Abstract: A method is provided for unmanned control of at least one vehicle by a central processing unit. The central processing unit controls the at least one vehicle on a route determined by the central processing unit from a first location on the route to at least one second location on the route. The second location on the route is a parking site. The central processing unit further controls the vehicle so that the vehicle, after a parking operation at the second location, is provided automatically to a user for acceptance at a retrieval location as further location on the route. The route is calculated by the central processing unit dynamically depending on information concerning further routes for further vehicles managed by the central processing unit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a charging apparatus for contactless charging of an electrical energy store (2) of a motor vehicle (1), comprising a primary unit (13) which is arranged outside the motor vehicle (1) and comprising a vehicle-mounted secondary unit (14). In order to simplify contactless charging of a motor vehicle comprising an electrical energy store, the vehicle-mounted secondary unit (14) can be moved relative to the primary unit (13), which is arranged outside the motor vehicle (1), in order to reduce the size of an air gap or distance (16) between the primary unit (13) and the secondary unit (14).

Abstract: A method for determining a state of charge of a rechargeable battery using an open-circuit voltage characteristic curve of the rechargeable battery includes the steps of (a) loading the rechargeable battery in any desired manner by an application up to a first time; discharging the rechargeable battery with a prespecified discharge current from the first time up to a second time; discharging the rechargeable battery at most with a quiescent current, which is produced by the application, from the second time up to a third time; measuring an open-circuit voltage of the rechargeable battery at the earliest at the third time; and determining the state of charge using the open-circuit voltage characteristic curve on the basis of the open-circuit voltage. Also described is a corresponding apparatus, a corresponding computer program and a corresponding storage medium.

Abstract: A method is provided for unmanned control of at least one vehicle by a central processing unit. The central processing unit controls the at least one vehicle on a route determined by the central processing unit from a first location on the route to at least one second location on the route. The second location on the route is a parking site. The central processing unit further controls the vehicle so that the vehicle, after a parking operation at the second location, is provided automatically to a user for acceptance at a retrieval location as further location on the route. The route is calculated by the central processing unit dynamically depending on information concerning further routes for further vehicles managed by the central processing unit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a charging apparatus for contactless charging of an electrical energy store (2) of a motor vehicle (1), comprising a primary unit (13) which is arranged outside the motor vehicle (1) and comprising a vehicle-mounted secondary unit (14). In order to simplify contactless charging of a motor vehicle comprising an electrical energy store, the vehicle-mounted secondary unit (14) can be moved relative to the primary unit (13), which is arranged outside the motor vehicle (1), in order to reduce the size of an air gap or distance (16) between the primary unit (13) and the secondary unit (14).

Abstract: The humidifying device for a fuel cell has a membrane, one side of which is exposed to cathode exhaust gas of a fuel cell for extracting water vapor from the exhaust gas. A connecting element connects the other side of the membrane to an anode or cathode gas supply to the fuel cell. In operation, water vapor permeates through the membrane and passes on through the connecting elements to humidify the gas being supplied to the fuel cell. A vacuum pump may additionally be provided to enhance the extraction of water vapor from the exhaust gas. A no metering unit allows accurate metering of the humidity of the cathode or anode gas supply.

Abstract: A fuel tank, in particular for fuel-cell systems, which can feed fuel into a system via a mechanism without a pump or the like. This is achieved by a fuel tank with a fuel cavity of variable size and a mechanism for compressing the fuel cavity. The fuel cavity is preferably bounded by a cylindrical inner wall of the fuel tank, by a circular end surface of the fuel tank and by a circular, displaceable intermediate wall. The intermediate wall is forced essentially in the direction of the fuel cavity by a spring and has a form fit with the cylindrical inner wall. A feed device and a discharge device allow incorporation in a fuel line. The system also includes a control device and a method for this fuel container, which is thus enabled to have the following operating states: A. fuel-cell system is switched on: discharge valve open, feed valve closed; B. fuel-cell system is in operation: discharge valve open, feed valve open; C. fuel-cell system is switched off: discharge valve closed, feed valve open; and D.

Abstract: A fuel cell system which has a fuel cell is described. Also provided is a device for producing/preparing the fuel, for example hydrogen, which is connected on its outlet side to a fuel supply line and on its inlet side to a device for supplying fuel. The device for supplying fuel has a dual pump, in which a starting material for the fuel, stored in the motor-fuel tank, and water fed in via a water supply line, which is for example process water produced during the fuel cell process, are mixed to form a fuel/water mixture. This fuel/water mixture is intermediately stored in an intermediate tank before it is fed to the device for producing/preparing the fuel.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fuel cell system comprising a fuel cell which includes a feed line for a fuel and a feed line for an oxidant. To ensure adequate moistening of the fuel cell membrane even during the start-up phase of the fuel cell, a fluid reservoir containing a fluid is provided, via which the fuel and/or the oxidant are humidified before entering the fuel cell. Thus adequate moistening of the fuel cell membrane is ensured even during the start-up phase of the fuel cell. To prevent the fluid from freezing at low temperatures, mixing of the fluid with an antifreeze is provided for. To ensure that the antifreeze will not pass into the fuel cell, the fluid drawn from the fluid reservoir is heated sufficiently by a heating means for evaporation of the antifreeze and separation from the fluid to take place. The heating means can include a flow conduit designed as a closed system. The flow conduit has a heating medium flowing through it which, prior to giving off heat to the fluid, is heated via a burner.

Abstract: A fuel cell system which has a fuel cell with a supply line and a discharge line for a fuel as well as a supply line and a discharge line for an oxidizing agent. Also provided is a fuel tank which contains, for example, benzene or methanol for producing the fuel for the fuel cell. To avoid the release of hydrocarbons from the fuel contained in the tank, a filter element, for example an active carbon filter, is connected to the fuel tank. To be able to regenerate the filter element, the filter element is connected to the discharge line for the oxidizing agent and/or the discharge line for the fuel. The filter element is regenerated by the flow of exhaust gas from the fuel cell. The filter element is preferably connected via a connecting line to a burner, with the result that the hydrocarbons taken up by the flow of exhaust gas can be burned in the burner. Furthermore, by designing the fuel cell system appropriately, a leakage diagnosis can also be performed in the fuel tank.

Abstract: A fuel cell system which has a fuel cell is described. Also provided is a device for producing/preparing the fuel, for example hydrogen, which is connected on its outlet side to a fuel supply line and on its inlet side to a device for supplying fuel. The device for supplying fuel has a dual pump, in which a starting material for the fuel, stored in the motor-fuel tank, and water fed in via a water supply line, which is for example process water produced during the fuel cell process, are mixed to form a fuel/water mixture. This fuel/water mixture is intermediately stored in an intermediate tank before it is fed to the device for producing/preparing the fuel.

Abstract: A device installed in a vehicle for recording information on the itinerary of the vehicle. The device includes a receiver system for receiving wirelessly transmitted information for identifying the current geographical position of the vehicle, a computer unit for computing digitalized data on the geographical position of the vehicle, and a memory unit for continuous storage of the digitalized geographical position data of the vehicle on a data carrier, which is protected against overwriting of recorded data, whereby the memory device also stores time data, which allow identification of the particular point in time at which a particular vehicle position was found. So that an itinerary taken by a vehicle can later be reconstructed without great expense the data carrier is configured to be easily exchangeable, and a data reading device is provided for the input of data that identify the driver of the vehicle and are recorded on the data carrier.

Abstract: Vibration damper, in particular for motor vehicles, including a work cylinder, a work piston fastened to a piston rod and dividing the work cylinder into two work chambers, possibly an equalization chamber and a piston rod guide which seals the piston rod against the atmosphere, whereby the work chambers are filled with a magnetorheological fluid to which an electric coil can be applied. In the event of a failure or malfunction of the electric coil, it must be possible to achieve a safe damping force, by having at least one permanent magnetic field which acts on the magnetorheological fluid.