sprocket to the larger sprocket in the vicinity of the double tooth space.

Abstract: This invention relates to a friction clutch with a membrane spring in a pulled or pushed clutch design, in which there is a second membrane spring/plate spring which provides assistance to the release force and which, when the friction clutch is engaged, generates little or no release force, and generates an increasing release force as the release travel increases.

Abstract: In a motor vehicle, a modular unit including an internal combustion engine with an engine housing and a crankshaft for power take-off, and an electric generator/motor, the generator housing of which is permanently connected to the engine housing, and the rotor of which is coaxially and non-rotationally connected to the crankshaft. According to at least one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the modular unit is characterized by the fact that there is an elastically deformable torque transmission plate which is permanently connected by means of a flange to the driven end of the crankshaft, and is permanently connected on the circumferential side to the rotor, and that the rotor is rotationally mounted in the generator housing.

Abstract: Self-pumping hydropneumatic shock absorbing strut with internal level control, in particular for motor vehicles, in which, to regulate the level, a pump which is driven by the movements of the spring transports damping medium from a low pressure chamber which is under a lower pressure into a high pressure chamber which is constantly pressurized by the respective spring force of the shock absorbing strut. During this process, when a specified level is exceeded, the damping medium can flow back into the reservoir via a regulating device, whereby the regulating device is a recess between the work chamber and the low pressure chamber, which regulating device can be controlled by a magnetically actuated closing element.

Abstract: A flywheel apparatus including a first centrifugal mass connected to a drive mechanism and a second centrifugal mass connected to the first centrifugal mass by a torsional vibration damper, whereby the second centrifugal mass is rotatable with respect to the first centrifugal mass and located on the second centrifugal mass is a clutch housing. The clutch housing can have an application plate which is non-rotational but can move axially. The clutch housing can also have an application element which applies an application force, and a clutch plate which is located between the application plate and a counterpressure plate, whereby the clutch housing together with the counterpressure plate forms a pre-fabricated unit which can be fastened to the corresponding centrifugal mass by fastening elements.

Abstract: A hydrokinetic torque converter which includes pump wheels and/or turbine wheels in particular of a Fottinger coupling, wherein all the required blades are stamped in the form of blade blanks, out of a round stamping blank in a single operating process, in such a manner that each blade blank remains connected, by means of a connecting web, to a ring-shaped area of the stamping blank which remains intact during the stamping. The blade blanks are then subjected to a shaping process, in which they are reshaped into the final three-dimensional shape of the blade, whereby the connection with the ring-shaped area remains intact, and, in a shaping process, the ring-shaped area is adapted to the contour of the housing that delimits the pump wheel or turbine wheel. A blade carrier is thereby produced which makes it possible to install all the blades, in their three-dimensional position with respect to the pump or turbine wheel, in a single process.

Abstract: In a hydrodynamic torque converter, a secondary circulation which is provided for the cooling of the hydraulic fluid in the primary circulation chamber, and when there is a lockup clutch also for the actuation of this lockup clutch, runs through a stator support structure which comprises an overrunning clutch unit. One or more passage channels are provided in the locking rings of the overrunning clutch unit which provide the flow path through the stator support structure.

Abstract: A friction clutch with an actuator for automated operation, having an electronic control system preferably located separately from the actuator. Whereby to reduce the intensity of the control currents for the electric motor of the actuator, there can be a compensating spring which assists the actuation force of the friction clutch, a mechanism which automatically compensates for wear inside the friction clutch, an optimally-efficient, helical spur gear with involute gear teeth, as well as a device to reduce the release force of the friction clutch.