Abstract: A system and method for identifying explosive or other target materials includes the steps of irradiating a first location and a second location spaced apart from the first location from a sample suspected of including explosives with ultraviolet, visible or infrared light, measuring reflected light emanated from the first sample location (R1) and reflected light emanated from the second sample location (R2), and calculating a normalized difference in reflectivity (?R/ R), wherein R=(R1+R2)/2 is an average reflectivity. A differential reflection spectrum (DRS) is then generated for the sample where ?R=R2?R1 is the difference of the reflectivities of the first and the second sample location. One or more explosives if present are identified in the sample based on comparing the DRS for said sample to at least one reference DRS.

Abstract: The subject invention pertains to a method of spark processing silicon and resulting materials. The subject invention also relates to electroluminescent devices incorporating the materials produced by the subject method. The subject method for spark-processing can enhance the EL output, as compared with conventional spark-processed (sp) silicon. The enhancement of EL output can be due, at least in part, to increasing the light emitting area. The subject method can smooth the sp surface, so as to allow more complete coverage of the sp area with a continuous, semitransparent, conducting film. The smoothening of the sp surface can be accomplished by, for example, introducing into the spark plasma a volatile liquid, such as methanol, ethanol, acetone, in which particles can be suspended and/or in which a heavy ion salt is dissolved. The particles preferably float in the volatile liquid, rather than settle quickly. In a specific embodiment, silicon particles in the range of about 0.

Abstract: A combination electric motor-pump unit which is installed on a body of a vehicle. The pump unit includes motor fastening screws with which the electric motor is fastened to the pump housing and which connect the pump unit to the vehicle body. This significantly reduces the number of required parts. The pump unit is provided for a brake system of a vehicle.

Abstract: A gear pump has a gear wheel with teeth on an outer circumference and a second gear ring with teeth on the inside surface. The gear ring is guided in a circular-cylindrical recess of a housing and together with the gear wheel, each rotates about their own axis which are offset from one another. The gear pump is equipped with an intake opening and a crescent-shaped pressure opening in a first side wall of the housing that defines the recess. A countersunk feature is also provided, embodied as a hollow cone, in a second wall of the housing opposite the pressure opening. The hollow cone, which is in fluid communication with the pressure opening, promotes the buildup of a fluid film between the gear ring and the housing, which improves the wear resistance of the gear pump.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hydraulically actuated cutoff valve which is provided as an intake valve for switching between a master cylinder and an intake side of a feed pump of a slip-controlled vehicle brake system. The invention sets forth that the cutoff valve is embodied with a valve closing body that has a valve tappet which passes through an annular actuating element and is in engagement with a rocker element embodied as a cup spring, which rests on an annular pivot bearing. If the actuating element is acted upon by pressure, it presses down an outer edge of the rocker element, and as a result a middle of the actuating element executes a pivoting motion in the opposite direction that closes the cutoff valve. The invention has the advantage of an economical cutoff valve that has only a small number of components, and the invention can be used in a hydraulic vehicle brake system.

Abstract: The brake system has at least one brake circuit (I), in which a high-pressure pump is disposed. A self-aspirating charge pump is also provided, which is connected at least indirectly to the intake side of the high-pressure pump by an intake line of a supply container for brake fluid and by a pressure line. In the event of an inadequate supply of brake fluid by the charge pump, the pumping of air into the brake circuit (I) is intended to be precluded. To that end, a siphon is disposed in the intake line of the charge pump. Air aspirated by the siphon suddenly prevents pumping by the charge pump. The brake system is intended for use in motor vehicles with slip control or for automatic brakes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hydraulic vehicle brake system with a master cylinder, with two brake circuits (I, II), with wheel brakes connected to the brake circuits (I, II), and with a wheel slip regulator device disposed between the master cylinder and the wheel brakes, which device has at least one brake pressure modulation valve device and at least one high pressure pump, and with a pump unit associated with this high pressure pump. In the automatic braking operation by means of at least one of the high pressure pumps, the pump unit is used for supplying hydraulic fluid to the high pressure pump. The pump unit has a low pressure pump in the form of a gear pump.

Abstract: A vehicle hydraulic brake system having brake pressure modulation valve assemblies, between a dual-circuit master cylinder and wheel brakes of vehicle wheels. The pump device is embodied as a low-pressure pump with the brake pressure modulation valve assemblies be assigned a first and second return pump and that in the automatic braking mode the first pressure chamber is made to communicate with a first return pump and the second pressure chamber is made to communicate with the second return pump, on the inlet side in both cases. The low-pressure pump, in the automatic braking mode, generates charge pressure for the return pumps that is substantially below a maximum brake pressure, and the return pumps generate the maximum projected brake pressure and serve, in the additionally possible anti-lock mode, to return pressure fluid from the wheel brakes to the master cylinder.

Abstract: The object is to shorten the installation length of the pump. The high-pressure pump has a pump housing with a bore, in which a pump element having a cylinder, a piston longitudinally movable therein and an outlet valve is received. The cylinder is screwed into the bore and axially fixed at a bore step. The outlet valve has a ball, received in a hollow-cylindrical extension of the cylinder and loaded on its end remote from the valve seat by a leaf spring secured to the cylinder. The hydraulic high-pressure pump is usable in particular in motor vehicle brake systems having an anti-lock and possibly traction control system.

Abstract: An apparatus having a self-aspirating pump, with which, in a traction control mode, pressure fluid can be aspirated through an intake line from a pressure fluid supply tank of a master brake cylinder. Located in the intake line is a control valve that assumes its preferred blocking positoin and can then be switched into its open position by a pressure pulse generated by the pump, through a control line. This open position can be switched whenever a control valve, located in the brake line of the master brake cylinder, is switched by an electronic control unit of the control apparatus out of its preferred position thereby connecting the master brake cylinder to the wheel brake cylinders into another position, thereby carrying pump pressure to the control valve. Aspiration of pressure fluid from the supply tank is thus avoided upon pump startup with undesirable feeding. This prevents the production of noise from the pumping of pressure fluids into the master brake cylinder.

Abstract: The invention seeks to reduce structure-borne sound emissions of the reciprocating piston pump. The reciprocating pump is includes an outlet valve, which has a valve seat and a valve closing body that is received in a hollow space and is loaded by a closing spring. One outlet bore radially originates at the circumferential region of the valve seat and branches off from the hollow space. The opening of the outlet bore toward the hollow space extends at least approximately between the valve seat and the end toward the closing spring of the gap of least cross section, which is formed between the valve closing body and the inside circumference of the hollow space. As a result, a slowed opening motion of the valve closing element is attained, in which opening motion an opening gap opens up that has its largest flow cross section in the region of the outlet bore.