Abstract: A reflector for helio-thermal systems may include a metallic carrier plate and a reflective coating that is applied to the carrier plate and is constructed from at least one metallic reflective layer and at least one protective layer applied to the reflective layer. Such reflectors have high reflective capabilities, are robust in relation to mechanical stress, and can be manufactured cost effectively. Such reflectors are also lightweight and dimensionally stable due to the fact that the carrier plate may be formed from a sandwich plate having at least one nonmetallic intermediate layer disposed between an upper and lower metallic cover plate. The upper cover plate may have a smoothed surface to which the reflective layer can be applied. The smoothed surface prior to the reflective layer being applied may have an arithmetic mean surface parameter Ra of less than 0.03 ?m. Methods for manufacturing such reflectors are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods for producing connecting or junction elements, which in some cases may be utilized in steel structures of towers for wind turbines, may involve using a flow forming process to produce which a flange and a casing integrally adjoining the flange from a blank. Further, an end of the casing opposite the flange may be adapted to a contour of a component to which the casing is intended to be connected. In some examples, the casing may be formed with a second flange. Likewise, in some examples, at least a portion of the casing may have a conical design.

Abstract: A tower for a wind turbine may include an upper tower portion and a lower tower portion. The upper tower portion may include a tubular tower, and the lower tower portion may include a lattice tower. To improve ergonomics and work safety and make it possible to obtain a structural design with optimized forces, the lower tower portion may include a central tube positioned centrally within the lattice tower. Further, the central tube may have a smaller diameter, at least in certain portions, than at least part of the tubular tower of the upper tower portion. The tower may also include a transition piece between the upper tower portion and the lower tower portion. The transition piece may join the tubular tower of the upper tower portion and the central tube of the lower tower portion.

Abstract: A strut linkage for a steel construction may involve a tower of a wind turbine and/or a corner post of a lattice tower. In order that high forces can be removed via the strut linkage without causing increased stress concentrations, excessive use of material, and/or an excessive structural outlay, a plate element is provided for arranging between, preferably load-bearing, steel construction components. At least one connection element, which may be connected to the plate element, may be utilized to fasten at least one strut and/or guy of the steel construction to the steel construction components via the plate element.

Abstract: A tower for a wind turbine may include an upper tower portion and a lower tower portion. The upper tower portion may include a tubular tower, and the lower tower portion may include a lattice tower. To improve ergonomics and work safety and make it possible to obtain a structural design with optimized forces, the lower tower portion may include a central tube positioned centrally within the lattice tower. Further, the central tube may have a smaller diameter, at least in certain portions, than at least part of the tubular tower of the upper tower portion. The tower may also include a transition piece between the upper tower portion and the lower tower portion. The transition piece may join the tubular tower of the upper tower portion and the central tube of the lower tower portion.

Abstract: A transition body may be disposed between upper and lower tower sections of a tower for a wind power station. Some example transition bodies may include a substantially annular upper connection flange for connection to the upper tower section, and at least three substantially annular lower connection flanges, each of which may connect to a corner leg of the lower tower section. The transition body may have several segments disposed about a central tower axis, with the number of segments corresponding to the number of corner legs. Upper peripheral sections of the segments may form an annular circumferential connection envelope that supports the upper connection flange. Lower sections of the segments may form annular circumferential segment envelopes that support the lower connection flanges. The segments may be disposed at acute angles and converge into one another at or near the upper connection flange.

Abstract: A cockpit cross beam for a motor vehicle includes at least one structured metal section arranged on the driver's side, wherein the metal section exhibits cross-sectional areas varying in the axial direction and has connection elements for connecting the metal section to other structural parts of a motor vehicle body. A cockpit cross beam that permits variable steering column angles of inclination with identical steering column connection is achieved in that the metal section arranged on the driver's side in each case has rotationally symmetric cross-sectional areas as connection elements at its ends and the cross-sectional areas of the ends have a common rotational axis.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tower of a wind power plant, having a lower part in the form of a lattice tower or truss tower with at least two corner bars, and an upper part in the form of a cross-sectionally substantially round tubular tower, wherein each particular corner bar is put together from a plurality of steel tube profiles that are connected together in the longitudinal direction. In order to achieve good transportability and easier assembly of the components of such a tower, the invention proposes a modular tower concept. According to the invention, each particular corner bar is in this case put together from at least three steel tube profiles which are provided with perforated flanges for holding screws, wherein the corner bars are connected together by cross struts and/or tension struts attached to the flanges, and wherein the steel tube profiles of each particular corner bar are spirally welded steel tube profiles.

Abstract: A strut linkage for a steel construction may involve a tower of a wind turbine and/or a corner post of a lattice tower. In order that high forces can be removed via the strut linkage without causing increased stress concentrations, excessive use of material, and/or an excessive structural outlay, a plate element is provided for arranging between, preferably load-bearing, steel construction components. At least one connection element, which may be connected to the plate element, may be utilized to fasten at least one strut and/or guy of the steel construction to the steel construction components via the plate element.

Abstract: The invention relates to a support device for a curved mirror having support elements and a curved mirror. The objective of providing a support device for a curved mirror which is constructed in a particularly simple manner and which enables particularly low production costs is achieved by a support device in that the support device has at least one bent metal carrier profile-member, the bent carrier profile-member having in the longitudinal direction an at least similar curvature to the curved mirror and being substantially mirror-symmetrical in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: The invention concerns a transition body arranged between a lower section and an upper section of a tower for a wind energy plant. The lower tower section is constructed from several corner posts configured as hollow profiles and the upper tower section is configured in the form of a tubular tower which is essentially round in cross section, with a bottom and a connection flange disposed above the bottom for connecting the upper tower section. The bottom and the flange connect the upper tower section and are joined together by at least one metal casing sheet. The connection of the bottom to the at least one metal casing sheet is a welded construction. A number of connection areas is provided on the underside of its bottom, corresponding to the number of corner posts of the lower tower section.

Abstract: A reflector for helio-thermal systems may include a metallic carrier plate and a reflective coating that is applied to the carrier plate and is constructed from at least one metallic reflective layer and at least one protective layer applied to the reflective layer. Such reflectors have high reflective capabilities, are robust in relation to mechanical stress, and can be manufactured cost effectively. Such reflectors are also lightweight and dimensionally stable due to the fact that the carrier plate may be formed from a sandwich plate having at least one nonmetallic intermediate layer disposed between an upper and lower metallic cover plate. The upper cover plate may have a smoothed surface to which the reflective layer can be applied. The smoothed surface prior to the reflective layer being applied may have an arithmetic mean surface parameter Ra of less than 0.03 ?m. Methods for manufacturing such reflectors are also disclosed.

Abstract: A transition body may be disposed between upper and lower tower sections of a tower for a wind power station. Some example transition bodies may include a substantially annular upper connection flange for connection to the upper tower section, and at least three substantially annular lower connection flanges, each of which may connect to a corner leg of the lower tower section. The transition body may have several segments disposed about a central tower axis, with the number of segments corresponding to the number of corner legs. Upper peripheral sections of the segments may form an annular circumferential connection envelope that supports the upper connection flange. Lower sections of the segments may form annular circumferential segment envelopes that support the lower connection flanges. The segments may be disposed at acute angles and converge into one another at or near the upper connection flange.

Abstract: Methods for producing connecting or junction elements, which in some cases may be utilized in steel structures of towers for wind turbines, may involve using a flow forming process to produce which a flange and a casing integrally adjoining the flange from a blank. Further, an end of the casing opposite the flange may be adapted to a contour of a component to which the casing is intended to be connected. In some examples, the casing may be formed with a second flange. Likewise, in some examples, at least a portion of the casing may have a conical design.

Abstract: The invention concerns a transition body arranged between a lower section and an upper section of a tower for a wind energy plant. The lower tower section is constructed from several corner posts configured as hollow profiles and the upper tower section is configured in the form of a tubular tower which is essentially round in cross section, with a bottom and a connection flange disposed above the bottom for connecting the upper tower section. The bottom and the flange connect the upper tower section and are joined together by at least one metal casing sheet. The connection of the bottom to the at least one metal casing sheet is a welded construction. A number of connection areas is provided on the underside of its bottom, corresponding to the number of corner posts of the lower tower section.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tower of a wind power plant, having a lower part in the form of a lattice tower or truss tower with at least two corner bars, and an upper part in the form of a cross-sectionally substantially round tubular tower, wherein each particular corner bar is put together from a plurality of steel tube profiles that are connected together in the longitudinal direction. In order to achieve good transportability and easier assembly of the components of such a tower, the invention proposes a modular tower concept. According to the invention, each particular corner bar is in this case put together from at least three steel tube profiles which are provided with perforated flanges for holding screws, wherein the corner bars are connected together by cross struts and/or tension struts attached to the flanges, and wherein the steel tube profiles of each particular corner bar are spirally welded steel tube profiles.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rotor blade for a wind turbine, comprising a root of the rotor blade and a rotor blade airfoil. The object of providing a rotor blade which can be easily and inexpensively produced even when of great lengths and which, what is more, enables a system for protection against lightning to be incorporated in a simplified way is achieved, for a rotor blade of the generic kind, by having the rotor blade consist of at least partly a fiber-reinforced plastics composite having metal inserts embedded in the matrix of the fiber-reinforced plastics composite.

Abstract: The invention relates to a support device for a curved mirror having support elements and a curved mirror. The objective of providing a support device for a curved mirror which is constructed in a particularly simple manner and which enables particularly low production costs is achieved by a support device in that the support device has at least one bent metal carrier profile-member, the bent carrier profile-member having in the longitudinal direction an at least similar curvature to the curved mirror and being substantially mirror-symmetrical in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: An arrangement for securing a steering column to a cross member, in particular to a cockpit carrying member, of a motor vehicle, includes a steering column with retaining means. This arrangement makes it possible on the one hand with simple means to secure the steering column to the cross member of the motor vehicle and, on the other hand, with a further reduction in costs and weight, to enable a high degree of flexibility in relation to the use of the cross member and the steering column for different motor vehicles, by including a cross member that has, for securing the steering column, at least one hole running transverse to the longitudinal direction of the cross member for at least one securing means, and retaining means of the steering column wherein the retaining means are secured by at least one securing means to the cross member.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rotor blade for a wind turbine, comprising a root of the rotor blade and a rotor blade aerofoil. The object of providing a rotor blade which can be easily and inexpensively produced even when of great lengths and which, what is more, enables a system for protection against lightning to be incorporated in a simplified way is achieved, for a rotor blade of the generic kind, by having the rotor blade consist of at least partly a fibre-reinforced plastics composite having metal inserts embedded in the matrix of the fibre-reinforced plastics composite.