Abstract: A piston-cylinder unit includes a cylinder with a piston rod guide and a piston rod with a piston axially movably mounted in the cylinder so that the piston rod runs through a hole in the piston rod guide. A movement determination device comprising a transmitter portion and a receiver portion determine the movement of the piston from the travel time of waves generated by the transmitter portion. The movement determination device is arranged inside the piston rod guide, and waves reflected by the piston-piston rod component group are analyzed to determine the movement of this component group.

Abstract: A pneumatic spring having a vibration damper and a rolling bellows which defines a spring chamber. The rolling bellows is actively connected at one end to the vibration damper which has a container pipe which possesses a connecting bearing to a motor vehicle chassis. The connecting bearing is arranged in the region of the outer surface of the container pipe. The connecting bearing is of circular design and possesses a sealing ring which seals the spring chamber. Furthermore, the connecting bearing can be designed as a pivot bearing, having at least one universal ball joint in conjunction with a ball socket. Optionally, an air direction device may be assigned to the pneumatic spring, producing a targeted air flow onto the container pipe.

Abstract: Pressure vessel which is filled with at least one medium which is pre-stressed by a mass of gas enclosed in a deformable enveloping body, in particular for the volume equalization in a vibration damper, comprising a wall in which a pressurized gas is enclosed. The wall is at least partially formed from a gas-tight barrier layer and the enveloping body has sections which are aligned at an angle to one another in the circumferential direction, the wall having an impressed transition between the sections, which are aligned at an angle to one another. The wall may additionally be designed with an expansion profile.

Abstract: A hybrid drive for a vehicle in which the driving power provided by an internal combustion engine (ICE) or an electric motor may be fed via a transmission with a transmission input shaft and a transmission output shaft to the drive train. The ICE and the electric motor are connectable to each other via a coupling and the electric motor is directly connected to the transmission. An electric energy storage device is connected to the ICE for receiving a charge and to the electric motor for providing power to the electric motor. The hybrid drive is designed so that the torque that can be provided by the electric motor is greater than that of the internal combustion engine. In addition, the transmission input shaft always turns in the same direction as the transmission output shaft so that reverse drive by the hybrid drive is only possible using the electric motor.

Abstract: A pressure holder, filled with a medium and having a gas mass that pressurizes the holder, especially for volume compensation in a vibration damper. The gas mass including a deformable enveloping body with a wall in which a pressurized gas is enclosed. The wall of the enveloping body is multi-layered, with at least one layer being a metal foil.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle drive for a motor vehicle includes an internal combustion engine and an electric machine which is selectively coupled with the internal combustion engine. The electric machine can be operated as a generator and as a motor. Regulation device which responds to a reference signal predetermined by a reference signal preset device are provided for the active damping of vibrations, especially torsional vibrations in the torque transmission path between the internal combustion engine and wheels of the motor vehicle driven by the latter. The regulation device also respond to sensing device which deliver an actual-value vibration signal containing vibration information about a rotating structural component of the motor vehicle and control the load torque exerted on the internal combustion engine by the electric machine for reducing or eliminating the vibrations of the structural component.

Abstract: A non-railbound vehicle with an electric motor in which the maximum output of the internal combustion engine will be available in its entirety for driving the vehicle without prejudice to convenience with respect to electrical actuation of accessory functions. The vehicle includes a drive control that provides a portion of the output generated by a generator for supplying power to the low-voltage vehicle power supply. The electronic drive control is programmed to provide a temporary interruption of the current supplied by the generator to the low-voltage vehicle power supply during operating phases in which the full output of the internal combustion engine is required for driving the vehicle. During these phases current is supplied to accessory electrical consumers via the vehicle battery.

Abstract: For the drive train of a motor vehicle, a drive train assembly can be used which comprises two operational components which are separate from one another, each of which comprises a motor and a transmission which faces the drive wheel to be driven. The transmission, which can be a spur gear transmission with a driven shaft part oriented eccentrically with respect to the axis of rotation of the motor device, or can be a planetary transmission, is located together with the motor device on a common support part, on which the driven shaft of the motor device and the driven shaft part of the transmission are also mounted. The transmission is coupled to the drive wheel by means of a universal joint propeller shaft.

Abstract: A climate control device for a cooling compressor operated by a driving means. The climate control device including a control device for operating the cooling compressor at a compressor speed associated with a speed of the driving means and a connection device operatively connecting the cooling compressor and the driving means. The connection device comprises a viscous coupling including a drive-side element with a work chamber and a reserve chamber in which the filling level ratios of viscous fluid in the chambers are controlled in accordance with preset values from the control device. In addition, the connection device also includes a belt disposed about the drive-side element and driven by the driving means so as to rotate the drive-side element. A driven-side element operatively connected to said drive-side element by the work chamber and in transmitting connection with an input element of the cooling compressor.

Abstract: A drive apparatus for a hybrid electric/combustion powered vehicle having an internal combustion engine and a gear-shifting transmission unit. The drive apparatus includes a rotatable crank shaft operatively connectable to the internal combustion engine, and a rotatable transmission shaft operatively connectable to the gear-shifting transmission unit. The drive apparatus further comprises a movable annular rotor disposed annularly about the transmission shaft, the rotor including a permanent magnet for generating a magnetic field and an attachment mechanism for attaching the rotor to the transmission shaft so that torque can be transmitted between the rotor and the transmission shaft. The stationary annular stator is attachable to at least one of the internal combustion engine and the gear-shifting transmission unit and is disposed concentrically about and proximate the rotor in an electromagnetically interactive relation.

Abstract: In a motor vehicle, a modular unit including an internal combustion engine with an engine housing and a crankshaft for power take-off, and an electric generator/motor, the generator housing of which is permanently connected to the engine housing, and the rotor of which is coaxially and non-rotationally connected to the crankshaft. According to at least one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the modular unit is characterized by the fact that there is an elastically deformable torque transmission plate which is permanently connected by means of a flange to the driven end of the crankshaft, and is permanently connected on the circumferential side to the rotor, and that the rotor is rotationally mounted in the generator housing.

Abstract: A non-railbound vehicle in which at least one driving wheel is coupled with an electric motor which is supplied with electric current via power electronics influenced by an electronic control depending on the power requirement selected by the driver via an accelerator pedal. The current is produced by a generator (2) which is coupled with an internal combustion engine. The current for driving the generator is supplied with an operating voltage in the medium-voltage range. Additionally, there is a vehicle power supply in the low-voltage range which ensures the supply of power to accessory electrical consumers. The low-voltage power supply has a vehicle battery and is supplied with current obtained by transforming a portion of the mechanical energy generated by the internal combustion engine. The generator can also be operated as an electric motor for starting the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A drive arrangement for a hybrid vehicle with an electric motor, which has a rotor with a hub body and a stator, and with two engagable and disengagable dry-disk clutches. Each of the dry-disk clutches has a first functional component as well as a second functional component. The second functional component is frictionally connectable to the first functional component in order to provide a torque transmitting connection.

Abstract: For the individual drive of a wheel of a motor vehicle, a planetary transmission can be combined into a single module with a motor. The planetary transmission has a sun wheel which on a motor shaft of the motor, a ring gear and a planet carrier with planet wheels which are rotationally mounted on journals. The planet carrier and the ring gear are non-rotationally connected to a support part which simultaneously forms the transmission housing, or to a driven shaft part which is rotationally mounted on the support part. The planet carrier is designed as a shaped sheet metal and comprises a sheet metal base wall which runs axially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the planetary transmission, into which sheet metal base wall the journals are shaped in a cup shape.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a motor vehicle planetary transmission component for the individual drive of a wheel of a motor vehicle. The planetary transmission component comprises a rotary component of a motor which is mounted with its motor shaft by means of a roller bearing on a support part, which support part simultaneously forms a housing for a planetary transmission. The motor shaft supports, equiaxially with respect to its axis of rotation, a sun wheel which is surrounded by a ring gear held on the support part. Engaged with the sun wheel and the ring gear are planet wheels which are supported axially parallel to the axis of rotation of the motor shaft on a driven shaft part of the planetary transmission. The driven shaft part is supported by means of a single, single-row roller bearing on the support part. This roller bearing is located on the side of the plane of rotation of the planet wheels axially farther from the roller bearing of the motor shaft, and has some radial play.

Abstract: An electric drive unit for a vehicle is disclosed which has two electric machines axially aligned and connected with each other in mirror image. Each electric machine has a casing (3), a rotor (2) having a wheel body (16), an inner annular stator (4) including stator windings (5), having an axial, substantially cylindrical recess (11). The stator is attached to the casing (3), a rotor shaft (7) is attached to the wheel body (16) and extends into the substantially cylindrical axial recess (11) of the stator (4). There are first mounting means (20) rotatably mounted within the housing and relative thereto for mounting the rotor shaft (7); and an output coupling means (8, 9, 19, 25, 26) having a connecting flange (25, 26) for detachably connecting an output shaft thereto, the output coupling means (8, 9, 19, 25, 2 86) being disposed substantially within the axial cylindrical recess (11).

Abstract: The proposal is for a fluid-cooled power transistor arrangement, the semiconductor component (1) of which is arranged on an especially boardlike insulating substrate (9) via a metal electrode (7). The flat side of the semiconductor component (1) away from the insulating substrate (9) and/or the side of the insulating substrate (9) away from the semiconductor component (9) is in direct heat-exchange contact with a forced flow of cooling fluid in a coolant channel (13). Here, the insulating substrate (1) or the semiconductor component (1) may form wall regions of the coolant channel (13). In order to improve the heat transfer, the wall regions to be cooled and in contact with the cooling fluid may have a surface microstructure which reduces the boundary layer thickness of the coolant flow. The improvement in the cooling action reduces the structural space required so that the electrical valves may be fitted in the immediate vicinity of the electric device to be switched.

Abstract: A process for changing the speed of a vehicle with driving wheels and with a continuously adjustable speed/torque characteristic in the drive train, in particular a vehicle with electric motor drive, corresponding to a change in the position .alpha.(t) of an accelerator pedal carried out by the driver of the vehicle, in which every position .alpha.(t) of the accelerator pedal is associated with a determined drive output P.sub.v (.alpha.)=f.sub.1 (.alpha.).times.P.sub.max (where P.sub.max =maximum drive output of the vehicle) and/or driving torque M.sub.v (.alpha.)=f.sub.1 (.alpha.).times.M.sub.max (where M.sub.max =maximum driving torque of the vehicle) which is desired in the sense of a predetermined value and acts on the vehicle. To provide a process and a device for implementing the process permitting the driver to change the actual speed of the vehicle to a different desired value in the most uncomplicated and reliable manner, the predetermined value P.sub.v (t) and/or M.sub.

Abstract: A friction clutch for a transmission of a motor vehicle generally will have a clutch disc, and the clutch disc will be provided with friction linings for engaging the friction clutch with a rotating engine flywheel. The friction rings can be provided, on both surfaces thereof with trough-shaped depressions, to reduce the weight of the clutch disc. The trough-shaped depressions can essentially be rectangular or square, with rounded corners and with connecting surfaces which are steeply diagonal, or curved with a large radius of curvature.

Abstract: A passenger automobile or truck contains a unit which is formed by an internal combustion engine and a generator and which powers electric motors coupled with driving wheels of the vehicle via an energy distributor in the form of power electronics. An accumulator which can likewise be coupled with the electric motors via the energy distributor is provided as an additional power source. An electronic control unit receives driving signals from an accelerator pedal, in particular a position signal and a speed signal. The position signal of the throttle is interpreted as a request for a determined permanent output to be supplied by the internal combustion engine.The internal combustion engine is revved up to a new operating point in an "optimal" manner (e.g. with favorable fuel consumption), for example when a higher output is requested, while the generator is entirely or partially uncoupled from the load. Energy for accelerating the vehicle is provided in the meantime by the accumulator.