Abstract: A method and a device for determining the load condition of a particle filter (10) used in the exhaust gas system (11) of a diesel engine (12) employed in particular in a motor vehicle, whereina pressure value (.DELTA.P.sub.filter, P.sub.abs.pre-filter or P.sub.rel.pre-filter) and a temperature value (t.sub.m,filter of the exhaust gas volume flow in the particle filter (12) are measured;the engine speed (n) proportional to the volume flow is measured;an actual characterizing value is calculated considering these measurement values; anda comparison between actual characteristic value (IK) and limit characteristic value (GK) is performed for initiating a regeneration process when the difference (DI) is sufficiently small.

Abstract: A device for thermal regeneration of particle filters is provided for use with a diesel engine exhaust system with a particle filter. The device includes a burner for heating the particle filter during regeneration of the particle filter. A combustion air supply is provided connected to the burner for supplying combustion air. A fuel pump arrangement is provided preferably including plural pumps which are individually actuatable to deliver fuel dependent on the speed and load condition of the diesel engine.

Abstract: A vehicle heating system characterized by a combined heating unit which contains a heater having a combustion gas/liquid heat exchanger and operating by burning liquid fuel, and a liquid/air heat exchanger in fluid flow communication therewith to supply heated air to warm the vehicle.

Abstract: A space heater for a motor vehicle contains a burner with a combustion air fan. A series resistor (24) is provided for partial load operation. This resistor (24) is arranged in a housing (2, 6) which surrounds the electric motor (4) driving the fan wheel (14) of the combustion air fan (1) and through which combustion air is passed for cooling the electric motor and the resistor (24). The resistor (24) is soldered to a printed circuit board (20) located radially on the housing, downstream of a combustion air passage opening (22) designed as a cutout in the printed circuit board. The printed circuit board preferably carries a sound-absorbing plate (34) with a cutout (36) in the area of the resistor.

Abstract: A heater (independent vehicle heater) which can be operated in a particularly wide range between full load and partial load, e.g., 1:10 to 1:15, is shown. This is achieved by the annular space surrounding the combustion chamber being divided into two partial compartments and by supplying the combustion air to these partial compartments. A control element (back-pressure-controlled control element), which separates some of the air passage openings between the annular space and the combustion chamber from the passage of air, is arranged in the combustion air line.

Abstract: An exhaust gas cleaning device for diesel engines has an exhaust gas soot filter (2) with a filter body (6) that is supported in a housing (4) and is regenerated by combustion of the soot when its temperature rises above the middle operating exhaust gas temperature range. A burner (26) is provided, having a combustion air fan (28) whose hot gas side is in flow communication with the exhaust gas soot filter (2), and the filter body (6) is supported in its housing in such a manner that at least a large part of its outer surface is heated externally during operation of the burner (26).

Abstract: A particle filter for the exhaust gases of internal combustion engines is described, which can be regenerated by burning free, and in which the filter cartridges (12) include a support tube (16) with a lining of filter material (20). The support tubes 16 are conical. The lining with filter material (20) is preferably carried out such that the filter cartridge (12) has a cylindrical shape, i.e., the filter material (20) lining is thicker on the inlet side than on the outlet side. However, lining with an equal thickness of filter material (20) over the entire length of the conical part of the filter cartridge (12) is also shown.

Abstract: An arrangement for the reduction of exhaust gas discharge temperature and for an increase in efficiency in heating devices is preferably used for the heating of the interior of mobile units. A baffle plate is arranged in an annular chamber defined between a flame tube of the heating device and a heat exchanger surrounding the tube.

Abstract: A method for driving an ultrasonic transducer, intended for use in atomization of liquids, at one of its selected resonance frequencies, by tuning out the capacitance of the ultrasonic transducer by means of an inductor, by sensing the transducer current, by comparing the phases of the transducer driving voltage and the transducer current and by controlling a voltage controlled oscillator for driving the ultrasonic transducer, by means of a phase error signal such that the ultrasonic transducer is driven with a frequency at which the transducer driving voltage and the transducer current are in phase, whereby the transducer driving circuit is locked to a natural resonance frequency of the ultrasonic transducer.

Abstract: A heating system for vehicles, comprising:a heater (2) generating heat during operation by combustion of fuel;a liquid/air heat exchanger (8) for supplying heat to a vehicle interior space;a liquid circuit passing through the heater (2) and the heat exchanger (8);a blower (10) associated with the heat exchanger (8);an electric switching controller (14) for the blower power, which is connected to the motor (12) of the blower (10) and operates in infinitely variable manner and substantially without losses;a bypass (32) of the heat exchanger (8) which is part of the liquid circuit;an electrically adjustable valve (30) in the liquid circuit for determining the extent of the flow through the heat exchanger (8) and the bypass (32);a vehicle interior space temperature sensor (50); andan electric regulating means (8) connected to said temperature sensor (50) and driving the switching controller (14) and the valve (30).

Abstract: A method for providing uniform thermal output from a glow plug for use in an auxiliary heater of a motor vehicle having either a 12 volt or 24 volt power supply without the use of multiplier resistors utilizes a glow plug having two heating rods having the same electrical resistance and three electrical terminals. One end of the first and second rods are permanently electrically connected respectively to the first and third terminals and the other end of the first and second rods are permanently electrically connected to the second terminal. The vehicle voltage is determined and if the 12 volt supply is present the first and second terminals are connected to the power supply and the first and third terminals are electrically connected to each other to place the heating rods in parallel. If a 24 volt supply is present, the first and third terminals are connected to the power supply with the second terminal left in connected thereby placing the heating rods in series.

Abstract: Device for the catalytic detoxification of or soot removal from exhaust gases of internal combustion engines, comprising: a housing (4) which has two partial shells (4a, 4b) welded together along longitudinal welded edge pairs (26) and two open end zones (8) connected to an exhaust gas line, as well as a flow passage for the exhaust gas between the end zones. Two exhaust gas treatment bodies (6) are provided through which gas is able to flow. The exhaust gas treatment bodies are arranged one behind the other in the flow direction and are arranged at spaced locations from one another in the housing. A protective ring (14) made of sheet metal is provided which delimits the space between the two exhaust gas treatment bodies (6) on the outside. The protective ring (14) has at least one sheet metal flap (32), which extends between a welded edge pair (26) of the housing partial shells (4a, 4b) and is welded to the housing (4) at the welded edge pair.

Abstract: Coolant circuit of an internal combustion engine for a motor vehicle, which connects the internal combustion engine, a coolant/air heat exchanger for an interior space of the vehicle, and a combustion gas/coolant heat exchanger of a heater generating heat by combustion. The coolant circuit has a bypass line bypassing the internal combustion engine and a thermostat valve which regulates the return temperature in a predetermined range of adjustment by controlling coolant flow through the bypass line and/or the internal combustion engine. The thermostat valve is provided with at least two valves formed by valve seats and valve sealing elements, especially valve disks, wherein the range of adjustment of the thermostat valve (12) can be modified from the outside.

Abstract: A motor vehicle auxiliary heater annular combustion air blower is disclosed having a housing defining a suction side of the blower and a delivery side of the blower. The housing also defines a mounting bore which extends substantially perpendicular to the bypass channel. A rotary slide valve is provided in the form of a cylindrical pin member which is rotatable within said mounting bore and includes a surface before variable throttling of said bypass channel independence upon the rotational position of said rotary slide valve.

Abstract: A catalyst carrier body of flat and corrugated metal strips is arranged in layers mounted in a metallic housing which can be easily manufactured and is suitable for mechanical and thermal stresses, as well as a process for its manufacture. The catalyst carrier comprises an anticlockwise folded coil form which is pressed into the desired final shape and is encased in a metallic jacket.

Abstract: A vehicle heating system with an engine-independent heater (2) and a heat carrier circuit (14). A feed line (24) leads from the internal combustion engine (8) driving the vehicle to the heater (2) and from there to a heating heat exchanger (10). A return line (30) leads from the heating heat exchanger (10) to the internal combustion engine (8), and a control device (6) for the heater (2). The heat carrier circuit (14) has a connection line (36) leading from the return line (30) to the feed line (24) in front of the heater (2), so that a short circuit excluding the internal combustion engine (8) is formed. The switching over from the short circuit to full heat carrier circuit is performed by the control device (6) of the heater (2) and an on-off solenoid valve (38).

Abstract: A method for driving an ultrasonic transducer, intended for use in atomization of liquids, at one of its selected resonance frequencies, by tuning out the capacitance of the ultrasonic transducer by means of an inductor, by sensing the transducer current, by comparing the phases of the transducer driving voltage and the transducer current and by controlling a voltage controlled oscillator for driving the ultrasonic transducer, by means of a phase error signal such that the ultrasonic transducer is driven with a frequency at which the transducer driving voltage and the transducer current are in phase, whereby the transducer driving circuit is locked to a natural resonance frequency of the ultrasonic transducer.

Abstract: A device for preheating fuel for an ultrasonic atomizer (11) is shown, in which the fuel for an engine-independent heater operated with liquid fuel is atomized. The heating element (20), which preferably consists of a PTC element, is arranged in physical proximity to the ultrasonic atomizer (11) and outside the fuel feed line (17) so that it is switched off as soon as a sufficient amount of heat is generated by the combustion chamber (3), so that the fuel is adequately atomized on the atomizer plate. Reliable possibility of start at low temperatures (down to cA. -40.degree. C.) is thus achieved at low power consumption in the start-up range.

Abstract: A heating device for pre-heating liquid fuel, especially diesel fuel and for heating devices of a low heating performance which are independent from a motor have a heating performance which is suitable for mounting into vehicles, which are driven by the liquid fuel. The pre-heating is effected by a transmission of heat of the exhaust gas to the fuel of the heating device, the fuel being lead through a continuous tubular wrapping in one layer or through a hollow cylinder formed or positioned around the exhaust pipe. This wrapping or hollow cylinder is part of the fuel main from the fuel tank to the fuel supply pump of the heating device. A pre-heating of the content of the tank is effected by the return of the pre-heated, but not burnt fuel through a fuel return main back into the tank. A heat transmitting jacket is advantageously disposed between the wrapping, or a hollow cylinder and the exhaust gas pipe.

Abstract: Device for the catalytic cleaning of or soot removal from exhaust gases of internal combustion engines, comprising a housing that has two open end zones connected to an exhaust gas line and a flow passage for the exhaust gases between the end zones. Two flow-carrying exhaust gas treating bodies are held in housing one behind another in the direction of flow and at spaced locations from one another. A protective ring, is provided surrounding the space between the two exhaust gas treating bodies on the outside. The protective ring is held in the housing in a form-fit manner in the axial direction by a holding member surrounding it on the outside. An axial clearance is provided between the protective ring and at least of the two exhaust gas treating bodies in the installed state.