Abstract: A passive force element on the basis of electrorheological liquids includes a piston with a piston rod guided in a cylindrical housing, and a force introduction element connected with the piston rod. The piston forms, in the cylindrical housing, two variable-volume working chambers, which are filled with electrorheological liquids, and which are connected by a fluid connection including a valve arrangement with an electrorheological liquid valve for controlling the throughflow characteristic. A regulated damping characteristic can be adjustedly set and force peaks are avoided, because the force introduction is achieved via the force introduction element, and the piston is coupled onto the force introduction element via an elastic element.

Abstract: A steering column damper for a power-driven vehicle comprises a jacket tube with a central longitudinal axis; a sliding tube displaceably guided in the jacket tube; a steering shaft, which is mounted for pivotability about the central longitudinal axis relative to the sliding tube and/or the jacket tube and guided through the jacket tube and the sliding tube; at least one working area, which is disposed between the jacket tube and the sliding tube and filled with a damping medium; at least one working-area-volume reduction unit, which is connected with the sliding tube, reducing the volume of the at least one working area upon insertion of the sliding tube into the jacket tube; at least one aperture which opens the at least one working area to ambience for discharge of the damping medium from the respective working area; a closing element for blocking the at least one aperture; and a triggering unit for controllable release of the respective closing element.

Abstract: A passive force element on the basis of electrorheological liquids, in which there is arranged a piston with piston rod, which is guided in a cylindrical housing, whereby the piston rod is connected with a force introduction element, and whereby the piston forms, in the cylindrical housing, two variable-volume working chambers, which are filled with electrorheological liquids, and which are connected by a fluid connection, and whereby the fluid connection comprises a valve arrangement for controlling the throughflow characteristic, which comprises an electrorheological liquid valve, is to be further embodied in such a manner, that a regulated damping characteristic can be adjustedly set and force peaks are avoided. This is achieved in that the force introduction is achieved via a force introduction element and the piston (11, 12, 13, 14) is coupled onto the force introduction element via an elastic element.

Abstract: A steering spindle (1) has a thin-walled container (5) which is filled by an incompressible flowable material (7). In the event of a crash, the container (5) is opened up by means of a, for example, pyrotechnic device (13). As a result, the flowable material (7) emerges and the container (5) deforms, whereby the forward vehicle intrusion is uncoupled from the behavior of the steering column.

Abstract: A switchable flap valve having at least one valve plate (2, 2a, 2b) disposed for pivoting about a longitudinal axis in a housing part (1) for opening or closing a valve opening (11) provided in the housing part (1) in which a strip element (4, 4a, 4b) is formed on the upper side of the valve plate (2, 2a, 2b) aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis of the valve plate. The surface of the strip element (4, 4a) is inclined toward an adjacent housing wall (20) or toward a second strip (4b) and forms a hollow channel with the housing wall (20) or with the strip (4b). The free longitudinal edge (18) of the strip (4, 4a, 4b) is held in a latch mechanism (7, 8) to maintain the valve plate (2, 2a, 2b) in the closed position.

Abstract: A switchable flap valve having at least one valve plate (2, 2a, 2b) disposed for pivoting about a longitudinal axis in a housing part (1) for opening or closing a valve opening (11) provided in the housing part (1) in which a strip element (4, 4a, 4b) is formed on the upper side of the valve plate (2, 2a, 2b) aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis of the valve plate, The surface of the strip element (4, 4a) is inclined toward an adjacent housing wall (20) or toward a second strip (4b) and forms a hollow channel with the housing wall (20) or with the strip (4b). The free longitudinal edge (18) of the strip (4, 4a, 4b) is held in a latch mechanism (7, 8) to maintain the valve plate (2, 2a, 2b) in the closed position.