Abstract: A method for controlling a separating clutch in a power train of a vehicle having a drive motor and a retarder. The clutch is arranged such that a rotor of the retarder is switched into a drive connection with the motor and/or power train via the clutch and a working chamber of the retarder can be filled with an operating medium to build up a braking power such that braking torque is exerted by the retarder onto the power train and/or motor. A control system switches the clutch into a closed or an open position. The switching of the clutch into the closed position occurs depending on an input signal to the controller, and the clutch is switched back into the open position depending on essentially no medium being present in the working chamber of the retarder and that predetermined limits of an operating and/or environmental parameter are not exceeded.

Abstract: A method for controlling a separating clutch in a power train of a vehicle having a drive motor and a retarder. The clutch is arranged such that a rotor of the retarder is switched into a drive connection with the motor and/or power train via the clutch and a working chamber of the retarder can be filled with an operating medium to build up a braking power such that braking torque is exerted by the retarder onto the power train and/or motor. A control system switches the clutch into a closed or an open position. The switching of the clutch into the closed position occurs depending on an input signal to the controller, and the clutch is switched back into the open position depending on essentially no medium being present in the working chamber of the retarder and that predetermined limits of an operating and/or environmental parameter are not exceeded.

Abstract: A method for controlling a hydrodynamic retarder in a motor vehicle that can be mechanically disengaged via a disconnect clutch, whereby at least one of the rotational speed of a revolving bladed rotor and the speed of a motor vehicle is monitored and a disconnect clutch is engaged below at least one of a pre-specified rotational speed of the revolving bladed rotor and a pre-specified speed of the motor vehicle, regardless of a request made by a driver assist system or by operation of an input device by the operator of the motor vehicle to turn on the hydrodynamic retarder.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic machine comprising a housing, arranged within said housing: at least one shaft; a toroidal working chamber that can be filled with a working medium, the toroidal working chamber including a first housing with a first bladed wheel and a second housing with a second bladed wheel; a step-up gear arranged with the first bladed wheel about a common rotational axis and mounted such that they can rotate independently of one another; and a coupling device operable to transfer torque between the step-up gear and the first bladed wheel.

Abstract: A method for controlling a hydrodynamic retarder in a motor vehicle that can be mechanically disengaged via a disconnect clutch, comprising a drive motor whose power output is controlled via an actuator such as a foot pedal or a lever; whereby in an overrun operation the acceleration of the motor vehicle is collected or detected and compared with a pre-specified acceleration value; and whereby in the non-braking mode the disconnect clutch is engaged, regardless of an initiation of a braking mode by an operator of the motor vehicle or a driver assist system and the working chamber is maintained drained when the acceleration exceeds an acceleration limit.

Abstract: A cooling circuit for a motor vehicle having a cooling medium pump that circulates a cooling medium in the cooling circuit having a hydrodynamic retarder. The cooling circuit further includes a main circuit in which the cooling medium pump and a drive motor of the motor vehicle, as well as a heat exchanger are positioned. A secondary branch of the cooling circuit includes a feed that branches off from the main circuit at a branch-off point and ends in the hydrodynamic retarder, and a return which proceeds from the hydrodynamic retarder and ends at a junction location in the main circuit. The return ends upstream of the branch-off location of the feed as viewed in a flow direction of the cooling medium in the main circuit, however on the same side of the cooling medium pump or at the branch-off location of the feed in the main circuit.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic machine comprising a housing, arranged within said housing: at least one shaft; a toroidal working chamber that can be filled with a working medium, the toroidal working chamber including a first housing with a first bladed wheel and a second housing with a second bladed wheel; a step-up gear arranged with the first bladed wheel about a common rotational axis and mounted such that they can rotate independently of one another; and a coupling device operable to transfer torque between the step-up gear and the first bladed wheel.

Abstract: A method for controlling a hydrodynamic retarder in a motor vehicle that can be mechanically disengaged via a disconnect clutch, comprising a drive motor whose power output is controlled via an actuator such as a foot pedal or a lever; whereby in an overrun operation the acceleration of the motor vehicle is collected or detected and compared with a pre-specified acceleration value; and whereby in the non-braking mode the disconnect clutch is engaged, regardless of an initiation of a braking mode by an operator of the motor vehicle or a driver assist system and the working chamber is maintained drained when the acceleration exceeds an acceleration limit.

Abstract: A method for controlling a hydrodynamic retarder in a motor vehicle that can be mechanically disengaged via a disconnect clutch, whereby at least one of the rotational speed of a revolving bladed rotor and the speed of a motor vehicle is monitored and a disconnect clutch is engaged below at least one of a pre-specified rotational speed of the revolving bladed rotor and a pre-specified speed of the motor vehicle, regardless of a request made by a driver assist system or by operation of an input device by the operator of the motor vehicle to turn on the hydrodynamic retarder.

Abstract: A cooling circuit for a motor vehicle having a cooling medium pump that circulates a cooling medium in the cooling circuit having a hydrodynamic retarder. The cooling circuit further includes a main circuit in which the cooling medium pump and a drive motor of the motor vehicle, as well as a heat exchanger are positioned. A secondary branch of the cooling circuit includes a feed that branches off from the main circuit at a branch-off point and ends in the hydrodynamic retarder, and a return which proceeds from the hydrodynamic retarder and ends at a junction location in the main circuit. The return ends upstream of the branch-off location of the feed as viewed in a flow direction of the cooling medium in the main circuit, however on the same side of the cooling medium pump or at the branch-off location of the feed in the main circuit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a transmission unit for coupling a running wheel of a hydrodynamic component to a drive element having:—a running wheel shaft directly connected to the running wheel;—a first coupling device, provided with a synchroelement, to connect an intermediate shaft, indirectly connected to the running wheel, to the drive element; The invention is characterised in that:—a second coupling device, provided with a synchroelement, is provided for at least indirect connection of the running wheel shaft to the drive element; and—the running wheel shaft and the intermediate shaft are in single-sided drive connection via a free wheel.

Abstract: A vehicle cooling circuit, especially an engine cooling circuit, including a cooling medium pump and a vehicle drive engine and/or other heat-generating assembly cooled by means of the cooling medium. The circuit includes a hydrodynamic retarder with the working medium of the hydrodynamic retarder simultaneously also being the cooling medium of the cooling circuit, and the hydrodynamic retarder operating as the cooling medium pump. The secondary blade wheel is associated with a brake or a drive running counter to the drive of the primary blade wheel in such a way that it can optionally be fixed in a first operating state (braking operation) or be driven counter to the rotational direction of the primary blade wheel and, in a second operating state (pumping operation), can partially or completely be released such that it circulates at the speed of the primary blade wheel or at a specified speed difference slower than the primary blade wheel.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for controlling the power transmission of a hydrodynamic retarder, comprising a rotating bladed rotor and a bladed stator or a bladed counter-rotor rotating against the direction of rotation of the rotor, which form together a working chamber which selectively can be filled with a working medium via an inlet and can be drained via an outlet; whereas the working chamber is filled with a working medium in braking mode, and a braking torque is generated with the hydrodynamic retarder and in a non-braking mode the working chamber is emptied of working medium down to a certain residual amount and substantially no braking torque is generated with the hydrodynamic retarder.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for controlling a vehicle drive train with a hydrodynamic retarder which can be engaged and disengaged mechanically via a coupling, whereas the retarder comprises a working chamber formed between two bladed wheels, which is filled with a working fluid for generating a braking torque after detecting a retarder switch-on signal and is emptied of the working medium after detecting a retarder switch-off signal to turn off the braking torque, and the retarder is driven in braking mode by means of a drive shaft via the closed coupling to constitute a hydrodynamic circuit of the working fluid in the working chamber. The invention is characterised in that the speed of the vehicle and/or the rotational speed of the drive shaft is detected or calculated and the coupling is closed above a preset limit speed and/or above a preset limit rotation speed independent of the detection of a retarder switch-on signal to drive the retarder.

Abstract: The invention relates to a motor vehicle with a drive engine and transmission connected downstream in the power flow, wherein the transmission comprises a transmission output shaft on the output side, via which drive power of the drive engine is transferred indirectly onto the drive wheels of the motor vehicle; with a universal shaft which is connected directly or indirectly to the transmission output shaft in order to transfer drive power from the transmission output shaft via an axle gear or the like onto the drive wheels; with a vehicle frame, on which the drive engine, the transmission, the universal shaft and the drive wheels are suspended or mounted at least indirectly; with a hydrodynamic retarder, electromagnetic retarder or permanent magnet retarder, comprising a rotor and a stator, which are switchable via a hydrodynamic working medium circuit or a magnetic field into a torque-transferring connection, so that the rotor is braked by torque transfer to the stator, with the rotor being in a drive conne

Abstract: A method for control of a pressurized air supply system for a motor vehicle. In a supply condition, the air compressor is driven by the drive motor and connected to a compressed air system of the motor vehicle such that compressed air is supplied to the compressed air system. In a non-supply condition, the compressor is not driven and/or connected to the compressed air system. The switching of the supply or non-supply condition results from a comparison of at least one switch pressure value with a pressure in the compressed air system and the topography of the stretch of road on which the vehicle is travelling, which includes the profile of the path which the vehicle must cover within a period of time and/or path distance to a given destination.

Abstract: A vehicle cooling circuit, especially an engine cooling circuit, including a cooling medium pump and a vehicle drive engine and/or other heat-generating assembly cooled by means of the cooling medium. The circuit includes a hydrodynamic retarder with the working medium of the hydrodynamic retarder simultaneously also being the cooling medium of the cooling circuit, and the hydrodynamic retarder operating as the cooling medium pump. The secondary blade wheel is associated with a brake or a drive running counter to the drive of the primary blade wheel in such a way that it can optionally be fixed in a first operating state (braking operation) or be driven counter to the rotational direction of the primary blade wheel and, in a second operating state (pumping operation), can partially or completely be released such that it circulates at the speed of the primary blade wheel or at a specified speed difference slower than the primary blade wheel.

Abstract: A method for regulating a compressed air supply system of a motor vehicle, the system having a driving engine for driving the motor vehicle, which can be switched via a switchable hydrodynamic coupling to a driven connection with an air compressor, so that the air compressor feeds a compressed air system via an air delivery side.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hydrodynamic machine, especially a hydrodynamic retarder, including a bladed primary wheel and a bladed secondary wheel which are arranged opposite of each other axially with respect to their blade configurations such that they jointly form a working chamber. The working chamber can be filled with a working medium for one operating state in order to transmit torque from the primary wheel to the secondary wheel by means of a circulatory flow of the working medium. The working chamber can be emptied of the working medium for a non-operating state in order to prevent a transmission of torque from the primary wheel to the secondary wheel. A suction apparatus is connected with a fluidic connection to the working chamber in order to suck off working medium and/or air from the working chamber for forming a negative pressure in the working chamber in the non-operating state.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hydrodynamic machine, in particular hydrodynamic retarder, with a bladed primary wheel, which is rotatable over an axis of rotation of the hydrodynamic machine, and a bladed secondary wheel which is stationarily or rotatable over the axis of rotation of the hydrodynamic machine, wherein the primary wheel and the secondary wheel together form a toroidal working space which is filled or can be filled with working medium, and the primary wheel has at least one inlet channel for the working medium. The invention is characterised in that the inlet channel runs within the torus wall and/or within a blade of the primary wheel and opens in the region of the centre or radially outside the centre between the outer radius and the inner radius of the blades of the primary wheel at a location in the region of the torus wall in the working space.