Abstract: In order to provide a trailer coupling device for motor vehicles, comprising a rear-side cross member which is mountable on a vehicle body, a supporting unit provided on the cross member which holds a ball neck receiving sleeve having a ball neck receptacle in which a ball neck incorporating a coupling ball is insertable and fixable therein, in which the ball neck receiving sleeve is minimally visible and disturbing when the ball neck is not inserted, it is proposed that the supporting unit comprises a pivot bearing unit by means of which the ball neck receiving sleeve is pivotable from a working position in which the ball neck is insertable therein in order to use a trailer, into a rest position in which an insertion opening of the ball neck receiving sleeve is arranged outside a visible region.

Abstract: In order to provide a coupling unit for a trailer coupling of a motor vehicle comprising a coupling ball and a coupling ball carrier carrying the coupling ball with the aid of which the loads effective thereon when in use can be detected in a reliable and simple manner, it is proposed that the coupling unit comprise a load-bearing structure which engages around a channel extending parallel to an axis, and that a reference finger extending from a first end to a second end in a longitudinal direction approximately parallel to the axis be arranged in the channel, wherein said finger is fixed at the first end such as to be static relative to the load-bearing structure and extends such as to be free from deformations of the load-bearing structure up to the second end, and wherein the second end cooperates with a sensor unit which detects a relative position of the second end relative to a region of the load-bearing structure engaging around it.

Abstract: In order to improve a trailer coupling for motor vehicles comprising a ball neck, which is mountable at a first end on a rear part of a motor vehicle to be fixed to the vehicle by means of a ball neck holder and which carries a coupling ball at a second end, in such a manner that load carriers can be mounted and securely held in a simple manner, it is proposed that at least one positioning body is arranged on the ball neck at a defined spacing from the coupling ball to position a load carrier holding arrangement attachable to the coupling ball and the ball neck.

Abstract: In order to improve a trailer coupling for motor vehicles, including a ball neck which is mountable on a rear part of a motor vehicle so as to be fixed to the vehicle by means of a ball neck carrier by way of a first end and on a second end carries a coupling ball, in such a manner that load carriers can be mounted and held securely in a simple manner, it is proposed that, for positioning a load carrier holding device, which is loadable onto the coupling ball and the ball neck, at least one first positioning body is arranged on the ball neck at a defined spacing from the coupling ball, that the at least one first positioning body is arranged on a ball neck portion of the ball neck which adjoins a ball attachment of the ball neck which carries the coupling ball and in particular, proceeding from the ball attachment, extends along the ball neck over a distance which corresponds to a maximum of one and a half times the diameter of the coupling ball, and that the at least one first positioning body extends transv

Abstract: In the case of a trailer coupling for motor vehicles, including a cross member, which is connectable to a motor vehicle body, and a bearing unit, which carries a ball neck that at a first end is connected to the bearing unit and at a second end carries a coupling ball, and a holding base, which carries the bearing unit and is connected to the cross member, it is proposed according to the invention that the holding base should have a flange unit, for receiving the bearing unit, and two holding elements that project from the flange unit and in so doing run at a spacing from one another and act on the cross member.

Abstract: In a trailer coupling comprising a cross member which is mountable on a rear region of a vehicle body, a pivot bearing unit arranged on the cross member, by means of which a ball neck carrying a coupling ball is pivotally mounted about a pivot axis between a working position and a rest position, and a contact unit arranged on the ball neck as well as a cable harness guided from the contact unit to a vehicle-mounted cross member and provided for connecting to a vehicle electrical supply system, it is provided that a transition portion of the cable harness which runs in a movable manner relative to the ball neck and relative to the pivot bearing unit from the ball neck to an attachment point connected fixedly to the cross member forms at least one loop which extends over an end face of the pivot bearing unit extending transversely to the pivot axis and which varies in size when transferring from the working position to the rest position or vice versa.

Abstract: In order to solve the problem, in the case of a trailer coupling comprising a ball neck supporting a coupling ball, and also comprising a socket receptacle for a socket for the power supply of units acting on the coupling ball, the socket having a socket housing with a housing sleeve, which is provided with an insertion opening, and the insertion opening being closable by a cover that is mounted pivotably on the housing sleeve, of being able to mount the sockets as conveniently and easily as possible, it is proposed that the socket receptacle has a receiving channel, into which the housing sleeve extends starting from a first side of the socket receptacle, that the housing sleeve bears against the first side of the socket receptacle via a bearing surface, and that the housing sleeve is fixed to the socket receptacle by a retaining element, which is fitted starting from a second side of the socket receptacle and which is supported on the socket receptacle and is connected to the housing sleeve by a latched con

Abstract: Roof rack for motor vehicles is provided, said roof rack comprises a cross member and leg members arranged on both sides of said cross member, each leg member comprising a support unit, which is adapted to rest on a respective carrier bar unit of a body of said motor vehicle, said support unit comprising a retaining unit adapted to be connected to a mounting section of said carrier bar unit, said support unit is adapted to be supported on said respective carrier bar unit and that said support unit comprises a first form locking element designed to cooperate with a second form locking element on said respective carrier bar unit upon movement in a locking direction extending essentially parallel to said cross member in order to provide a form locking fixation of said support unit with respect to said respective carrier bar unit against movement in directions transverse to said cross member.

Abstract: The invention relates to a trailer coupling for motor vehicles, comprising a coupling ball carrier which can be mounted on a vehicle body and a coupling ball with a ball body which has a ball surface extending between a ball attachment and an upper end surface of the ball body, with which the ball surface comprises a sensor zone for recognizing a body located close to or on the coupling ball, several detection locations different from one another are located in the sensor zone, a sensor unit arranged stationarily in the ball body beneath the ball surface is associated with each detection location and each sensor unit is designed such that it detects a body present in a close-proximity area above the ball surface at the respective detection location.

Abstract: A wind stop device for motor vehicles having improved stability. The wind stop device comprising a wind blocker having a wind blocker frame extending transversely to a vehicles longitudinal axis. The device further comprising a flow-hindering element closing a frame opening of the wind blocker frame, wherein the wind blocker is foldable about a wind blocker-folding axis by way of at least one hinge. The device further comprising a cover pivotally connected to the wind blocker about a pivot axis and having a cover frame extending transversely to a vehicles longitudinal axis and extending away from the pivot axis. The flow-hindering element closing a frame opening of the cover frame, wherein the cover frame is foldable about a cover folding axis by way of at least one hinge, where the hinges can have a blocking device to prevent the cover frame from folding.

Abstract: In order to connect a trailer coupling, in particular for motor vehicles, comprising a ball neck, a cross member, which is provided with a holding unit for the ball neck, and also two spaced attachment parts, which engage on the cross member and connect the cross member to mounting elements, which are themselves mountable on a rear part of a motor vehicle body, in such a manner that undesirable moments and/or forces are transferred to the motor vehicle body on the lowest possible scale, it is proposed that a connection between the cross member and the mounting elements is achieved only by means of the attachment parts, that the attachment parts have a cross member holding strip element connected to the cross member and that, through at least one curved strip element running to the cross member without connection, the cross member holding strip element runs to a mounting strip element, which is connected to the respective mounting element.

Abstract: In order to improve a carrier device for motor vehicles which is designed to support loads such that the loads acting on it can be detected, it is suggested that the carrier device be provided at the least with a first sensor at a first installation point and with a second sensor at a second installation point, that a section of the carrier device be located between the installation points, its deformations caused by a load being detected by the sensors at least in part and that an evaluation unit be provided which records measurement values of the sensors and determines a borne load from them.

Abstract: For a trailer coupling, the fixing unit has a stationary first toothed segment which is fixedly connected to the pivot bearing base. A first toothed segment which in the working position is connected to the pivot element in a rotationally fixed manner and pivots together with same and is engageable by displacing the pivot element from the pivot position into the fixed position, and is disengageable by displacing the pivot element from the fixed position into the pivot position.

Abstract: In order to improve a support unit for motor vehicles comprising a supporting structure mounted on a rear end portion of the motor vehicle a sensor unit is provided for detecting forces acting on the supporting structure and elastically deforming the same. The sensor unit is provided with a sensor base, comprising two fixation regions which are spaced apart and can be fixed to mounting regions of an elastically deformable supporting structure portion. A transformation region disposed between the fixation regions mechanically converts the movements of the mounting regions, and thus also of the fixation regions relative to one another. Movements are generated by the elastic deformation of the supporting structure portion, into a movement of measuring points of the transformation region relative to one another. The movement of the measuring points can be detected by the sensor unit.

Abstract: In a wind deflector for installation in a vehicle roof in a front area, comprising a wind deflector body which extends in a direction of extension transversely to a direction of travel, a lifting device, with which the wind deflector body can be moved between a position retracted into the vehicle roof and a position extended out of the vehicle roof and projecting beyond a contour of the upper side of the vehicle roof and thus deflecting wind, wherein the lifting device has at least one lifting unit with a mounting base and a lifting arm which is mounted with a lifting arm bearing for pivoting about a first pivot axis relative to the mounting base and engages on the wind deflector body at an end located opposite the lifting arm bearing, in order to achieve a reliable movability of the wind deflector body with devices which are as mechanically simple as possible it is suggested that an actuating unit which is supported on the mounting base and engages on the lifting arm be provided for moving the lifting arm an

Abstract: A unit for recovering thermal energy from exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine including an inlet, an outlet, a heat exchanger arranged downstream of the inlet and upstream of the outlet, and a valve capable of being switched between a recovery position. The exhaust gas flows from the inlet through the heat exchanger to the outlet, and a bypass position, in which the exhaust gas flows from the inlet through a bypass to the outlet. The valve includes separate first and second valve bodies and associated separate first and second valve seats arranged upstream and downstream of the heat exchanger, respectively. The first and second valve bodies are adapted to be switched only simultaneously from the recovery position to the bypass position and vice versa.

Abstract: The heat exchanger comprises a cool conduit (2,3), a hot conduit (4) and a heat exchanging element (1) arranged between the cool conduit (2,3) and the hot conduit (4). The heat exchanger further comprises at least one further conduit (3,2) arranged next to the cool conduit (2,3) or to the hot conduit (4) on a same side of the heat exchanging element (1) as said respective cool or hot conduit. The further conduit is separated from the respective cool or hot conduit by a separator (5) comprising two separating elements (51,52) arranged at a distance to each other and forming a cavity (53) between the two separating elements (51,52). The separator restricts a fluid flow into or in the cavity (53) such as to limit a heat exchange between the further conduit (3,2) and the respective cool or hot conduit on the same side of the heat exchanging element (1).

Abstract: In order to improve a trailer coupling for motor vehicles comprising a ball neck, which is mountable at a first end on a rear part of a motor vehicle to be fixed to the vehicle by means of a ball neck holder and which carries a coupling ball at a second end, in such a manner that load carriers can be mounted and securely held in a simple manner, it is proposed that at least one positioning body is arranged on the ball neck at a defined spacing from the coupling ball to position a load carrier holding arrangement attachable to the coupling ball and the ball neck.

Abstract: In order to connect a trailer coupling, in particular for motor vehicles, comprising a ball neck, a cross member, which is provided with a holding unit for the ball neck, and also two spaced attachment parts, which engage on the cross member and connect the cross member to mounting elements, which are themselves mountable on a rear part of a motor vehicle body, in such a manner that undesirable moments and/or forces are transferred to the motor vehicle body on the lowest possible scale, it is proposed that a connection between the cross member and the mounting elements is achieved only by means of the attachment parts, that the attachment parts have a cross member holding strip element connected to the cross member and that, through at least one curved strip element running to the cross member without connection, the cross member holding strip element runs to a mounting strip element, which is connected to the respective mounting element.

Abstract: A combined heat exchanging and fluid mixing apparatus including a first conduit (44) for guiding a cool fluid through the first conduit and a second conduit (55) for guiding a hot gas through the second conduit. A heat conductive element (2) is arranged between the first conduit (44) and the second conduit (55) for transferring heat from the hot gas to the cool fluid. The apparatus further includes a third conduit (45) for guiding an exhaust fluid. The third conduit (45) comprises an exhaust fluid inlet (46) for introducing an exhaust fluid into the apparatus for mixing of the exhaust fluid with the hot gas and for a chemical reaction of the so formed exhaust fluid/hot gas mixture in the second conduit (55).