Abstract: A filling element has a gas valve that controls flow of gas through a gas channel that extends into or faces the container during filling thereof. The gas valve transitions between discrete states, which includes a fully-open state, a closed state, and one or more partially-open states.

Abstract: A filling element has a gas valve that controls flow of gas through a gas channel that extends into or faces the container during filling thereof. The gas valve transitions between discrete states, which includes a fully-open state, a closed state, and one or more partially-open states.

Abstract: This invention discloses a device 100 for the manufacture of three-dimensional objects by means of the sequential consolidation of layers of pulverized consolidatable build-up material at locations corresponding with the respective cross-section of the object, by means of radiation, in particular laser radiation.

Abstract: A gear indicator illumination unit for a vehicle, particularly for an automatic vehicle, is shown. The gear indicator illumination unit provides basic lighting and individual spot lighting from a plurality of different lighting devices, particularly in the form of LEDs. The gear indicator illumination unit has a plurality of lighting devices for indicating the gear and a memory for saving parameters and/or characteristic curves of the lighting devices.

Abstract: The invention relates to a shifting selection and parking lock system for a motor vehicle including a shifting selection device for engaging and disengaging transmission gears and/or for selecting at least one driving program, and a parking lock device for implementing a transmission parking lock mode. The shifting selection device has at least one gearshift lever unit with at least one gearshift lever. The parking lock device has at least one mechanical locking device and at least one electromechanical actuator that actuates the mechanical locking device. The gearshift lever unit and the electromechanical actuator are disposed in a common housing or the actuator is disposed in a separate housing and the gearshift lever unit is disposed directly on the separate housing of the actuator. The housing can be disposed in the region of the central console of the motor vehicle and/or integrated therein.

Abstract: The invention relates to a gear indicator illumination unit for a vehicle, particularly for an automatic vehicle. The gear indicator illumination unit with homogeneous basic lighting and individual spot lighting from a plurality of different lighting devices, particularly in the form of LEDs, can be realized in a simple and cost-effective manner in that the gear indicator illumination unit has a plurality of lighting devices for indicating the gear and a memory for saving parameters and/or characteristic curves of the lighting devices.

Abstract: This invention relates to a device and procedure for the production of a work piece with exact geometry and high surface quality, a form tool in particular. Preferably, the work piece is constructed using a process wherein powder coatings are applied one on top of each other, by means of compaction, said process being computer-controlled. After the powder has been compacted, the surfaces thereof are finely machined in a mechanical manner. During the entire machining process, the work piece to be produced is surrounded with powdery source material.

Abstract: This invention relates to a device and procedure for the production of a work piece with exact geometry and high surface quality, a form tool in particular. Preferably, the work piece is constructed using a process wherein powder coatings are applied one on top of each other, by means of compaction, said process being computer-controlled. After the powder has been compacted, the surfaces thereof are finely machined in a mechanical manner. During the entire machining process, the work piece to be produced is surrounded with powdery source material.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the production of a workpiece of exact geometry and high surface quality, such as, for example, a forming tool, are disclosed. Preferably computer-controlled, the apparatus follows the method of the invention to produce the workpiece by radiation and compacting of nx successive layers of powdered starting material, each subsequent layer being formed on the uppermost surface of the previously formed layer. Following the radiation and compacting of each layer, at least one of the vertical lateral faces of the layer and of one or more underlying layers, all of which are surrounded by excess powdered starting material throughout the process, are mechanically finished, for example by a hobbing process or a peripheral grinding process.

Abstract: This invention relates to a device and procedure for the production of a work piece with exact geometry and high surface quality, a form tool in particular. Preferably, the work piece is constructed using a process wherein powder coatings are applied one on top of each other, by means of compaction, said process being computer-controlled. After the powder has been compacted, the surfaces thereof are finely machined in a mechanical manner. During the entire machining process, the work piece to be produced is surrounded with powdery source material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a control device (1) for an automatically and manually shiftable gearbox in a motor vehicle. The inventive control device comprises a selector lever (2) for adjusting at least the forward position (D), neutral (N), reverse (R), parking position (P) and a position (M) for manual shifting. A first and a second tip switch (3a, 3c) can be actuated in the position (M) for manual shifting. Signals for manually shifting up or down with regard to the gear ratio are supplied to a control device (7) for controlling the gearbox by means of position sensors (5) and control lines (6). Failure of the position sensors (5) and/or the control lines (6) that are allocated to said sensors can be detected.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the production of a workpiece of exact geometry and high surface quality, such as, for example, a forming tool, are disclosed. Preferably computer-controlled, the apparatus follows the method of the invention to produce the workpiece by radiation and compacting of nx successive layers of powdered starting material, each subsequent layer being formed on the uppermost surface of the previously formed layer. Following the radiation and compacting of each layer, at least one of the vertical lateral faces of the layer and of one or more underlying layers, all of which are surrounded by excess powdered starting material throughout the process, are mechanically finished, for example by a hobbing process or a peripheral grinding process.

Abstract: The invention describes a device and a method for increasing the angular resolution in a radar system looking in the direction of motion and laterally thereto, wherein the doppler frequency shift of the transmitted signal is evaluated in order to increase the angular resolution. For this purpose, a plurality of adjacent, narrow regions are sampled sequentially by means of pencil-beam antenna characteristics during movement of the antennas. Relative to the total area, this is equivalent to illumination with a broad-beam antenna characteristic. The results from the simulation of this broad-beam illumination are combined with the results of the pencil-beam sampling processes in order to achieve an increase of the angular resolution of the antenna array.

Abstract: The invention relates to a control device (1) for an automatically and manually shiftable gearbox in a motor vehicle. The inventive control device comprises a selector lever (2) for adjusting at least the forward position (D), neutral (N), reverse (R), parking position (P) and a position (M) for manual shifting. A first and a second tip switch (3a, 3c) can be actuated in the position (M) for manual shifting. Signals for manually shifting up or down with regard to the gear ratio are supplied to a control device (7) for controlling the gearbox by means of position sensors (5) and control lines (6). Failure of the position sensors (5) and/or the control lines (6) that are allocated to said sensors can be detected.

Abstract: The invention refers to a method for calibrating the control of a radiation device producing electromagnetic radiation or particle radiation in a rapid prototyping system.

Abstract: A method of producing an object by successive solidification of layers of a powder material is disclosed. The method provides a preformed base plate having a metal plate with a solidified layer of a powder material formed thereon. Then, successive layers of said powder material are applied and solidified on the solidified layer of the base plate to form the object. In further detail, the method for produces a three-dimensional by providing a support and a preformed base plate having an upper surface for supporting the object. The base plate is removably attached to the support. Means are provided for adjusting the elevation of said upper surface. A layer of the powder material is applied to the upper surface of the base plate. The powder material is solidified at points corresponding to a cross-section of the object by irradiation with electromagnetic or particle radiation. Then, the applying and solidifying steps are repeated for completing the object.

Abstract: In order to achieve a homogeneous density distribution in a layer to be solidified of a three-dimensional object produced by laser sintering a laser beam is passed across the surface of the layer to be solidified, whereby the travelling speed of the beam varies as a function of the length of lines of a line pattern.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a three-dimensional object by successive solidification of layers of a powder material at points corresponding to a cross-section of said object using electromagnetic or particle radiation comprises support means having an upper side for supporting the object thereon at a determined elevation, elevation adjustment means for varying the elevation, means for applying a layer of the material onto the upper side or onto another layer formed on the upper side, and irradiation means for irradiating the layer of the material at the points corresponding to a cross-section of the object. For reducing the production time of the object the apparatus further comprises a prefabricated base plate on the upper side, the base plate being made of a material which the powder material adheres to when being solidified, and means for removably connecting the base plate to the upper side of the support means.

Abstract: In an apparatus for producing a three-dimensional object by laser sintering the object is produced by successive solidification of layers of a powder material at points corresponding to a cross-section of said object using radiation for solidifying said powder material. The apparatus includes a support having a substantially plane upper side for supporting the object, a material applying device for applying a layer of the material onto the upper side or onto another layer formed on the upper side, and a solidification device for solidifying a layer of the material by irradiation. The material applying device has a coating device and a drive for displacing the coating device in a direction parallel to the upper side of the support.