Abstract: The present invention relates to control of a fan during which the power of the fan is determined from the characteristic curves of the fan motor, the operating parameters of the cooling system and the reference variables which are predefined in the form of temperature levels. The various temperature levels which are to be set have different associated characteristic curves for actuating the fan motor. If the reference variable for the control changes, this also means a change in the characteristic curves for actuating the fan motor. In order to prevent the fan motor from whining, the operation of the fan motor is kept constant for a settable minimum waiting time when the reference variable for the control of the fan changes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for actuating the valves in the three-way thermostat and in the heating cut-off valve of a cooling system. The valve setting in the cooling system is in this case selected such that during the warm-up phase of the engine, until the latter has reached its operating temperature, the coolant in the cooling ducts is brought to rest until the coolant temperature exceeds a predefined reference value.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cooling system with pulse-width triggering for the operating elements on the valves of the thermostat being subjected to closed-loop control in an adaptive manner. The aim is to reach the required temperature level in the coolant circuit as quickly as possible initially by predetermined and stored basic adaptation, taking into account the current ambient temperature. Depending on the load state and ambient conditions, three different temperature levels are provided as desired variables for setting the coolant temperature. Once the currently required coolant temperature is reached for the first time after starting, closed-loop control is changed over to fine adaptation. The coolant temperature which is currently to be set is kept as constant as possible by fine adaptation as a function of the desired temperature and the external temperature.

Abstract: The invention mainly relates to a control algorithm which makes it possible to take into account the ambient temperature in the closed-loop control of the coolant temperature to three different temperature levels. The control algorithm is embodied here as a software program and is implemented in a logic element of the engine electronics. In order to avoid oscillations and as a result of excessively frequent changing of the closed-loop setting, the control algorithm has a hold function with which the closed-loop settings are retained for a minimum time period. New closed-loop control parameters cannot be set again until after the minimum time period has expired.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fan run-on control which takes into account the energy input into the combustion engine in order to calculate the required run-on time of the fan. If the characteristics of the fan are known it is possible to calculate the required fan run-on time from the integral of the energy input into the combustion engine before the combustion engine was switched off, and the current operating data and ambient data of the combustion engine. Furthermore, by comparing the energy input into the combustion engine with the cooling performance of the cooling system over a specific period of time before the engine was switched off, it is possible to predict whether or not running-on of the fan will be necessary. There is always a risk of further subsequent heating whenever the energy input into the engine has been significantly greater than the cooling performance of the system before the engine was switched off.

Abstract: A power supply system for starter devices has an energy storage unit, a starter device supplyable with electrical energy from the energy storage unit, a power supply line which carries the electrical energy from the energy storage unit to said starter device, a disconnection switch between the energy storage device and the starter device, the disconnection switch being located reversibly and directly on the energy storage unit.

Abstract: An electric motor, in particular a starter device for internal combustion engines in which a current-limiting electric resistor (57) with a negative temperature coefficient is connected at the beginning of the main current path (49) of an electromagnetically excitable rotor (53) of the electric motor (16). The electric resistor (57) contains at least one monocrystalline semiconductor.

Abstract: A relay, in particular for a starter for an internal combustion engine for use in a motor vehicle. The relay has a self-resilient contact bridge, which for a reversible change in shape effected by the contact pressure, in particular widening, is embodied in curved form.

Abstract: An inertia-drive starter is proposed, in the case of which a relay is not required to engage the pinion in the flywheel ring gear (47) of an internal combustion engine. With this starter, a pushing-forward of the driven shaft (33) to engage a pinion (45) in the flywheel ring gear (47) is brought about by means of a pole tube (9) located on the stator (5) of the starter motor (5, 7), which said pole tube executes a turning motion around the motor axis when the starter motor (5, 7) is energized. Means (55, 63, 77, 79) are provided that convert the turning motion of the pole tube (9) directly into an axial motion acting on the driven shaft (33).

Abstract: For measuring the injection quantity (Vm) of injection systems (18), in particular in internal combustion engines, test fluid (22) is injected by the injection system (18) into a measurement chamber (12). To increase the precision and stability of the measurement, the volume of the measurement chamber (12) is kept constant during the injection. Moreover, a gas volume (Vg) is present in the measurement chamber (12). The injected volume (Vm) of test fluid (22) is ascertained from the pressure change (dP) in the measurement chamber (12) that occurs upon an injection of test fluid (22). The ascertainment of the injected volume (Vm) is done by means of the state equation for ideal gases.

Abstract: A starter device for internal combustion engines is proposed that comprises a drive mechanism (16) and a gearing (22) having a variable gear ratio, which said gearing is situated after the drive mechanism (16). The starter device (10) is characterized by the fact that the gear ratio of the gearing (22) is infinitely variable.

Abstract: A device is used for measuring the injection quantity of injection nozzles. It includes a measuring chamber to which the injection nozzle can be coupled. In addition, a detection device is provided, which detects a state change of the testing fluid in the measuring chamber due to an injection by the injection nozzle. In order to be able to measure the injection quantity without wear and in a highly precise manner, the invention provides that the detection device has a capacitor, whose one electrode is comprised of an electrically conductive fluid, which is at least partially contained in a volume connected to the measuring chamber. The processing unit is connected to the capacitor in such a way that it can detect a change in its capacitance, which is produced by a movement of the electrically conductive fluid.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cooling system in which the fan output is determined by an output control from the characteristic curves of the fan motor, the operating parameters of the cooling system and the reference input variables predetermined in the form of temperature levels. Different characteristic curves for the activation of the fan motor are here assigned to the different set temperature levels. If the reference input variable for the control changes, this also results in a change of the characteristic curves for activation of the fan motor. In order to prevent the fan motor starting to howl, in the event of a change in the reference input variable for the fan control the operation of the fan motor is kept constant for an adjustable minimum waiting time.

Abstract: The present invention relates to control of a fan during which the power of the fan is determined from the characteristic curves of the fan motor, the operating parameters of the cooling system and the reference variables which are predefined in the form of temperature levels. The various temperature levels which are to be set have different associated characteristic curves for actuating the fan motor. If the reference variable for the control changes, this also means a change in the characteristic curves for actuating the fan motor. In order to prevent the fan motor from whining, the operation of the fan motor is kept constant for a settable minimum waiting time when the reference variable for the control of the fan changes.

Abstract: A starter device for starting internal combustion engines having a starter motor (20) that comprises a stator (22) and a rotor (23) as well as a drive shaft (58) as starter components (21), further having a driven element (70) that can actively be connected to the drive shaft (58) and the internal combustion engine, and having a brake device (100) that acts on the driven element (70) is proposed. The starter device is characterized in that the brake device (100) can be actuated by means of at least one starter component (21) by switching on the starter motor (20).

Abstract: An inertia-drive starter is proposed, in the case of which a relay is not required to engage the pinion in the flywheel ring gear (47) of an internal combustion engine. With this starter, a pushing-forward of the driven shaft (33) to engage a pinion (45) in the flywheel ring gear (47) is brought about by means of a pole tube (9) located on the stator (5) of the starter motor (5, 7), which said pole tube executes a turning motion around the motor axis when the starter motor (5, 7) is energized. Means (55, 63, 77, 79) are provided that convert the turning motion of the pole tube (9) directly into an axial motion acting on the driven shaft (33).

Abstract: A method for determining the instantaneous fluid level of a tank includes the steps of: designating a beginning fluid-level of the tank as an input value during the starting of the engine; ascertaining a first fluid-level value from a fluid level measured by a fluid-level measuring device, and ascertaining a second fluid-level value and a window around the second fluid-level value from the consumption of the engine and from the input value; comparing the first fluid-level value to the window around the second fluid-level value; determining whether the first or the second fluid-level value should be a new input value; displaying the new input value as the fluid level; and terminating the method if the engine is switched off or repeating the method starting from the ascertaining step when the engine is running.

Abstract: For measuring the injection quantity (Vm) of injection systems (18), in particular in internal combustion engines, test fluid (22) is injected by the injection system (18) into a measurement chamber (12). To increase the precision and stability of the measurement, the volume of the measurement chamber (12) is kept constant during the injection. Moreover, a gas volume (Vg) is present in the measurement chamber (12). The injected volume (Vm) of test fluid (22) is ascertained from the pressure change (dP) in the measurement chamber (12) that occurs upon an injection of test fluid (22). The ascertainment of the injected volume (Vm) is done by means of the state equation for ideal gases. (FIG.

Abstract: A device (20) is used for measuring the injection quantity of injection nozzles (30). It includes a measuring chamber (22) to which the injection nozzle (30) can be coupled. In addition, a detection device is provided, which detects a state change of the testing fluid (60) in the measuring chamber (22) due to an injection by the injection nozzle (30). In order to be able to measure the injection quantity without wear and in a highly precise manner, the invention provides that the detection device has a capacitor, whose one electrode is comprised of an electrically conductive fluid (62), which is at least partially contained in a volume connected to the measuring chamber (22). The processing unit (58) is connected to the capacitor in such a way that it can detect a change in its capacitance, which is produced by a movement of the electrically conductive fluid (62).

Abstract: A starter device for starting internal combustion engines having a starter motor (20) that comprises a stator (22) and a rotor (23) as well as a drive shaft (58) as starter components (21), further having a driven element (70) that can actively be connected to the drive shaft (58) and the internal combustion engine, and having a brake device (100) that acts on the driven element (70) is proposed. The starter device is characterized in that the brake device (100) can be actuated by means of at least one starter component (21) by switching on the starter motor (20).