Abstract: The present invention relates to a temperature adjustment station for the contact heating of a blank and to a method for operating the temperature adjustment station. According to the invention, the contact pressure exerted on the blank is regulated or controlled in the temperature adjustment station such that linear expansion of the blank does not have a negative effect on the contact plate itself.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a temperature adjustment station for the contact heating of a blank and to a method for operating the temperature adjustment station. According to the invention, the contact pressure exerted on the blank is regulated or controlled in the temperature adjustment station such that linear expansion of the blank does not have a negative effect on the contact plate itself.

Abstract: A hot forming line for producing hot formed and press hardened sheet metal products made from metal plates includes a heating station and a forming station. The heating station has a bottom tool and an top tool between which a metal plate is received. The metal plate is heated in the heating station by indirect resistance heating. The heat is generated outside the metal plate and is transmitted by heat conduction into the metal plate itself. For this the bottom tool and/or the top tool has an electric resistance heating with at least one surface heating element. The surface heating element is a heating plate with a plate body made of an electrically conductive material, wherein the plate body is configured as heat conductor. For this the plate body is slotted and is for example provided with a slot, which extends over the thickness of the plate body.

Abstract: An exhaust gas system includes an exhaust gas pipe with an integrated evaporator. In order to make the evaporator independent of the site of installation and the mounting position, a capillary structure is arranged between the outer sleeve pipe and the exhaust gas pipe. For increasing the efficiency of the evaporator, vapor grooves are provided in an area of an outer sheath surface of the exhaust gas pipe and fluid grooves are provided in an area of an inner mantle surface of the sleeve pipe.

Abstract: A two-blow heating and forming tool for the simultaneous production of two hot-formed and press-hardened motor vehicle components is provided. The tool includes a heating device and a forming device, with at least two contact heating tools and at least two hot-forming and press-hardening tools being arranged next to one another in parallel in a press such that, during a closing movement, two blanks are heated and two heated blanks are hot-formed and press-hardened to form two motor vehicle components. A method for producing hot-formed and press-hardened motor vehicle components using a two-blow heating and forming tool is also provided, the method including producing two mirror-inverted motor vehicle components simultaneously in one press cycle.

Abstract: A hot forming tool for the production of a press hardened sheet steel product includes an upper tool and a lower tool. At least one of the upper and lower tools has a base plate, a carrier tool mounted on the base plate, and a mold segment exchangeably received in the carrier tool and configured specific to the sheet steel product.

Abstract: An exhaust gas system includes an exhaust gas pipe with an integrated evaporator. In order to make the evaporator independent of the site of installation and the mounting position, a capillary structure is arranged between the outer sleeve pipe and the exhaust gas pipe. For increasing the efficiency of the evaporator, vapor grooves are provided in an area of an outer sheath surface of the exhaust gas pipe and fluid grooves are provided in an area of an inner mantle surface of the sleeve pipe.

Abstract: A bumper arrangement for an automobile includes a crossbeam with crash boxes and a pedestrian protection element arranged on the crossbeam. The material of the pedestrian protection element has a lower firmness compared to the material of the crossbeam. A deformation element is arranged in the pedestrian protection element. The deformation element can be retracted into the crossbeam in an impact with a pedestrian, so that only the pedestrian protection element produces a damping effect. In a high-intensity crash, the deformation element can be rigidly connected with the crossbeam and thus lengthen the available deformation path of the crash box along the deformation element.

Abstract: In a method of operating an internal combustion engine which has a fresh-air line, an exhaust-gas line, and an exhaust gas recirculation system, an exhaust gas flow is fed from the exhaust gas recirculation line of the exhaust gas recirculation system to the fresh-air line. The exhaust gas flow is hereby divided by a gas flow divider during flow from the exhaust gas recirculation line to the fresh-air line through actuation of a control element such that a first flow portion flows back to the exhaust gas recirculation line and a second flow portion flows to a continuing section of the exhaust-gas line. The exhaust gas recirculation system with the gas flow divider is operated substantially in the absence of a back pressure.