Abstract: Attaining biological stability in wine has been a problem for winemakers for centuries. The main methods for preventing microbes from destroying wine have been the addition of chemicals such as sulphur dioxide and potassium sorbate and ultra filtration. These methods are less than satisfactory. Chemicals can only be used to a certain level before they affect the taste of the wine or cause allergy reactions in the drinker. Ultra filtration will remove the microbes but it also removes taste and body from the wine. Previous attempts at pasteurization of wine have been marginally successful because of the subsequent spoilage of the wine in less than optimum winery storage and less than total kill of the microbes. I have devised a method to eliminate these problems and have the wine ready to bottle in a pasteurized state, and designed the equipment to do this in the winery. The method consists of two elements which differ from previous attempts in two significant ways.

Abstract: The subject of the present invention is a motor control system having a monitoring circuit for monitoring PWM control for a DC electric motor, the PWM control comprising a power end stage having at least one field effect transistor, which controls the current at the DC electric motor. The motor control system is designed to monitor the current at the DC electric motor. The motor control system detects the voltage drop across the field effect transistor and comprises a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the field effect transistor. Furthermore, the motor control system is designed to determine the resistance of the field effect transistor from the detected temperature thereof, and to determine the current at the DC electric motor from the resistance of the field effect transistor and from the voltage drop across the field effect transistor.

Abstract: The subject of the present invention is a motor control system having a monitoring circuit for monitoring PWM control for a DC electric motor, the PWM control comprising a power end stage having at least one field effect transistor, which controls the current at the DC electric motor. The motor control system is designed to monitor the current at the DC electric motor. The motor control system detects the voltage drop across the field effect transistor and comprises a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the field effect transistor. Furthermore, the motor control system is designed to determine the resistance of the field effect transistor from the detected temperature thereof, and to determine the current at the DC electric motor from the resistance of the field effect transistor and from the voltage drop across the field effect transistor.

Abstract: The belt retractor has a belt spool (12) mounted rotatably in a frame (10) and a drive motor (28) coupled to the belt spool (12) via a belt drive (14, 24, 22). This drive motor (28) is a brushless direct current motor with an internal rotor that has a starting torque of at least 2 Nm.

Abstract: The belt retractor for an occupant restraint system has a frame, a belt spool having a pair of flanges and rotatably mounted in the frame and a locking mechanism for selective blocking of the belt spool. A wheel member provided with an external toothing is mounted on one flange of the belt spool. A locking pawl is biased by a spring that engages with the wheel member. During the normal operating state of the belt retractor, the locking pawl is held by means of a solenoid so that it is disengaged from the wheel member.

Abstract: An electromotive drive is provided, especially for the pump of a power-assisted steering system of a motor vehicle. The drive includes a housing (3) with a bearing journal (15) in which the shaft (18) of a rotor (9) is rotationally mounted. The drive also includes a stator (7) having drive windings. The bearing journal (15) extends through said stator and supports it. The stator (7) is supported by the bearing journal (15), substantially in the transversal direction only. The stator (7) is coupled with the remaining housing (3) in a rotationally fixed manner, so as to transmit the engine torque. The arrangement dramatically reduces disturbing noises which occur especially when the motor is operated at full load and which are caused by relatively high-frequency torque variations.

Abstract: A system and method for measuring the electrical current used by an electrical device and controlled according to the Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) method, such as a DC motor, the system using a Field Effect Transistor (FET) coupled to the electrical device such that the voltage applied to the FET is measured to ascertain in part, the current usage of the electrical device.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a reduction gear and to a drive unit in which a reduction gear of this type is used. A distinctive feature of the drive unit is a particularly flat design, since the individual components are assembled around a fixed bearing rod and intermesh. The reduction gear has a drive element which executes a wobbling motion within a driven element which covers the drive element.

Abstract: A method for winding a stator for a brushless direct current motor, which has a stator body (9) with a predetermined number of to be wound stator teeth (3) with the stator teeth (3) respectively being wound with two coils (W1, W3; W2, W4) which are magnetically coupled and which facilitate by supply of current with variable directional orientation the generation of opposite magnetic fields, whereby each of the two coils (W1, W3, W2, W4) comprises a predetermined number of in parallel arranged conductors.

Abstract: A park brake system for vehicles is provided that has an actuator with an electric drive motor (36, 38) and an electronic control unit. A reduction gear has an input connected to the output of the electric motor and a pull force output member (56) for connection to mechanical brakes of the vehicle. The reduction gear has an input connected to the output of the electric motor. A command unit is connected to the electronic control unit. The reduction gear comprises a first reduction train and a second reduction train. The first reduction train includes a worm gear (42, 44) and the second reduction train includes a threaded spindle (46) and a screw nut (50) engaged with the spindle (46). The worm gear connects the spindle (46) to the output of the electric motor (36, 38). The pull force output member (56) is connected to the screw nut (50). The two-step reduction gear ensures the required high rate of reduction to generate high pull forces with a relatively compact electric motor.

Abstract: A drive for a hood on a motor vehicle, in particular an engine hood, which is movable between a closed position and a lifted position that is abruptly achieved in the case of an accident. The drive comprises a drive unit having an electric drive motor and being effective between a vehicle structure and the hood. The drive motor moves the hood into the lifted position in the case of an accident.

Abstract: A housing for an electronic monitoring device on a vehicle part such as a lead accumulator comprises a metallic, load-bearing baseplate and an injection molded, generally parallelepipedal housing body encapsulating the baseplate. The baseplate projects out of the housing body on at least one side with a cantilevered attachment section.

Abstract: A belt retractor for a vehicle safety belt comprises a frame, a belt spool which is rotatably arranged in the frame, and a drive motor which can cooperate with a drive wheel which is coupled with the belt spool. The retractor further comprises a locking catch and locking teeth into which the locking catch can be guided in order to lock the belt spool. The drive wheel is rotatable relative to the belt spool to a limited extent and the locking catch is controlled as a function of this relative rotation.

Abstract: A compact drive unit for actuating parking brakes is provided. The drive unit has a reduction gear that is formed by a two-stage belt drive, in combination with a drive motor that is made up of a brushless direct current motor. The two-stage belt drive preferably consists of two toothed belt drives functionally arranged in series; the direct current motor preferably has an external rotor with a rare-earth magnetic ring.

Abstract: A drive unit for fans in vehicles has a brushless DC motor and an electronic actuation system. The electronic actuation system is surrounded by a housing made of plastics that supports the DC motor. The housing has an integrally molded bearing sleeve for mounting the rotor of the DC motor, which is configured as an external rotor. The upper part of the housing is the only supporting component of the drive unit.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor has a retractor frame, a belt spool rotatably mounted in the frame, an electric drive motor, a reduction belt gear with a toothed belt connecting the electric motor permanently with the belt spool, and a winding spring functionally arranged between the frame and the belt spool, permanently biasing the belt spool with a winding moment. The electric motor is controlled to either counteract or assist the winding spring.

Abstract: A belt retractor for a vehicle safety belt comprises a frame, a belt spool which is rotatably arranged in the frame, and a drive motor which can cooperate with a drive wheel which is coupled with the belt spool. The retractor further comprises a locking catch and locking teeth into which the locking catch can be guided in order to lock the belt spool. The drive wheel is rotatable relative to the belt spool to a limited extent and the locking catch is controlled as a function of this relative rotation.

Abstract: The driving device has a rotatable drive disc (16) that is coupled to a motor (10) and, arranged coaxially with the drive disc, a locking disc (20) that can be rotated to a limited extent relative to the drive disc. The locking disc has detent teeth on its outer circumference. A pawl (30), is pivotally mounted on a stationary axis. The drive disc (16) is provided with a recess (28) on its outer circumference. The outer circumference of the drive disc extends radially beyond the tips of the detent teeth. The recess has a bottom of approximately the same radial depth as the gaps of the detent teeth. Together with the outer circumference of the drive disc (16), the recess (28) forms a cam on which the tip of the pawl (30) slides.

Abstract: The proposed system for safe high-temperature operation of a flash memory is suitable, more particularly, for use in automotive technology, for example, for a transmission controller, the flash memory being programmed prior to use at high temperatures such that each data set in the flash memory is saved redundant. The system is provided with a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature characterizing the temperature of the flash memory, and with a control unit connected to the temperature sensor and the flash memory. The control unit, including a timer, is configured such that it receives the temperature signals from the temperature sensor and is able to establish an accumulated heat load value of the flash memory by integrating the resulting temperature values versus time.

Abstract: The torque developed at a belt shaft of a belt retractor coupled to an electric motor via a drive belt is controlled so as to avoid a hysteresis. For this purpose, the direction of rotation of the belt shaft is detected and, depending on the direction of rotation as detected, the electric current supplied to the electric motor is changed from a first value to a second value that is different from the first value by an amount required to compensate for hysteresis.