Abstract: In order to produce connecting rod bearings which are easier to mount and which are the larger strongly bonded, the large connecting rod eye is plasma-coated with an aluminum-bronze. At the start of the plasma-spraying process, the plasma layer is deposited at a high temperature in order to ensure that the plasma layer bonds well to the connecting rod eye material and has a low level of porosity. In order to prevent the connecting rod eye material from annealing, the depositing temperature of the plasma layer is reduced so that the material to be removed during subsequent finishing is deposited at a lower temperature. After the plasma-coating process is complete, the connecting rod eye is opened by taking off the bearing cover, thus breaking the plasma layer. The cover is then remounted and the bearing surface is finished by fine spindling. The bearing layer has an annular groove in order to improve the oil holding volume.

Abstract: An arrangement of a dash panel in a vehicle body includes the dash panel being fixed at its ends to opposite A-pillars of the vehicle body. The dash panel defines a transverse support at the height of the dashboard, and vehicle parts are disposed in front of a middle area of the dash panel. During a head-on collision, the vehicle parts are blocked against the dash panel as a result of energy-absorbing deformations of the front part of the vehicle. The dash panel includes side areas aligned in a rectilinear arrangement between the A-pillars and a middle area bent toward the passenger compartment. This arrangement provides a larger displacement path for the vehicle parts located in front of the middle area without reducing the space and distance of the front seats in the side areas. The middle area may include a triangular cross-section having a wedge-shaped edge pointing towards the front of the vehicle, the wedge-shaped edge defining a separation and cutting edge.

Abstract: Inlet manifolds such as intake manifolds, collector tanks, intake pipes, oscillatory intake passages, systems with variable-tract intake manifolds etc., for internal combustion engines operating on the principle of the diesel or Otto engine, where the inlet manifold includes two or more dish-shaped parts that are permanently joined to each other, and the dish-shaped parts are formed sheet parts, castings and/or extruded sections of metal. The permanent joining of the dish-shaped parts may be effected e.g. by adhesive bonding and/or welding.

Abstract: In a method for online management of a drive train of a motor vehicle having a CVT transmission, in order to establish the engine speed for a required power output, a path through a predetermined composite performance graph—in which a performance quality characteristic is plotted as a function of power output and engine speed—is identified online, said path being optimal with respect to predetermined optimization criteria.

Abstract: A suction system for a combustion air supply to an internal combustion engine, in particular for a motor vehicle, having an induction funnel which at an open end has an induction pipe, and an air manifold, on which cylinder-specific suction pipe arms, which can be connected to a cylinder head of the internal combustion engine, are arranged. In this system, the induction funnel and the air manifold are formed in a common housing. A partition of the housing separates the induction funnel from the air manifold.

Abstract: An effective reduction of vibration overshoots is intended to be effected in a drive shaft, which is configured as a hollow shaft (8), with simple means at the particular vibration maximum (vibration antinode). A vibration absorber (2) is arranged within the hollow shaft (8) and includes a damping mass (absorber mass) (4) and an elastic coupling element (6). The absorber mass (4) is operatively connected to the inner wall of the hollow drive shaft (8) via the elastic coupling (6). The absorber mass is configured to be rotationally symmetrical and axially symmetrical and has, at its center, a constriction (12) for accommodating the elastic coupling element (6). For use as a drive shaft (hollow shaft) (8), which is built in in the vehicle transverse direction, and for use as a drive shaft (8) (cardanic shaft configured as hollow shaft) which is built in in the vehicle longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A sound producing arrangement in an automobile has at least one bass speaker and one hollow acoustic conductor coupled to the bass speaker. The bass speaker is located in the wet area of the automobile. The acoustic conductor is mounted in a gas-tight manner in the dry area and there is a gas-tight connection between the bass speaker and the acoustic conductor.

Abstract: An arrangement for automatic opening of a motor vehicle rear door which can be pivoted about a horizontal swivel axis contains a pneumatic spring-and-ejector combination in which a pneumatic spring is pivotally connected to the vehicle and the rear door so that it exerts a closing torque on the door when the door is in a closed and a predetermined partially open position, and exerts an opening torque when the door is opened beyond the predetermined position to swing the door fully open. An ejector is arranged to pivot the door from the closed position to a position past the partially open position, thereby reducing the energy requirement of the ejector and avoiding high frictional forces in the door lock.

Abstract: An audio system for vehicles, in particular for motor vehicles, comprises a device component (A) permanently fixed to the vehicle, and a mobile component (B) connected to the device component in a mechanically detachable way. The device component further comprises a control unit (1), and the mobile component further comprises a transponder for storing a numerical code. The function of the audio system is interrupted when the mobile component is removed from the device component, and resumed, following an authorization check, when the mobile component (B) is replaced. The authorization check is performed by the control unit which further comprises a comparator unit (2) for comparing the numerical code transmitted by the transponder (T) with a security code previously stored in the device component.

Abstract: A one-piece headrest on a motor vehicle seat fits into a recess of the seat backrest so that, in its storage position, it is flush with the contour of the backrest and is swingably mounted on slide rails permitting it to be moved into an operative position.

Abstract: To secure a control element in the axial direction on a shaft member, the control element is pushed onto a region of the shaft member which has a slightly enlarged diameter, displacing shaft material in the process to form a burr on one side of the control element. Then a punch is pushed onto the enlarged diameter region to produce another burr by displacement of shaft material on the other side of the control element which is thus held axially on the shaft member in a positive manner in both directions. The control element is preferably formed from a multiplicity of layers of flat stock.

Abstract: A method for producing cylinder linings in an aluminum or magnesium engine block for an internal combustion engine utilizes plasma spraying of a mixture of powdered molybdenum and powdered steel containing from about 10 to about 70 wt. % molybdenum and from about 90 to about 30 wt. % steel. The resulting slide layer has good adhesion to the engine block and has high wear resistance.

Abstract: An arrangement for steering a motor vehicle having at least two steerable wheels including steering equipment for setting the position of the steerable wheels as a function of a desired steering angle signal and braking equipment which is present in the vehicle and which, in the event of a fault in the steering equipment, produces selectively different braking forces at the wheels as a function of the desired steering signal. A method for steering a motor vehicle in the event of failure of the steering equipment includes the step of applying different braking forces to the vehicle wheels in accordance with a desired steering angle signal.

Abstract: A motor vehicle safety arrangement has a pedal mechanism with at least one bearing block and at least one pedal articulated thereon. The bearing block is held by a beam member which extends approximately over the width of the vehicle and is spaced from a bulkhead delimiting the passenger compartment. In order to prevent injury to feet on frontal impact, the beam member is resistant to bending and is uncoupled from the bulkhead. The distance between the member and bulkhead is dimensioned such that, in the event of intrusion of the bulkhead as a result of a collision, the position of the beam member does not vary substantially.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for improved monitoring of the conversion rate of an exhaust gas catalytic converter for an internal combustion engine. To achieve this, the temperature values determined downstream from the exhaust gas catalytic converter within a given time window is added with time interval (dt). A starting time (tA) and a time interval (dt) are influenced inter alia according to the operating mode of the internal combustion engine by taking into account fuel mass flow during a given time period. The total value arising during time interval (dt) below a curve (25) is compared with a limiting value and an error signal is outputted once a given deviation value is reached.

Abstract: In the oxide gas absorbing arrangement disclosed in the specification, metal foils having a thickness ≦0.05 mm are coated with an oxide gas absorbing layer containing gamma aluminum oxide. One metal foil is corrugated and joined to a smooth foil and the combined foils are rolled into a cylinder to provide parallel gas passages in which exhaust gases are exposed to the oxide gas absorbing layer. To enhance absorption turbulence is created in the gas passages by twisting the cylinder to narrow and contort the individual passages.

Abstract: An integral body and frame arrangement for an automobile has hollow supporting members which are made out of pressed sheet metal parts and are assembled by at least one joining technique to provide a torsion-proof construction. In one arrangement, at least two U frames are positioned one behind the other in a longitudinal direction of the automobile. The base parts of the U frames are in a floor region of the vehicle body and leg parts of the U frames extend from the floor region to an essentially vertical sidewall vehicle column and/or also extend up to the vehicle roof area. In addition, the U frames are joined directly to each other at least in the region of the free ends of the leg parts or are joined by a flat sidewall part which is mounted on at least one portion of the U frames.

Abstract: The subject invention relates to a dual-battery system, that includes a generator (1), a starter (3), a starter battery (2), a starter battery switch, a vehicle electrical system battery (5), and a control device (7), in which the starter battery (2), along with the starter battery switch that is connected in series, is connected in parallel with the generator (1), starter (3), and vehicle electrical system battery (5), and the starter battery switch can be activated by the control device (7), the starter battery switch being configured as a power MOSFET (6) whose gate is connected to the control device (7).

Abstract: A method and arrangement for seat occupancy recognition in a motor vehicle utilizes a seat occupancy sensor which is triggered only for an interval of time and only in predetermined situations.