Patents Assigned to VDO Adolf Schindling AG
  • Patent number: 5084698
    Abstract: In an indicator instrument, at least one light-emitting diode (8, 9) which lights up in different colors depending on the manner in which it is controlled is provided in a light guide (5). In this way, the pointer instrument can be illuminated in simple fashion in different colors, for instance as a function of the position of the pointer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1992
    Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AG
    Inventor: Gerhard Sell
  • Patent number: 5076232
    Abstract: A load adjustment device is formed of a setting member, and a control element which acts on the setting member to establish a power output of an internal combustion engine, an accelerator pedal, via a driver coupled to the accelerator pedal, activates the control element. The adjustment device also incldues an electric setting drive for moving the driver, and an desired-value detection element operatively connected with the driver, as well as an actual-value detection element which cooperates with the desired-value detection element and acts upon the electric setting drive. The electric setting drive is controllable as a function of values detected by an electronic control device. The driver has a free-travel element which is mounted displaceably in a direction of setting of the free-travel element. The control element engages with play in its direction of setting in the free-travel element, and the free-travel element operates with the driver under spring loading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1991
    Assignees: VDO Adolf Schindling AG, Mercedes Benz AG
    Inventors: Manfred Pfalzgraf, Eberhard Mausner
  • Patent number: 5071103
    Abstract: A desired-value transmitter (2) is flanged onto a throttle-valve connecting piece (1), the desired-value transmitter having a setting shaft (5) aligned with a throttle-valve shaft (3). The setting shaft (5) engages in rotatable manner via a pin (9) into a bearing bushing (11) which is also rotatably mounted within a mounting hole (10) in the throttle-valve shaft (3). In this way, capacity for rotation of the adjusting shaft (5) with respect to the throttle-valve shaft (3) is doubly assured. Supporting of the setting shaft within the housing is unnecessary on the side facing the throttle-valve shaft (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1991
    Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AG
    Inventor: Thomas Hannewald
  • Patent number: 5061085
    Abstract: In a thermostatic bimetallic measuring element, an adjustment lever (5) which bears a thermostatic bimetallic body (6) is held, on the one hand, by a collar (24) of a setting eccentric (12) and, on the other hand, by a holding section (14) which is formed on a section of the adjustment lever (5) which engages through a slot in a rear plate (1) of the thermostatic bimetallic element and rests against the back of the rear plate (1). By turning the setting eccentric (12), displacement of the adjustment lever (5) is possible around an imaginary of actual pivot shaft which engages into the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1991
    Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AG
    Inventors: Helmut Unfried, Gerhard Wesner
  • Patent number: 5061893
    Abstract: The pointer shaft 1 of a rotary-magnet ratio meter is mounted by means of radial bearings (15 and 20 respectively) one near its pointer 2 and one at the end facing its rotary magnet 4. The lower radial bearing 20 arranged near the rotary magnet 4 is formed by a blind hole 16 into which the pointer shaft 1 engages and in which it rests on a metal ball 19. This metal ball 19 therefore forms a thrust bearing 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1991
    Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AG
    Inventor: Franz Gutmann
  • Patent number: 5059934
    Abstract: In a cross-coil rotary magnet device, a rotor (32) which is mounted rotatably together with a shaft (35) is formed of a permanent magnet (33) with diametrically opposite permanent magnet poles and a coil arrangement (10, 11) with coils which are arranged at an angular distance apart of, in particular, 90.degree.. For receiving the coils there is provided a coil body (14) which is divided into two parts (15, 16) and in which bearings (36, 37) of the shaft (35) of the rotor (32) are shaped in such a manner that the shaft protrudes out of the coil body at least one front outer end (12). One of the two parts (15, 16) of the coil body (14) has on this outer end tab-shaped clips (24-27) for the clamping attachment of an intermediate body (2). Bores (38-43) for connecting pins (4-7) are provided in the coil body parallel to the shaft (35). The cross-coil rotary magnet device can thus be adapted to numerous applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1991
    Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AG
    Inventor: Roland Sudler
  • Patent number: 5055782
    Abstract: A method determines the absolute position of a pointer in an indicating device in which the pointer is moved by a rotor (2) of a rotating-field (1) via a gearing (31). An indicating device is also disclosed. Indicating devices with gearing have the problem that no absolute reference between the position of the pointer (33) and the position of the rotor (2) in the rotating-field motor (1) is present when the device is started and the reference is lost. In order to restore the reference, the pointer (33) is moved by a rotating field in a rotating-field motor (1) in a predetermined direction of the rotating field against a stop (34). The rotating field is turned further in the direction of the rotating field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1991
    Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AG
    Inventor: Klaus Kronenberg
  • Patent number: 5052507
    Abstract: A load-adjustment device for the internal combustion engine of an automotive vehicle has a control lever (1) which, for instance, displaces a throttle valve and is held by a coupling spring (9) against an intermediate lever (5) which can be swung directly by the accelerator pedal (3). A damping device (11) is so developed that, upon a sudden movement of the intermediate lever (5) in the direction of full load, the control lever (1) follows this movement only with a time lag action so that the automative vehicle is not accelerated with excessive jerk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AG
    Inventors: Jurgen Luft, Eckhart Kern
  • Patent number: 5054009
    Abstract: In a motor, in particular for the electrical driving of a clockwork, a rotor (32) which is mounted rotatably together with a shaft (3) consists of a permanent magnet having diametrically opposite permanent magnet poles. A coil arrangement in the motor comprises two coils (10 and 11) arranged at angular distances of, in particular, 90.degree. apart from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AG
    Inventor: Roland Sudler
  • Patent number: 5046825
    Abstract: In a liquid crystal cell having metallic conductor paths which serve as feed lines to picture electrodes, the metallic conductor paths are provided with an interference layer. This layer can consist of a material which forms the picture electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1991
    Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AG
    Inventor: Werner Fertig
  • Patent number: 5047761
    Abstract: In a pointer instrument, a light guide (3) serves as support for electronic components (7). The light guide (3) therefore assumes the function of a printed circuit board. The electronic components (7) are preferably arranged on the outer wall surface (6) of the light guide (3) which is developed in the shape of a conical frustum so that space which is in any event present in the housing can be used for them. The light guide serves to illuminate a dial of the instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1991
    Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AG
    Inventor: Gerhard Sell
  • Patent number: 5038733
    Abstract: A load adjustment device, by which the power of an internal combustion engine can be regulated, has a driver (4) which is coupled to an accelerator pedal (1) and cooperates via a regulating element with a setting member (9) which determines the output of the internal combustion engine. The setting member has a first regulating-element part (8a) and a second regulating-element part (8b) which can be disconnected from each other in order, in this way, to be able to control the setting member (9) independently of the driver (4) via an electric setting drive (14). Within the second regulating-element part (8b) there is contained, in accordance with the invention, a step-up device (torque converters 30a, 30b) for the setting-drive-side movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1991
    Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AG
    Inventor: Helmut Westenberger
  • Patent number: 5036813
    Abstract: A load-shifting device has a control element (8a, 8b) which acts on a setting member 9 which determines the output of an internal combustion engine. A control element cooperates with a driver (4) which is coupled to an accelerator (1). The driver is controllable in addition by means of an electrical setting drive 14 which cooperates with an electronic controller (17). In the load-shifting device, a setting path of the driver in idling direction is limited by an idling stop (LL). Upon application of the driver against the idling stop, the control element is movable in its idling control range relative to the driver by means of the electric setting drive. With a simple structural development the load-shifting device makes it possible to control the internal combustion engine over its entire load range and, in particular, by means of the electrical setting drive, over its idling range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1991
    Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AG
    Inventors: Manfred Pfalzgraf, Gerd Hickmann, Eberhard Mausner
  • Patent number: 5036816
    Abstract: In a throttle-valve connection (1), two intake channels (2, 3) are provided alongside of each other, each having a throttle valve (4, 5). The two throttle valve (4, 5) are driven by separate setting motors (17, 18). The setting shaft (6, 7) of the throttle valve (4, 5) are connected to each other by an entrainment connection (8) which has play. Sliding clutches (9, 10) permit rotation of the throttle valve (6, 7) in the direction towards idling even if the gearing (11, 12) or setting motor (17, 18) is blocked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1991
    Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AG
    Inventor: Arnold Mann
  • Patent number: 5035222
    Abstract: A system with which a correction of the fuel composition upon a change in the state of load of an internal combustion engine with which a mixture-forming device (4, 6, 8, 9, 11) is associated is constructed in structurally simple manner. The mixture-forming device has a feed unit (6) for the fuel with an inlet-side fuel conveyor line (5) and a discharge-side fuel conveyor line (7) and a movably mounted feed member (18). Depending on the position of the feed member (18), the feed member (18) provides variable fuel passage cross-sections in the feed unit (6). The feed unit is connected via an opening (31) which is closed in sealing fashion by a movable equalization element (33), the equalization space (32) being connected via a branch line (34) to the discharge-side fuel conveyor line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1991
    Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AG
    Inventor: Martin Feldinger
  • Patent number: 5035213
    Abstract: A load-shifting device has a control element (4a, 4b) which acts on a setting member (7,9) which determines the output of an internal combustion engine. The control element is adapted to be connected to an accelerator (1) and is controllable by an electric setting drive (10) which cooperates with an electronic controller (12). The load-shifting device provides that the setting member includes a main setting member (7) with which there is associated a first control-element part 4a which is coupled with the accelerator. The setting member further includes an auxiliary setting member (9) with which there is associated a second control-element part (4b). The setting path of the first control-element part is limited in idling direction by an idle stop (LL). The second control-element part can, upon application of the first control-eleemnt part against the idling stop, be moved within its idling control range relative to the first control-element part by the electric setting drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1991
    Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AG
    Inventors: Manfred Pfalzgraf, Gerd Hickmann, Eberhard Mausner
  • Patent number: 5033438
    Abstract: A method for improving the exhaust-gas behavior of mixture-compressing internal combustion engines. The output signal of an oxygen measurement probe arranged in the exhaust gas channel of the internal combustion engine is divided within the voltage region in question into a number of sections and a corrected voltage value is stored in a memory for each section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1991
    Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AG
    Inventors: Martin Feldinger, Joachim Tambosi, Uwe Marz
  • Patent number: 5032781
    Abstract: In a method and circuit for operating a stepping motor having several windings, and wherein a movement of the stepping motor induces a voltage in a winding which is not required at the time for generating a propulsive force, the induced voltage is evaluated. After the stepping motor is connected, the stepping motor is operated in a predetermined direction, whereupon a stopping of the stepping motor is detected by the absence of the induced voltage. A memory containing the instantaneous position of the stepping motor is then set to a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1991
    Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AG
    Inventor: Klaus Kronenberg
  • Patent number: 5029564
    Abstract: A fuel-air-mixture-forming device for an internal combustion engine, has a nozzle body (2) of rotational symmetry which, together with a throttle body (7) of rotational symmetry which is displaceable in the nozzle body, forms a convergent-divergent nozzle (10) which debouches into an intake pipe of the internal combustion engine. A fuel air slot (11) surrounds the convergent-divergent nozzle and debouches via a circumferential slot opening (12) into the nozzle. Fuel mixed with air is injected from the slot opening into the nozzle via a direction approximately transverse to the direction of the main air mass flow (L). In order to obtain an equalization of the closing forces caused by the vacuum on the throttle body, in accordance with the invention, the throttle body has an inner space (27) which is closed off from the nozzle and is provided with at least one pressure equalization cutout (28) which connects the nozzle with the inner space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1991
    Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AG
    Inventor: Uwe Neutzer
  • Patent number: 5027766
    Abstract: A load adjustment device is provided having a throttle valve which determines the output of an internal combustion engine and is connected, fixed for rotation, to a throttle-valve shaft (32) which is mounted in a throttle-valve-shaft housing (30). The shaft has an acceleration-pedal side mechanical articulation side (33) and a setting-motor articulation side (34) with which there is associated a coupling element (45) for the mechanical uncoupling of the throttle-valve shaft from the setting motor within a defined angular region of the throttle valve; furthermore, a device is provided for reporting the instantaneous position of the coupling element to an electronic control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1991
    Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AG
    Inventors: Matthias Zentgraf, Gerd Hickmann