Abstract: A commercial vehicle having a driver's cab, a chassis and a transport container. The transport container holds cargo, which is movably disposed therein. The transport container is fastened at a distance behind the driver's cab in the driving direction via impact-energy-absorbing bearings mounted on the chassis. The bearings are constructed and arranged to absorb impact energy particularly in the driving direction. The impact-energy-absorbing bearings prevent an uncontrolled impact of the transport container onto the driver's cab in the case of a collision.

Abstract: An impact absorbing outer body structure of a motor vehicle including an outer panel with a deformable impact region. For the protection of a person or object making impact on the outer-panel, the deformable impact region can be displaced outwardly toward said person or object. The outer panel is provided with at least one plastically deformable impact region which is weakened in relation to the rest of the outer panel, and a supporting shell is firmly connected to the outer panel on an inner side. The supporting shell has at least the stability of the rest of the outer panel, enclosing the impact region and forming, along with the outer panel, a closed cavity. In the event of an impact load, the plastically deformable impact region can be expanded rapidly outward by means of a high-pressure charge, such as a pyrotechnical propellant charge, to provide a deformation area to absorb the energy of the impact. The impact absorbing structure is particularly used in hoods and doors of motor vehicles.

Abstract: An ergonomically shaped exterior contour of a vehicle interior handle area, support area, or resting area is provided. The contour is formed by a flexible shaped element filled with an electro-rheologic fluid to which an electrical circuit operable from the interior is connected to reduce or increase the internal friction of the fluid to accommodate changes in shape of the contour.

Abstract: A motor vehicle impact protection arrangement protects persons and has an impact protection device which is rendered operative in a defined protection area only when the danger of an impact is signalled. An energy-absorbing material is provided so that, when a danger of an impact has not yet been signalled, the material is situated in a closed space below the impact protection area and emerges only when the danger of an impact is signalled as an energy-absorbing impact protection device in the defined impact protection area.

Abstract: The invention relates to a safety device for selectively track-guided or road-travelling vehicles, which safety device exhibits on the road side an optical indicator device switched by a control device and normally set to "stop" signalling. In order to permit a change of the vehicle from track-guided to non-track-guided operation only when the sensing rollers are fully retracted, the invention provides that both a monitoring device monitoring the assumed rest position of the sensing rollers and signal transmission device coupled therewith are provided on the vehicle side. The signal transmission device transmits a signal indirectly switching the optical indicator device temporarily to "go" only in the case of the sensing rollers occupying the rest position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a safety system on track guidance lines for optionally track-guidable or road-going vehicles with pivotable feeler rollers. To avoid accidents which may be caused by travelling on track guidance lines with feeler rollers not extended or only incompletely extended, the invention provides for there to be a switch, which can be operated by the feeler rollers, to be arranged on each of the two transverse guide barriers, approximately opposite each other on the same level as the feeler rollers of the vehicle, at the beginning of the track guidance line. These switches, if operated together, switch via a control unit an optical display device, located downstream of the switches in the direction of travel of the vehicle, and normally indicating a block signal, to "clear line".

Abstract: The invention relates to a roadway for dual-mode vehicles with a transition region from non-trackbound to trackbound traffic. On the roadway used as an entering roadway, the transverse guide bar on the driver's side, in the area of the transition region, is extended further into the area of the roadway, which can be used non-trackbound, than the oppositely located transverse guide bar, which is widened slightly funnel-like. The two transverse guide bars of the opposite roadway, which can be used for exiting, end at a mutually equal level. To create an adequately large transverse distance between the roadways in the area where the vehicles filter in, the roadway which can be used as an entering roadway runs with a slight bulge in the area of the transition region; moreover, this provides the possibility of a further adjoining roadway.

Abstract: A towing apparatus for a rail bound vehicle is described. The towing apparatus includes both a lifting device for lifting the wheel load off of a defective wheel, tire or axle and a mobile support which supports the load, normally supported by the defective wheel, during a towing operation. The lifting device occupies a minimum of space and is supported by the road surface rather than by the rail. The mobile support may be conveniently and positively engaged with a defective wheel hub under conditions wherein a minimum of maneuvering space is available.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a hydraulic power-assisted steering gear for vehicles. A servo-cylinder is controlled by means of a control valve whose control spool can be deflected, independently of the position of the driven link, by actuation of the steering wheel from a neutral position corresponding to a steady driving condition. In addition, the control position of the control spool can also be adjusted automatically by means of a return device and under the action of a displacement force in such a way that when the steering wheel is released, the wheels of the vehicle are caused to return automatically from a deflected position into the straight position. A corresponding displacement of the control spool is achieved by subjecting its end surfaces to hydraulic pressure. The control of the corresponding pressure head is controlled as a function of the deflection angle by means of a further control valve.

Abstract: A hydraulic support system has a first expandable chamber which is subjected to a constant pressure sufficient for compensating the static load. Two further chambers assigned to equally larger effective surface areas of pistons can be subjected to different pressures by means of a regulating and change-over device to cause active compression and rebound and a return to a middle position.

Abstract: An exhaust-gas offtake for a track-guided vehicle propelled by combustion-energy, the exhaust gas being led into a force-ventilated waste gas duct located above the vehicle, which is anchored to the roof of a tunnel along the route followed. The exhaust pipe of the vehicle extends vertically through the vehicle interior, up to a point above the roof, and is surrounded by a protective tube. A collecting funnel is located on the vehicle roof, which funnel overlaps the end of the exhaust pipe, possesses a transfer pipe with a boat-shaped cross-section and, pivotably mounted on suspension elements, is resiliently directed into an upwards-pointed position. This arrangement enables small horizontal and vertical movements of the vehicle body to be compensated in relation to the tunnel waste gas duct.

Abstract: An externally mechanically track-guided vehicle, especially for the public local passenger traffic, which is equipped with a vehicle axle having steerable wheels and with support arms arranged at the wheel hubs of the steerable wheels and extending forwardly in the driving direction on one side of a respective hub. Cross-guide rollers for automatically influencing the deflection angle of the steerable wheels are provided at the forward end of each support arm which are located in front of the steerable wheels, as viewed in the driving direction. The support arms are constructed as bending-rigid as possible under elimination of elasticities or yieldingnesses while the metallic cross-guide rollers are provided with a solid rubber tread.

Abstract: A vehicle adapted to be externally guided mechanically along guide tracks, especially for public local passenger service, which includes a steerable vehicle axle provided with steerable wheels and with maximally bending resistance supporting arms arranged at wheel hubs of the steerable wheels and extending unilaterally forwardly in the driving direction of the vehicle. A transverse guide arrangement is disposed at the forward ends of the supporting arms so as to provide for an automatic track-side influencing of the turning angle of the steerable wheels. A motor is fixedly mounted in a zone of a hub of a steering wheel so as to be capable of operatively acting upon the steering wheel. The motor, when an output part thereof is at a quasi-stand still, is capable of exerting a torque on the steering wheel which torque can be freely selected in its effective direction.

Abstract: A vehicle adapted to be selectively operated with or without guide rails or tracks, the vehicle including a steerable vehicle axle means having steerable wheels mounted thereon and at least one non-steerable vehicle axle having non-steerable wheels mounted thereon. The non-steerable vehicle axle is mounted so as to be pivotable in its entirety about a centrally positioned vertically extending pivot axis. Springs are provided for suspending a superstructure of the vehicle with a spring bracket fixedly mounted to an axle body of the non-steerable vehicle axle for supporting the springs at the vehicle. A ring mount segment is provided for mounting the springs at outer ends of the spring bracket so as to be horizontally movable with at least two supporting rollers, each having an axis of rotation disposed approximately toward a pivot center of the non-steerable axis, being attached to an underside of the springs.

Abstract: A vehicle adapted to be selectively operated with or without guide rails with the vehicle including a steerable vehicle axle and at least one nonsteerable vehicle axle. The nonsteerable vehicle axle is mounted so as to be entirely pivotable to a limited extent about a centrally positioned vertically extending pivot axis. At least two longitudinally extending control arms are provided for determining a transverse position of the nonsteerable vehicle axle with the longitudinally extending control arms being constructed so as to be variable in length and at least one of selectively lockable in or releasable from a predetermined length required for an exact transverse positioning of the nonsteerable vehicle axle when the vehicle is operated without guide rails. Each of the longitudinally extending control arms includes at least two doubleacting hydraulic cylinder piston units which are disposed in parallel to a bending resistant guide rod slidably received in a guide bore of a guide housing.

Abstract: A pressure medium brake system for vehicles with an electromagnetic control valve for forming a brake control pressure that increases with an increase of the energization of the coil of the electromagnetic control valve. The control valve produces a pilot control pressure which decreases with an increase of an energizing current while a modulating converter, which supplies an adjusting force that is dependent on the difference between the pilot control pressure and an essentially constant comparison pressure and that increases with an increase of the energizing current, adjusts by means of its adjusting member the brake control pressure.

Abstract: A hydraulic brake pressure control installation with a master brake cylinder actuatable by a plunger of the pedal. The plunger acts on the master brake cylinder by way of a piston rod of an adjusting cylinder which is arranged ahead of the master brake cylinder and which includes a connecting nipple on the side of the adjusting cylinder piston facing the brake pedal, with which a feed line leading to an electro-hydraulic two-stage control valve is connected. The control valve is adjusted by a control signal, and is operable to connect the feed line with either with a supply pressure line or with a pressureless return line.

Abstract: A public passenger local traffic system with vehicles capable of driving either on streets or guided mechanically transversely in drive channels with at least approximately vertically extending switch guide surfaces being provided within an area of drive channel bifurcations or mergers, which are arranged substantially parallel to the respective outer continuous channel side and point away from the drive channel. The switch guide surfaces serve to guide the vehicles on both sides by means of switch guide rollers which are mounted laterally at the vehicle and having a substantially vertical axis. The switch guide rollers each have an at least approximately vertical roll-off surface in the operating position which cooperates with the switch guide surfaces. The switch guide rollers are supported on switch guide levers whose pivot axes are arranged at least approximately at the same height as the center of the switch guide surface.

Abstract: An installation for the servo-assist of actuating devices in motor vehicles, especially of a hydraulic brake system, in which a control member, such as the brake pedal, acts on an actuating device, such as a master cylinder of a two-circuit brake system by way of a servo-member; a hydraulically actuatable servo-unit is thereby arranged between the control member and the actuating device whose first part is supported at the control member and whose second part is connected with the actuating device; the actuation of the servo-unit is controllable from a hydraulic pressure medium source in the manner of a follower control by means of a control device connected with the control member.