Abstract: A hydraulic valve clearance compensator for an internal combustion engine. The compensator has a housing shaped essentially like an upside-down cup with a flat base. The housing slides up and down inside a central bore. The housing accommodates two concentric hollow cylinders sealed off from each other and separated by an axially resilient compression spring. In the wall of the housing there is at least one inlet that supplies lubricant to one cylinder. Between the inlet and the cylinders is a check valve that allows lubricant to flow through the inlet into the cylinder and prevents it from flowing out. At least the section of the housing between the inlet and the base is narrower than the rest of the housing.

Abstract: A hydraulic valve lifter for the mechanism that activates a valve in an internal combustion engine. It comprises two hollow cylinders sealed off from each other with caps over their opposite ends and engaging each other axially by way of a compression spring. The cylinders engage each other not only by way of the compression spring but also by way of a back-up spring opposing the compression spring and made of a shape memory alloy with a compression resistance that is lower, once the As temperature has been attained, than the compression resistance of the compression spring.

Abstract: A hydraulic valve-clearance compensating element for internal combustion engines in which an internal valve stem is capable of being axially shifted relative to an external stem such that, together with the latter, it delimits an oil-filled storage chamber. The volume of the storage chamber may be altered and is sealed to the outside by a gasket. At least one compressible displacement member is included in the storage chamber to offset changes in volume. This displacement member is made of a closed-celled soft foam with a non-porous surface layer.

Abstract: A short-circuit fuse for electrical igniters with a plug-in connection wherein the short-circuit is automatically eliminated upon a connection of the igniter to a current carrying line. At least one pin-shaped electrode, extending out of the igniter, is surrounded by a common socket with at least one contact spring, arranged at the socket and extending essentially in parallel to the at least one electrode, being normally in contact with the electrode when the igniter is unconnected to the current carrying line. The contact spring has an elongated and leaf-like shape and is electrically conductively connected with either a further contact spring or with the igniter casing. Upon a connection of the igniter to the current carrying line, the contact spring is lifted off the electrode by the insertion of a connector plug.

Abstract: A cap-like cover member clippable on a baseplate of a steering wheel, the cover member is formed of an elastic material and serves to cover an air bag installation disposed inside the steering wheel of a motor vehicle. The cover is adapted to rip open and unfold in the manner of the hindge along predetermined breaking lines when the air bag is deployed. A downwardly pulled edge of a cover member mounted at the steering wheel, when subjected to outwardly directed forces by an inflating air bag, is prevented from being subjected to deformation phenomena by retainers.