Abstract: In a method for venting a crankcase of an internal combustion engine, in which, in a first operating range under part-load, the crankcase is vented via a first venting line, which opens into an intake line of the internal combustion engine downstream of a throttle valve, and in a second operating range under full load engine operation, the crankcase is vented via a second venting line, which opens into the intake line upstream of the throttle valve, the first venting line includes a control valve and a central unit is provided which operates the control valve so as to control the flow of vent gases through the first venting line over a range including a complete flow interruption under engine overrun condition to prevent venting gases from reaching the engine exhaust system when the internal combustion engine is operating in an overrun mode.

Abstract: In a method for venting a crankcase of an internal combustion engine, in which, in a first operating range under part-load, the crankcase is vented via a first venting line, which opens into an intake line of the internal combustion engine downstream of a throttle valve, and in a second operating range under full load engine operation, the crankcase is vented via a second venting line, which opens into the intake line upstream of the throttle valve, the first venting line includes a control valve and a central unit is provided which operates the control valve so as to control the flow of vent gases through the first venting line over a range including a complete flow interruption under engine overrun condition to prevent venting gases from reaching the engine exhaust system when the internal combustion engine is operating in an overrun mode.

Abstract: This invention relates to an integrated sub-assembly for installation of a steering column and/or steering wheel of an automatic vehicle. A plurality of building units arranged in the area of the steering column and/or steering wheel are integrated with each other in terms of space for purpose of simplified manufacture and assembly so that, in this way, it is possible to economize on housing walls as well as on mechanical and electrical interfaces. Advantageous further developments deal with the drive of components within the building units by the steering wheel.

Abstract: The invention concerns a modular steering column mounted switch system for motor vehicles which is organized according to the internal functions of the switch. The steering column mounted switch system contains a plurality of functional modules which correspond to the internal functions. Should the demands for operation and/or design of a particular module change, the associated module can be easily replaced. All other functional modules remain unchanged, to thereby permit simple adaptation of the steering column mounted switch to the given operation and design demands. When there is a defect, the modular steering column mounted switch can also be easily repaired and in an economical fashion by simple replacing the defective functional module.

Abstract: The invention concerns a modular steering column mounted switch system for motor vehicles which is organized according to the internal functions of the switch. The steering column mounted switch system contains a plurality of functional modules which correspond to the internal functions. Should the demands for operation and/or design of a particular module change, the associated module can be easily replaced. All other functional modules remain unchanged, to thereby permit simple adaptation of the steering column mounted switch to the given operation and design demands. When there is a defect, the modular steering column mounted switch can also be easily repaired and in an economical fashion by simple replacing the defective functional module.

Abstract: The invention concerns a modular steering column mounted switch system for motor vehicles which is organized according to the internal functions of the switch. The steering column mounted switch system contains a plurality of functional modules which correspond to the internal functions. Should the demands for operation and/or design of a particular module change, the associated module can be easily replaced. All other functional modules remain unchanged, to thereby permit simple adaptation of the steering column mounted switch to the given operation and design demands. When there is a defect, the modular steering column mounted switch can also be easily repaired and in an economical fashion by simple replacing the defective functional module.

Abstract: The invention concerns a modular steering column mounted switch system for motor vehicles which is organized according to the internal functions of the switch. The steering column mounted switch system contains a plurality of functional modules which correspond to the internal functions. Should the demands for operation and/or design of a particular module change, the associated module can be easily replaced. All other functional modules remain unchanged, to thereby permit simple adaptation of the steering column mounted switch to the given operation and design demands. When there is a defect, the modular steering column mounted switch can also be easily repaired and in an economical fashion by simple replacing the defective functional module.

Abstract: A compact snap switch that can be assembled mechanically and is equipped as a microswitch. The switch includes a housing for the microswitch and consists of two asymmetrically divided halves whose cut site runs along the edge of one of the large side surfaces. Thus a comparatively large assembly window and a favorable assembly direction are obtained due to the few undercuts of the components. In addition, due to the minor modifications of the machine-instrumented components, the switch can be easily modified for the different application formats. A movable contact lever with a moving contact is mounted so as to pivot in a knife-edge bearing. The free end of the contact lever has a wedge profile which with one of its two sides is exposed to a switching roller reloaded by a switching spring. Switching roller and switching spring are seated in a switching member which is movable along a straight path and abutted by a restoring towards an idle position.

Abstract: A steering column switch for motor vehicles comprises a base plate and first, second, and third identical microswitches placed onto the plate that are indirectly actuated by an operating lever through terminal links. The operating lever has a neutral position and two operating positions. The third microswitch that is assigned to the neutral position is arranged in a flat position. The terminal link actuating the third microswitch is arranged in a plane parallel to the base plate. A sampling roller prevents frictional losses during the actuation of the third microswitch via a control contour on the control lever.

Abstract: In a method for early diagnosis of malfunctions of emission-improving measures, a pressure-operated actuating element is provided in an internal combustion engine, and this actuating element opens and closes as a function of an actuating pressure supplied a bypass passage that bypasses the turbine of an exhaust turbocharger, the actuating element being supplied with a diagnosis pressure as the actuating pressure to check its operation, and a fault signal being generated if the actual value of the intake pressure that establishes itself in the intake manifold of the internal combustion engine differs from a target value for the intake pressure.

Abstract: Switching off a fuel pump of a fuel supply system for the internal combustion engine with the aid of a signal from a retardation sensor of the airbag in the event of a crash in which the motor vehicle is involved is known. To further enhance the safety of motor-vehicle occupants, a method is proposed for an internal combustion engine which has at least one fuel injection valve, a fuel supply system for the at least one fuel injection valve, and a sensor for detecting a crash. After the crash has been detected by means of the sensor, the fuel injection valve is brought into an open position, with the result that fuel is discharged from the fuel supply system of the fuel injection valve into a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine. The method according to the invention is provided for internal combustion engines with at least one fuel injection valve.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a switch, preferably a steering column switch for an automobile, with which both control currents and load currents are to be controlled. The object of the present invention is to mostly prevent soil and scale from forming on the contact surfaces. The present invention achieves this object by transforming the grinding movement of the operating element into a movement of the contact points perpendicular to one another with the help of a mechanical control. Advantageous embodiments involve the design and positioning of the contact points as well as the design of the mechanical control and a method of assembling the switch according to the present invention.

Abstract: The invention describes a switch, preferably a steering column switch, provided with an actuating member moved across the contact sections rigidly connected to the housing in a substantially pushing way. It is the object of the invention to provide a steering column switch which, being of a small-sized design, permanently provides for good contact making between the contacts to be interconnected. This problem, in the practice of the invention, is solved by ramps raising the contact bridge in the transitory area. Advantageous embodiments refer to the design of the ramp of the conductor bank and of the contact bridge.

Abstract: In an internal combustion engine with an exhaust gas turbocharger having an exhaust gas turbine arranged in an engine exhaust pipe upstream of a catalytic converter and a bypass line branching off the exhaust pipe upstream of the exhaust gas turbine and rejoining the exhaust pipe between the exhaust gas turbine and the catalytic converter, a bypass valve is provided which is so controlled that, after startup of the internal combustion engine, the bypass valve is, during a catalytic converter heat-up period, at least partially opened when the internal combustion engine load is below a predetermined value and is only closed when the engine load is above the predetermined value.

Abstract: A steering column switch has a spiral spring which produces a rotatable contact between terminals that are rigidly arranged on the housing of the steering column switch and terminals on the rotatable steering wheel. The receptacle for the spiral spring is attained by integrally forming an open receptacle onto the switch housing, with said receptacle being closed by a cover that can be turned relative to the housing. Consequently, the spiral spring is integrated into the switch housing such that a separate spring housing is eliminated. Advantageous additional developments of the invention pertain to an additional locking part that rotationally locks the cover relative to the switch housing while the switch is stored. The locking part also makes it possible to turn the cover only relative to the switch housing once the steering wheel is attached to the steering column.

Abstract: The invention relates to a steering column switch which should, with a uniform construction, be easily adaptable to different switching tasks. The invention is operated, in an optional manner, by means of microswitches which can be inserted into a mounting cavity of a carrier unit (2), whereby the cavity is positioned in the area of the grip handle (1) of the steering column switch. Advantageous further developments describe additional possibilities for the activation, independently of the rotational movement of the grip handle (1), of additional microswitches (16, 22) by means of an activation knob (23) in the activating element (1), or by means of the longitudinal movement of the grip handle (1) of displaceable contact parts (15, 22).

Abstract: A switch used with steering column assemblies includes a switch mechanism provided at the end of a switch lever. To provide a low-priced and reliable connection between the switch, mechanism and connector contacts in the housing of the steering column switch, a flexible conductor foil is used. The foil is not laid within the hollow interior of the switch lever. The switch lever is rather formed of two parts between which the conductor foil is guided. In advantageous embodiments, the contacts of the conductor foil are directly used as stationary switch contacts, the switch lever is manufactured by utilizing internal gas pressure, and the switching foil contacts are reinforced with contact plates.

Abstract: A steering column switch that may be used as a gear shifting mechanism and can only be pivoted from its neutral position into one of its operating positions via a special manipulation. This measure prevents the transmission of a vehicle from being unintentionally shifted into gear or from changing from forward to reverse mode if the transmission is in gear. A prestressed holding element is provided in the steering column switch. This holding element locks the driver of the steering column switch in the neutral position until the holding element is moved into its unlocked position by pivoting the shift lever relative to the driver. In this position of the shift lever, the driver may be pivoted so as to shift the transmission.

Abstract: A method for forming a polyurethane coating on a substrate comprising mixing a liquid polyurethane prepolymer with an isocyanate content of 2.5 to 8.5% with water containing a carbon dioxide binding agent, a water absorbing agent and optionally at least one member of the group consisting of fillers and additives, coating the mixture onto a substrate within the processing time and curing the mixture at room temperature to obtain a polyurethane coating securely attached to the substrate which may be used as a coating for playground and sport areas and for construction sealing.

Abstract: The securing element (16) for tensionally fastening additions like roof balustrades (14), exterior stairways (15), roofs (11), arbors, greenhouses (13), pergolas (12), advertising elements, poster walls, etc. that function as extensions or expansions, to structures, especially single-story structures erected with with a kit of components. The securing element (16) extends over the total length of one side of the main structure (10) and has at least one fastening rail (22 or 23) that extends over its own total length.