Abstract: A crystal pulling unit for the production of a crystal block has a recharging tube (7), via which granulate (17) is introduced into a crucible (2) with a melt (3), located inside a container (1). A fine-dust separator (8) is located in the recharging tube (7) outside the container (1); the separator works like an air classifier and, by means of a protective gas cushion, removes fine dusts from the granulate (17). This counters the danger of clogging of the recharging tube (7) by the caking of the recharging material.

Abstract: An X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (1) for the analysis of a solid or liquid sample (4) arranged in a measuring position on a sample holder (3) in a compact sample chamber (2), the sample having a maximum linear extension of 1 dm, with an X-ray tube (6) projecting into the sample chamber for irradiating the sample and with a detector (13) being arranged in a detector chamber (9), wherein the detector chamber can be separated in a vacuum-tight manner from the sample chamber by means of a closing element (8), is characterized in that the sample chamber comprises a moveable wall element (5) which, in an “open” state, permits direct access to the sample (4) in its measuring position in the sample chamber (2) and, in a “closed” state, seals the sample chamber (2) with respect to the surrounding atmosphere.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a method of collection and linking of positional data obtained by satellite localization and other data. At least one vehicle travels through substantially all streets of one or several continuous areas, with a satellite localization device continuously and automatically gathering positional data relating to the actual position of each vehicle and with one or several cameras taking pictures of individual adjacent buildings, substantially from a horizontal point of view. The postal addresses of the buildings contained in the taken pictures are determined, with at least the house numbers being determined by means of a house number sign on the buildings. For each individual building the positional data, data relating to the postal address and at least one digitized picture of the building are linked together and recorded in a database. This allows very accurate vehicle navigation systems but also many other applications not limited to vehicles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device containing pyrotechnic material, having a housing surrounding the pyrotechnic material, the device being wherein the housing is formed entirely from glass and contains at least one metal duct having a spark gap or a heating wire.

Abstract: A steering device for a motor vehicle, with an actuating member for the introduction of the steering movement and with a steering linkage to transfer the steering movement to the wheels. The device is characterized in that the actuating member consists of a “steering wheel” (1) which is rotatable about a small angle and of a measured value transmitter (2) to generate an electrical or electronic position signal, and that the steering linkage is actuated by an adjustment drive which is controllable by an electrical or electronic regulating device as a function of the position signal.

Abstract: A linear drive (10) for a belt tensioner has a cylinder tube (20) comprising at one axial end a face wall (33) provided with an opening (34). A piston (22) is arranged shiftably in the cylinder tube. The piston has a hollow inner space (24). A pyrotechnical propellant charge (28) is provided which following its ignition acts upon the inner space (24) of the piston (22) with compressed gas. To provide a cooling and a filtering function, a pad (44) of a wire conglomerate is arranged within the cylinder tube adjacent the face wall (33) of the cylinder tube.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring a volume flow of a gaseous medium in a pipe with a high time resolution includes a first sonic transmitter which generates first sonic signals. The first sonic signals are deflected by a first deflecting mirror in a direction towards a first sonic receiver before passing through the pipe along a predetermined path. The path is configured at an angle relative to the volume flow. The apparatus further includes a second sonic transmitter for generating second sonic signals. The second sonic signals are deflected by a second deflecting mirror in a direction towards a second sonic receiver which is located at the opposite end of the path. The first and the second sonic receivers are located in the surface of the deflecting mirrors in such a way, that the first and second sonic signals impinge on the sonic receivers before entering the path, thereby generating respective trigger signals which are supplied to a control and measuring unit.

Abstract: The ultrasound imaging system and method of the present invention defines the gray-scale value and other parameters for each of a plurality of image elements in an output volume by determining all of the image information in the scanning planes that is contained within a defined portion of the output volume (which contains the image element) and thereafter simultaneously analyzing the selected image information. These steps are repeated for each of the image elements in the output volume.

Abstract: An apparatus for electrophotographic production of images on a printing medium, such as a printer or copier, has a printing unit fed with toner from a toner storage tank. Toner can be refilled into the tank through a closable opening without interrupting the printing operation.

Abstract: A mount for plate-shaped components, more particularly glass plates is disclosed. The mount comprises a socket element, which penetrates a recess in the plate-shaped component, thereby fixing the component, and a hinged bolt. At its first end, the hinged bolt comprises ball element, which is rotatably mounted in a recess of the socket element, and can be secured with its opposite second end to a support structure, thereby fixing the socket element. In this respect, the ball element (6) is at least slightly linearly displaceable in the recess (7) of the socket element (2) along tile longitudinal axis of the hinged bolt (3), and at least one spring element (12, 13) acts indirectly or directly upon the ball element (6).

Abstract: A side impact protective device for vehicle occupants is arranged along a roof frame of a vehicle and includes a cladding part for covering the roof frame, a head gas bag and mounting members. The head gas bag is convertible from a folded state to an unfolded state and has, in its unfolded state, an upper part with two outer end portions. The head gas bag is arranged underneath the cladding part in the folded state extended in a longitudinal direction substantially parallel to the roof frame and only folded in a direction transversely to the longitudinal direction. The mounting members serve to attach the head gas bag at least at the outer end portions to the roof frame.

Abstract: A therapeutic system for supplying active substances to the skin consists of a backing layer remote from the skin, with at least one active substance depot. The depot may consist of a fluid active substance or a fluid composition comprising an active substance delivery control matrix. There is also included an adhesive fixing device for fixing the therapeutic system on the skin. The therapeutic system is characterized in that the active substance depots (14) consist of at least one adjuvant having a supporting and distributing function by being provided with a planar textile material completely surrounded by matrix (12).

Abstract: An airbag device for a motor vehicle which includes an airbag (20) consisting of an inflatable gas cushion, a gas generator (26) for filling the airbag (20), a gas conduit tube (18) extending through a divided-off portion of the airbag, exhaust ports in the gas conduit tube (18), a profiled ledge (10) having an ejection channel configured therein and in which the airbag (20) arranged in stacked folds is accommodated along with the gas conduit tube (18), and fasteners for holding the modular unit comprised of the profiled ledge (10), the airbag (20) and the gas conduit tube (18).

Abstract: A spectrometer for the simultaneous measurement of several spectral lines from a sample (2) with several wavelength selectors (5a, 6a, 7; 5b, 6b, 7) which supply light of a certain wavelength selectively to a detector (9), wherein each wavelength selector selects a different wavelength, is characterized in that at least two different wavelength selectors (5a, 6a, 7; 5b, 6b, 7) can supply light from the sample (2) to the same detector (9) and that the detector (9) is energy-dispersive and has sufficiently large resolution in order to energy separate the detected light of the various wavelengths from the at least two different wavelength selectors.

Abstract: The power train of a motor vehicle has an automated transmission and/or an automated clutch, at least one control unit and at least one actor receiving signals from the control unit and serving to control the operation of the automated constituent or constituents of the power train. A preferably reestablishable connection can be interrupted in the event of a malfunctioning of the power train, such as exhaustion of the supply of electrical energy, defectiveness of the actor and/or defectiveness of the automated constituent or constituents and/or defectiveness of the motion transmitting connection or connections between the actor and the automated constituent or constituents. This renders it possible to set the transmission in neutral or into another gear and/or to select the condition of the clutch in such a way that the vehicle can advance to a selected destination under it own power or that it can be towed to such destination.

Abstract: An X-ray analysis apparatus having a curved paraboloid-shaped curved graded multilayer Bragg reflector (5) is characterized in that the layers of the reflector (5) are directly introduced onto a concave curved surface of a paraboloid-shaped hollow substrate and a maximum allowable shape deviation for the concave substrate surface facing the reflector is &Dgr;p={square root over (2px)} &Dgr;&thgr;R, and having a maximum allowable waviness Δ ⁢   ⁢ y Δ ⁢   ⁢ x = 1 2 ⁢ Δθ R and a maximum allowable roughness &Dgr;y=d/2&pgr;, preferentially &Dgr;y≦0.

Abstract: The hydrodynamic torque converter (1) comprises a pump wheel (4) in a casing (2,3), a turbine wheel (5) and a turbine distributor (6). There is also a bypass coupling (70) including an axially moving piston, a torsional oscillations absorber (40) with input and output parts rotating relative to each other in opposition to force accumulators. Its turbine wheel comprises a hub (13) housed axially on the torque converter output hub (15). A connection with the rotational clearance, the splines (32,34), is provided between the two hubs. A fixed connection, by splines (34,41a) is between the input part of the absorber and the turbine wheel hub. The two sets of splines are in the same axial position radially one in the other.

Abstract: An airbag cover for an airbag unit in a motor vehicle is adapted to be torn open along predetermined lines on sudden inflation of the airbag to swing open in one or more parts along hinge lines. The cover is composed of two or more layers. A full-length tear line intended as a predetermined breaking line is provided only in the first layer on the side of the airbag.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a complete directory number to a call-processing device in a communications network is provided. This enables equipment that is designed to “expect” only complete directory numbers (e.g. the whole rather than part of a telephone number) to be used with communication equipment that provides parts of as well as whole directory numbers. For example, a telecommunications switch that is arranged for use in a closed dial plan system can be used in an open dial plan communications network by using the invention. Also, traditional telephone systems can be used with a mobile telephone switch. A learned list of directory numbers is stored and a dialled candidate directory number is compared with items in this list. If a match is found the candidate is known to be a complete directory number and can be passed to the equipment in the communications network which requires this.

Abstract: The present invention proposes a power train and the operation thereof, suitable for automated actuation of a transmission shiftable between a plurality of gears with a torque transmitting system being actuated automatically at least during a gear change, at least one actuating element operable by at least one drive unit and at least one actuatable shift element being disposed at the transmission side. The invention provides a power train in which a driving connection is disposed between at least one actuatable shift element associated with the transmission and an actuator having at least one drive unit, and at least one presettable elastic means is provided in the power transmitting path of the driving connection between the drive unit and the at least one shift element. Further, at least one additional presettable elastic element can be disposed in the power transmitting path between the at least one actuating element and the at least one shift element on the transmission side.