Abstract: A trailer coupling with a ball support and a coupling ball arranged at a free end of the ball support. A coupling ball holder is fitted onto and can rotate on the coupling ball. A locking element is provided on the coupling ball holder by which the coupling ball holder is secured against being inadvertently removed from the coupling ball. An angle measuring device, provided on the coupling ball, comprises sensors which can detect rotation of the coupling ball holder relative to the coupling ball about a rotation axis. The position of the locking element, relative to the coupling ball, can be determined using the sensors.

Abstract: A sensor device (120) for determining a steering angle (?) of a vehicle. The sensor device (120) is, or can be, fitted separately and/or retrofitted on a steering wheel (102) of the vehicle. The sensor device (120) comprises an accelerometer for the detection of an acceleration relative to at least two axes (gx, gy). The accelerometer is designed to emit a sensor signal that represents the detected acceleration in order to determine the steering angle (?).

Abstract: A display device (120) for the display of data. The display device (120) includes a data display device (124) for displaying data. The display device (120) is, or can be, fitted separately onto a steering wheel (102) of a vehicle (100). The display device (120) further includes an acceleration detection device (122) for detecting acceleration relative to at least two axes. The display device (120) is designed to determine, using the detected acceleration, a steering wheel rotational angle of the steering wheel (102) and, using the steering wheel rotational angle, to modify the data display.

Abstract: A trailer coupling with a ball support and a coupling ball arranged at a free end of the ball support. A coupling ball holder is fitted onto and can rotate on the coupling ball. A locking element is provided on the coupling ball holder by which the coupling ball holder is secured against being inadvertently removed from the coupling ball. An angle measuring device, provided on the coupling ball, comprises sensors which can detect rotation of the coupling ball holder relative to the coupling ball about a rotation axis. The position of the locking element, relative to the coupling ball, can be determined using the sensors.

Abstract: A towing device, for a towing vehicle, with a coupling shaft attached to the towing vehicle, a ball head mounted on the coupling shaft so that the ball head can rotate about a vertical axis, which can be coupled to a coupling counterpart of a trailer vehicle, and with an angle-measuring device by which rotation of the ball head about the vertical axis, relative to the coupling shaft, can be determined, and a force-measuring device by which force exerted by the ball head on the coupling shaft in the direction of the vertical axis can be determined.

Abstract: A towing device, for a towing vehicle, with a coupling shaft attached to the towing vehicle, a ball head mounted on the coupling shaft so that the ball head can rotate about a vertical axis, which can be coupled to a coupling counterpart of a trailer vehicle, and with an angle-measuring device by which rotation of the ball head about the vertical axis, relative to the coupling shaft, can be determined, and a force-measuring device by which force exerted by the ball head on the coupling shaft in the direction of the vertical axis can be determined.

Abstract: A wheel suspension for a vehicle which includes a wheel (8) and at least one suspension arm (2) that connects the wheel (8) to the body (7) of the vehicle. The arm (2) is pivotally mounted to the body (7) by an inner part (9) of a bearing (3) such that the arm (2) pivots about an axis (6). An angle measuring device senses rotation of the arm (2) about the pivot axis (6) relative to the body (7) and includes a signal generator (25) and a sensor (18). One of the signal generator (25) and the sensor (18) is attached to an outside of the arm (2) while the other is rigidly attached, via a bracket (15), to the body (7) at a distance from the suspension arm (2).

Abstract: A wheel suspension for a vehicle comprising a wheel carrier (2), a vehicle wheel (11), which is rotatably supported on the wheel carrier (2), at least one coupling member (3), which pivotally connects the wheel carrier (2) to a body (5) of the vehicle (6), at least first and second joints (7, 8), one of which is installed between the coupling member (3) and the wheel carrier (2) and other of which is installed between the coupling member (3) and the body (5). At least one measuring device is integrated into a first joint (7) and comprises at least one angular sensor (16, 18) by which the deflection (?) of the first joint (7) is, or can be, detected. The measuring device comprises at least one acceleration sensor (23).

Abstract: Wheel suspension for a vehicle (7), with a carrier element (5), with a wheel carrier (1), which is arranged at a spaced location from the carrier element (5) and which is pivotable about a steering axis (30), with a wheel (14) mounted rotatably on the wheel carrier (1), with a steering wheel (58), which is mounted rotatably on the carrier element (5) at least indirectly and by means of which the wheel carrier (1) is pivotable about the steering axis (30), with at least one joint (8), which is connected to the wheel carrier (1) and which has a housing (26), a pivot pin (25) mounted pivotably in same and an angle-measuring device with a magnet (27) and with a magnetic field-sensitive sensor assembly unit (28), and with at least one guide means (2), via which the joint (8) is connected to the carrier element (5).

Abstract: A ball pivot (3) of a ball and socket joint for a motor vehicle, with a pivot (2) and with a joint ball (1) connected thereto. A recess (12) with a magnet (13) arranged therein is provided in the ball pivot (13). An intermediate space (17), which is filled with a nonmagnetic material (16) for fixing the magnet (13), is formed between the jacket surface (14) of the magnet (13) and the inner wall (15) of the recess (12).

Abstract: A process is provided for determining a steering wheel angle (?LRW) of a steering wheel (58), which is mounted rotatably on a vehicle body (6) and by which a wheel (14) is pivotable or is pivoted in relation to the vehicle body (6), and which wheel is connected to the vehicle body (6) via the intermediary of a joint (8). The joint is provided with an angle measuring device, which detects a deflection (?) of the joint (8), which deflection depends on the steering wheel angle (?LRW). An angle of rotation (?STS) of the steering wheel (58) relative to the vehicle body (6) is determined by a steering angle sensor (61). A plurality of sectors (S) per steering direction are assigned to the range of the steering wheel angles (?LRW) that can be assumed by the steering wheel (58). One of the sectors (S) is determined on the basis of the deflection (?), and the steering wheel angle (?LRW) is determined on the basis of the angle of rotation (?STS) and the sector (S) determined.

Abstract: A ball and socket joint is provided for a motor vehicle that has a joint housing (1), in the interior space of which a ball shell (2) is arranged. The ball (3) of a ball pivot (4) is accommodated in the ball shell (2). A sensor device (7), for measuring forces and loads, is arranged on a flexurally elastic printed circuit board (6). The printed circuit board is fastened in the joint housing (1) in a flexurally mobile manner. The sensor device (7) measures deflections and mechanical stresses of the sensor printed circuit board (6). A transmission device introduces forces or a bending moments into the sensor printed circuit board (6) in case of a deformation of the ball shell (2). The process makes possible the permanent determination of the state of wear of the ball and socket joint via measurement of the prestressing force of the ball shell.

Abstract: A wheel suspension for a vehicle which includes a wheel (8) and at least one suspension arm (2) that connects the wheel (8) to the body (7) of the vehicle. The arm (2) is pivotally mounted to the body (7) by an inner part (9) of a bearing (3) such that the arm (2) pivots about an axis (6). An angle measuring device senses rotation of the arm (2) about the pivot axis (6) relative to the body (7) and includes a signal generator (25) and a sensor (18). One of the signal generator (25) and the sensor (18) is attached to an outside of the arm (2) while the other is rigidly attached, via a bracket (15), to the body (7) at a distance from the suspension arm (2).

Abstract: A measuring device is provided for a motor vehicle, with a bracket (1), with a joint (8), which is connected to the bracket (1) and which has a joint housing (20) and a pivot pin (19) mounted movably in same. A component (2) is provided which is connected to the joint (8) and which is mounted pivotably on the bracket (1) via the joint (8). An angle measuring device (17, 18) is provided, by which the angle (?) of the component (2) in relation to the bracket (1) can be determined. An analyzer (23) is connected to the angle measuring device (17, 18) and has a double differentiator (24), which is connected to the angle measuring device (17, 18) and which is followed downstream by a summer or integrator (26) via the intermediary of a calculating unit (25).

Abstract: A ball pivot (3) of a ball and socket joint for a motor vehicle, with a pivot (2) and with a joint ball (1) connected thereto. A recess (12) with a magnet (13) arranged therein is provided in the ball pivot (13). An intermediate space (17), which is filled with a nonmagnetic material (16) for fixing the magnet (13), is formed between the jacket surface (14) of the magnet (13) and the inner wall (15) of the recess (12).

Abstract: A ball and socket joint is provided for a motor vehicle that has a joint housing (1), in the interior space of which a ball shell (2) is arranged. The ball (3) of a ball pivot (4) is accommodated in the ball shell (2). A sensor device (7), for measuring forces and loads, is arranged on a flexurally elastic printed circuit board (6). The printed circuit board is fastened in the joint housing (1) in a flexurally mobile manner. The sensor device (7) measures deflections and mechanical stresses of the sensor printed circuit board (6). A transmission device introduces forces or a bending moments into the sensor printed circuit board (6) in case of a deformation of the ball shell (2). The process makes possible the permanent determination of the state of wear of the ball and socket joint via measurement of the prestressing force of the ball shell.

Abstract: A ball and socket joint, a processes for load measurement and for wear measurement is provided, for example, for an axle system of a motor vehicle. The ball and socket joint has a housing (1), in the essentially cylindrical interior space of which a ball shell (2) is arranged. The ball (3) of a ball pivot is slidingly accommodated in the ball shell (2). The ball and socket joint has a sensor device for measuring forces or loads formed by a sensor array (4), which is placed in the area of the ball shell (2) and comprises at least two pressure or force sensors (6) for measuring forces or pressing pressures acting between the joint ball (1) and the ball shell (2). The processes provides permanent monitoring of the operating state and the state of wear of the ball and socket joint, by measuring the prestressing force of the ball shell.

Abstract: Wheel suspension for a vehicle (7), with a carrier element (5), with a wheel carrier (1), which is arranged at a spaced location from the carrier element (5) and which is pivotable about a steering axle (30), with a wheel (14) mounted rotatably on the wheel carrier (1), with a steering wheel (58), which is mounted rotatably on the carrier element (5) at least indirectly and by means of which the wheel carrier (1) is pivotable about the steering axle (30), with at least one joint (8), which is connected to the wheel carrier (1) and which has a housing (26), a pivot pin (25) mounted pivotably in same and an angle-measuring device with a magnet (27) and with a magnetic field-sensitive sensor assembly unit (28), and with at least one guide means (2), via which the joint (8) is connected to the carrier element (5).

Abstract: A joint for a motor vehicle has a joint housing (2), with a pivot pin (5) mounted pivotably in same and with an angle-measuring device, which has a magnet (18) and a magnetic field-sensitive sensor, which cooperates with this magnet and by which the angle (?) of the pivot pin (5) relative to the joint housing (2) can be determined. The magnet (18) is fastened to the pivot pin (5) and the sensor to the joint housing (2) or the magnet (18) is fastened to the joint housing (2) and the sensor to the pivot pin (5) at least indirectly. The magnetic field-sensitive sensor is formed by an electric coil (17), which has a core (16) consisting of a magnetic material and which is part of an electrical oscillating circuit (15), by which electromagnetic waves (27) can be sent or are sent.

Abstract: Chassis part of a vehicle, with a magnet (2) and at least one electric coil (10), which interacts with the magnetic field generated by the magnet (2), wherein the magnet (2) and the coil (10) are mobile in relation to one another. The chassis part (13) can perform vibrations with at least one natural frequency, wherein the magnet (2) is fastened to a spring (8) and is mobile relative to the coil (10), and wherein the natural frequency of the oscillator (14) having the magnet (2) and the spring (8) is tuned to the natural frequency of the chassis part (13).