Abstract: There are disclosed a method of and an apparatus for automated actuation of a friction clutch or another torque transmitting system in the power train of a motor vehicle. An actuator for the torque transmitting system can be rendered operative by the ignition key and/or as a result of one or more activities of the operator of the motor vehicle prior or subsequent to insertion of the ignition key. The activity or activities can include the engagement of a brake, the shifting of a transmission lever, stepping on the gas pedal and/or others.

Abstract: A device for removing noxious and aromatic matter from a conducted air flow into the interior of a vehicle comprises an air conduction housing with a reactor containing an adsorbent. To attain consistently good adsorption and absorption power with small amounts of adsorbing and absorbing material, the air conduction housing is designed with two separate parallel air flow channels, in each of which there is a reactor in the form of a flat wall. An adsorption air flow acts upon the adsorbent in one air flow channel and a desorption air flow acts upon the adsorbent in the other air flow channel, the direction of air flow into the reactor in the adsorption operation being opposite that in the desorption operation.

Abstract: The invention relates to an effect paint for objects to be painted, as well as to a process for making the effect paint, wherein the effect paint comprises pigments. The pigments, produced by fragmenting a wiped and cross-linked film, are added to a starting paint of a paint coat of the object and result in a color effect which depends on the viewing angle, and are also provided with a marking used to recognize and characterize the object.

Abstract: A method for producing a catalytic converter including a honeycomb body having flow channels with catalytically active surfaces, includes at least partially cleaning foreign materials from a honeycomb body of a catalytic converter that has been in service. Catalytically active surfaces of the catalytic converter are restored through application of a catalytically active surface coating.

Abstract: A vane pump and a process for operating it in which an eccentric ring against which the vanes ride is shifted in response to a temperature sensing element which bears upon the ring against the force of a spring acting thereon counter to the temperature sensing element.

Abstract: A process to operate a locking system for lockable objects which features a key module having a remote control unit and a transponder for transmitting and receiving coded signals, and a lock module, fitted inside or on the lockable object, comprising a receiver unit for detection of coded signals, an evaluation unit for verification of coded signals, and a control unit for actually carrying out the unlocking or locking operation on the lockable object. A bidirectional data transmission between the key module and the lock module takes place before unlocking or locking of the object. On receiving an unlocking or locking signal sent out by the key module, the lock module will go into a waiting or standby mode and itself send out control signals by use of a transmission unit. When the user approaches the lockable object, one of the control signals will be received and evaluated by the transponder of the key module.

Abstract: The reciprocating engine more particularly intended for high pressure applications or motor vehicle CO.sub.2 air conditioning systems, has a wobble plate transmission, whose wobble plate (3) can assume different inclined positions for power control purposes. For this purpose is provided a wobble joint constructed as a knuckle joint, allowing the tilting movement of the wobble plate (3) supported on the engine shaft (4) through a slot guide (11, 11') of a driving pin (9). A good controllability of the reciprocating engine results from friction-reducing engine components provided on the driving pin (9) and comprising bearings (32, 33), which allow a rotation of the driving pin (9) about its longitudinal axis, as well as a sliding bush or a roller bearing (47) on one of the pin ends (40, 43) engaging in slot guides (11, 11'). In addition, in the vicinity of the more strongly loaded pin end is provided an axial force-absorbing sliding disk (42).

Abstract: An air dehumidifier or drier, particularly for a motor vehicle, has an air guiding housing defining three parallel air flow paths, which are defined by a common main air chamber separating two laterally spaced apart secondary air chambers. A reactor containing an adsorbent is positioned between the secondary air chambers, the common main air chamber being defined between the reactors. Air-flow control elements are positioned in each of the main and secondary air chambers. The control elements are pivotal between two operating positions. In each position, one of the reactors is in adsorption operation (dehumidify air) while the other reactor is in desorption operation (reactor being dried or recharged). The desorption air directed to the reactor being dried is heated by a heat exchanger, which has an air passageway for exhausting the air used for drying the reactor. Thus, the desorption air directed to the reactor being dried is preheated using the energy from the exhausting air.

Abstract: Multi-stage regulator for lubricant pumps with continuously adjustable displaced volumes in particular for lubricant pumps, with a regulating piston to which pressure can be applied from pressure derived from the output side of the pump, and with increasing pressure can be displaced counter to the force of a flexible restoring element.

Abstract: A process for heating the passenger compartment (10) in a motor vehicle, particularly an electric vehicle, having a heating device (12), which is supplied with an air current (40) extracted, via a waste-air duct (11), from the passenger compartment (10). The air current enters into the passenger compartment (10) from the heating device (12) via an intake-duct (13). In order to prevent internal misting of the vehicle's windows, even with a low heating capacity, at least one partial air current (40a), which is branched off from the air current (40) prior to entry into the passenger compartment (10), flows through a sorbent (15) such as zeolite or the like.

Abstract: In a process for the continuous melting down of scrap metal, in particular of bales of scrap metal, which contain residual plastic materials, the scrap metal being fed to a melt-down reactor (1) and the heat required to melt this down being obtained by direct heating from below, using burners that are arranged close to the tapping point, the process is managed in the melt-down reactor (1) as a reducing process; part of the process gases is returned to the melt-down reactor (1) as combustion gas after utilization of the sensible heat and purification; the remaining portion is passed out as output gas. This makes it possible to operate without oversize gas purification systems when melting down scrap metal that contains plastic, and to utilize the pyrolysed substances that are contained in the working material to good effect.

Abstract: A vane pump has a casing, a controlling collar guided leaktightly in the casing and movable relative to a rotor mounted in the casing and surrounded by the controlling collar. The movement of the collar is transverse to the axial direction of the rotor. A suction region of the pump is defined by a volume increasing in the direction of rotation of the rotor, of a vane cell formed between two adjacent vanes and decreasing to the pressure region. At least one adjustment member is provided to adjust the position of the controlling collar in dependence on the prevailing pumping parameters. In order to provide a vane pump of space-saving and/or simple and cost-saving design, at least one recess is open towards the outside of the controlling collar and is provided on the controlling collar close to the pressure region to accommodate and adjustment member.

Abstract: A method is described for determining brake coefficients, which define the relationship between the brake pressure and the brake force at a wheel or axle of a motor vehicle or of a section of a vehicle combination during the braking operation of the vehicle or vehicle combination. During the braking operation of vehicle, the wheel speed and the brake pressure are determined measurement/time intervals with differing brake pressure distribution between the wheels, axles or vehicle sections are formed, in which the equilibrium of forces between the brake force and the force of inertia of the motor vehicle is obtained.

Abstract: An intake device for a mixture-compressing internal-combustion engine has a heating element for heating the injected fuel downstream of an injection nozzle in the intake channel in order to avoid formation of fuel condensate which is harmful in the exhaust emission. The heating elements are configured in plate form and directed at an angle towards the injected fuel jet such that, on one hand, there is a good heating and, on the other hand, there is a low flow resistance by the heating elements. The plate heating element can be integrated in a flush and heat-insulating manner in the wall of the intake channel. By virtue of the low flow resistance which a plate-like heating element arranged obliquely in the fuel/air mixture flow produces, the heating surface can be made larged and consequently a rapid fuel heating can be achieved.

Abstract: A change-speed gearbox having two countershaft transmission each connected by a frictional driving clutch to an input shaft and having a single common countershaft. Two gear wheel stages of the countershaft transmissions can be optionally connected into the driving connection between the input and output shafts by a change-speed clutch. One of the two gear wheel stages of one countershaft transmission is allocated to the reverse gear, and one of the two gear wheel stages of the other countershaft transmission is used both in reverse gear and in second gear.

Abstract: The distributor comprises a rotatably mounted rotor, which has close to its axis of rotation a first electrode and has at its end that is remote from the axis of rotation a second electrode, which is connected by an electric line to the first electrode. The distributor also comprises a housing, which is closed by a cap, which is provided on its inside peripheral surface with a plurality of peripherally spaced apart fixed electrodes for cooperating with the second electrode of the roto. The cap is further provided on its inside surface with a center electrode, which terminates at a distance from the first electrode of the rotor to form a spark gap therewith. To form a positive joint with the cap the embedded portion of the center electrode has a non-cylindrical peripheral surface, which is rounded and free of any edge.