Abstract: A device and method for optimizing operation of a utility vehicle is disclosed. The optimizing device comprises engine and transmission data sensors which input current operating parameters to a microcomputer having a memory containing optimizing programs, thereby enabling the microcomputer to generate optimized commands which are displayed on indicating means so that an operator can adjust the operating controls.

Abstract: A sports pistol comprises a housing, which extends in a substantially prismatic recess formed in a grip and is held in that recess by means of a fixing screw that extends upwardly from the bottom of the grip. In order to permit an adaptation of the pistol to the attitude of the hand of a given shooter, the housing extending in the recess defines clearances with the side faces, the bottom surface and the rear surface of the recess and is supported on the bottom surface and on the rear surface of the recess by respective pairs of adjusting screws, which are disposed on opposite sides of the vertical longitudinal center plane of the housing. Besides, the fixing screw extends at an oblique angle to the bottom surface and at an oblique angle to the rear surface of the recess and is screwed into a member that is mounted in the housing for rotation on an axis which is normal to the vertical longitudinal center plane of the housing.

Abstract: In the operation of a drive system for a motor vehicle comprising means for permanently driving a first pair of wheels and automatically operable means for selectively driving a second pair of wheels in dependence on the slip of the first pair of wheels, a frequent change between a four-wheel drive mode and a two-wheel drive mode for measuring purposes and for speed compariosn should not be required and this should be achieved with structurally simple means. To that end two sensors are respectively associated with the two permanently driven wheels and are operable to generate speed signals representing the speeds of said two wheels and to deliver said signals to a computer, which derives an actual speed difference signal from said speed signals and in which respective characteristic speed differences, which are specific to the vehicle, are stored for the two-wheel drive mode and for the four-wheel drive mode.

Abstract: In order to provide in a liquid-containing liquid friction coupling an air-filled space having a predetermined volume in a process which requires a minimum of manipulation and can be carried out in a short time, equal quantities of air are forced into the liquid-containing liquid friction coupling, on the one hand, and into a pressure-tight reference vessel which contains an air-filled space having the desired volume, on the other hand, the pressure difference between the reference vessel and the liquid friction coupling is then measured, and the pressures are balanced in that liquid is added to or removed from the liquid friction coupling.

Abstract: An assembly for mounting an exhaust system and for connecting inlet means of said exhaust system to exhaust gas outlet means of an exhaust gas source structure of an internal combustion engine comprises a holder for carrying the exhaust system, metal bellows means fixed to the holder and secured to said exhaust gas source structure and connecting said exhaust gas outlet means to said inlet means, and a plurality of axial vibration dampers. In order to keep the deformations of the metal bellows within permissible limits and permit large forces to be taken up, six axial vibration dampers are provided, which are arranged around one or more metal bellows, only three of said vibration dampers have axes disposed in a plane, only two of said three axes are parallel to each other and the axes of the three other dampers intersect said plane and are parallel to each other or constitute a tripod having an apex spaced from said plane.

Abstract: A motor vehicle comprises a primary driven axle and a secondary driven axle which is adapted to be arbitrarily driven under the control of an electric control device. In order to ensure a more reliable handling of the vehicle during a braking, the electric control device comprises a switch, which is arranged to be automatically enabled in response to a rise of the speed of travel of the vehicle to a predetermined value and which in an enabled state is arranged to respond to a braking operation or a predetermined braking operation by a disabling of the drive train leading to the secondary driven axle and to maintain the drive train disabled, and an additional switch, which is manually operable to enable the drive train.

Abstract: In an automatic control method for moving a final control element, a position sensor delivers actual-position signals representing actual positions of the final control element to a computer, in which said actual position signals are compared with stored desired-position data associated with correcting signals for controlling an actuator for moving the final control element. In dependence on any deviation which is detected between said actual-position signals and desired-value data, the computer corrects the correcting signal so as to eliminate said deviation. To permit said desired-value data to be determined by an automatic operation, the final control element is consecutively moved to two reference positions, which are defined by stops and are disposed at or beyond the ends of the control range of the final control element.

Abstract: An interaxle differential for connection between two driven axles (14) of a motor vehicle comprises a liquid friction coupling (1) and a planetary gear train (15) comprising three torque-transmitting members (16, 18, 20). The liquid friction coupling (1) comprises a liquid-filled housing, a coupling shaft, which coaxially protrudes into said housing at least one set of radially inwardly extending, axially spaced apart outer blades, which are mounted on the housing, and radially outwardly extending, axially spaced apart inner blades, which are fixed to the shaft in said housing and axially staggered from the outer blades. Each of said outer blades is adjustable in a radial plane to vary the radial overlap between the outer and inner blades. A first of said torque-transmitting members of the planetary gear train is directly connected to an input member of the differential gear. A second (20) of said torque-transmitting members is connected to said coupling shaft (3).

Abstract: A cartridge comprises a preferably closed case, which contains a propellant charge and a priming material and which at its head end constitutes a bushinglike socket for receiving a projectile. In order to provide a reliable cartridge which can be manufactured in a simple manner and can be radially or tangentially ignited, the case comprises adjacent to its periphery at least one peripheral annular groove, which is open to the interior of the case and contains the priming material.

Abstract: A cartridge (1) comprises a cartridge case (2), which is closed at its rear end and contains a propellant charge (3) and a primer (7). The tip portion of the cartridge case defines a socket (4), which accommodates a full-bore projectile (5). The tip portion (2b), terminates adjacent to the nose of the projectile in an end face that is normal to the axis of the cartridge. That tip portion has an outside peripheral surface, which tapers with a substantially concave contour toward said forward end face. To provide a cartridge (1) which can easily be manufactured and can reliably be fired and can be gas-tightly inserted into the chamber of the firearm, the tip portion (2b) is formed in its rear end portion with a peripheral annular groove (6), which is open to the interior of the cartridge case and which contains the primer (7).

Abstract: A fluid friction coupling or clutch unit is disclosed. The coupling includes a housing which is substantially filled with a viscous liquid. The housing comprises inner and outer parts which are concentrically disposed and rotate about an axis. The fluid friction coupling also includes mutually interleaved inner and outer plates within the housing, the inner plates being coupled to rotate with the inner part of the housing and outer plates being coupled to rotate with the outer part of the housing. The individual inner and outer plates are separated from each other and are axially displaceable so as to vary the size of the gap between them. Annular disc springs are disposed within the gaps between the plates. The annular disc springs are shaped as truncated cones. They act to spread the plates apart. In a preferred embodiment, the fluid friction coupling also includes a pressure body connected to the inner and outer plates.

Abstract: A drive system for motor vehicles having driven front and rear axles comprises a liquid friction coupling, which is incorporated in the rear axle drive train, and a clutch, particularly an overrunning clutch, which is connected in series with said liquid friction coupling and arranged to be released in response to a front axle speed exceeding the rear axle speed. In order to avoid a requirement for stronger steering forces during a reverse travel and to avoid an operation of the liquid friction coupling with mixed friction, that second clutch is arranged to be automatically engaged in dependence on the liquid temperature in the liquid friction coupling or of other variables.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine is provided with a sound-insulating enclosure (2), which defines a sealed passage extending through the enclosure. A passage which extends through the enclosure is sealed by a sealing ring (9), which consists of a rubber-elastic material and is disposed between an inner flanged ring (7), which is secured to the engine, and an outer flanged ring (8), which is secured to the enclosure (2). In order to provide sealing means which are satisfactory for a passage for the exhaust manifold (3), the inner flanged ring (7) carries a protective shield (10), which shields the inside surface of the sealing ring (9) and which defines with the sealing ring (9) a clearance (12), which contains a heat-resisting and sound-absorbing insulating material (11).

Abstract: A reciprocating internal combustion engine which is enclosed by a sound-insulating sheath comprises a crankshaft. A coupling which insulates against structure-borne sound is provided for coupling the crankshaft to an auxiliary drive shaft for driving auxiliary devices disposed outside said sheath. Said coupling comprises a resilient ring and axially parallel connecting screws, which are peripherally spaced apart and are secured in alternation to the crankshaft and to the drive shaft and extend through tubular spacers mounted in the ring. The drive shaft is rotatably mounted in a mounting plate, which is fixed to a crossbeam. The internal combustion engine is supported on the crossbeam by an annular member which insulates against structure-borne sound.

Abstract: A four-wheel drive of a motor vehicle is arranged to effect automatic changes between a two-wheel drive mode and a four-wheel drive mode in dependence on the slip of two wheels (5) which are permanently driven. A frequent change from the four-wheel drive mode to the two-wheel drive mode for a speed comparison is to be avoided in a four-wheel drive which has a relatively simple structure. Two sensors (12) are associated with the two permanently driven wheels (5) and the output signals of said sensors are delivered to a computer (11), which determines for consecutive units of time the occurrences of the speed difference between said two wheels in excess of a predetermined threshold value and generates a distribution curve of said occurrences in consecutive units of time. That distribution curve is compared in the computer with a corresponding stored limiting curve, which is applicable to a minimum coefficient of road friction.

Abstract: Apparatus for collecting soot from soot-laden exhaust gases flowing in an exhaust gas line of an air-compressing compression ignition engine comprises a housing adapted to be incorporated in said exhaust gas line and to be flown through by said soot-laden exhaust gases; baffle walls contained in said housing and arranged to repeatedly deflect the exhaust gases flowing through said housing and to cause soot to be separated from said exhaust gases and to deposit at least in part on said baffle walls; and an accumulating container disposed under said baffle walls and arranged to receive soot which has been separated from said exhaust gases at said baffle walls. Said apparatus is designed to permit soot deposited on at least part of baffle walls to be removed therefrom and to fall into said accumulating container. Said container is designed to permit soot accumulated in said container to be removed from said apparatus.

Abstract: A firearm comprises a gas drive for actuating loading and/or firing means in response to the discharge of a round, wherein the gas drive comprises a pneumatic cylinder and a pneumatic piston, the cylinder chamber communicates with the barrel bore through at least one transverse bore in the barrel, and powder gas is adapted to enter said cylinder chamber through said transverse bore and to move said cylinder and piston relative to each other against the force of a return spring. In order to provide a gas drive which is particularly simple and functionally reliable, light in weight and compact, the barrel is provided with a collar or the like, which constitutes a stationary pneumatic piston, and the pneumatic cylinder consists of a sliding sleeve, which surrounds the collar and is longitudinally displaceable between stops.

Abstract: An orthogonally adjustable sight, particularly for rifles, comprises a housing (1), in which a carrier (2) for an eyepiece consisting, e.g., of a peephole sight (3), is mounted for an adjustment in two orthogonal directions. Actuators (4, 5) are provided for adjusting said eyepiece carrier (2) in said two orthogonal directions and are supported in the housing (1). To permit a highly exact adjustment which can easily be effected, the eyepiece carrier (2) comprises a guided plate (6), which has parallel planar surfaces on opposite sides and extends in the plane which is defined by the axes of the actuators (4, 5). The guided plate (6) is adapted to be gripped between two guided surfaces (8a, 9a), which are parallel to the guided plate (6). A polygonal array of balls (7) is interposed between the guided plate (6) and each of said guiding surfaces (8a, 9a).

Abstract: A motor vehicle comprises at least two driven axles (2, 5). One (5) of said axles can be disconnected from the prime mover (1). In order to prevent a swerving of the vehicle without a need for interrupting the transmission of power to one (5) of the driven axles (2, 5) during each braking operation, the vehicle is provided with a sensor (6) for measuring the angular acceleration of its yawing movement. In response to a rise of the angular acceleration to a predetermined value the sensor (8) causes a clutch control means (15) to disconnect one driven axle (5) from the prime mover (1), or operates means for effecting a pressure drop in the brake system.

Abstract: A fuel injection pump for diesel engines comprises a housing, which contains a cylinder sleeve that has at least one radial fuel port. An injector plunger is slidably mounted in the cylinder sleeve and has two axially spaced apart valving edges for cooperation with the fuel port. The plunger is coupled to a plunger follower, which is movably mounted in the housing and which is operable by a camshaft via an actuating member against the force of a return spring. The stroke position of the plunger is adjustable by means of a stop, which is adjustable by means of a timing piston, which is movable in a timing cylinder, which is supplied with hydraulic oil through a check valve. To simplify the structure and to permit the stroke position of the plunger to be adjusted at a high speed, the timing cylinder is constituted by the plunger follower and is formed with an oil outlet port, which communicates with an outlet opening of the housing at the end of the discharge stroke of the plunger.