Abstract: A bicycle rack for arrangement on the rear end of a motor vehicle in an extendible fashion is provided. The bicycle rack includes a carrying frame, a slide-in element that is displaceably arranged in the carrying frame, and a carrier element that is pivotably arranged on the side-in element.

Abstract: A wind deflector for an overflowable opening in a wall element of a motor vehicle, which can be moved from a basic position exposed at least nearly to no flow into an operating position exposed to a flow, is provided. The wind deflector includes a movable first clamping arm that protrudes over the wall element in the operating position exposed to a flow, and a movable second clamping arm. The wind deflector includes an extensive wind deflecting means arranged between the first clamping arm and second clamping arm, wherein the second clamping arm and/or the wind deflecting means at least nearly abuts against an edge of the overflowable opening in the operating position.

Abstract: A method for informing a motor vehicle driver of a driving maneuver planned by a driver assistance system of a motor vehicle and carried out by the motor vehicle, a driver assistance system for a motor vehicle that utilizes the method, and a motor vehicle with the driver's assistance system are provided. The method includes detecting current environmental data of the environment lying ahead of the motor vehicle by a detection means, planning and carrying out the driving maneuver on the basis of the environmental data, and reproducing the driving maneuver and at least a portion of the detected environmental data in an image on a display.

Abstract: Methods and systems for depowering an automotive battery in a controlled manner. The methods comprise (i) providing a depowering medium comprising one or more non-ionic electric conductors (for example, a carbon conductor) dispersed in a substantially non-ionic aqueous medium; (ii) contacting terminals of the battery with the depowering medium; and (iii) maintaining contact between the depowering medium and terminals for a period of time sufficient to depower the battery. The systems comprise (i) the depowering medium; and (ii) a container configured to receive a battery and the depowering medium such that the battery body is contacted with the depowering medium prior to the terminals.

Abstract: A motor vehicle body having body components that are movable against each other between an open and a closed position, is provided. The motor vehicle body includes a first body component with an elongated corner bounded by a first and a second leg, and a seal. The seal includes a basic section fastened to the first leg of the first body component and a main sealing section that is elastically compressed in the closed position in contact with a second one of the body components A first sealing contact zone is formed between the basic section and the first leg, a second sealing contact zone by a rib projecting from the basic section spaced from the first sealing contact zone and bridging a gap between the basic section and the second leg.

Abstract: A clocked retaining assembly for use in an automotive powertrain is provided. The clocked retaining assembly includes an inner component and an outer component. The inner component has an outer side having a plurality of inner spline teeth separated by a plurality of inner grooves formed in the outer side. The outer component has an inner side having a plurality of outer spline teeth separated by a plurality of outer grooves formed in the inner side. The outer component forms a continuous inner circumferential slot through the outer spline teeth around the inner circumference of the inner side. The inner spline teeth are disposed in the inner circumferential slot. A pin extension is disposed in an inner groove an outer groove. The pin extension prevents the inner component from rotating with respect to the outer component. A method for retaining the inner and outer components is also provided.

Abstract: An axial body for a windshield wiper device of a motor vehicle is provided. The axial body can include a pivot bearing receptacle, in which a wiper axis can be pivoted. In addition, the axial body can include a slide bearing guide, along which the axial body as a whole can be shifted when the axial body is exposed to a defined force.

Abstract: Switches of a matrix converter are protected from potentially damaging charge-pump voltage build-up during a transition (dead) time by pulsing On (temporarily closing) any “at risk” switch during the transition (dead) time. The temporary closing of the “at risk” switch discharges any voltage build-up across a parallel coupled capacitor, which protects the at risk switch from damage or failure.

Abstract: A towing device for motor vehicles is provided. The towing device includes a connecting unit for mechanically connecting a first vehicle to a second vehicle, and a data link between the first vehicle and the second vehicle. Control devices of the second vehicle can be accessed from the first vehicle via the data link.

Abstract: A welding electrode for resistance spot welding includes a weld face comprising rings of ridges that project outwardly from a base surface of the weld face. The rings of ridges are positioned on the weld face to contact and impress into a sheet metal workpiece surface during resistance spot welding. If the welding electrode is used during resistance spot welding of light metal alloy workpieces, such as those of aluminum alloy or magnesium alloy, the rings of ridges on the weld face can contribute to improved welding performance.

Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatus are provided for generating voltage commands used to control operation of a permanent magnet machine. For example, a control system is provided that generates voltage command signals for controlling a permanent magnet machine during a transition from an initial operating condition to a final operating condition. The control system includes a processor configured to execute software instructions, and a memory configured to store software instructions accessible by the processor. The software instructions comprise a voltage command generator module. Based on an electrical angular frequency of the permanent magnet machine, and synchronous reference frame current signals, the voltage command generator module is configured to generate ramped voltage command signals that each change linearly in accordance with a slope during a transition period that is set to a rise time.

Abstract: A motor vehicle body having at least one side member located on the front side in front of a front wall is provided. The motor vehicle body having a first reinforcing element adjoining thereon in longitudinal direction, which, following the contour of a wheel housing panel, protrudes in vehicle transverse direction to the outside and which supports itself on a floor structure via second reinforcing element, which is arranged spaced from a lateral front wall portion adjoining the wheel housing panel.

Abstract: Useful permanent magnet materials are formed by processing molten alloys of cerium, iron, and boron to form permanent magnet compositions with appreciable coercivity and remanence. For example, Ce16.7Fe77.8B5.6 has been produced with coercivity, Hci of 6.18 kOe and remanence, Br of 4.92 kG. In a preferred practice, streams of the molten alloy are rapidly quenched (e.g., by melt spinning) to form magnetically-soft melt-spun material which is suitably annealed to obtain permanent magnet properties. Cobalt may be substituted for a portion of the iron content to increase the Curie temperature of the permanent magnet material. The rapid quench-anneal process is conducted to produce a fine-grain crystalline microstructure containing the Ce2(Fe,Co)14B phase in an amount of about seventy to ninety-five mass percent of the composition with a suitable amount of one or more secondary phases.

Abstract: A modular battery pack and method of making a battery pack. The modular structure includes an open box with an interlocking features to allow for flexibility in assembly of numerous battery pack configurations. The design is such that numerous sub-module assemblies are formed that can be fastened, connected or otherwise secured to a tray, frame or other underlying primary support structure. Aligned stacks of individual battery cells can be placed within the volume defined within the box-like structure so that portions of the box-like structure move in response to a spring-like force imparted by the stack of battery cells. Adapter plates facilitate the modular construction by an interlocking connection between the box-like structure and the underlying support structure.

Abstract: A gear selection device for a motor vehicle is provided. The gear selection device includes a logic unit which is equipped in order to determine a gear to be engaged in a transmission of the motor vehicle by means of at least one variable connected to the load of an engine of the motor vehicle, and an ambient area sensor. The gear selection device is equipped in order to take into account information supplied by the ambient area sensor relating to the road located in front of the vehicle with the outputting of a selection signal specifying a newly determined gear.

Abstract: A method for filling a fuel cell system with a fuel during start-up is disclosed, the method including the steps of providing a fuel cell stack having a plurality of fuels cells, each fuel cell having an active area, the fuel cell stack including an anode supply manifold and an anode exhaust manifold, the anode supply manifold and in fluid communication with a source of fuel; providing an anode sub-system in fluid communication with an anode side of the fuel cell stack; and supplying the fuel to the fuel cell stack substantially uniformly and substantially simultaneously to compress any fluids in the fuel cell stack into a volume between an end of each active area adjacent to the anode exhaust manifold and an outlet of the anode sub-system.

Abstract: An instrument cluster for a motor vehicle is provided. The instrument cluster includes at least one display instrument with an annular segment-like display scale and a needle. Here, the display instrument comprises devices for the mechanical fixing and for the electrical contacting of at least one add-on instrument, which can be releasably attached within the display scale. The present disclosure makes possible the simple upgrading of a motor vehicle with additional add-on instruments. Further embodiments provide that an add-on instrument can also be used as a vehicle key.

Abstract: A method for operating a fault diagnosis system of a vehicle is provided. The vehicle includes a plurality of electronic components and a plurality of vehicle systems. At least one of the plurality of vehicle systems can be operated by means of at least two of the plurality of electronic components. The method includes determining if at least one of the plurality of electronic components comprises a fault condition, and if it is determined that at least one of the plurality of electronic components comprises a fault condition, a determining as to which of the vehicle systems that is operable by means of the electronic component comprising the fault condition, has caused the fault condition. In addition, a determining of an identification code that is assigned to the vehicle system causing the fault condition, takes place. Furthermore, a storing of a fault entry that includes the identification code takes place.

Abstract: A side paneling system for a pillar of a motor vehicle is provided. The system includes a side paneling part for covering the pillar and an airbag arranged between the side paneling part and the pillar, at least one connecting element for releasably connecting the side paneling part to the pillar so that with an airbag (10) activating itself the side paneling part can move away from the pillar with the airbag, a catch band that is indirectly or directly connected to the side paneling part, so that the side paneling part is indirectly or directly fastened to the pillar with the catch band even with an activated airbag and the released connecting element. The side paneling part is in two parts with a first part and a second part, so that only the second part can move away from the pillar with the airbag.

Abstract: A method for operating a driver assistance system of a vehicle combination is provided. The vehicle combination includes a tractor vehicle and at least one trailer, and the driver assistance system is designed to automatically actuate at least one element of the vehicle combination. The method comprises the following: At least a first parameter characterizing a potentially unstable driving condition of the trailer is detected. A determination is made as to whether an unstable driving condition of the trailer is imminent. If it is determined that an unstable driving condition of the trailer is imminent, a calculation is made of a position of the trailer and the at least one element is automatically actuated at a point in time when the trailer is positioned in the longitudinal direction of the tractor vehicle and directly in line behind the tractor vehicle.