Abstract: In a drying cartridge for air drying installations, especially for vehicle air-brake systems, an air drying agent is contained inside an outer pot, the base region of which can be closed off by a face cover. A central screw with a thread at its end passing through the face cover and securable to the dryer casing extends axially and centrally through the drying cartridge. The face cover, which may be made of thin plastic, can move to a limited extent in relation to the outer pot of the drying cartridge and is secured by clamping or friction to an O-ring which in turn is introduced into an annular groove in the central screw such that, after the drying cartridge has been released from the dryer casing, the cartridge can still be handled as a structural unit.

Abstract: A modified antilock system/wheel slip control system arrangement is provided whose logic provides the use of the wheel slip control system valve as the actuating valve for the compressed-air cylinder used for engaging the differential lock of a limited-slip differential. The wheel slip control system valve or actuating valve will become operative, when a wheel slip control system control operation is started or when a coefficient of adhesion difference is recognized between the right and the left driving wheel of the vehicle at a pressure below a pressure threshold which engages the differential lock, to carry out the conventional wheel slip control system brake control. Once a maximum speed is reached and the adhesion difference is minimized, the wheel slip control system valve is fully opened to engage the differential lock.

Abstract: A method for drive stability enhancement of multi-unit vehicle combinations which is based on an autonomous unilateral operation and pressure coordination (during braking) of the towing vehicle unit's brake system, producing a stabilizing yaw torque on the towing vehicle unit, whose calculation is based on an adaptive reference model of the vehicle combination, running in real-time on the vehicle's onboard computer and gathering information only from the towing vehicle unit, such as pneumatic pressures at the brake cylinders, pressure differences in the rear axle air bags, steering angle, yaw rate and lateral acceleration and the wheel speeds on the towing vehicle. Based on this information and the adaptive model, the hitch ange and its derivative is estimated.

Abstract: In the case of an electropneumatic brake system for motor vehicles, a pedal-operated braking power generator is provided which acts electrically upon an electronic control unit and feeds pneumatically into a pressure modulator which includes a proportional valve device and a reversing valve device. The pressure modulator is also controlled by desired electric value signals of the electronic control unit and is used for activating a valve device which modulates pressure mediums for the brake operation of the brake system. When the electric control fails, the pressure modulator operates redundantly.

Abstract: Electronic control apparatus for motor vehicles. The apparatus includes a test circuit which causes a test current to flow through a load being operated by the apparatus and which detects the magnitude of the test current. From the magnitude of the test current, an evaluation circuit determines whether the ground potential of the control apparatus and the ground potential of the load are at different levels. In response to a potential difference between the two ground potentials, the evaluation circuit initiates countermeasures for preventing damage to the electronic control apparatus, such as selectively disconnecting the load with a power switch responsive to the evaluation circuit.

Abstract: In order to adapt the brake force of a towed vehicle or trailer in an optimal fashion, it is necessary to know the coupling forces between the towing vehicle and the trailer or towed vehicle. One prerequisite for determining this coupling force is the knowledge of the total mass of the vehicle. This total mass is determined from an energy balance that contains the variables of the speed, a parameter of the brake energy and one parameter of the driving energy which are provided by systems that already exist in the motor vehicle. For this purpose, three energy balances are established at three different times, with the total mass of the motor vehicle and the slope of the road being determined from the three energy balances. A trailer brake valve subsequently is adjusted depending on the vehicle mass.