Abstract: Disclosed is an electronically controlled braking device for stopping a vehicle door at an arbitrary position, the device having a motor unit and at least one spindle drive unit with a spindle that has or is connected to an engaging section configured to engage with a check strap, not being part of the braking device and connected to the vehicle door, in a manner such that, in an engagement state of the engaging section and the check strap, a displacement of the check strap relative to the engaging section of the braking device is prohibited in at least one direction of movement of the check strap, and that, in a release state of the engaging section and the check strap, a displacement of the check strap relative to the engaging section of the braking device is allowed in the directions of movement of the check strap.

Abstract: A gas pressure spring is provided, including a working piston which is guided displaceably in a working cylinder along a stroke axis, a compensating cylinder encloses the working cylinder, and a compensating piston which is of hollow-cylindrical shape and is guided displaceably in the compensating cylinder along the stroke axis. The working cylinder has an open end, at which the compensating cylinder forms a projection beyond the working cylinder with a closed end. The compensating piston separates a working chamber, which is arranged in the working cylinder, a compensating chamber, which is arranged between the working cylinder and the compensating cylinder, and a restoring chamber, which is arranged in the projection from one another. A distance, radially with respect to the stroke axis, of the compensating cylinder from the working cylinder is greater in the stroke range than in an end region of the working cylinder.

Abstract: A fastening device for the articulated fastening of a first construction unit, e.g., a drive device which can be varied in length by motor, to a second construction unit, e.g., a motor vehicle. The fastening device comprises a ball pin with a bolt shaft defining a bolt axis. One end of the bolt shaft is configured for fastening to the second construction unit and the other end comprises a ball head mounted in a ball socket of a ball socket unit. An attachment unit attaches the ball socket unit to the first construction unit. The ball socket unit has two integral contact portions, which are diametrically opposed to one another with respect to the bolt axis and are in contact with the bolt shaft. The contact portions may each be provided with an indentation area, such that they are elastically deformable in a direction away from the bolt shaft.

Abstract: The invention relates to a damping system for damping a movement of a flap of a vehicle relative to a body of the vehicle. The damping system comprises two coupling elements for coupling the damping system to the flap and to the body, wherein the two coupling elements are connected to one another so as to be linearly displaceable relative to one another along a longitudinal axis of the damping system, and a spindle gear with a rotary element selected from a threaded spindle aligned along the longitudinal axis and a spindle nut guided on the threaded spindle. The spindle gear is connected to a first of the two coupling elements in such a way that the spindle gear translates a translation of the first coupling element relative to the second coupling element along the longitudinal axis into a rotation of the rotary element about the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A gas pressure spring is provided including a pressure tube and a fluid with a fluid pressure enclosed by the pressure tube in a fluid-tight manner in an operating state of the gas pressure spring. A wall of the pressure tube has a local taper, the taper forming a predetermined breaking point of the wall adapted to open to release a portion of the fluid from the pressure tube in a controlled manner when the fluid pressure exceeds a limit pressure. A wall thickness of the wall has a line-shaped minimum within the taper, the wall thickness increasing monotonically from the minimum to an edge of the taper in all circumferential directions around a longitudinal axis of the pressure tube. Also provided is a method of manufacturing the gas pressure spring.

Abstract: A drive device for a hatch, in particular for a tailgate, comprising a cable, which is connected at one end to a cable pulley, which is configured to wind or unwind the cable according to the direction of rotation of the cable pulley, wherein the cable pulley is connected to a first superordinate assembly, such as a vehicle body, and which is connected at its other end to a second superordinate assembly, such as the hatch, which is pivotably attached relative to the first superordinate assembly, comprising an actuator, which is configured to drive the cable pulley, wherein the drive device furthermore comprises at least one deflection unit which has a deflection roll over which the cable runs between the cable pulley and the hatch.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sealing grommet arrangement comprising a sealing grommet (1) which is designed as a corrugated tube having a constant outer diameter over its length, one end of which grommet projects through an opening (12) in a housing wall (10), and on which grommet a retaining ring (6) for retaining the sealing grommet (1) on the housing wall (10) is positioned. The retaining ring projects, by means of the inner contour of its through-opening (7), radially inwards into a corrugation trough (2) of the sealing grommet (1), and can be connected to the housing wall (10) so as to close the opening (12) in the housing wall (10).

Abstract: Disclosed is an actuator for the rotary drive of a vehicle flap. The actuator includes an electric motor, which has a output shaft with a center axis, an output unit, which is in force-transmitting connection with the electric motor in such a manner that activation of the electric motor causes a rotational displacement of the output unit about an axis of rotation of the output unit, and a mounting unit which is configured to support the actuator in force-transmitting connection with a superordinate assembly relative to the drive unit such that, upon activation of the electric motor, a displacement of the drive unit relative to the mounting unit takes place. Also disclosed is a storage apparatus for a vehicle door and a motor vehicle.

Abstract: An electric motor for driving a vehicle flap is provided, the electric motor including a hollow-cylindrical shaped stator made of a permanent-magnetic material and arranged coaxially to a motor axis, a motor shaft disposed coaxially with the motor axis and at least partially within the stator and mounted for rotation relative to the stator about the motor axis, and a drive rotor disposed within the stator and mounted on the motor shaft and including a plurality of coils for driving rotation of the motor shaft relative to the stator about the motor axis. The electric motor includes a braking rotor disposed in the stator, mounted on the motor shaft along the motor axis adjacent the drive rotor, the brake rotor being magnetisable by the stator. Use of the electric motor for driving a vehicle flap and to a method of manufacturing the electric motor is also provided.

Abstract: A DC electric motor for driving a tailgate of a vehicle is provided, the DC electric motor including a rotor and a stator, the rotor being rotatably supported about an axis of rotation, at least one of the rotor and the stator having a magnetic asymmetry for generating an asymmetric magnetic interaction between the rotor and the stator, wherein the rotor and the stator are configured to assume first positions and second positions relative to each other, wherein a higher holding torque acts between the rotor and the stator in one of the first positions than in one of the second positions due to the asymmetry.

Abstract: A linear drive (100) for moving a closure element of a motor vehicle relative to a body of the motor vehicle. The linear drive (100) includes an outer tube (110), an inner element (120) arranged in the outer tube (110), wherein the inner element (120) is telescopically extendable along a drive axis (A) of the linear drive (100) from an outlet end of the outer tube (110), and wherein an inner connecting element (128) is fixed to the end of the inner element (120) which is extendable from the outer tube (110), a screw spring (130) is disposed between the inner element (120) and the outer tube (110), an inner support element (122) is fixed to the inner element (120) and an outer support element (111) is fixed to the outer tube (110).

Abstract: A kinetic seat assembly includes a primary seat cushion frame, a secondary seat cushion frame movable relative to the primary seat cushion frame, a primary seat back frame, a secondary seat back frame movable relative to the primary seat back frame, a pair of lateral dampers extending between the primary seat back frame and the secondary seat back frame, a pair of vertical dampers extending between the secondary seat back frame and the primary seat cushion frame, a pair of fluid reservoirs for providing a fluid into the pair of lateral dampers and the pair of vertical dampers, and an electronic control unit configured to control the rate at which the fluid is provided to and drawn out of each of the dampers to control a damping effect. In embodiments, an end of the lateral dampers is permitted to move freely relative to the secondary seat back frame.

Abstract: A fluid damper is provided including a cylinder filled with a damping fluid, a piston base body shiftably guided in the cylinder along a stroke axis, and a valve disk spaced apart from a shell wall of the cylinder. The piston base body divides an inner space of the cylinder into a front space and a rear space along the stroke axis. In the piston base body, there is at least one channel connecting the front space to the rear space in a fluid-conducting manner. The valve disk is shiftably guided along the stroke axis between an opening position unblocking the at least one channel and a closing position closing the at least one channel. The valve disk has a central area extending radially outward from the stroke axis, the central area being free of apertures.

Abstract: A drive system for a motor vehicle door is provided including an electric motor and a hinge for fastening the motor vehicle door. The hinge includes a door leaf, a body leaf for attachment to the body and a hinge pin arranged coaxially to the hinge axis, and rotatably mounted on the body leaf. The electric motor includes a stator and a rotor arranged coaxially with the hinge axis in the stator and mounted rotatably about the hinge axis relative to the stator. The hinge pin is disposed in sections within the rotor, the rotor being coupled to the hinge pin in a gearless manner to transmit rotation. The drive system includes a tolerance ring arranged between the rotor and the hinge pin for transmitting the rotation from the rotor to the hinge pin, wherein the tolerance ring is coupled frictionally to the hinge pin or to the rotor.

Abstract: A damping apparatus for use with a solar panel array and a solar tracking device that is operatively connected to the solar panel array to control positioning of solar panels. The damping apparatus can absorb kinetic energy from movement of the solar panels and convert the kinetic energy to heat energy. The damping apparatus can include one or more sensors that collect data corresponding to the heat energy. The damping apparatus can send instructions to the solar tracking device for adjusting the position of the solar panels based on the analysis of the sensor data.

Abstract: A gas pressure spring is provided including an expanding wax as a compensating medium for reducing a temperature dependency of a spring force of the gas pressure spring in an operating temperature range of the gas pressure spring spanning a minimum temperature of ?40° C. to +10° C. up to a maximum temperature of +40° C. to +100° C. The expanding wax includes at least one liquid phase and at least one solid phase in the entire operating temperature range, the expanding wax comprising a number of primary alcohols. Also provided is a drive system for a flap including a gas pressure spring for supporting the flap, and an electromechanical drive for driving the flap.

Abstract: A method and a system for contactless obstacle detection for a motor vehicle having a front side door and a rear side door, using a single primary obstacle sensor provided on the motor vehicle, preferably in the form of a ToF sensor, which is configured to monitor an opening region of the front side door, and, at least as long as the front side door is closed, also to monitor an opening region of the rear side door, the method comprising the following step, which is carried out repeatedly: determining a current maximum allowed opening angle for the rear side door based on an output of a monitoring of the opening region of the rear side door by the primary obstacle sensor and taking into account a current opening state of the front side door.

Abstract: A damping apparatus (10) can be self-centering and include one or more precompressed and preloaded mechanical springs (16). A solar tracking apparatus (100) can include a solar panel (102) mounted on a rotating shaft (104), and a self-centering damping apparatus (50) operatively connected to the rotating shaft (104) to compensate for torque created when the solar panel (102) is rotated at an angle to horizontal. A steering assembly for a zero-turn riding lawn mower can include a pair of steering levers and a self-centering damping apparatus (50) operatively connected to the steering levers.