Abstract: The invention relates to a charge information system to support the operator of an electric vehicle or hybrid vehicle, including the input of desired parameters for charging and operating the vehicle. The charge information system according to the invention comprises an input unit for putting the desired parameters into a computing unit which determines the required remaining charging time and displays it. Defining quantities are, among others, the charging efficiency or the desired range.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of monitoring the state of charge of the battery of a hybrid vehicle, in which the charge level of the battery is determined by balancing the charge quantities extracted and supplied, and is indicated to the driver. Because of the inaccuracy of the charge balancing, resetting of the balancing from a reliable limit value must be carried out from time to time. In order to assist the operator of the hybrid vehicle in monitoring the battery charge level, according to the invention an error variable is calculated which indicates a discrepancy between the indicated charge level and the actual charge level, and the vehicle operator is provided with an indication if this variable exceeds a maximum value. In a representative embodiment, the error variable is set to be proportional to the current through the battery.

Abstract: The invention relates to a battery current monitoring system for traction batteries in electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles, in which battery current monitoring system the maximum battery current is monitored in order to avoid damage to the battery as a result of overheating due to excessively high battery currents and, if appropriate, the said maximum battery current is reduced to a normal value which is permitted for continuous operation. Monitoring is activated if the battery current exceeds a prescribed limit value. The battery current is however not reduced until the battery temperature exceeds a prescribed limit value. It is also proposed not to use the measured average battery temperature as the control variable, but rather to use a reference temperature calculated on the basis of heat balances for individual reaction zones of the battery. The monitoring is terminated as soon as both the average and the calculated battery temperatures drop below a prescribed uncritical value.

Abstract: A vehicle exhibits a dashboard having a glove compartment, the receiving space of which can be covered by a cover which is movably secured on the dashboard and which, for opening the glove compartment, is disposed so as to be movable approximately in the vertical direction within the vehicle. At least the folded airbag casing of a passenger airbag is here accommodated and fastened in a cavity of the cover, a cap covering the cavity of the cover being able to be opened as the airbag casing unfolds in the direction of the vehicle interior.

Abstract: An arrangement with an epicyclic gearbox for driving two motor vehicle axles utilizes two inner central wheels with different numbers of teeth and engaging with a planet wheel. The inner central wheels are respectively in effective drive connection with one vehicle axle while the planet carrier of the planet wheel is connected to a centrifugal brake used as bursting protection for the epicyclic gear and a friction clutch effectively located between the planet carrier and a central wheel.

Abstract: A method for controlling a hybrid drive consisting of an internal combustion engine and at least one electric motor which can be driven via an electrical energy source, in which the electric motor can be operated as a generator when required. In order to reduce the fuel consumption and the emission of noxious substances of the internal combustion engine in those operating ranges in which the torque to be output by the internal combustion engine to overcome the instantaneous tractive resistances lies below a torque corresponding to ideal operation of the internal combustion engine with respect to efficiency and/or exhaust gas behavior, the internal combustion engine is operated essentially with the torque corresponding to ideal operation. The differential torque between the torque corresponding to ideal operation and the torque to be output by the internal combustion engine to overcome the instantaneous tractive resistances is used to drive the electric motor which is switched as a generator.

Abstract: In an exhaust system for an internal combustion engine having a main exhaust conduit with a catalytic converter arranged remote from the engine and a bypass exhaust conduit which includes a start-up catalytic converter arranged close to the engine and joins the main exhaust gas conduit ahead of said remote catalytic converter, an ejector structure is arranged in the main exhaust gas conduit within a housing defining a suction chamber in communication with the bypass exhaust conduit for drawing gas through the bypass exhaust conduit into said main exhaust gas conduit whenever exhaust gas flows from the engine through the main exhaust gas conduit and a main exhaust conduit valve is arranged between the ejector structure and the junction of the main and the bypass exhaust conduits which is closed during start-up operation of the engine to thereby force the exhaust gas to flow through the suction chamber and the bypass exhaust gas conduit via the start-up catalytic converter.

Abstract: The invention relates to a bearing bridge connecting the main bearing seats of a reciprocating-piston combustion engine in the longitudinal direction of the crankshaft. To reduce the power loss caused by the oil flowing back into the crank case space striking the rotating drive parts, and the oil ageing rate, it is proposed to provide the bearing bridge between the main bearing seats with a shape which screens off the rotating drive parts of the combustion engine with respect to the crank case space.

Abstract: A cooling-air ducting system in the front-end space of a motor vehicle is described, which front-end space is delimited by a front-end wall having an air inlet opening and in which front-end space is arranged a cooler through which cooling air flows, having a cooling-air ducting space between front-end wall and cooler and a cooling-air fan downstream of the cooler. In order to achieve a sufficient cooler surface area, in particular in the case of a low overall height of the front-end space, while continuing to use the cooling air fan driven by the internal combustion engine, the cooler is divided into a plurality of individual component parts which are arranged staggered relative to one another in such a way that they overlap with spacing relative to one another in the driving direction of the motor vehicle and that they are acted upon in common by the cooling-air fan.

Abstract: In a multi-cylinder internal-combustion engine, bearing shell and bearing cap of the bearings for the crankshaft are decoupled from the side walls of the cylinder block which form the crankcase. The bearing shells communicate with the cylinder block directly through column elements. The resilience of the column elements relieves the cylinder block of any transverse flexure by crankshaft forces and reduces the generation of noise.

Abstract: A driving connection between spline shafts and spline bore hubs of safety steering columns, where the shaft and the hub, because of prestressing torque existing between the two, can be shifted with respect to one another axially but are free from torsional play. The prestressing torque is generated by a torsion spring element supported between the shaft and the hub. The required freedom from torsional play is achieved by arranging a main hub and an additional hub on the shaft with the torsion spring element connecting the main hub with the additional hub so that the main hub and the additional hub are spring loaded in opposite rotational directions.