Abstract: The invention relates to a gas spring which uses a compensating medium acting on a compensating piston in order to compensate the dependence on temperature of its characteristic. According to a first aspect of the invention, a compensating medium (16M) is selected whereof the critical temperature (TK) is between the lower limit temperature (Tlower) and a temperature exceeding the upper limit temperature (Tupper) Of the range of operating temperatures of the gas spring (50) by up to 100° C., and the gas spring (50) is designed such that, at an operating temperature (TB) of the gas spring (50) not exceeding the critical temperature (TK) of the compensating medium (16M), the point indicating the state of the compensating medium (16M) lies on or above the vapor pressure curve.

Abstract: A continuously blockable locking device with a cylindrical housing forming a work chamber, a closed first end and a second end located opposite from the closed end, a piston rod which is guided out of the housing in a sealed manner through the second end so as to be arranged coaxial to the center longitudinal axis by means of a guiding and sealing device, a piston which is arranged at the end of the piston rod situated in the housing and which divides the work chamber into a first work space, through which the piston rod extends, and a second work space, and a housing which is connected to, or can be connected to, the housing and which forms a valve chamber, a first valve assembly and a second valve assembly being arranged therein. The work chamber is always completely filled with a liquid medium and the valve chamber is at least partially filled with a liquid medium.

Abstract: A gas spring includes a center longitudinal axis and a closed first end, a cylinder filled with gas under pressure, a piston displaceably arranged in the cylinder and dividing the cylinder into a first work chamber near the closed end and a second work chamber remote of the closed end, a piston rod passing through the second work chamber and guided out of the cylinder through a guiding and sealing device, and a mechanical blocking device whose action depends upon the internal pressure. The piston has a piston chamber connected to the outside of the cylinder. A first safety element and a second safety element form the mechanical blocking device. The first safety element connects the first work chamber to the outside via the piston chamber when the pressure in the cylinder is too low and brings the second safety element into contact with the inner wall of the cylinder.

Abstract: A system for opening and closing a motor vehicle, the flap is swivalably mounted along one of its edge areas at a stationary structural component part about a horizontal swiveling axis. A first drive device and a second drive device act in parallel to more like flap from a closed position into an open position. The first drive device is a non-self-locking drive device, and the second drive device comprises a cylinder filled with a fluid under pressure. An interior of the second drive device is divided by a piston into a first work chamber and a second work chamber, wherein a piston rod of the piston is guided outward through the first work chamber. A valve arrangement in the piston closes a flow connection between the first work chamber and the second work chamber in a stationary operating state of the flap.

Abstract: An adjusting element with a cylinder which is closed at one end and filled with a fluid under pressure, wherein a piston which is displaceable axially in the cylinder divides the cylinder into a first work space and a second work space, and a piston rod is arranged at one side of the piston and guided out of the other end of the cylinder through the first work space in a sealed manner by a sealing and guiding device. The adjusting element has a measuring device for detecting the piston rod position and the length of extension of the adjusting element.

Abstract: The invention relates to a gas spring which uses a compensating medium acting on a compensating piston in order to compensate the dependence on temperature of its characteristic. According to a first aspect of the invention, a compensating medium (16M) is selected whereof the critical temperature (TK) is between the lower limit temperature (Tlower) and a temperature exceeding the upper limit temperature (Tupper) Of the range of operating temperatures of the gas spring (50) by up to 100° C., and the gas spring (50) is designed such that, at an operating temperature (TB) of the gas spring (50) not exceeding the critical temperature (TK) of the compensating medium (16M), the point indicating the state of the compensating medium (16M) lies on or above the vapor pressure curve.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fluid linear drive having a cylinder (1) which is entirely or partially filled with a pressure medium. A piston (2) is arranged inside said cylinder so as to be displaced and has a piston rod (10) which is arranged at one end of the piston (2) and is led out of the cylinder (1) in a scaling manner. The piston subdivides the interior space of the cylinder into a first chamber (6) and a second chamber (7), the piston rod (10) extending through the second chamber (7). A pump (17), which is particularly reversible and by means of which the pressure medium can be pumped into the first chamber (6) and pumped off from the first chamber (6), has a first intake and/or pressure connection (18) and a second intake and/or pressure connection (19). The first intake and/or pressure connection of the pump (17) is connected to the first chamber (6) and the second intake and/or pressure connection is connected to a storage chamber.

Abstract: A hinge device for a flap of a motor vehicle includes a piston/cylinder unit arranged between a fixed structural part and a first flap which is pivotable about an axis of rotation. A second flap is likewise pivotable about the axis of rotation and can be connected releasably to the first flap. The piston/cylinder unit is arranged between a first leg, firmly connectable to the fixed structural part, and a second leg carrying the first flap, of a hinge 6. A third leg carries the second flap, wherein the first leg, the second leg, and the third leg 9 are pivotably arranged on a common hinge axis of rotation.

Abstract: A piston/cylinder unit includes a closed cylinder filled with a fluid under pressure, a piston dividing the cylinder into a first working chamber and a second working chamber, and a piston rod extending through the second working chamber. A passage through the piston connects the first working chamber to the second working chamber, and a valve closing member is movable between an open position and a closed position wherein the member closes the passage. A solenoid includes a coil, a coil core, and an armature in the piston, the armature driving the valve closing member between the closed position and the open position in response to a magnetic field produced by a current applied to the coil, the cylinder forming a magnetic field guide tube. The coil is supplied with current by a power line in the piston rod, and may be grounded to the piston rod or the cylinder.

Abstract: The invention relates to a gas spring which uses a compensating medium acting on a compensating piston in order to compensate the dependence on temperature of its characteristic. According to a first aspect of the invention, a compensating medium (16M) is selected whereof the critical temperature (TK) is between the lower limit temperature (Tlower) and a temperature exceeding the upper limit temperature (Tupper) of the range of operating temperatures of the gas spring (50) by up to 100° C., and the gas spring (50) is designed such that, at an operating temperature (TB) of the gas spring (50) not exceeding the critical temperature (TK) of the compensating medium (16M), the point indicating the state of the compensating medium (16M) lies on or above the vapor pressure curve.

Abstract: A drive device for a motor vehicle, including a first fastening element connectable to one of a stationary component and a movable component of the motor vehicle; a housing tube comprising a first end facing away from the first fastening element, and a second fastening element on the first end, the second fastening element being connectable to the other of a stationary component and a movable component of the motor vehicle; a spindle drive comprising a threaded spindle; and a spindle nut mounted on the threaded spindle; and an electric motor for driving the threaded spindle in rotation. The spindle drive is configured to move the first fastening element and the housing tube away from each other in an axial movement. When energized the electric motor drives the threaded spindle in rotation with a torque which decreases over the course of the axial movement.

Abstract: A ball and socket joint connection includes a retaining part having a fastening point and a journal slot; a ball-like component arranged in the retaining part; a rod part which is pivotable in a pivoting plane relative to the retaining part, the pivoting plane passing through the journal slot and the fastening point. A ball socket fixed to the rod part has a spherical recess in which the ball-like component is rotatably seated, a radially directed opening for receiving the ball-like component in the spherical recess, and a bearing shoulder between the spherical recess and the opening, the bearing shoulder retaining the ball-like component in the spherical recess.

Abstract: A ball-and-socket joint connection has a retaining part which has a fastening point for fixedly mounting the retaining part to a structure, and a rod part which is arranged pivotably in a pivoting-angle region in a pivoting plane via a ball-and-socket joint on the retaining part. The fastening point and the ball-and-socket joint are situated approximately in the pivoting plane and the rod part protrudes from the ball-like component out of a journal slot which extends radially to the ball seat in a sector-like or sectional manner at least corresponding to the pivoting angle and has a width at least corresponding to the thickness of the rod part to reduce a bending moment and loading on the retaining part.

Abstract: A drive device for a hatch of a motor vehicle, wherein a spindle drive is provided with a threaded spindle and a spindle nut mounted on the threaded spindle, by which drive the first fastening element and the housing tube can be driven axially relative to each other. The spindle drive can be rotatably driven by an electric motor. The threaded spindle has a thread with a lead that changes over the length of the threaded spindle.

Abstract: A drive device for a hatch of a motor vehicle, wherein a spindle drive is provided with a threaded spindle and a spindle nut mounted on the threaded spindle, by which drive the first fastening element and the housing tube can be driven axially relative to each other. The spindle drive can be rotatably driven by an electric motor, where the output shaft of the motor can rotate the threaded spindle or a connecting component of a clutch. The spindle drive can be rotatably driven by two or more series-connected electric motors.

Abstract: A drive device for a hatch of a motor vehicle, wherein a spindle drive is provided with a threaded spindle and a spindle nut mounted on the threaded spindle, by which drive the first fastening element and the housing tube can be driven axially relative to each other. The spindle drive can be rotatably driven by an electric motor, where the output shaft of the motor can rotate the threaded spindle or a connecting component of a clutch. The electric motor is located in the housing tube. On the inside wall of the housing tube, two or more radially oriented field magnets, which are distributed uniformly around the circumference, are provided to form a stator, where these magnets surround a coaxial, rotatably supported rotor shaft, on which coils are provided to form a rotor.

Abstract: A piston/cylinder unit is disclosed. The piston/cylinder unit includes a pressure tube having one end; a piston rod axially movable in the pressure tube, the piston rod extending through the one end of the pressure tube so that a portion of the piston rod is disposed outside the pressure tube; a casing tube attached to the portion of the piston rod, the casing tube at least partially enveloping the pressure tube; and a bush attached to the pressure tube, wherein the bush is disposed between the casing tube and the pressure tube so that the casing tube is axially movable relative to the pressure tube via the bush.

Abstract: A continuously blockable arresting device includes a housing and a shaft having an end received in the housing and which may be externally acted upon causing rotation thereof. The housing has a fluid-filled working space and two subchambers which can be connected to the working space. The subchambers lie next to each other. First and second pistons are guided respectively in a displaceable manner in the subchambers and can be displaced therein by a swash plate. The shaft is connected to the swash plate for rotating the swash plate. Respective control devices of the subchambers include blocking valves for respectively connecting the subchambers to the working space and passage valves for respectively connecting the working space to the subchambers.

Abstract: Apparatus for lifting a hatch which can pivot around a pivot axis, especially a hatch of a motor vehicle, by means of a piston-cylinder unit. The piston-cylinder unit has a closed cylinder filled with a pressurized fluid, the interior of the cylinder 6 being divided by a piston into a first working chamber and a second working chamber. A piston rod passes through the second working chamber and is guided to the outside through a seal at the end of the cylinder and then hinged to the hatch, whereas the other end of the cylinder is hinged to a stationary component. A through-opening leading from the first working chamber to the second working chamber, is provided in the piston. The through-opening can be opened by an electrically actuated valve.

Abstract: A multi-joint hinge for a motor vehicle having a body and a panel, the hinge allowing the panel to be moved between an open position and a closed position relative to the vehicle body. The hinge includes at joint having at least one roller bearing, and is preferably a four bar joint having two bearings mounted on the body and two bearings mounted on the panel.