Abstract: In order to produce a fuel cell stack which comprises a plurality of fuel cell units that succeed one another in the direction of the stack and at least one tensioning device by means of which the fuel cell units are braced against each other such that tensioning forces can be introduced into the stack of fuel cell units in a particularly effective manner, it is proposed that the tensioning device should comprise at least one tensioning element in the form of a strip or tape which transmits a tensional force for the tensioning of the fuel cell units and extends around at least one end face of the fuel cell stack.

Abstract: In order to produce a fuel cell stack which comprises several fuel cell units that succeed one another in the direction of the stack, at least one tensioning device by means of which the fuel cell units are braced against each other, and at least one stack end element which forms an end face boundary for the fuel cell stack such that the stack can be assembled in a particularly quick and easy manner, it is proposed that the tensioning device should comprise at least one tensioning element which transmits a tensional force for the tensioning of the fuel cell units and is hooked onto at least one stack end element.

Abstract: A computer implemented method and system for comparative analysis of business processes, in particular for process maturity evaluation. A process vitality index (PVI) is mapped onto a binary decision tree that provides unambiguous, YES/NO questions at its nodes. A user is guided by these questions. The tree provides the minimum required steps for an evaluation based on common process characteristics. At least two of the nodes of the binary decision tree are interlinked in view of interdependencies between categories to enforce specific YES/NO inputs and thus provide an automated consistency check at each node.

Abstract: In order to provide a flat gasket, in particular a cylinder head gasket, comprising at least one gasket sheet, which comprises at least one through-opening and at least one sealing bead, which extends around the through-opening and is delimited at the side facing the through-opening by an inner bead foot and at the side remote from the through-opening by an outer bead foot and has a bead crest extending between the inner bead foot and the outer bead foot, and at least one deformation-limiting device, which limits the deformation of the sealing bead and comprises at least one stopper element disposed on a stopper-supporting surface of the gasket sheet, in which flat gasket the effective stopper height of the stopper element may easily be set to a value that differs from the thickness of the stopper element, it is proposed that the stopper-supporting surface is shifted in a direction extending at right angles to the stopper-supporting surface by an offset relative to a part of the surface of the gasket sheet th

Abstract: Flat gasket comprising a first sheet metal layer consisting of a spring steel and a second sheet metal layer consisting of a ductile steel, the first layer being provided with a sealing bead, and the second layer being provided in an edge area bordering on an edge of the layer with a thickened zone as supporting element for receiving pressing forces; to increase the design possibilities for such a supporting element, the latter is formed by at least one elongate arch of the second layer, which is stamped into the edge area of the second layer and extends approximately parallel to the free edge of the edge area, the arch being compressed in such a way that the metal volume of the supporting element is at least three times the total hollow space volume which the supporting element and two tangential planes abutting on the latter and extending parallel to the plane of the second layer include between them.

Abstract: In order to produce a fuell cell stack which comprises a plurality of fuel cell units succeeding one another in the direction of the pile and wherein each of the fuel cell units comprises a housing incorporating at least one housing part consisting of a metallic material, such that the fuel cell units thereof are of simple construction and also exhibit an adequate electrically insulating effect and adequate mechanical rigidity even at a high operating temperature of the fuel pile, it is proposed that the fuell cell stack should comprise at least one distributor element which comprises at least one gas distribution channel for supplying a fuel gas or an oxidizing agent to a plurality of fuel cell units or for removing an exhaust gas or surplus oxidizing agent from a plurality of fuel cell units, wherein at least one housing part of at least one fuel cell unit is brazed to the at least one distributor element.

Abstract: Flat gasket with a gasket plate which has at least one sheet metal layer which consists of a spring steel sheet, has elastic properties and is provided with at least one bead, which can be deformed elastically in its height and is subject to a dynamic pressure load under conditions of use of the flat gasket, and in order to achieve a greater operative range of the bead without reducing its durability consists of an austenitic steel according to the European standard EN 10088-2-1.4372.

Abstract: In order to produce a fuel cell unit comprising a cathode electrolyte anode unit and at least one contact element for making electrically conductive contact with the cathode electrolyte anode unit such that electrical contact with the KEA unit is producible in a reliable and simple manner, it is proposed that at least one contact element comprise a plate provided with a multiplicity of break-throughs.

Abstract: A computer implemented method and system for comparative analysis of business processes, in particular for process maturity evaluation. A process vitality index (PVI) is mapped onto a binary decision tree that provides unambiguous, YES/NO questions at its nodes. A user is guided by these questions. The tree provides the minimum required steps for an evaluation based on common process characteristics. At least two of the nodes of the binary decision tree are interlinked in view of interdependencies between categories to enforce specific YES/NO inputs and thus provide an automated consistency check at each node.

Abstract: In order to provide a sealing assembly for a fuel cell stack comprising a plurality of fuel cell units, which are arranged consecutively in a stacking direction, wherein each of the fuel cell units comprises a housing with at least one housing part made of a metallic material, which also has an adequate electrical insulation effect and an adequate mechanical strength at a high operating temperature of the fuel cell stack, it is proposed that the sealing assembly comprises at least one intermediate element made of a metallic material, wherein the intermediate element is soldered to a housing part of a first fuel cell unit at at least one location by means of a metal solder and is secured to a housing part of a second fuel cell unit at at least another location, wherein the intermediate element and/or the housing part of the first fuel cell unit is provided with a coating made of a ceramic material.

Abstract: In order to provide a flat gasket, in particular cylinder head gasket, comprising at least one metal gasket sheet made of a spring steel or a metallic material with a percentage elongation after fracture corresponding to the percentage elongation after fracture of a spring steel, which has a novel structure, it is proposed that the gasket sheet is provided with at least one edging fold, which comprises a bending region and a flange region connected in one piece to the gasket sheet via the bending region.

Abstract: Cylinder head gasket having a single-layered or multilayered metallic gasket plate with sealing beads in at least one metal layer, which are elastically deformable in height and surround the combustion chamber through-openings, and deformation delimiting devices which delimit the flattening of the sealing beads; in order to achieve as good a sealing function as possible in the long term and as good a protection as possible of the sealing beads against inadmissibly high deformations during operation of the engine, deformation delimiting devices, one of which is formed by a meandering bead stamped into a metal layer, and the other by a plurality of elevations stamped out of a metal layer, are provided radially inside and radially outside the sealing beads.

Abstract: In order to provide a device for the production of gasket layers for single or multiple layered gaskets from one respective gasket layer section of a starting material comprising several continuous gasket layer sections, comprising a follow-on combination tool with several machining stations which follow one another along a direction of feed and in which the gasket layer sections are machined during operating cycles, wherein at least one of the machining stations is designed as a station for cutting outer contour lines, in which facing outer contour lines of two adjacent gasket layers are cut by means of a tool for cutting outer contour lines, and a feeding device, by means of which the gasket layer sections are moved further along the direction of feed by a feed distance v between two operating cycles, with which the outer contour lines of the gasket layers are cut with less resources and the starting material can be better utilized it is suggested that the tool for cutting outer contour lines be designed su

Abstract: Cylinder head gasket with a gasket plate having at least one combustion chamber opening and comprising at least two sheet metal layers, a first one of which is provided with at least one bead which is elastically deformable in its height and encloses the combustion chamber opening, and a second one of which is provided with at least one deformation delimiting device delimiting deformation of the bead and surrounding the combustion chamber opening; in order to achieve as rigid a delimitation of the deformation as possible, the original second sheet metal layer is formed by a steel sheet which is plastically deformable by cold flow pressing, and in a plan view of the second sheet metal layer the deformation delimiting device forms a two-dimensional pattern of discrete, cup-like depressions, with the total volume of the depressions stamped by flow pressing being approximately equal to the total volume of the elevations formed by the material of the second sheet metal layer that is displaced during the stamping o

Abstract: In a cylinder head gasket with a metallic gasket plate comprising a combustion chamber opening enclosed by a bead which is elastically deformable in its height, and a stopper surrounding the combustion chamber opening and delimiting the deformation of the bead, the stopper being formed by elevations of a sheet metal layer of the gasket plate which are obtained by deformation * of this sheet metal layer, in order to obtain such a stopper which is resistant to deformation, the stopper is designed such that in sections through the sheet metal layer along circular cylindrical surfaces coaxial with the combustion chamber opening the stopper respectively comprises a row of discrete elevations following one another in a circumferential direction of the combustion chamber opening and corresponding depressions located directly opposite these elevations in the sheet metal layer, and in a plan view of the sheet metal layer in the area of the stopper, the total area occupied by the elevations is at least half of the tota

Abstract: In a cylinder head gasket with a metallic gasket plate comprising a combustion chamber opening enclosed by a bead which is elastically deformable in its height, and a stopper surrounding the combustion chamber opening and delimiting the deformation of the bead, the stopper being formed by elevations of a sheet metal layer of the gasket plate which are obtained by deformation of this sheet metal layer, in order to obtain such a stopper which is resistant to deformation, the stopper is designed such that in sections through the sheet metal layer along circular cylindrical surfaces coaxial with the combustion chamber opening the stopper respectively comprises a row of discrete elevations following one another in a circumferential direction of the combustion chamber opening and corresponding depressions located directly opposite these elevations in the sheet metal layer, and in a plan view of the sheet metal layer in the area of the stopper, the total area occupied by the elevations is at least half of the total

Abstract: In order to provide a multilayer gasket, which comprises at least one first layer and one second layer and at least one joining device for joining the layers of the gasket to one another and in which the layers of the gasket are joined to one another in a simple and reliable manner, it is proposed that the joining device comprises at least two through-holes in the first layer, at least one through-opening in the second layer and a joining element constructed separately from the first layer and the second layer, wherein the joining element penetrates the through-openings of the first layer and the through-opening of the second layer and engages behind a retention region of the second layer in such a way that the first layer, the second layer and the joining element are form locked, preventing them from moving apart from one another.

Abstract: In order to provide a multilayer gasket, which comprises at least one first layer and one second layer and at least one joining device for joining the layers of the gasket to one another and in which the layers of the gasket are joined to one another in a simple and reliable manner, it is proposed that the joining device comprises at least two through-holes in the first layer, at least one through-opening in the second layer and a joining element constructed separately from the first layer and the second layer, wherein the joining element penetrates the through-openings of the first layer and the through-opening of the second layer and engages behind a retention region of the second layer in such a way that the first layer, the second layer and the joining element are form locked, preventing them from moving apart from one another.

Abstract: In a cylinder head gasket with a metallic gasket plate comprising a combustion chamber opening enclosed by a bead which is elastically deformable in its height, and a stopper surrounding the combustion chamber opening and delimiting the deformation of the bead, the stopper being formed by elevations of a sheet metal layer of the gasket plate which are obtained by deformation of this sheet metal layer, in order to obtain such a stopper which is resistant to deformation, the stopper is designed such that in sections through the sheet metal layer along circular cylindrical surfaces coaxial with the combustion chamber opening the stopper respectively comprises a row of discrete elevations following one another in a circumferential direction of the combustion chamber opening and corresponding depressions located directly opposite these elevations in the sheet metal layer, and in a plan view of the sheet metal layer in the area of the stopper, the total area occupied by the elevations is at least half of the total

Abstract: Cylinder head gasket with a gasket plate having at least one combustion chamber opening and comprising at least two sheet metal layers, a first one of which is provided with at least one bead which is elastically deformable in its height and encloses the combustion chamber opening, and a second one of which is provided with at least one deformation delimiting device delimiting deformation of the bead and surrounding the combustion chamber opening; in order to achieve as rigid a delimitation of the deformation as possible, the original second sheet metal layer is formed by a steel sheet which is plastically deformable by cold flow pressing, and in a plan view of the second sheet metal layer the deformation delimiting device forms a two-dimensional pattern of discrete, cup-like depressions, with the total volume of the depressions stamped by flow pressing being approximately equal to the total volume of the elevations formed by the material of the second sheet metal layer that is displaced during the stamping o