Abstract: A vehicle occupant restraint system has an airbag, which provides a predetermined support force distribution in the filled (unfolded) state, and at least one energy-absorbing element that is attached to the airbag in order to unfold it or to locally increase the support force thereof. The energy-absorbing element(s) are arranged such that at least one energy absorbing element may apply itself to an occupant, and may at least partially follow the movements of the same at least to a certain extent. The energy-absorbing element has an occupant-protective function, and/or the airbag has a funnel function relative to an occupant to be supported. The occupant is guided toward the center of the airbag during an impact by means of the funnel function, and is possibly also protected laterally by means of the side walls.

Abstract: A restraining system includes a restraining volume that is bounded by a cladding, and is deployable by expansion of the restraining volume, to restrain or protect an object or person. Deployment of the restraining volume by expanding it into a restraining position is performed by a mechanical enlarging unit, rather than by a pyrotechnic gas generator, so that the restraining system may be restored to a storage position following a deployment.

Abstract: A safety device for a motor vehicle has a gas generator, an airbag and at least one orifice through which gas flows. The state of fill of the airbag adjusts automatically to each load case by providing an orifice having a duct shape at least in a partial region. The flow resistance in this partial region adjusts automatically as a function of the velocity of the gas flow flowing through the orifice.

Abstract: The invention concerns an oil supply system for an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle having one hydrodynamic starting element. It has one oil pump (2) to convey oil to a variator (9, 10) and/or to shifting elements (12, 13), to a converter unit (19) that can be supplied with oil via two oil lines (23, 25), especially a hydrodynamic torque converter (20) having a converter lock-up clutch (21), and to a lubrication device (28), the same as at least one filter device (3, 31) and one oil cooling device (17). Here are provided one prioritized primary circuit (6) with a main pressure adjusted by a main pressure valve (3) for pressure supply of the variator (9, 10) and/or of the shifting elements (12, 13) and a secondary circuit (7) for oil supply of the lubrication device (28).

Abstract: The invention concerns an oil supply system for an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle having one hydrodynamic starting element. It has one oil pump (2) to convey oil to a variator (9, 10) and/or to shifting elements (12, 13), to a converter unit (19) that can be supplied with oil via two oil lines (23, 25), especially a hydrodynamic torque converter (20) having a converter lock-up clutch (21), and to a lubrication device (28), the same as at least one filter device (3, 31) and one oil cooling device (17). Here are provided one prioritized primary circuit (6) with a main pressure adjusted by a main pressure valve (3) for pressure supply of the variator (9, 10) and/or of the shifting elements (12, 13) and a secondary circuit (7) for oil supply of the lubrication device (28).

Abstract: In a method for controlling the multiplication for a continuously variable transmission with electrohydraulic control by means of a control loop having a linear PID controller with the specified multiplication of the variator iv_soll as command variable, the actual multiplication iv as regulating variable and the multiplication changing speed as correcting variable, the correcting variable delivered by the PID controller is limited to limiting values determined by the design for an upshift and downshift wherein said limiting values are calculated form the limits determined by construction and from the operating-point dependent limits determined by volume flow and the intersection of both admissible intervals determined by construction and by volume flow is defined as admissible multiplication changing speed range.

Abstract: A safety device for a motor vehicle includes a gas generator, an airbag which is to be filled by the gas generator in the event of an accident, an opening through which gas flows into or out of the airbag, and a mechanism operatively associated with the opening. The mechanism is configured to vary the flow resistance of the opening as a function of a pressure at a point of the safety device to increase the flow resistance of the opening as the pressure increases and to reduce the flow resistance of the opening as the pressure decreases. A method for operating a safety device for a motor vehicle includes the step of varying the flow resistance of an opening, through which gas flows into or out of an airbag of the safety device, as a function of a pressure at a point of the safety device. The method also includes the steps of increasing the flow resistance of the opening as the pressure increases and reducing the flow resistance of the opening as the pressure decreases.

Abstract: A safety device for a motor vehicle has a gas generator, an airbag and at least one orifice through which gas flows. The state of fill of the airbag adjusts automatically to each load case by providing an orifice having a duct shape at least in a partial region. The flow resistance in this partial region adjusts automatically as a function of the velocity of the gas flow flowing through the orifice.

Abstract: Within the scope of the method for including the temperature in the calculation of the definite, operating-point dependent maximum and minimum adjustment speeds in a continuously variable belt-drive transmission, the actual limiting values for the maximum possible adjustment gradient are continuously calculated in every operating state by a physical-mathematical pattern wherein the hydraulic routes of the variator, the clutches integrated in the transmission and the lubrication are modeled as laminar inserts and the route of the control unit leakage as coupled laminar and turbulent hydraulic transmission elements.

Abstract: An air bag module housing for a motor vehicle has an oblong basic housing body which is used for receiving a gas generator and an air bag and which is laterally closed by two side covers. The air bag module housing is deformed in the event of an impact of a part of the body, particularly of the head, of a vehicle occupant. In order to optimize deformation of the air bag module housing, at least one slot respectively is provided in the side covers. The slot extends essentially perpendicularly to the expected impact direction of the body part along the largest part of the respective side cover to the edge.

Abstract: A deformation element in a motor vehicle, especially for a dashboard, comprises at least one deformation body with a honeycomb cross section and encloses a cavity which is open on both sides. The wall of the cross section is closed all the way around, and is deformable to absorb energy and is subjected to an impact in the vicinity of one honeycomb side of the cross section for that purpose. The wall of the deformation body is formed from at least two partial sections connected with one another.

Abstract: A knee protection device in a motor vehicle comprises a bending-resistant load distributor plate which is arranged in the lower area of the dashboard. The device, which is made of plastic, extends in the transverse direction of the vehicle and is supported in the vehicle on at least one holder which can be bent in an energy-absorbing manner. An impact-resistant panel plate is disposed in front of this load distributor plate in the direction of the vehicle interior.

Abstract: An energy-absorbing deformation profile for a motor vehicle such as a knee protection device for an underside of a center console area has a rigid linkage profile section for fastening the deformation profile on a center console cross member. The linkage profile section is designed so that it can be deformed while absorbing energy.

Abstract: A plate- or shell-like plastic trim panel is provided with a convex structure configured such that, in the event of a horizontal compressive load running essentially in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the trim panel undergoes a controlled elastic and/or plastic deformation in the direction of the adjoining free space. This arrangement avoids risking injury to legs of a vehicle occupant resulting from uncontrolled bending or breaking of flat trim panels without such convex structure.

Abstract: A process is proposed for controlling an automatic transmission (3), in which at least one of the weighted values: selector lever activity, excess engine torque, curve radius and brake activity determines a first parameter (K1), the driving activity. Besides the first parameter (K1), a second parameter (K2) determines the selection of a shift characteristic field (31) among a plurality of shift characteristic fields. The second parameter (K2) is determined according to a driving state: city traffic (27), trailering (28) and mountain driving (29).

Abstract: A flexible support has one fixed end in a vehicle interior, and another end projecting freely into the passenger compartment on which an impact protector is fixed. In a flexing direction, the flexible support has spaced upper and lower belts, which are connected with each other by ribs to form hollow spaces. One belt extends along a straight line and the other belt is configured with protrusions and/or depressions between adjacent ribs in the direction toward the straight belt.

Abstract: An integrated heat exchange and heat storage system using thermochemical reactions which comprises a first plurality of parallel adjacent tubes containing an element for storing and yielding heat; and a second plurality of tubes parallel to said first plurality of tubes and interposed therebetween and containing a fluid heat vehicle, the first and second plurality of tubes being disposed in a receptacle whose major axis extends parallel to the axis of the tubes, the voids between the various tubes being filled with a stagnant liquid serving to facilitate heat exchange between the fluid heat vehicle and the element for storing and yielding heat.