Abstract: A method of detecting defective ignition or fuel injection system of an internal combustion engine with several cylinders and at least two spark plugs or two fuel injection devices per cylinder with separate control circuits, at least a second control circuit for the ignition or fuel injection systems is disabled so that all the spark plugs or injection devices of the at least second ignition or injection systems become inoperative, the engine running smoothness is then measured, the first system which was not disabled is identified as including the defective spark plug or injection device if the engine running smoothness was found to be affected, then the ignition or injection systems for any other spark plugs or injection devices are disabled cylinder-by-cylinder and the engine running smoothness is monitored to identify the cylinder which includes the defective spark plug or injection device.

Abstract: A method and a device for controlling the speed of a motor vehicle and its distance from a vehicle travelling in front are provided. The speed is controlled as long as no vehicle travelling in front is located within a prescribed detection area in front of the vehicle and the distance from the vehicle travelling in front is controlled if a vehicle is located in the detection area. The desired distance for the distance control is set after an instruction for a lane change to the left has been triggered, to a value which is smaller than the value before this instruction was triggered, but is at least as large as a prescribed minimum distance. Alternatively, the actual acceleration of the vehicle is limited to a prescribed maximum value if a vehicle travelling in front moves out of the prescribed detection area in front of the vehicle during the time that an instruction for a lane change to the right is set.

Abstract: A locking device for vehicles, particularly for vehicle doors has a mechanical revolving connection between a cylinder core of a lock cylinder and a safety lever of an assigned lock which comprises a driving coupling in the form of a lock nut. In order to achieve a simplification of the construction and mounting of the locking device while ensuring the operability of the locking device when it is operated mechanically as well as when the central locking system is operated, the lock nut is constructed in one piece. An end side of the lock nut facing an operating lever arm of the safety lever has two stops spaced angularly from one another and projecting from the end side. The operating lever arm engages between the stops, so that when the lock nut is rotated, a locking or unlocking position of the safety lever is achieved after an idling path.

Abstract: In an arrangement for operating a control device of a vehicle by way of a pedal, a pedal lever is pivotally supported by a bearing bolt mounted on a vehicle structure and is biased by a return spring toward its idle end position. A friction element is provided so as to cooperate with the pedal lever and a friction surface on a stationary structure, the friction element being coupled to the return spring and being arranged to provide friction forces upon movement of the pedal lever, which are dependent on the pedal position and which are higher when the pedal lever is moved in a direction away from the idle end position than they are when the pedal lever is moved in the opposite direction.

Abstract: The invention provides a key/vehicle communication device in which an electronic key capable of being inserted into a steering-column lock controls activation of an immobilizing device having an inductive key/steering-column lock communication channel for recognizing whether a key authorized for use is inserted. A key/vehicle communication channel is also provided, for the remotely controllable activation of at least one vehicle-side function via a key-side actuating member. A vehicle-side control unit determines, via the inductive key/steering-column lock communication channel, whether a key authorizing the driving of a vehicle is inserted in the steering-column lock and, if so, blocks the vehicle-side part of the key/vehicle communication channel.

Abstract: A hydraulic power steering system is provided in which a manual steering device and the steering vehicle wheels are normally coupled only by way of a control path with a desired-value generator operated by the manual steering device and an actual-value generator operated by the steering vehicle wheels. For controlling a hydraulic servomotor used for the steering operation of the steering vehicle wheels, a servo valve arrangement is operated by a desired-value/actual-value comparison. Only when there is a disturbance in the control path, will a hydraulic forced coupling take place between the manual steering device and the steering vehicle wheels.

Abstract: Integral bodyshell structure for a motor vehicle and method for its production. Known vehicle bodyshell structures are composed of a multiplicity of individual sheet-metal stampings, and as a result complex joining processes for the sheet-metal shell construction arise. In the invention, first the inner side-wall part is joined on each side to the under-frame assembly and then the outer side-wall parts are added. This method has applications for the production of passenger cars.

Abstract: The vehicle air-conditioning system according to the invention has at least one air-conditioning air duct with at least one air outflow nozzle having an automatically adjustable air guiding arrangement, a sun radiation sensing system, and an air-conditioning control unit which generates control commands for automatically adjusting the air guiding arrangement at least as a function of the output signals of the sun radiation sensing system. The air-conditioning control unit uses output signals from the sun radiation sensing system to determine the local distribution of sun radiation in the area of a particular vehicle seat and, as a function thereof, automatically adjusts the air guiding arrangement or arrangements assigned to the respective vehicle seat.

Abstract: A sun sensing arrangement for a motor vehicle, and a method of arranging a sun sensor in a motor vehicle, in order to sense incident sunlight. The motor vehicle has an engine hood which includes a top-side air inlet grid area. The sun sensor is arranged inside the air inlet grid area of the engine hood. This positioning permits sunlight to be sensed in a large solid-angle range which is not influenced by the vehicle windows or objects mounted on the roof of the vehicle, and the styling of the vehicle body shell is not noticeably influenced.

Abstract: In a vehicle control pedal unit comprising a mounting structure having a U-shaped mounting end with spaced parallel leg walls between which one end of a pedal lever having an eyepiece with an opening is pivotally supported, a bearing sleeve is disposed between the leg walls and extends through the eyepiece opening and a slide hub extends through the bearing openings in the leg walls and through the bearing sleeve and is interlocked with the bearing sleeve for retaining the bearing sleeve and the lever arm in position between the leg walls of the mounting structure.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for adjustment of the charging pressure in an internal-combustion engine exhaust gas turbocharger having an adjustable turbine geometry, to a predetermined operating-point-dependent desired charging pressure value. A fuzzy control function in an electronic control unit has as input quantities, a control difference and a control quantity, the latter being determined as the difference between an engine-operating-point-dependent maximum permissible differential pressure and a current differential pressure. The differential pressure is calculated as the difference from the exhaust back pressure and the charging pressure, so that unacceptable super elevation of the exhaust back pressure is recognized in the case of a positive load change, and is corrected by opening the blade position of the exhaust gas turbocharger with the variable turbine geometry, so that an optimum buildup of the torque takes place.

Abstract: A drive shaft with an endless-fiber-reinforced plastic tube made of a thermosetting plastic matrix material and with a joint-connecting body that is connected nonrotatably with a plastic tube by means of a pin inserted into the plastic tube. The drive shaft is intended to be capable of being manufactured universally in large quantities efficiently and in different lengths for use, and can also handle severe loads mechanically even at high operating temperatures. For this purpose, an internal layer with axially aligned fibers or fiber strands, preferably made of carbon, is provided in the plastic tube, on which at least one double layer with fibers arranged inclined symmetrically to the axial direction is applied. The plastic tube is provided internally with axially aligned profiling that remains constant over the entire length of the plastic tube and is formed of the matrix material, in the manner of a spline bore.

Abstract: In a servo valve for hydraulic power steerings of motor vehicles which consists of a rotary spool valve having a rotary spool rotatably disposed in a control sleeve, a front end of the control sleeve and a flange structure on the rotary spool have spaced oppositely arranged faces forming a gap therebetween in which a C-shaped spring is disposed which extends around the rotary spool and has free opposite ends in engagement with pins projecting axially toward one another from the opposite faces of the control sleeve and the flange structure when both are in a center position relative to one another so as to bias the control sleeve and the flange structure into such center position with a predetermined spring force.

Abstract: In a hydraulic power steering for motor vehicles having a steering control element, a position setting unit connected to the steering control element, a control motor connected to the position setting unit by way of a control circuit and a servo valve having control parts which are supported so as to be rotatable relative to each other but operatively interconnected by spring means retaining them in a central open position relative to each other, one of the control parts is operatively connected to the control motor and the other is connected to a steering gear mechanism associated with the steered wheels of the motor vehicle, and a hydraulic servomotor is associated with the vehicle wheel steering mechanism and hydraulically connected to the servo valve to receive hydraulic fluid therefrom depending on the relative rotary positions of the servo valve control parts.

Abstract: A headrest for a vehicle seat is provided with a supporting loop and a head cushion mounted thereon and pivotable in a direction of a seat bottom. An adjusting device activated in the event of a collision is provided for displacing the head cushion relative to the supporting loop in such fashion that the head cushion directly abuts the nape of the neck and the back of the seat occupant's head. To improve head support comfort by provision for individual adjustment of the head support contour to the needs of the seat occupant when asleep, the adjusting device is additionally equipped with a manual operating member that permits changing the setting of the head cushion without adversely affecting the protective function of the head cushion in the event of a collision.

Abstract: In a motor braking arrangement for an internal combustion engine including a turbocharger having a charger connected to the engine by an air intake duct and a turbine connected to the engine by an exhaust gas pipe including an exhaust gas shut-off valve arranged upstream of the turbine, a by-pass line extends from the exhaust gas pipe upstream of the shut-off valve to a gas admission passage of the turbine adjacent the turbine wheel to drive the turbine wheel by the gases discharged from the exhaust gas pipe when the shut-off valve is closed for engine braking purposes.