Abstract: In accordance with aspects and embodiments, a filtration system is provided comprising a membrane module comprising an upper header and a lower header, a plurality of hollow fiber membranes having an upper end potted in the upper header and a lower end potted in the lower head, a cage at least partially surrounding the plurality of hollow fiber membranes, and a screen in contact with and surrounding the cage, the filtration system further comprising an aeration cap coupled to the lower header of the membrane module. The screen may protect the hollow fiber membranes from damage from coarse contaminants contained in the feed liquid, may improve module integrity, and may improve the efficiency of the filtration system.

Abstract: A fuel feed unit includes a spring element for holding a fuel pump arranged so as to be longitudinally displaceable within a receiving part. The fuel pump is held radially by the spring element and is prestressed axially against a holding element. The feed unit can thereby be produced particularly cost-effectively and makes it possible to mount fuel pumps of different power ratings.

Abstract: A system and method for aligning the beam path of a beam-emitting sensor arranged on a motor vehicle. Convenient and nevertheless highly precise setting of the beam direction of the beam-emitting element is possible if, when the vehicle is stationary, an external aligning beam propagating along or parallel to an actual direction of travel of the motor vehicle 1 hits a strictly planar surface on the sensor which reflects the aligning beam, the incident aligning beam and the reflected aligning beam are made to overlap as a result of the position of the sensor being changed.

Abstract: An igniter for igniting a reactive material has a conductor for conducting power and communication signals to and from the igniter. A controller is located within the igniter. The controller is preferably an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The controller has communication means for communicating with a master controller located remote from the igniter. The controller also has diagnostic means for comparing established parameters for components of the igniter to predetermined limits and sending fault warning messages and integrity status messages to the master control unit. The controller also further has means for receiving a unique igniter activation command from the master control unit and sending an activation signal to an igniter activation means that couples the energy stored in an energy storage capacitor to a heating member that ignites a reactive material.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for utilizing the waste heat energy of an internal combustion engine in which a turbine is driven by the exhaust gases from the engine and drives an electrical generator. In order to permit a direct coupling between the turbine and the generator and to utilize completely the electrical energy recoverable from the waste heat energy, the generator is a synchronous machine with a non-wound rotor, the generator being connected via an electrical converter to an electric motor which is drivingly coupled to the internal combustion engine to relieve the load therein.