Abstract: A force limiter is provided on a belt retractor. The belt retractor comprises a belt spool (1) that is rotatably mounted in a frame (10) and has at least one flange (1a) and a disk (2) that can be non-rotatably blocked on the frame. The disk (2) and the flange (1a) of the belt spool (1) are adapted to be coupled by a cutting element (3). The cutting element (3), with a relative rotation between the disk (2) and the flange (1a), comes into a coupling position and cuts material when the relative rotation is continued.

Abstract: An apparatus for folding an airbag for a vehicle occupant restraint system comprises a base for the airbag to be folded, a cover for the airbag, and a flexible element that is arranged between the base and the cover and has first and second ends. The first end of the flexible element is held between the base and the cover. The apparatus further comprises a traction means that acts upon the second end of the flexible element, and a pressure generating means with which the airbag can be acted upon with compressed gas. The invention further relates to a method of folding an airbag and making use of such an apparatus. Still further, the invention relates to a folded airbag produced by such a method.

Abstract: Dry mortar formulations comprising a) from 0.5 to 80% by weight of hydraulic binder, b) from 0 to 97% by weight of fillers, c) from 0 to 3.5% by weight of thickeners, d) from 1.0 to 80% by weight of redispersible polymer powder, and e) from 0.0001 to 1.0% by weight of antioxidants exhibit improved tensile strength and other set mortar properties, particularly after storage of the dry mortar composition.

Abstract: A process for preparing two-phase polymers based on vinyl ester and ethylene in the form of their aqueous polymer dispersions or water-redispersible polymer powders by means of free-radical initiated emulsion or suspension polymerization of one or more vinyl esters of carboxylic acids having 1 to 12 carbon atoms and ethylene as monomers and, if desired, further monomers copolymerizable therewith, in the presence of one or more protective colloids and/or emulsifiers and, if desired, drying the resultant aqueous polymer dispersion, wherein a first polymerization phase takes place at a low ethylene pressure of P less than or equal to 20 bar and in a second polymerization phase raising the pressure to a level of greater than 20 bar to less than 60 bar, the polymer product having an ethylene distribution of less than or equal to 50% by weight of total ethylene from the first polymerization phase and greater than 50% by weight ethylene from the second polymerization phase.

Abstract: A diode-pumped laser is disclosed with internal frequency doubling to prevent interfering power fluctuations in the laser radiation generated by the non-linear crystal at the start of the power adjustment in a simple and, therefore, inexpensive construction without power-reducing elements in the cavity or thermal effects having a negative impact on the laser behavior. The laser contains, as laser-active medium, a solid-state laser crystal with a temperature gradient directed substantially parallel to the cavity axis. The conversion of laser radiation of a fundamental laser wavelength into laser radiation of another wavelength is carried out by a non-linear optical crystal with a lower non-linear conversion efficiency than that required for achieving maximum power of the converted laser radiation. The laser can be used particularly for medical purposes, e.g., in the field of ophthalmology for coagulation of the retina as well as in the field of dermatology.

Abstract: A holder for flat workpieces, particularly semiconductor wafers, particularly in an apparatus for chemico-mechanically polishing the semiconductor wafers, comprising a disk-like head which is adapted to be connected to a spindle adjustable in height at the upper surface and has a support plate at the lower side which, via a universal joint, is coupled to a carrier portion disposed above the support plate or the spindle and which has a number of vertical bores which extend to the underside of the support plate and can be optionally connected to a vacuum and/or a fluid source under pressure, where the support plate is guided to be movable in height in the carrier portion and displacing means are provided between the carrier portion and the support plate to displace the support plate with respect to the carrier portion and to exert a predetermined pressure on the workpiece, characterized in that a ring-shaped loading member of limited width is provided which is movably supported in an axially parallel way in the

Abstract: A gas generator comprises an elongated outer housing (10) that has end faces and a side wall, at least three stages (12, 14, 16; 112, 114, 116, 118) which can be activated independently of each other, and for each stage (12, 14, 16; 112, 114, 116, 118) an associated igniter unit (32, 34, 36; 132, 134, 136, 138). The igniter units (32, 34, 36; 132, 134, 136, 138) are mounted laterally to the side wall of the outer housing (10).

Abstract: The invention relates to a steering wheel comprising a hub, a steering wheel rim, at least one spoke connecting the hub and the steering wheel rim, and at least one decorative element. At least one of the steering wheel rim and the spoke have a skeleton and a sheathing surrounding the skeleton. The skeleton has a recess and the decorative element has a fastening element which projects into the recess.

Abstract: This invention concerns a segmenting device in particular for the manufacture (portioning) of sausages from a string of sausage filling in a flexible tubular casing, which consists of a plurality of tye elements (12) in the form of strips which can be rotated against each other. One of their ends is secured locally in a ring concentric to the axis of the casing at regular intervals, and whereas the other end region is collected to form a ring (11) concentric with the axis of the casing, which, relative to this, can undergo movement of a rotational nature as well as parallel movement in their major plane, at least tee tying elements are provided, whose contact surface segments, which face the opening, are bent or curved in the main plane. In this manner each strip impinges on the casing with several contact surface segments and promotes the radial tying of the casing, avoiding shearing movements between the casing and the strips.

Abstract: The invention relates to a foot protection device for vehicle occupants. The protection device comprises a foot support piece which can support the occupant's feet, a base piece by which the foot protection device can rest on a floor of a vehicle, and an adjustment device to displace the foot support piece in a first direction parallel to the base piece. Ramp surfaces are constructed on at least one of the base piece and the foot support piece, which with a displacement of the foot support piece by the adjustment device bring about a movement of the foot support piece in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction.

Abstract: A remote feeder reactance coil and a signal transmission system. The invention relates to a remote feeder reactance coil (100) for energy input and output in signal transmission lines, as well as in signal transmission systems including signal transmission lines, where intermediate amplifiers are supplied with electrical energy via said signal transmission lines.

Abstract: Building materials containing copolymers derived from vinyl ester, (meth)acrylic ester and optionally ethylene comonomers, stabilized with a polyvinylalcohol protective colloid, as their aqueous dispersions or as redispersible polymer powders which are redispersible in water, exhibit improved processing properties and set properties. The copolymers are obtained by emulsion or suspension copolymerization in an at least two step process wherein a) the vinyl ester component is polymerized, optionally with ethylene and further copolymerizable comonomers, to a conversion of from 90 to 100% by weight in a first step, and b) the ester(s) of (meth)acrylic acid are subsequently added and polymerized in a second step. The copolymer dispersion obtained may be dried to form a redispersible copolymer powder.

Abstract: A method of folding a gas bag for a vehicle occupant restraint system comprises the following steps: first, the gas bag is unfolded between a base and an opposing surface. A spacing is provided between the base and the opposing surface, which corresponds to a height of a housing into which the gas bag is to be inserted after folding. Then, a folding funnel is provided which comprises one end having a large cross-section and one end having a small cross-section, the large cross-section being larger than or equal to a cross-section of the gas bag when unfolded between the base and the opposing surface, and the small cross-section corresponding to a cross-section of the housing; beginning with its large cross-section. Finally, the folding funnel is placed over the unfolded gas bag and moved relative thereto such that the gas bag is pushed together on the base by the folding funnel to the small cross-section.

Abstract: An airbag module comprising a gas generator support is distinguished in that arranged on the gas generator support (26) is a plate spring (10) which comprises a continuous ring-shaped inner section (12) and several arms (14). The arms each have a first end (14a) formed on the inner section (12) and a second, free end (14b) which is bent away axially with respect to a central axis (16) of the plate spring (10). The arms (14) are elastically deformable under axial pressure. There is further proposed an assembly comprised of a steering wheel and such airbag module.

Abstract: The current positioning data of a machining tool with regard to a reference surface of a workpiece or of a body connected to the workpiece, is determined. The tool and the workpiece to be machined are relatively moveable toward and away from one another, and the rotary speed of a drive motor for the tool is set to a starting rotary speed which is so low that, when the tool comes into contact with the reference surface, its rotary speed is measurably reduced, the reference surface is moved past the tool before the tool is in contact and while the tool is in contact. As a result, the braking moments in the bearings are increased, and the drive motor comes to a stop quicker.

Abstract: A profile frame (1) for holding plane elements (3) in an essentially U-shaped accommodating profile (2), the one leg of the U of which is constructed as a stopping leg (4) for the plane element (3) and the other leg of the U of which is constructed essentially parallel to the stopping leg (4) as a compressing leg (5) for clamping the plane element (3) between the two legs (4, 5), is distinguished owing to the fact that the compressing leg (5) has a clamping region (5) and a nominal deformation region (7), by the deformation of which the clamping region (6) can be pressed against the plane element (3). Preferably, a clamping element (10) can be connected with the accommodating profile (2), act on the clamping region (6) of the compressing leg (5) and presses the latter against the plane element (3). The clamping element (10) can be constructed to accommodate at least one fitting (16) or can be connected with a fitting (16).

Abstract: A restraint device for an occupant in a vehicle having a steering wheel, a dashboard with a lower end limiting a footwell, an A-pillar and a windshield, comprises a first gas bag for protecting the thorax area of a vehicle occupant, and a second gas bag for supporting the first gas bag. The second gas bag has a deployed condition and extends at least partly over the windshield of the vehicle in the deployed condition.

Abstract: A navigation unit, especially for vehicles, with a data bus, a data memory on which a plurality of map information items and navigation data are stored, with a navigation computer, connected to the data bus, for route planning, with a data processing unit, connected to the data bus, for processing the data into picture information, the data processing unit containing a picture memory for storing the picture information, with a monitor, connected to the data processing unit, on which the picture information can be displayed, with a communication block with a control unit for entering the start location, intermediate destination, and/or final destination of a trip, such that the data processing unit contains a map memory for storing road map information.

Abstract: An airbag module for installation into a steering wheel including a gas generator carrier (18) and a covering cap (16) which are connected with each other by a snap connection (22). The gas generator carrier (18) has first projections (28) and the covering cap (16) has second projections (26) each associated to one of the first projections (28). One of the first projections (28) of the gas generator carrier (18) and an associated one of the second projections (26) of the covering cap (16) form a common extension (24) which receives a first end (30a) of a helical spring (30). There is further proposed an assembly of a steering wheel (10) and such airbag module (14).