Abstract: A vehicle ventilating/cooling system may include at least one sun-load sensor arranged within the vehicle, and a controller configured to receive a sun-load signal indicating a sun-load level from the sensor and programmed to instruct at least one cooling component to conduct a purge of vehicle cabin air in response to the sun-load level exceeding a sun-load threshold.

Abstract: A vehicle ventilating/cooling system may include at least one sun-load sensor arranged within the vehicle, and a controller configured to receive a sun-load signal indicating a sun-load level from the sensor and programmed to instruct at least one cooling component to conduct a purge of vehicle cabin air in response to the sun-load level exceeding a sun-load threshold.

Abstract: A method of controlling power to a vehicle accessory gradually shuts down power to the vehicle accessory and gradually restores power to the vehicle accessory. After a request for an auto-shutdown of an internal combustion engine of a vehicle is detected, power to the vehicle accessory is reduced on a predetermined schedule responsive to such detection. The occurrence of a restart of the internal combustion engine of a vehicle is determined, and power supplied to the vehicle accessory is increased on a predetermined schedule responsive to the restart.

Abstract: A method of controlling power to a vehicle accessory gradually shuts down power to the vehicle accessory and gradually restores power to the vehicle accessory. After a request for an auto-shutdown of an internal combustion engine of a vehicle is detected, power to the vehicle accessory is reduced on a predetermined schedule responsive to such detection. The occurrence of a restart of the internal combustion engine of a vehicle is determined, and power supplied to the vehicle accessory is increased on a predetermined schedule responsive to the restart.

Abstract: A method for controlling a stop/start vehicle includes commanding an engine auto start in response to a calibratable time interval elapsing after receiving an electric defroster activation request when the engine is auto stopped. The method may further include activating a defroster after the engine has been auto started. The method may additionally include activating a defroster indicator when the electric defroster activation is received. The method may further include inhibiting an engine auto stop in response to an electric defroster activation request when the engine is running and further in response to a battery charge being insufficient to support a predicted current draw, and signaling an alert to a vehicle driver.

Abstract: A method for controlling a stop/start vehicle includes commanding an engine auto start in response to a calibratable time interval elapsing after receiving an electric defroster activation request when the engine is auto stopped. The method may further include activating a defroster after the engine has been auto started. The method may additionally include activating a defroster indicator when the electric defroster activation is received. The method may further include inhibiting an engine auto stop in response to an electric defroster activation request when the engine is running and further in response to a battery charge being insufficient to support a predicted current draw, and signaling an alert to a vehicle driver.

Abstract: For manufacturing micro-structured reactors with passageways loaded with catalyst using the pre-coat method, a method is provided which comprises the following method steps: a) producing reactor layers having bonding areas as well as passageway areas in which the passageways are formed, b) applying at least one bonding layer onto the reactor layers in the bonding areas, c) loading the reactor layers in the passageway areas with the catalyst and d) bonding the reactor layers, the bonding layer being applied and masked before the reactor layers are loaded with the catalyst. As a result, it is ensured that the efficiency of the catalyst will not be affected during manufacturing. The reactor may be used as a methane and methanol reformer in particular.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for purifying 1,4-butynediol, which comprises compressing 1,4-butynediol to from 50 to 1500 bar, depressurizing it, waiting for phase separation to occur after depressurization and separating off the bottom phase, and a process for the hydrogenation of 1,4-butynediol to 1,4-butenediol and 1,4-butanediol using the purified 1,4-butynediol.

Abstract: For manufacturing micro-structured reactors with passageways loaded with catalyst using the pre-coat method, a method is provided which comprises the following method steps: a) producing reactor layers having bonding areas as well as passageway areas in which the passageways are formed, b) applying at least one bonding layer onto the reactor layers in the bonding areas, c) loading the reactor layers in the passageway areas with the catalyst and d) bonding the reactor layers, the bonding layer being applied and masked before the reactor layers are loaded with the catalyst. As a result, it is ensured that the efficiency of the catalyst will not be affected during manufacturing. The reactor may be used as a methane and methanol reformer in particular.

Abstract: To form high performance bonding connections suitable for producing micro-structured components made of a plurality of individual layers, bonding by the steps; providing at least two work pieces; forming a metal bonding layer on at least one side of at least one of said at least two work pieces by chemical or electrolytic metal plating method; the metal bonding layer being a nickel/phosphorous alloy having a prescribed phosphorous content and prescribed thickness; forming a bonding arrangement comprising said work pieces so that there is at least one metal bonding layer between said at least two respective work pieces; heating at a prescribed heating rate to a temperature above the melting temperature of the bonding layer; bonding the two work pieces by applying contact pressure within a prescribed range; and cooling at a prescribed rate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for making 1,4-butanediol, 1,4-butenediol, or a mixture thereof by processing 1,4-butynediol in a dynamic mixing apparatus in an inert gas atmosphere at from 25 to 150° C. at a shear rate in the radial gap between rotor and stator of the mixing apparatus of more than 100 000 sec?1; phase separating the processed 1,4-butynediol at a temperature of from 25 to 150° C.; removing a bottom phase to obtain purified 1,4-butynediol; and reacting the purified 1,4-butynediol with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for purifying 1,4-butynediol, which comprises compressing 1,4-butynediol to from 50 to 1500 bar, depressurizing it, waiting for phase separation to occur after depressurization and separating off the bottom phase, and a process for the hydrogenation of 1,4-butynediol to 1,4-butenediol and 1,4-butanediol using the purified 1,4-butynediol.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for purifying 1,4-butynediol, which comprises processing 1,4-butynediol in a dynamic mixing apparatus in an inert gas atmosphere at from 25 to 150° C. at a shear rate in the radial gap between rotor and stator of the mixing apparatus of more than 100 000 sec?1, awaiting phase separation at temperatures of from 25 to 150° C. and separating off the bottom phase, and a process for the hydrogenation of 1,4-butynediol to 1,4-butenediol and 1,4-butanediol using the purified 1,4-butynediol.

Abstract: A method for adapting a vehicle climate control system to a user comfort preference includes performing an adjustment strategy in response to assertion of at least one user-generated signal at less than a predetermined level and during less than a predetermined time interval and performing at least one adaptive strategy in response to assertion of the user-generated signal at greater than the predetermined level during the predetermined time interval.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus 12 for quickly heating a portion of a vehicle 10, such as a windshield 22 or backwindow 20. Particularly, apparatus 12 includes several conductors 40 which are coupled to electrical ground potential 42 and which have opposed ends 44, 46 which are alternatingly coupled to a source of energy 26, thereby allowing the portion of the vehicle 10 to be quickly heated.

Abstract: A long-timber chipping machine has a timber feed channel for receiving longitudinally arranged timbers, advanced using a timber-advancing device to a vertically movable chipping device positioned at the downstream end of the feed channel. The chipping device has a rotatable cutter ring equipped with chipping cutters on its cylindrical inner wall, which defines a chipping chamber. The chamber is aligned with the downstream end of the feed channel. To improve the chipping, a curved timber-receiving plate projects into the chipping chamber from the downstream end of the feed channel, which also has a matching curved base. The curvature of the plate and the base match the curvature of upper cylindrical inner wall of the cutter ring so that the upper cylindrical inner wall can be lowered closely to the plate, leaving only a very small clearance and exposing all of the timbers to the chipping cutters.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and to a device for producing a coherent web from long slivers which are produced by breaking-up the raw material fed and are then compacted to give a web which is subsequently glued and then pressed together with other webs to give blocks or the like. The raw material used is sticks or slabs which are split parallel to the fibers by vertically oscillating cutting motions, to give long slivers which are then compacted by ramming to give a web.

Abstract: A device for feeding an electrically conductive coating material from a supply system to a coating material dispensing device wherein a high electrostatic potential is maintained between the supply system and the device, comprising an intermediate storage container fillable in controlled manner from the supply system to a maximum fill level and connected to the coating material dispensing device by a coating material conduit maintained at substantially the electrostatic potential of the coating material dispensing device, a device provided in the intermediate storage container for breaking up the supply of coating material into the intermediate storage container into electrically separated individual particles, and means for coupling the breakup device to a source of coating material, the breakup device being arranged above the fill level such that, between the breakup device and the interior of the intermediate storage container, a minimum spacing is maintained so that no electrostatic discharge occurs.