Abstract: A semi-automatic transmission for a vehicle having a diesel engine is provided which, upon start up of an engine ignition, goes through a warm up stage before the engine begins normal operation. An electronic controller is connected to the engine, a clutch, a gear box, and a signal transmitter. During start up of the engine, the electronic controller cause the signal transmitter to emit a signal which notifies the driver of the vehicle, based upon the position of an ignition key in the ignition lock, to disengage the clutch. Alternatively, during start up of the engine, the electronic controller detects whether the gear box is in a neutral position and whether the clutch is not disengaged. If the gear box is not in the neutral position or if the clutch is not disengaged, the electronic controller causes the signal transmitter to emit a signal which notifies the driver of the vehicle to disengage the clutch.

Abstract: Implementation of a travel dynamics control system in a vehicle is facilitated by integration of same with other operational components of an electrically controlled vehicle braking system. In an embodiment of the invention, travel dynamics electronics are integrated with the braking system electronics. In another embodiment, a yawing speed sensor and a transverse acceleration sensor are integrated with the travel dynamics electronics.

Abstract: A gas compressor includes a compression chamber, an outlet valve, and a shuttle valve which disables the outlet valve when it is connected to an atmospheric pressure relief chamber in idle operation. A throttle line circumventing the shuttle valve is provided which permits by-passed flow between the compression chamber and the atmospheric pressure relief chamber in idle operation, thereby preventing deposits and moisture condensation in the downstream flow path to the pressure relief chamber due to the disabling of the outlet valve, which might otherwise lead to possible operational malfunctions. Compressed-air systems employed in the automotive industry represent an important area of application for the invention.

Abstract: A gas compressor for vehicle braking systems controlled by compressed air can be operated under load or in idle operation. In idle operation, no compressed air is produced. In operation under load, the gas compressor produces compressed air as required by the pressure medium installation. During prolonged operation of the gas compressor at a relatively high operating speed, for example, during travel on super-highways, the power consumption can be decreased and thereby also the production amount of the gas compressor, without having to switch the gas compressor over into idle operation. A clearance volume of less volume than the nominal volume of the gas compressor is provided which can be connected via a valve to the compression chamber of the gas compressor, thereby making it possible to enlarge the compression volume. In addition, a process for the control of the auxiliary valve takes into account different operating magnitudes of the gas compressor and other elements of the vehicle.

Abstract: A level control system controls the distance between the vehicle axles and the vehicle frame of a vehicle. The suspension is a full or partial air suspension, wherein the vehicle frame over the vehicle axles is supported via air suspension bellows. A vehicle inclination, i.e. a non-parallel alignment between vehicle frame and one or more of vehicle axles may occur as a result of various situations which may be dramatically different from one another. Uneven support of the vehicle represents one cause of vehicle inclination, for example, when one wheel of a vehicle axle is standing on the sidewalk. In order to avoid air losses, a vehicle level is not compensated for while the vehicle is stopped. Instead, the existing inclination is maintained and is entered into the control system as a target level. All level changes which occur due to changes in the load of the vehicle are compensated for by means of this prescribed target value.

Abstract: A method for controlling the speed of an off-the-road vehicle traveling on a gradient permits a constant downhill speed to be maintained. The vehicle speed can be set to a constant descending speed by an electronic system through active braking intervention, without requiring actuation of the brake by the driver. The vehicle in which the method is practiced has several forward speeds and one reverse speed within a low-range traveling phase. The constant descending speed is dependent upon the position of the gas pedal and upon the currently engaged gear of the low-range traveling phase. The method for use in off-the-road vehicles is particularly advantageous for situations in which the braking action of the engine on steep gradients is no longer sufficient to decelerate the vehicle.

Abstract: A method applicable for use in wheeled vehicles permits correction of a vehicle reference speed following a real or apparent deceleration indicated by wheel speed signals, caused for example by a fault in wheel sensing. In order to prevent a brief period of insufficient braking of the vehicle due to an erroneously high vehicle reference speed during a subsequent ABS regulation, wheel slip regulating signals are monitored. If a wheel slip regulating signal appears for a given number of wheels and lasts for a longer period than a predetermined time, an intervention in the normal regulating process is made, and the vehicle reference speed is set to the value of the wheel speed of the wheels associated with a wheel slip regulating signal.

Abstract: A wheel module for the control of the braking force on a wheel of a vehicle with an electrically controlled braking system (EBS), in which the need for data transfer to other wheel modules, or to a central module, if present, is reduced considerably. All magnitudes required for an ABS regulation of a wheel such as, for example, vehicle reference speed, are calculated directly in the wheel module according to the invention, so that these magnitudes need not be transmitted from a central module via a data bus.

Abstract: A method for the processing of sensor signals in a digital electronic system including a microprocessor, in which computed magnitudes are derived from the signals emitted by the sensors, and wherein the magnitudes are compared with one another to recognize certain travel situations. In order to carry out these comparisons simply and reliably using an economical microprocessor and cost-efficient sensors while applying simple computing steps, the comparison of two magnitudes derived from the sensor signals is carried out first on a level of the representation of one magnitude, for example, an angular yawing speed, and a second time on a level of the representation of the other magnitude, such as, for example, a steering angle. By this method, one comparison result supports the other. The method is advantageously used in a vehicle with a device for the control of travel stability, and preferably for the recognition of reverse travel.

Abstract: An evaluation method for an output signal of a sensing device for scanning a cyclic movement, consisting of a rotatable pole wheel provided with equidistant teeth and an inductive sensor, permits recognition and display of damage to the pole wheel, in particular defective or missing teeth. Contrary to known evaluation processes, where error monitoring of the output signal is carried out for a relatively short time period comprising few signal cycles of the output signal, an observation of the output signal is effected for a sufficiently long time span in the evaluation process according to the invention, such that within the time span, at least two complete revolutions of the pole wheel are completed. To detect damage to the pole wheel, the sudden changes in the output signal occurring in the course of a complete revolution are recorded and are compared with changes recorded in previous, complete revolutions.

Abstract: A control system for a vehicle braking systems includes an electronic control system and a brake signal transmitter having at least one circuit actuatable by a driver of the vehicle. Each circuit of the brake signal transmitter transmits an electrical brake signal having a value which is dependent upon an actuating force and/or an actuating stroke supplied to the brake signal transmitter. The electronic control system emits at least one electrical brake actuating signal which is dependent upon the electrical brake signal transmitted by the brake signal transmitter. An electronics block which includes at least a portion of the electronic control system is provided. The brake signal transmitter and the electronics block are integrated into a combined component.

Abstract: A method for the coordination of braking forces between two attached units of a vehicle train, for example a towing vehicle and a trailer, uses slip-encumbered wheel speed signals to calculate a value representing the difference between the braking forces exerted on the two units of the vehicle train. Such wheel speed signals are normally edited into speed signals by electronic control systems located in each of the units of the vehicle train through signal processing. The speed signals thus obtained are then utilized for various control and regulating processes. During the processing of the signals received from the different units of the vehicle train, time delays occur, primarily due to transmission of the signals and/or different signal editing processes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the recognition of an armature drop off in an electromagnetically actuated device supplies an on/off controlled switching current to the solenoid coil of the device. A high level of current is caused to flow through the coil for attracting the armature, and reduced level of current is applied to the coil for holding the solenoid armature in its on position. If the armature should be caused to drop off from its on position by a mechanical shock, a transitory expansion in the period of the switching current occurs, due to the sudden decrease in magnetic circuit inductance. This increased switching current period is detected and compared to a predetermined threshold value. If the detected period exceeds the threshold value, it is recognized as an armature drop off, and corrective action can be taken immediately. An alternate embodiment detects a sudden increase in the holding current amplitude as an indicator of armature drop off.

Abstract: A housing for electric componentry comprises a closed frame in which the electric componentry is received, a first electric connection element which is connected to the electric componentry and passes through a wall of the frame, a second electric connection element which is connected to the first electric connection element, and an electric connection cable which is connected to the second electric connection element. A fastening element fastens the electric connection cable to the frame of the housing in such manner that the cable lies parallel to a flat outer surface of the frame. At least a part of the fastening element is constructed integrally with the housing. In a preferred embodiment, the housing further comprises a cover attached by a hinge to the frame. Further, the fastening element comprises first and second parts which bear upon each other with the electric connection cable therebetween.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension system that varies its shock absorption maximize comfort when compatible with safe handling. Level sensors are positioned to determine the position and attitude of the body of the vehicle in relation to its axles. An electronic regulator controls adjustable air springs to maintain the desired position and orientation of the body. Each air spring can be filled from a compressed-air supply to raise the body, and the system can also bleed air off to lower the body. The electronic regulator also accepts a signal from a double-differentiation device that is connected to the output of one of the level sensors. This signal is a measure of the acceleration of the body, and it is used to compute a bad-road parameter. The bad-road parameter also depends on the change in acceleration that occurs between successive measurements.

Abstract: A valve arrangement includes a pressure medium inlet chamber, a pressure medium outlet chamber connected to a consumer, for example, a brake cylinder, and a pressure medium exhaust leading to a pressure medium sink. The pressure medium inlet chamber is connected to a pressure medium source. The pressure medium outlet chamber can be connected by operation of a controllable inlet valve to the pressure medium inlet chamber and by a controllable exhaust valve to a pressure medium sink. The actuating force requirement is small because the pressure force on the active surface of the graduating piston is absorbed by the regulating spring. As a result, the actuating force requirement of such arrangement is very low by comparison with the actuating force requirement of heretofore known arrangements. This feature permits facilitated selection of an actuating force requirement by placement of a spring which acts in opposition to an operating element of the arrangement.

Abstract: A device for connecting a first component to a second component includes a first lever provided with a first opening which, together with an axle on the first component forms a rotating articulation around which the first lever can be rotatably connected to the first component for rotation relative the first component. The lever is provided with a holding element which extends over the second component and engages an additional holding element located on thereon to connect the first component to the second component. In order to simplify the production of the first lever and to allow for assembly without using any tools, the first lever is fabricated from a strip of sheet metal by means of punching out and deformation, or is alternatively in the form of an extruded plastic part. The first opening is connected with an insertion cut-out which has a smaller diameter in the transitional area in a region adjacent the first opening than the axle.

Abstract: A signal (S) has a value at every point in time. The values may change in time and may lie within or outside a predetermined basic value range (BVMIN, BVMAX). The signal (S) is processed so that control steps associated with the values of the signal (S) are carried out when certain values of the signal (S) occur outside the basic value range (BVMIN, BVMAX). It may then occur that the carrying out of the control steps may be triggered in an undesirable manner because of implausible values of the signal (S). Such an implausible signal behavior must be recognized rapidly and the undesirable effects of the implausible signal behavior must be decreased or totally prevented at an early moment. For this purpose a value of the signal (S) occurring with relative frequency is determined as a dominant value (DV) as well as a frequency value (FV), which indicates frequency of occurrence of values of the signal (S) situated in the vicinity of the dominant value (DV).

Abstract: Non-synchronized, manually shiftable transmissions of modern vehicle types are actuated by means of an automated transmission control, and the driver can optionally select any gear by means of an actuator which is electrically connected to the transmission control device. In general terms, the method of this invention includes the operator generating a signal indicating a desire to shift the transmission. The transmission then automatically begins implementing the shift. If the currently engaged gear is not disengaged within a preselected time period, because the system cannot achieve a break torque condition, for example, the system signals the driver to manually operate the clutch. A visual and audible signal preferably are provided to the driver. Once the driver manually operates the clutch, the system is able to complete the desired shift.

Abstract: A process for the braking of a vehicle on road surfaces with varying frictional values influences the respective braking forces on the wheels of at least one axle via a common braking value. The inventive process recognizes differences between these frictional values, and the common braking value is adjusted so that the wheel located on the surface with the lower frictional value is locked at least intermittently, while the frictional value of the other wheel can be utilized advantageously. The common braking value is reduced at predetermined time intervals, so that the wheel located on the surface with the lower frictional value can start up again from the locked state when an increase in frictional value occurs. Depending on the reaction of the wheel located on the surface with the lower frictional value, it is then possible to decide whether further locking of this wheel is acceptable, or must be terminated because of anticipated damage to the tire, or reduction of travel stability.