Abstract: A device is proposed for the supply of operating air-fuel mixtures including exhaust gases to internal combustion engines. Between the opening periods of the inlet valves of an internal combustion engine, precisely dispensed quantities of recirculated exhaust gas are pre-stored in the intake channel directly upstream of the inlet valve whereby a stratification of exhaust gas and fuel-air mixture in the combustion chamber of the engine is obtained.

Abstract: An apparatus is proposed for detecting operating characteristics of an internal combustion engine. It has an optical sensor whose output signal is delivered to an amplifier with a variable transmission behavior. As a result, it is possible to have either a stepped or a continuous adaptation of the sensor sensitivity to various operational points of the engine. It is particularly proposed that the amplification for the measurement signal be selected to be high in the case of an opto-electrical combustion chamber observation in a low load range, while it is selected to be low in a high load range, so that relatively equalized measurement results are available for use.

Abstract: A tube mill operated under superpressure in the milling chamber is sealed by means of blocking air, which is made available in a blocking air chamber (9) arranged on the stationary part of the journal (2) of the tube mill. A blocking air channel is provided between the stationary and the rotating part of the tube mill and joins the blocking air chamber (9) to the milling chamber. The blocking air channel contains an inclined extending section (19), which is arranged at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the tube mill.

Abstract: An apparatus is proposed for controlling the exhaust recirculation rate in an internal combustion engine, in particular an engine with auto-ignition, which includes preferably one mixture valve in the area of the discharge opening of the exhaust recirculation line and which is characterized in that the control is accomplished via the mixture valve position ahead of the inlet valves in accordance with the concentration of at least one component of the air-exhaust gas mixture and/or at least one component of the exhaust gas. Thus it is possible to operate the engine with a relatively emission-free exhaust. An exhaust gas reservoir is further provided, with which peaks in the exhaust gas concentration due to a dynamic driving mode can be intercepted. Finally, it is also proposed that the exhaust recirculation be realized solely via a pressure, which can be controlled in open-loop or closed-loop fashion, in the exhaust line by means of a valve.

Abstract: To permit individual evaluation of the combustion processes in the respective cylinders (1a-d) of an internal combustion (IC) engine (2), individual optical pick-ups (3a-d; 4a-d) are coupled to the respective cylinders, the output signals either in optical or electrical form are conducted to separate pick-ups for individual evaluation or, alternatively, the output signals are combined and then again separated out by a steering circuit. Individual evaluation can be accomplished by locating light guide fibers from the sensors in a predetermined position with respect to opto-electrical transducers; by forming scanning windows, for example by a rotating disk (19, 20) rotating n in synchronism with the engine and permitting passage of light from the respective fibers of the light guides to respective pick-ups; or by combining the light outputs from the respective sensors (4) either optically by intermixing light guide fibers in a common cable (6'), or electrically in an equivalent OR-circuit (FIG. 8: R.sub.

Abstract: A fastening plate for securing door-panel snap pins to an automobile's body to fix the interior panel to the automobile door. The fastening plate includes an aperture for slideably receiving a snap pin and a resilient rest plate positioned under the aperture for pressing the head of the snap pin against the portion of the holding plate surrounding the aperture. The resultant fastening plate securedly holds the snap pin perpendicular while permitting the radial movement of the snap pin within the clearance between the neck of the snap pin and the aperture.

Abstract: To permit cleaning of the window of a combustion process sensor, a light pick-up element (12) is located in a housing holder (11) which is formed with a terminal flange (11b), seated against an extended flange (6) of a window structure (5) fitted in an opening (3) with a seating step (4) in the cylinder block of an internal combustion (IC) engine. A nut, or clamping plate, or similar attachment element holds the flanges of the window and of the housing against the abutment surface (4) in the cylinder block. To clean or replace the window (5), it is only necessary to disassemble the housing from the bore and thereby permit removal of the window therefrom, without requiring replacement of the light sensitive pick-up or components thereof as well.

Abstract: To sense light and light variations emanating from a flame upon occurrence of combustion in the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, and prevent contamination of the sensing window, a quartz-glass rod is fitted into a housing with a central opening therethrough, the quartz-glass rod being exposed to the interior of the combustion chamber, and pressed against the housing by an abutment sleeve secured in the housing by a rolled-over shoulder. The quartz-glass rod is in light-transmissive relation, for example in contact with a fiber optic cable.

Abstract: A fuel supply system for mixture-compressing internal combustion engine with externally-supplied ignition is proposed, which serves to form the most optimal possible fuel-air mixture. The fuel supply system includes a primary mixture formation unit disposed in the intake manifold and at least one ultrasonic atomizer nozzle in the intake manifold, for the purpose of correcting the fuel-air mixture by means of supplementary fuel, downstream of the primary mixture unit or in each individual intake tube. The ultrasonic atomizer nozzles are triggered, with the interposition of an electronic control device, in accordance with operating characteristics of the engine, as well as the exhaust composition, and they permit the supply of finely prepared supplementary fuel for the purpose of regulating the fuel-air mixture to a predetermined .lambda. value; of compensating for non-uniform distribution, and of enrichment of the mixture in the case of warm-up, full load and acceleration, as well as of idling regulation.

Abstract: To permit simultaneous evaluation of the light as a consequence of combustion in the combustion chamber of an internal combustion (IC) engine, and evaluation of the oxygen content of the combustion gas resulting from the combustion, a tubular housing of generally spark-plug shape is closed off at the end facing the combustion chamber by a solid electrolyte body in form of a disk (6), closed tube or thimble (6c) or the like, which is made of transparent zirconium dioxide. The interior of the housing has a light guide (7) extending therein. The solid electrolyte body has electrodes (11, 11'; 11c, 11'c) applied thereto, electrically connected to an electrical evaluation stage (EE) to determine oxygen concentration in the combustion gases, while the light due to combustion is transmitted through the solid electrolyte to the light guide for evaluation in an optical evaluation stage (EO).

Abstract: To provide for temperature measurement of a solid electrolyte polarographic gas composition sensor, an ac signal is superimposed from an ac voltage source (2) on the applied voltage from a voltage source (1) if the sensor is a polarographic sensor, the ac signal being separated from the output by a filter combination (6, 7), the dc output being evaluated as usual, and the ac output being rectified in a rectifier (9) to obtain a measure of the temperature since the ac resistance (R.sub.alt) is highly temperature dependent (see FIG. 3). The ac preferably is about 10% of the applied dc voltage, so that the voltage swing of the ac potential falls well within the linear range of output current with respect to voltage (see FIG. 2). The output from the ac channel (7, 9) to evaluate the temperature signal can be connected to a control loop circuit (10, 11), including a heater (11) to heat the sensor to maintain a uniform temperature thereof.

Abstract: To provide for simultaneous transmission of pressure signals and light signals from the combustion chamber (CC) of an internal combustion engine or, selectively, either one or the other of the pressure or light signals, independently, a spark plug-type housing (1, 2) has a glass plug (3) fitted therein, the end face of which at the side remote from the combustion chamber engaging a piezo-ceramic ring (4). The inner opening of the ring (4) transmits light from the glass plug or rod 3 to a light guide fiber cable (7) which, concentrically and insulated from each other, has a metal woven sleeve (10) placed thereabout, and an outer metallic jacket (12), the woven sleeve (10) being connected to a flanged ring (6, 6a) engaging one end face of the piezo-ceramic ring (4), the other end face being connected to the outer metallic sleeve (12) to provide a coaxial electrical signal output cable, with the inner portion thereof surrounding and forming a jacket for the light guide fiber cable (7).

Abstract: To provide for improved cleaning of an optical combustion sensor, particularly to determine knocking in an internal combustion (IC) engine, a pick-up element made of glass, glass-coated or covered metal or the like, and, for example, hollow inside and filled with a vaporizable and condensable medium to define a heat pipe, has a sensing end portion which is formed with a mushroom-shaped enlarged head (14). The unit may be combined with the functions of a spark plug by extending a conductor therethrough, making the pick-up of electrically conductive glass or ceramic, placing a metal foil or other conductor at the outside, separated from the metallic housing by an insulating sleeve or the like.

Abstract: To permit the use of molten glass in a sensor which has excellent characteristics with respect to capability of being melt-connected to a housing (11) while being pressure-resistant, a glass plug (12) is melt-connected to the housing (11) at a point remote from the end facing the combustion chamber; a quartz-glass rod (13), maintained in centered positioned in the housing by a powder or pulverized filling (15) of talcum, graphite, or spinel, is retained in the housing by a retention sleeve (16) pressing against a sealing O-ring (17); a bulge (13a) additionally contributes to maintaining the quartz-glass rod in position, and a spring washer (19) may be used, interposed between the quartz-glass rod (13) and the melted-in window (12) to accommodate differential expansion, under heating, of the filler (15) and the housing (11).

Abstract: To determine proper operation of a combustion sensor, and to normalize the output signals derived from a pick-up having a window exposed to the combustion chamber (10) by compensating for soiling, contamination, and loss of transmissivity of the window due to combustion residue, soot, or the like, a reference light source is provided introducing reference light of a predetermined level to the pick-up, for example when no light is generated due to combustoin events. In an internal combustion (IC) engine, the reference light can be energized during stopped condition of the engine, or during portions of the stroke of the engine when no combustion event takes place.

Abstract: A novel method of diagnosis of atherosclerosis comprises comparing the migration of endothelial cells or of cells of endothelium-like morphology in vitro, in the presence of serum from the person being examined, with the migration of identical cells in the presence of serum from healthy persons or of other standard sera, and interpreting a reduced migration in the presence of serum of the person being examined as being an indication of the possible existance of atherosclerosis in this person. The cell migration is measured for example on monolayer cell cultures of pig aorta endothelial cells or of Balb/c 3T3-A31 cells, in which cultures a portion of the cellular layer has been removed. An outfit for carrying out the method contains the materials and devices necessary for the purpose.

Abstract: An ignition chamber device is described which has an elongated, rotationally symmetrical form. The wall of the ignition chamber which protrudes into the main combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine has a coaxial overflow conduit embodied by a nozzle and radially extending discharge conduits which extend into the annular chamber which surrounds the nozzle. The ignition chamber is provided with an ignition device which has a central electrode that leads from the outside into the interior and by means of this central electrode the ignition voltage is carried via a conductor path, disposed in the wall, to a wall location opposite the nozzle, from where the ignition spark can leap the gap. A heat pipe is disposed in the nozzle and includes a portion arranged in close proximity to the cylinder wall, which prevents the ignition chamber from becoming overheated and on the other hand also enables the inflowing mixture to be heated up in optimal fashion on the way to the ignition location.

Abstract: The sensor arrangement to determine oscillations arising upon knocking of a combustion engine uses at least one optical receiver, known per se, in the combustion chamber, preferably a glass rod 12 or a light guide cable of glass fibers 20. The optical receivers are either integrated in the spark plug, or connected to a pre-chamber, or inserted in the cylinder head seal.

Abstract: A sun visor for a motor vehicle comprises a mounting bracket having a shaft projecting therefrom. A visor panel is rotatably mounted on the shaft by a connector. A clip connected to the visor panel comprises a spring leaf which exerts a radial force on the shaft to resist rotation and a radial ridge formation which engages with a complementary groove formation on the shaft to resist axial movement of the panel along the shaft thereby avoiding the need for further fasteners.

Abstract: To render output of a polarographic sensor essentially independent of aging of electrodes and temperature effects of the solid electrolyte body, within the operating ranges of the sensor to measure the oxygen composition of exhaust gases, the solid electrolyte plate of, for example, 50 mm length, 8 mm width and 1 mm thickness has a sensing electrode system including a cathode (2), and an anode (3) applied thereto, connected to a voltage source (7) of controllable output voltage. An oxygen molecule diffusion barrier (6) is applied to the cathode electrode. Additionally, a further electrode pair (5,4) is applied to the solid electrolyte body (1), serially connected in the current limiting circuit including the control voltage source.