Abstract: An actuator for actuating a fuel injection valve has a piezoactuator, enclosed in an actuator housing unit (14, 16). The housing unit has a cylindrical actuator housing (14) which is elongate in its axial direction (A) and at least partially encased by an extruded plastic coat. The actuator housing unit (14, 16), in its encased area, is provided with a ventilation aperture (20) in which a ventilation element (22) produced from a microporous material is disposed.

Abstract: In a method for pretreating a piezoelectric ceramic (1) and a method for adjusting an injection valve (7), the piezoelectric ceramic (1) is exposed to environmental conditions, leading to a reduction of polarization and also a reduction of the length of the ceramic (1). The obtained length exhibits a greater long-term stability due to said adjusting phase. Consequently, the injection valve (7) can be re-adjusted before use. As a result, renewed adjustment thereof is required only after a long period in service.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process for encapsulating pigment particles, which comprises (A) producing a dispersion of the pigment to be encapsulated, (B) then applying a polyelectrolyte layer to the surface of the pigment particles, (C) further applying a polyelectrolyte layer having opposite charge to (B), and/or adding low molecular weight, multivalent ions oppositely charged to (B), and (D) if appropriate repeating steps (B) and (C), said steps (B), (C) and if appropriate (D) being carried out in the presence of a nonionic surfactant.

Abstract: A method for producing a tubular spring (12) in the form of a cylindrical hollow body, especially for pre-tensioning a piezoelectric actuator element (2) of an actuator unit (1) of a fuel injector comprises the step of providing a thin-walled, solid-drawn steel tube with a plurality of regularly arranged longish recesses (14) by means of laser cutting. Thus, an actuator unit (1) comprises a piezoelectric actuator element (2) which is arranged in a thin-walled cylindrical hollow body, wherein the hollow body being elastically embodied and pre-tensioning the actuator element (2). Furthermore, the hollow body is a solid-drawn steel tube which is provided with a plurality of longish recesses (14).

Abstract: A method is described for improving the long-term stability of a piezoelectric actuator encased in a potting compound containing or forming hydrogen atoms. Oxygen is contained in the piezoelectric actuator's piezoelectric ceramic. Appropriate means are employed so that unsaturated bonds of the hydrogen in the potting compound will release less oxygen from the piezoelectric ceramic. One means consists in reducing the concentration of hydrogen in the potting compound, with appropriate thermal processes as a result of which the concentration of hydrogen will be reduced to below a predefined threshold being applied after the piezoelectric actuator has been encased in the potting compound. Means that form bonds with the hydrogen in the potting compound or duct oxygen thereto are provided in further embodiments.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electrically conductive, elastically stretchable hybrid yarn (3), in which an elastically stretchable core filament (1) is surrounded by an electrically conductive fibre sheath (2). This results in improved technical properties of a hybrid yarn of this kind in conjunction with a simplified manufacturing method.

Abstract: A method is described for improving the long-term stability of a piezoelectric actuator encased in a potting compound containing or forming hydrogen atoms. Oxygen is contained in the piezoelectric actuator's piezoelectric ceramic. Appropriate means are employed so that unsaturated bonds of the hydrogen in the potting compound will release less oxygen from the piezoelectric ceramic. One means consists in reducing the concentration of hydrogen in the potting compound, with appropriate thermal processes as a result of which the concentration of hydrogen will be reduced to below a predefined threshold being applied after the piezoelectric actuator has been encased in the potting compound. Means that form bonds with the hydrogen in the potting compound or duct oxygen thereto are provided in further embodiments.

Abstract: The invention relates to capsules coated with a polyelectrolyte shell and methods for the production thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to capsules coated with a polyelectrolyte shell and methods for the production thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to capsules coated with a polyelectrolyte shell and methods for the production thereof.

Abstract: The present application demonstrates that both active substances and diagnostically effective substances can be introduced into biological cells, in particular blood cells, simultaneously. These multimodally altered cells can be found once again, in vivo and in vitro, using modern imaging methods. In addition to the diagnostic and active compound-carrier principles, they can serve as a form for administering the active substances in an accurately targeted manner.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pyrotechnic system, system-compatible pyrotechnic objects, and a firing method tailored to the system. The system comprises a starting device having multiple receptacles, having a connection channel between each of the receptacles. The receptacles are filled with the pyrotechnic objects, the first receptacle is provided with an additional ignition device, and the pyrotechnic object located therein is ignited. An igniter externally positioned on the pyrotechnic object conducts the ignition energy into the interior and simultaneously via the connection channel into the neighboring receptacle. A pyrotechnic object located therein is ignited. The igniter externally positioned on the pyrotechnic object partially causes a time delay. The delay time may be set by twisting the pyrotechnic object in relation to the connection channel.

Abstract: The invention relates to capsules coated with a polyelectrolyte shell and methods for the production thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to a gradual coating method (LBL-technology®) with poloyelectrolytes of microparticles and nanoparticles in aqueous gels and gelatinous media, whereby regularly occurring flocculation and coagulation problems,which arise as a result of high collision frequency (Brownian movement and/or hydrodynamic collision) amongst the particles to be coated and as a result of heterocoagulation with the coating material, can be avoided. The coating compositions are conveyed to the particles which are to be coated by diffusion or by means of external forces of an electric, magnetic, dielectrophoretic and hydrodynamic variety. According to the invention, the coated cores can be disintegrated or dispersed after coating while maintaining the integrity of the multi-layered shell. The coating products and/or the empty coating shells can be obtained once the gel has been broken and can be further processed.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for producing nanocapsules and microcapsules comprising a polyelectrolyte shell by surface precipitation from the solution, by applying a shell to template particles comprising the steps (a) providing a dispersion of template particles of suitable size in a salt-containing liquid phase which contains the components required to form the shell in a dissolved form and (b) precipitating the components from the liquid phase onto the template particles under conditions which enable the formation of a shell around the template particles that has a thickness of from 1 to 100 nm.

Abstract: Monodisperse colloids were coated with polyelectrolytes using the layer-by-layer method. The template cores can remain in the interior or be dissolved away. Various fluorescent dyes are covalently bonded, in defined quantity, to the polyelectrolytes. The quantity of dye is controlled by varying the label content or by coprecipitating unlabeled polymers. Different. dye layers are separated from each other by intermediate layers, resulting in unwanted interactions being suppressed. Conversely, a FRET signal can be generated between suitable dye pairs at short distances (0-6 nm), with it being possible to control this signal independently of the dye concentration by means of the number of intermediate layers. The capsule coding is read out by varying the excitation and emission wavelengths. Macromolecules which fish out complementary substances from solutions can be immobilized in the capsules.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, an anode reactant source and a shut-off valve that selectively prohibits anode reactant flow from the anode reactant source to the fuel cell stack through a conduit. A control module initiates closure of the shut-off valve to prohibit anode reactant flow through the conduit and determines a shutdown schedule based on a residual mass of the anode reactant within the conduit. The control module operates the fuel cell system using the residual mass and based on the shutdown schedule.

Abstract: A sealing arrangement of a piezoelectric actuator comprises terminal posts (14) projecting from the piezoelectric actuator and a metallic top arrangement (18, 22), provided with openings (28) allowing the passage of the terminal posts (14) which is emplaced on the piezoelectric actuator. In order to facilitate reliable sealing in particular also for comparatively thin top plates (18), the invention provides for emplacing on terminal post sections (30) projecting from the openings (28) a sealing element (32) which is formed from an electrically insulating and sealing material and which is positioned tight against, on the one hand, circumferential areas (34) of the terminal post sections (30) and, on the other hand, the top arrangement (18, 22), with an insulating disk (40) provided with openings allowing the passage of the terminal posts (14) and made of electrically insulating material being located between the sealing element (32) and the top arrangement (18, 22).

Abstract: A piezoelectric assembly, a method for producing a structural unit with a prestressed piezoelectric actuator and a method for producing a hollow body for prestressing the piezoelectric actuator include an actuator pushed into a spring sleeve and force-lockingly and/or form-lockingly connected under prestress to two ends of the spring sleeve. This provides a structural unit in which the prestressing force of the piezoelectric actuator is permanently fixed by the production process.

Abstract: An actuator unit has an elastically configured hollow body in which a piezoelectric actuator is biased, the hollow body being provided with holes which are of a dumb-bell shape and run transversely of the hollow body's axis.