Abstract: The invention is an actuating drive for deflecting an actuating element using a solid body actuator (2) when an electrical voltage or an alternating magnetic field is applied, to cause a change in length. A housing (1) encloses the solid body actuator to define an interspace (13) in a fluid-tight manner. Furthermore, the solid body actuator includes a hollow duct (6) having one end connected to a first hollow conduit (20) passing through the housing and the other end opening into the interspace (13). The interspace is additionally connected in a fluid-tight manner to a second hollow conduit (21) passing through the housing.

Abstract: The invention relates to a test system for dynamically and/or cyclically load testing a material sample, a component, or an assembly, hereinafter referred to as sample. The test system is provided with a test frame, to which a bearing and a counter bearing are attached. At least one actuator comprising a multifunctional solid state transducer material system is connected to the counter bearing, directly or indirectly, to which, also directly or indirectly, a fastener provides firm fixation of the sample. Likewise, on the bearing side, a fastener firm fixation of the sample such that the at least one actuator is able to introduce dynamic and/or cyclical mechanical loads into the sample, which act along a load path extending lengthwise between the bearing and the counter bearing and through the sample.

Abstract: An activation unit is disclosed having at least one actuator having a variable length disposed around at least one first axis. The activation unit operatively interacts with an activation element mounted so that it can be bi-directionally deflected along a second axis. The front side of the actuator is indirectly or directly engaged with a first piston, which can be deflected along the first axis in a mechanically positively driven manner. The first piston has a front side facing away from the actuator which axially borders at least regions of a transfer medium on one side. The transfer medium is radially surrounded relative to a first axis by a housing radially to the first axis, and axially borders at least regionally a front side of at least one second piston. The at least second piston can be deflected in a mechanically positively driven manner, and engages the activation element directly or indirectly.

Abstract: The invention ris an actuating drive for deflecting an actuating element by a solid body actuator (2) which, when an electrical voltage or an alternating magnetic field is applied, experiences a length change. A housing (1) encloses the solid body actuator to define an interspace (13) in a fluid-tight manner. Furthermore, the solid body actuator includes a hollow duct (6) having one end connected to a first hollow conduit (20) passing through the housing and the other end opening into the interspace. The interspace is additionally connected in a fluid-tight manner to a second hollow conduit (21) passing through the housing.

Abstract: The invention relates to a test system for dynamically and/or cyclically load testing a material sample, a component, or an assembly, hereinafter referred to as sample. The test system is provided with a test frame, to which a bearing and a counter bearing are attached. At least one actuator comprising a multifunctional solid state transducer material system is connected to the counter bearing, directly or indirectly, to which, also directly or indirectly, a fastener provides firm fixation of the sample. Likewise, on the bearing side, a fastener firm fixation of the sample such that the at least one actuator is able to introduce dynamic and/or cyclical mechanical loads into the sample, which act along a load path extending lengthwise between the bearing and the counter bearing and through the sample.

Abstract: An activation unit is disclosed having at least one actuator having a variable length disposed around at least one first axis. The activation unit operatively interacts with an activation element mounted so that it can be bi-directionally deflected along a second axis. The front side of the actuator is indirectly or directly engaged with a first piston, which can be deflected along the first axis in a mechanically positively driven manner. The first piston has a front side facing away from the actuator which axially borders at least regions of a transfer medium on one side. The transfer medium is radially surrounded relative to a first axis by a housing radially to the first axis, and axially borders at least regionally a front side of at least one second piston. The at least second piston can be deflected in a mechanically positively driven manner, and engages the activation element directly or indirectly.

Abstract: The invention relates to an interface for controlling (for example damping) mechanical vibrations for the automotive industry. The inventive interface comprises a base connection element, a load connection element and at least one energy converting system extending between the base connection element and the load connection element. The different energy converters of the one energy converting systems have a common preferential direction and are exposed to a preload action produced by a pretensioning element. The inventive interface also comprises a pushing force deviating element mounted between the base connection element and the load connection element which is provided with a membrane or a leaf spring disposed preferably in a perpendicular direction with respect to the preferential direction of the energy converting system. The inventive pushing force deviating element protects the energy converting systems against mechanical damage caused by an external pushing action.

Abstract: The invention is a device and a method for eliminating vibrations of a mechanical structure with at least one electromechanical converter material that is actively connected to the mechanical structure and connected to an electrical circuit with at least one electrical impedance. The electrical circuit is connected to an interface, via which the at least one electrical impedance can be variably adjusted by wireless or wired communications with a control unit that is separated from the electrical circuit in which the electrical impedance features at least one variable ohmic resistor, inductive resistor or capacitor.

Abstract: The invention is an apparatus and a method for carrying out a vibroacoustic inspection of a motor vehicle that features at least a front and a rear axle, with a test stand that is directly or indirectly connected to at least one of the two axles by means of a force flow and relative to which the motor vehicle is tied, wherein at least one vibration generator of a first type is provided along the force flow in order to generate vibrations below 50 Hz. The invention includes at least one second vibration generator of a second type, which is provided along the at least one force flow or parallel to the force flow, for generating vibrations above 30 Hz, preferably above 100 Hz, and the at least one second vibration generator is operatively connected to the motor vehicle.

Abstract: A belt brake is described for a safety belt for protecting occupants in a vehicle, which belt can be wound onto and unwound from a belt drum mounted rotationally about a belt shaft. A method for locking a safety belt is also described. The invention comprises at least one displaceable braking element for displacement along the belt shaft which is rotationally fixed to the belt shaft and is located between a first and a second thrust bearing. A first thrust bearing is forcibly guided along the belt shaft, thereby enabling the first thrust bearing to be transferred from a first position, in which the safety belt is wound on the belt drum with an axial distance a1 between the at least one braking element and the first thrust bearing, and to a second position, in which the safety belt is at least partially unwound from the belt drum with an axial distance a2 between the at least one braking element and the at least one thrust bearing where a2<11.

Abstract: The invention is a device for dynamically load testing a sample that comprises a bearing, to which the sample can be directly or indirectly connected in a detachable manner, as well as a counter-bearing that can be effectively connected to the sample by means of at least one actuator element. The at least one actuator element introduces dynamic mechanical loads into the sample which Act along a load path that is directed between the bearing and the counter-bearing and extends through the sample. The at least one actuator element features a multifunctional solid body conversion material system that undergoes deformations due to the supply of energy, and wherein the deformations are at least one cause for the mechanical loads occurring within the sample. The device according to the invention uses at least one actuator element that may be configured in two alternative forms.

Abstract: Interfaces for damping mechanical vibrations are used, for example, for damping vibrations in the automotive or aerospace industry. The interfaces have a base connection element, a load connection element and a support element, with the support element being connected to the base connection element via a pretensioning device. A first energy converter system extends between engagement points on the base connection element and engagement points on the load connection element. A second energy converter system extends between engagement points on the support element and engagement points on the load connection element.

Abstract: A method and a device are described for influencing the mechanical load-bearing capability and/or loading of a technical structure. The method of the comprises: detecting at least one loading-correlated characteristic of the structure; determining a loading state of the structure on the basis of the at least one detected characteristic; assessing the loading state of the structure; and generating at least one signal on the basis of the assessment of the loading state and on the basis of at least one target function, which is designed at least to optimize the lifetime of the structure, which signal is sent to at least one actuator, which is integrated within the structure or is applied to the structure, to activate said actuator for influencing the loading state.

Abstract: Interfaces for damping mechanical vibrations are used, for example, for damping vibrations in the automotive or aerospace industry. The interfaces have a base connection element (10), a load connection element (28) and a support element (14), with the support element (14) being connected to the base connection element (10) via a pretensioning device (12). A first energy converter system (16, 18) extends between engagement points (20, 22) on the base connection element (10) and engagement points (24, 26) on the load connection element (28). A second energy converter system (30, 32) extends between engagement points (34, 36) on the support element (14) and engagement points (38, 40) on the load connection element (28).

Abstract: The invention describes a device as well as a method for eliminating vibrations of a mechanical structure with at least one electromechanical converter material that is actively connected to the mechanical structure and connected to an electric circuit arrangement with at least one electrical impedance. The invention is characterized in that the electric circuit is connected to an interface, via which the at least one electrical impedance can be variably adjusted by means of wireless or wired communication with a control unit that is separated from the electronic circuit arrangement, and in that the electrical impedance features at least one ohmic resistor and/or one inductive resistor and/or one capacitor that are respectively realized variably.

Abstract: A method and a device are described for influencing the mechanical load-bearing capability and/or loading of a technical structure. The invention is characterised by the following method steps: detecting at least one loading-correlated characteristic of the structure, determining a loading state of the structure on the basis of the at least one detected characteristic, assessing the loading state of the structure, and generating at least one signal on the basis of the assessment of the loading state and on the basis of at least one target function, which is designed at least to optimise the lifetime of the structure, which signal is sent to at least one actuator, which is integrated within the structure or is applied to the structure, to activate said actuator for influencing the loading state.

Abstract: The invention is an apparatus and a method for carrying out a vibroacoustic inspection of a motor vehicle that features at least a front and a rear axle, with a test stand that is directly or indirectly connected to at least one of the two axles by means of a force flow and relative to which the motor vehicle is tied, wherein at least one vibration generator of a first type is provided along said force flow in order to generate vibrations below 50 Hz. The invention includes at least one second vibration generator of a second type, which provided along the at least one force flow or parallel to the force flow, for generating vibrations above 30 Hz, preferably above 100 Hz, and the at least one second vibration generator is operatively connected to the motor vehicle.

Abstract: The invention describes a device for dynamically load testing a sample that comprises a bearing, to which the sample can be directly or indirectly connected in a detachable manner, as well as a counter-bearing that can be effectively connected to the sample by means of at least one actuator element such that the at least one actuator element introduces dynamic mechanical loads into the sample which acts along a load path that is directed between the bearing and the counter-bearing and extends through the sample, wherein the at least one actuator element features a multifunctional solid body conversion material system that undergoes deformations due to the supply of energy, and wherein the deformations are the cause or at least one of the causes for the mechanical loads occurring within the sample, with the device according to the invention n being a special design of the actuator element that may be realized in two alternative forms.

Abstract: A belt brake is described for a safety belt for protecting occupants in a vehicle, which belt can be wound onto and unwound from a belt drum mounted rotationally about a belt shaft. A method for locking a safety belt is also described. The invention comprises at least one braking means is mounted to enable displacement thereof along the belt shaft, is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the belt shaft, and is located between a first and a second thrust bearing.

Abstract: The invention relates to an interface for controlling (for example damping) mechanical vibrations for the automotive industry. The inventive interface comprises a base connection element, a load connection element and at least one energy converting system extending between the base connection element and the load connection element. The different energy converters of the one energy converting systems have a common preferential direction and are exposed to a preload action produced by a pretensioning element. The inventive interface also comprises a pushing force deviating element mounted between the base connection element and the load connection element which is provided with a membrane or a leaf spring disposed preferably in a perpendicular direction with respect to the preferential direction of the energy converting system. The inventive pushing force deviating element protects the energy converting systems against mechanical damage caused by an external pushing action.