Patents by Inventor Rudolf Andres
Rudolf Andres has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 5604407Abstract: A method and device for controlling vehicle interior lighting as a function of certain lighting-relevant states, in which the respective turning-on or turning-off process takes place with dimming. The dimming parameters, such as turning-on or turning-off dimming time or desired final brightness, are selected in advance as a function of the vehicle state that activated the control process, which permits a highly variable and situation-specific lighting control. The lighting control unit, depending on signals from a sensor group and according to a program stored in a program memory, controls a lighting device through a controllable switch.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 1995Date of Patent: February 18, 1997Assignee: Mercedes-Benz AGInventors: Rudolf Andres, Armin Staehle, Reinhold Mickeler, Volker Petri, Helmut Grickscheit, Benno Forstner, Dieter Freerichs
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Patent number: 5499855Abstract: A locking arrangement for securing a pivoting and sliding cover to a counter-structure of a vehicle body, in particular for folding hoods of convertibles, has a fastening pin which is disposed on the cover and protrudes from the rear side of the cover, a catch fastening which is disposed on the counter-structure and interacts with the fastening pin in the locking operation and an intrusion guide for the intrusion of the fastening pin into the catch fastening via a notch, mounted in front of the locking catch, on the counter-structure. To enable an auxiliary mechanism to be less expensive and more space-saving, elements which interact during the closing of the cover are deflection apparatus which butt against each other. A sliding advancement of the cover, which is maintained after the deflection apparatus are run up against, can be partially converted into transverse advancement of the cover which accompanies the axial advancement of the fastening pin.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 1994Date of Patent: March 19, 1996Assignee: Mercedes-Benz AGInventors: Rudolf Andres, Holger Seel, Kurt Schaible
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Patent number: 5280997Abstract: A motor vehicle seat with a backrest contains a spring core and has forwardly curved side parts into which inflatable air cushions are inserted for varying the contour of the backrest. The air cushions are arranged between fixed uprights and the spring core. As a result, in the event of variations in the filling pressure in the air cushions the overall shape of the spring core is varied. The horizontal contour of the backrest can thus be varied to a greater degree than previously with air cushions in the upholstery, without the surface hardness of the upholstery being adversely affected.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 1992Date of Patent: January 25, 1994Assignee: Mercedes-Benz AGInventors: Rudolf Andres, Holger Seel, Volker Speck, Dietmar Zwolfer
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Patent number: 5094262Abstract: A regulator with a hysteresis-affected characteristic curve has a manually operable actuating element for presetting a desired control variable, an axially displaceable control slide for adjusting the preset control variable and a control incline which is coupled to the actuating element. The control incline converts, by means of a rising control face, the adjustment movement of the actuating element into a axial displacement of the control slide. For the purpose of compensating the hysteresis when adjusting a control a variable such that the same control variable is brought about by rotating the actuating element to the left or to the right into the same setting, the control incline bears a toothing along its control face. Each tooth has, in two planes which extend along the displacement direction of the control face and are perpendicular to one another, a sawtooth-like contour with in each case a rising edge for running up the control slide and a falling edge which follows in the displacement direction.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 1991Date of Patent: March 10, 1992Assignees: Mercedes-Benz AG, Walter Alfmeier GmbH & Co.Inventors: Rudolf Andres, Michael Dimitrov, Holger Seel, Dietmar Zwolfer, Klaus-Jurgen Heimbrodt, Gerold Dierks, Klaus Engelhardt, Dieter Simon
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Patent number: 5092358Abstract: A pressure regulator whose initial pressure can be set by manually setting the initial stress of a control spring has a double-seated valve with an inner and outer valve seat and a valve closing element. The valve closing element divides a supply pressure chamber from a control pressure chamber and the latter from a pressure-relief chamber. The inner valve seat is arranged on a control piston which is loaded by the control spring. In order to set a higher initial pressure, the initial stress of the control spring is increased, in order to reduce pressure, the initial stress of the spring is diminished. During this process, the outer or inner valve seat lifts off temporarily from the valve closing element until equilibrium is reestablished by a corresponding pressure chamber and the double-seated valve closes.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 1991Date of Patent: March 3, 1992Assignees: Mercedes-Benz AG, Walter Alfmeier Gmbh & Co.Inventors: Rudolf Andres, Michael Dimitrov, Holger Seel, Dietmar Zwolfer, Hermann Moller, Klaus-Jurgen Heimbrodt, Gerold Dierks, Klaus Engelhardt, Dieter Simon
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Patent number: 4978139Abstract: In an energy absorbing damping device for safety belts of motor vehicles, for the purpose of controlled reduction of the deceleration force which acts on the belt user in the event of a collision, a strip element, which is connected to the safety belt, is pulled out of a coil and, by plastically deformed deformation members arranged on both sides of the strip element. The deformation members are formed as two toothed rollers, which engage with one another, so that the strip element, as it is pulled out of the coil, is first deformed sectionally and subsequently pulled straight again.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 1989Date of Patent: December 18, 1990Assignee: Mercedes-Benz AGInventors: Rudolf Andres, Heinz Knoll, Harald Pfistner, Voker Petri
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Patent number: 4938510Abstract: A locking device for a plug-in connection between a fluid pipe, provided with a shaped-on radially protruding abutment, and a connecting part utilizes a clamp, which can be guided in the connecting part, two branches of the clamp overlapping the abutment of a correctly plugged-in fluid pipe in order to secure the plug-in connection against axial separation. A guide slot, for receiving the clamp, opens along its length towards a plug-in side of the connecting part in order to prevent incorrectly produced plug-in connections, i.e. unsecured conditions, while the clamp itself is provided with a guard which can be displaced in the elongated opening of the guide slot. This guard ensures that the abutment of the plugged-in fluid pipe is either overlapped by the clamp branches, in the case of a correct plug-in connection, or remains visible above the plug-in side of the connecting part, in the case of an incorrectly executed plug-in connection.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 1989Date of Patent: July 3, 1990Assignee: Daimler-Benz AGInventors: Gunter Gmeiner, Rudolf Andres, Hermann Moller, Kurt Schaible
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Patent number: 4900925Abstract: An omnidirectional optoelectronic acceleration pick-up for the automatic actuation of passenger safety devices in motor vehicles during emergency conditions, utilizes an inertial body which is held in its rest position by an annular permanent magnetic. When a preset amplitude of acceleration is exceeded, a quasi digital switching behavior is achieved by a radially opening annular gap between the end face of the inertial body and the surface of the annular permanent magnet turned towards that face.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 1988Date of Patent: February 13, 1990Assignee: Daimler-Benz AktiengesellschaftInventors: Rudolf Andres, Heinz W. Knoll, Volker Petri, Harald Pfistner
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Patent number: 4756574Abstract: An inflatable cushion is provided to be embedded in the upholstery of a motor vehicle seat. The cushion has one inflatable compartment and is typically placed near an exterior edge of a back support or seat cushion. As the inflatable cushion is inflated, the contours of the back support or seat cushion can be changed. The longitudinal interior edge of the cushion has a wave-like configuration which faces toward the central portion of the back support or seat cushion.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 1986Date of Patent: July 12, 1988Assignee: Daimler-Benz AktiengesellschaftInventors: Rudolf Andres, Hermann Moller
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Patent number: 4740741Abstract: A voltage supply device for a passenger protection installation in a motor vehicle, especially for an air bag, by means of which the passenger protection installation is kept fully operational even at small vehicle battery voltages by means of a low-power voltage converter which is connected exclusively in a control circuit.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 1986Date of Patent: April 26, 1988Inventors: Rudolf Andres, Heinz W. Knoll, Volker Petri, Luigi Brambilla, Alban Bossenmaier
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Patent number: 4702492Abstract: A seat belt system is disclosed having a triggering element that is set to a certain deceleration value and the signal of which, via a lock switch that is opened when the latch of the seat belt is engaged and via a pull switch closing at a certain pulling force that is applied to the seat belt by the user, triggers one indicating element respectively, such as a fuse, according to the position of the switches. The lock switch and the pull switch as well as the indicating elements are inaccessibly arranged in the belt buckle. From the combination of triggered or untriggered indicating elements, it can be concluded whether the seat belt was put on functionally correctly or had not been put on and whether manipulations took place at the belt buckle by means of electrical signals or mechanical forces.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 1986Date of Patent: October 27, 1987Assignee: Daimler-Benz AktiengesellschaftInventors: Rudolf Andres, Heinz Knoll, Volker Petri, Harald Pfistner
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Patent number: 4700974Abstract: A triggering arrangement is described for restraint systems in motor vehicles, in which, in a joint, metallic electromagnetically shielding housing arranged directly at the restraint system, all elements of the triggering arrangement are integrated, including a separate power supply unit. Outside said housing, no electrical leads are required, resulting in an extensive shielding from electromagnetic interference signals and a high saving of costs. Contemplated usage includes with are airbags, belt tighteners, etc., in the case of seats that are firmly anchored to the vehicle, and also in the case of removable seats and seats for children.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 1986Date of Patent: October 20, 1987Assignee: Daimler-Benz AGInventors: Rudolf Andres, Heinz Knoll, Volker Petri, Harald Pfistner
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Patent number: 4699424Abstract: In order to achieve with an adjustable back support a further comfort increase, supports consisting of individual air chambers are accommodated in the backrest of a motor vehicle seat stacked flake-shaped one above the other. The approximately horizontally directed boundary edges of the air chambers are constructed wave-shaped so that wave troughs and coordinated wave peaks of two adjoining air chambers overlap owing to the stacking.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 1986Date of Patent: October 13, 1987Assignee: Daimler-Benz AktiengesellschaftInventors: Rudolf Andres, Hermann Moller, Holger Seel
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Patent number: 4652768Abstract: This invention relates to a locking mechanism for the locks of the rear doors of a motor vehicle with one locking device for each door lock acting against the unauthorized opening of the doors from the interior side of the doors, a so called child safety lock. Each locking device is assigned an electric-motor-driven control unit, the rotational direction of said control unit being reversible via a double pole changing switch (double throw switch) and said control unit being connected with it and being able to be remotely operated with respect to locking or unlocking of the lock by a switching element that can be operated from the front seats. The locking condition of the locking device is indicated by an optical display.To reduce manufacturing parts and expenses for the circuit controlling the optical display, this circuit is formed by parts of the circuit controlling the locking devices themselves.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 1985Date of Patent: March 24, 1987Assignee: Daimler-Benz AktiengesellschaftInventors: Guenter Gmeiner, Rudolf Andres, Holger Seel
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Patent number: 4623166Abstract: A head restraint for a vehicle, which in its stowage position is received by a hollow in the rear window shelf of the vehicle and which can be transferred, together with its bearing arms, into an operational position near to the backrest, the bearing arms being supported on the vehicle side on an inside wall of the hollow, so that, in the stowage position, both the head restraint and its bearing arms rest in the hollow. Before, during or after a swinging operation, the head restraint is pivoted in the opposite direction to the swing of the bearing arms, so that employment in a confined space is possible.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 1984Date of Patent: November 18, 1986Assignee: Daimler-Benz AktiengesellschaftInventors: Rudolf Andres, Wolfgang Fussnegger, Helmut Grantz, Werner Heiss
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Patent number: 4608501Abstract: Tripping apparatus in vehicles for an occupant protection apparatus in impact restraining systems is provided with a test circuit which permits a testing of the evaluation circuit and of the switching stage of the tripping apparatus by means of an alternating voltage signal without interrupting the functional readiness of the apparatus. The test circuit consists of a series arrangement of a filter, a maximum value rectifier and an integrator and is inserted between the output of the switching stage and the input of the evaluation circuit.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 1985Date of Patent: August 26, 1986Assignee: Daimler-Benz AktiengesellschaftInventors: Rudolf Andres, Hansjurgen Scholz, Heinz W. Knoll, Luigi Brambilla, Volker Petri, Alban Bossenmaier
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Patent number: 4564060Abstract: In radiators, especially in automotive vehicles, covers for throttling the cooling air disposed in front of such radiators are exposed to damage, dirt, we well as the danger of icing, so that their function can be impaired. In order to overcome these disadvantages, it is disclosed to subdivide the radiator into two groups disposed in series in the flow direction of the cooling air, with an interspace therebetween wherein the cover is guided.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 1984Date of Patent: January 14, 1986Assignee: Daimler-Benz AktiengesellschaftInventor: Rudolf Andres
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Patent number: 4552402Abstract: An installation for the actuation of several controllable elements with modulated pressures, whereby the elements are constructed in particular as air chambers accommodated in the upholstery of a motor vehicle seat; the installation consists of only one pressure modulator and of a distribution device series-connected therewith; the pressure modulator is adapted to be selectively connected with one or several of the controllable elements by way of this distribution device.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 1982Date of Patent: November 12, 1985Assignee: Daimler-Benz AktiengesellschaftInventors: Guntram Huber, Hermann Moller, Eberhard Faust, Rudolf Andres, Wolfram Qullmalz
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Patent number: 4550774Abstract: A surface heat-exchanger body for vehicles, aircrafts or ships, with an interconnected heat pipe-channel system which is hermetically closed and arranged distributed over an area; as a result of a separate line-shaped heat source which extends along the heat-exchanger body and which may be formed by a heating channel, a heating rod or the like, heat is supplied to the heat-exchanger body which is distributed and given off by the heat pipe-channel system to the adjoining space with a slight temperature drop inside of the heat-exchanger body; for a horizontal installation of the heat-exchanger body, intersecting or star-shaped channel sections are provided inside of the heat pipe-channel system which always return the condensate to the condensate collector independently of the direction of the resultant of gravity and inertia forces; the condensate collector may be constructed in the form of a closed annular line either concentrically on the inside of the surface heat-exchanger body or along the outer edge; toType: GrantFiled: February 1, 1983Date of Patent: November 5, 1985Assignee: Daimler-Benz AktiengesellschaftInventors: Rudolf Andres, Helmut Grantz, Wolf-Dietrich Muenzel, Wolfgang Odebrecht
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Patent number: 4520863Abstract: A heat-exchanger with a bundle of parallelly extending pipes adapted to be acted upon by air which are hermetically closed and constructed in the manner of heat-pipes. A heat-exchanger head which is adapted to be traversed by a heat carrier medium extends transversely to the pipe bundle. The heat carrier channels formed therein are sealed off from a flow point of view against the heat-pipe hollow spaces but are in good heat-transferring connection therewith. The heat-exchanger is formed by two types of heat-exchanger plates of which the first type extends over the air stream and the heat-exchanger head and of which the second type of heat-exchanger plates is limited to the heat-exchanger head and extends transversely to the first type of heat-exchanger plates and is brazed thereto over a large surface.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 1982Date of Patent: June 4, 1985Assignee: Daimler-Benz AktiengesellschaftInventors: Rudolf Andres, Helmut Grantz, Wolf-Dietrich Munzel, Wolfgang Odebrecht