Abstract: A control module of a vehicle includes a plurality of electromechanical functional elements arranged on a carrier plate and fixed in an interlocking and force-fitting manner to the carrier plate by clamping elements. The clamping elements are formed on a pressure plate that is secured to spacers of the carrier plate. To simplify production and fitting of the pressure plate provided with the clamping elements and to be able to use them with functional elements having different structural heights, the spacers have a slightly greater height than the structural height of the highest functional element. The pressure plate, for each of the functional elements, has at least one clamping element in the form of a clamping tab. The clamping tabs are each arranged at an opening in the pressure plate, which opening is partially closed by the clamping tabs, and are angled toward the carrier plate.

Abstract: A self-cleaning mechanism for a pneumatic central clutch release includes: a release piston which is coaxially arranged around a hollow shaft and is mounted such that it moves in the direction of an axis of the hollow shaft; and a housing which at least partially surrounds the release piston so as to form a pressure chamber between the hollow shaft, the housing and the release piston, which is sealed from the environment and can be connected to a fluid pressure source; and a cleaning chamber fluidically arranged between the pressure chamber and the environment. The cleaning chamber is able to be connected to the environment by way of a ventilation channel.

Abstract: A clutch actuator transmitting a disengaging force to a clutch disengaging device of a includes an actuating element which receives the disengaging force, and a piston rod for transmitting the disengaging force from the actuating element to the disengaging device. The piston rod bears against an actuating element connection region such that the piston rod is movable towards the connection region by the reaction force of the clutch. The positioning of the connection region and the piston rod relative to each other due to the movement can be fixed by applying the disengaging force to the actuating element. The actuating element at least partly deflects the disengaging force, producing a normal force and/or a radial force acting between the connection region and the piston rod. The normal force and/or the radial force fixes the position of the connection region and the piston rod relative to each other.

Abstract: A self-aligning rotating joint, for mounting in a first component and connecting to a second component, the rotating joint comprising: a housing having: an external mounting surface; an internal chamber with an internal surface forming a spherical segment symmetric about a center point; a base end with an assembly opening; and an aperture in a cap end opposite the base end; a stud having: a longitudinal axis passing through the center point; a proximal stud end housed within the internal chamber; and a distal connecting end extending through the aperture, the proximal end having a cylindrical surface and a head laterally extending from the cylindrical surface; and a longitudinally split bearing having: an external bearing surface matching the internal surface of the housing; an internal bearing surface matching the cylindrical surface of the stud; and a longitudinal channel extending radially from the internal bearing surface to the external bearing surface.

Abstract: A ball joint having alignment guides to ensure correct assembly of a directional bearing into the internal chamber of a housing, the directional bearing having an elliptical external surface engaging a mating elliptical alignment surface of the internal chamber such that the ball end of the ball joint stud is pivotally mounted for angular motion within a major swing plane and a minor swing plane relative to the housing axis.

Abstract: A sensor device is provided for detecting a shifting position of a vehicle transmission. The vehicle transmission includes a transmission chamber, in which transmission elements are arranged. The sensor device includes a bar element, which extends from the transmission chamber into a secondary chamber sealed off from the transmission chamber and is arranged such that the bar element can be moved in dependence on the shifting position. The bar element has an interface arranged in the transmission chamber for coupling the bar element to a transmission element positioned in dependence on the shifting position and an accommodating segment arranged in the secondary chamber. The sensor device also has a transducer element, which is attached to the accommodating segment of the bar element. The sensor device also has a detecting device for detecting a position of the transducer element depending on the shifting position or a motion of the transducer element depending on a change in the shifting position.

Abstract: A self-cleaning mechanism for a pneumatic central clutch release includes: a release piston which is coaxially arranged around a hollow shaft and is mounted such that it moves in the direction of an axis of the hollow shaft; and a housing which at least partially surrounds the release piston so as to form a pressure chamber between the hollow shaft, the housing and the release piston, which is sealed from the environment and can be connected to a fluid pressure source; and a cleaning chamber fluidically arranged between the pressure chamber and the environment. The cleaning chamber is able to be connected to the environment by way of a ventilation channel.

Abstract: A self-aligning rotating joint, for mounting in a first component and connecting to a second component, the rotating joint comprising: a housing having: an external mounting surface; an internal chamber with an internal surface forming a spherical segment symmetric about a center point; a base end with an assembly opening; and an aperture in a cap end opposite the base end; a stud having: a longitudinal axis passing through the center point; a proximal stud end housed within the internal chamber; and a distal connecting end extending through the aperture, the proximal end having a cylindrical surface and a head laterally extending from the cylindrical surface; and a longitudinally split bearing having: an external bearing surface matching the internal surface of the housing; an internal bearing surface matching the cylindrical surface of the stud; and a longitudinal channel extending radially from the internal bearing surface to the external bearing surface.

Abstract: A ball joint having alignment guides to ensure correct assembly of a housing and a directional bearing, the ball joint comprising: a housing having an internal chamber having a bearing seat with a first alignment guide and an open end, the housing and open end having a housing axis; a ball stud having a longitudinal stud axis, a spherical ball end within the housing and a shank extending axially out of an open end of the housing; a directional bearing having an external surface engaging the bearing seat, the external surface having a second alignment guide mating with the first alignment guide, and an internal spherical surface within which the ball end is pivotally mounted for angular motion of the longitudinal stud axis within a major swing plane through the housing axis in a range of ±angle ? relative to the housing axis and a minor swing plane through the housing axis in a range of ±angle ? relative to the housing axis, where ? is greater than ?.

Abstract: A clutch actuator for transmitting a disengaging force to a disengaging device of a clutch includes an actuating element to which the disengaging force can be applied and includes a piston rod for transmitting the disengaging force from the actuating element to the disengaging device. The piston rod is mounted against a connection region of the actuating element such that the piston rod can be moved towards the connection region by the clutch reaction force of the clutch, and the positioning of the connection region and the piston rod relative to each other as a result of the movement can be fixed by applying the disengaging force to the actuating element. The actuating element is designed to at least partly deflect the disengaging force so as to produce a normal force and/or a radial force which acts between the connection region and the piston rod, and the normal force and/or the radial force fixes the position of the connection region and the piston rod relative to each other.

Abstract: An automotive component having an opening through which a ball joint extends, the ball joint comprising: a housing having an exterior substantially cylindrical surface, a seating surface radially extending from the exterior surface for abutting an adjacent first side of the automotive component, and a peripheral groove disposed in the exterior surface spaced axially from the seating surface a predetermined distance; a ball stud having a ball end mounted within the housing and a shank extending axially out of a crown of the housing; a flexible boot having an distal end sealingly engaged on the shank and an opposing proximal base end, the base end including a metal base ring with an inwardly extending flexible detent engaged in the peripheral groove in the housing and a base seal sealing engaged on the exterior surface, the base ring having a radially extending abutment surface for retaining an adjacent second side of the automotive component, and wherein the automotive component is selected from the group cons

Abstract: A sensor device is provided for detecting a shifting position of a vehicle transmission. The vehicle transmission includes a transmission chamber, in which transmission elements are arranged. The sensor device includes a bar element, which extends from the transmission chamber into a secondary chamber sealed off from the transmission chamber and is arranged such that the bar element can be moved in dependence on the shifting position. The bar element has an interface arranged in the transmission chamber for coupling the bar element to a transmission element positioned in dependence on the shifting position and an accommodating segment arranged in the secondary chamber. The sensor device also has a transducer element, which is attached to the accommodating segment of the bar element. The sensor device also has a detecting device for detecting a position of the transducer element depending on the shifting position or a motion of the transducer element depending on a change in the shifting position.

Abstract: A control arm assembly for an automotive wheel suspension, having: an elongate control arm having a transverse mounting socket with an internally threaded surface; and a ball joint having: a steel housing with an externally threaded surface and; a ball stud with a partially spherical ball head upwardly restrained within the housing and a shank extending upwardly through an upward opening in the housing; and a bearing having a partially spherical inner surface engaging the ball head and having an outer surface engaging the inner chamber; wherein the housing has a laterally extending collar with a lower contact surface that engages the upper mounting surface of the control arm when the threaded surfaces are fully torqued together; and wherein the upper portion of the outboard wall having a thickness greater than or equal to a thickness of a lower portion.

Abstract: A dynamic recording including transition information is provided. Transition behavior of a graphical user interface (GUI) element on a display of an electronic device, such as a mobile terminal, is defined responsive to the dynamic recording. For example, in some embodiments of the present invention, the dynamic recording may be generated responsive to a sensor of the electronic device, such as an audio sensor, a video sensor and/or a motion sensor. The GUI transition behavior may include, for example, a window transition behavior, a menu transition behavior and/or a dialog transition behavior. The defined GUI transition behavior may include, for example, movement, metamorphosis, shape transition behavior and/or color transition behavior. Apparatus and computer program products configured to perform such operations are provided.

Abstract: A theme creator includes an input unit for selecting and/or activating the theme creator, and a control unit configured to control the theme creator. The control unit is configured to receive image data transmitted by the camera when the theme creator has been selected and/or activated, and to change an appearance of the desktop and/or stand-by image depending on the image data from the camera and/or user input. A user may create his/her own theme such that a large number of preset themes and/or the use of an external theme editor could be avoided.