Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Bruno Alves

Raphael Koch

Philipp Kuepper

Sebastian Stauff

Martin Faßbender

Lieven Werner

Klemens Degle

Werner Jakobs

Thomas Kreuz

Tobias Ricke

Stephan A Grymel

Baha Ber

Christian Heinisch

Pascal Schneider

Thomas Pulheim

Lukas Loehmann

A device for winding up and unwinding an elongated flexible element having a free end and a spatially fixed end. The elongated flexible element is divided over its length at least into a use portion and a compensation portion, wherein the use portion has the free end and the compensation portion has the spatially fixed end. The device includes a rotatable drum configured on its circumference to wind up and unwind at least the use portion in a first winding plane, wherein the end of the compensation portion is spatially fixed relative to the drum. The elongated flexible element in the transition from the use portion to the compensation portion is fixed at a fastening point to the drum, and when the drum is rotated the compensation portion is coiled up and uncoiled in the form of at least one looped portion in a second winding plane.

Device for winding up and unwinding an elongated flexible element

A method for releasing a tilt mechanism for a steering element of a vehicle, wherein the steering element is mounted pivotably around a tilt axis between a steering position and at least one non-steering position, wherein the steering element has at least one releasable locking arrangement, which fixes the steering element in the steering position and the at least one non-steering position. The locking arrangement can adopt at least one locking state in which the release of the locking arrangement is prevented and can adopt at least one release state in which the release of the locking arrangement is enabled. A corresponding steering arrangement and a corresponding vehicle are provided.

Driving state-dependent release of the tilt function of a steering element of a vehicle

A method for the treatment of residual thermoplastic powder from an additive manufacturing process includes, in one step of the process, a powder that includes the residual powder is provided and compressed into granules as raw material for a primary shaping process. A pressing apparatus with two roller elements rotating in opposite directions and having lateral surfaces adjacent to one another in a pressing area is used to compress the powder into the granules. The lateral surfaces each having a plurality of molding elements assigned to one another in pairs such that the powder is compressed into granules in the pressing area. A cam mechanism positioned within one of the roller elements and configured to deflect the plurality of molding elements radially as a function of an angle of rotation of the roller element can be included.

Method for the treatment of residual thermoplastic powders

A steering wheel for a transport vehicle comprises a hub and a rim which extends around the hub, wherein the rim is pivotably supported between a steering position and at least one non-steering position about a tilting axis. The steering wheel has at least one releasable locking arrangement having a hub-side hub locking device and a rim-side rim locking device for blocking the pivoting by use of mutual engagement. The hub locking device and the rim locking device are configured to engage with each other with spacing from the tilting axis.

Tilting mechanism integrated in the steering wheel rim

A system for providing an illuminated path for an object, such as a pedestrian or bicyclist. The system includes a central system unit, a number of vehicles networked with the central system unit and parked in a region. Each of the vehicles includes a detection unit designed to detect an object approaching the parked vehicle and to activate a vehicle light and illuminate a path. Each of the vehicles include a communication unit designed to transmit geo-position data of the parked vehicle. The central system unit is designed, as a result of a route query, to ascertain a route for the object from a starting location to a destination location under the criterion that a maximum number of parked vehicles networked with the central system unit are present along the route so that the best possible path illumination is ensured on the route.

System and method for providing an illuminated route for an object moving on a path

The present disclosure provides an additive production method of producing an object by metal powder being applied in a production region in layers by an application device. The metal powder is applied to a base member along a construction face and is partially molten by a laser beam and solidified. A continuous conveyor transports the base member with the object in a transport direction away from the construction face. The continuous conveyor further transports the base member with the completed object to a removal region where the object is removed from the continuous conveyor. Support structures are produced on the object and are connected to the base member. The support structures are removed after the removal region has been reached.

Additive production method

A sprue system for a nozzle-side injection-molding arrangement of an injection-molding machine for introducing a plasticizable and/or plasticized plastics material into an injection-molding tool along a runner, the center axis of which fixes an injection axis, includes a sprue piece which at least partially forms the runner, a tube portion and a flange portion. A fastener assembly for fastening the sprue system to the injection-molding tool and for aligning the sprue piece along the injection axis is included. The sprue piece and the fastener assembly are formed adjustably in relation to one another and the sprue system has an adjuster for setting a distance (A) between the flange portion and the fastener assembly.

Sprue system for injection-molding processes

An apparatus for the treatment of residual thermoplastic powder from an additive manufacturing process includes a feed apparatus for feeding powder, which includes the residual thermoplastic powder, to a pressing area, and two rotatable roller elements which are drivable in opposite directions. Lateral surfaces of the two rotatable roller elements are adjacent to one another in a pressing area and each laterally have a plurality of molding elements that are assigned to one another in pairs in order to compress powder into granules in the pressing area. Also, a cam mechanism is included and configured to deflect the molding elements of one of the two rotatable roller elements radially depending on the angle of rotation.

Apparatus for treatment of residual thermoplastic powder

An additive production assembly and method is provided by the present disclosure. The assembly includes a tank containing radiation-curable liquid and has at least one radiation-penetrable sidewall, a projector that projects at least one beam to the sidewall, and a transportation assembly to transport an object. The beam acts through the sidewall and an area of the liquid close to the sidewall is hardened to form the object. The object is transported along a transporting direction (T) in a sideward direction away from the sidewall, as a result of which liquid flows into a gap between the object and the sidewall.

Three dimensional continuous fabrications

A severing device for mechanically severing metal-containing 3D objects from a base plate of a 3D printing apparatus is provided. The severing device has at least one first machining unit firmly connectable to the 3D printing apparatus with at least one machining tool which has a working zone which encompasses at least part of an area of the base plate.

Severing device

The present disclosure provides an impregnation method that includes the steps of providing a workpiece to be impregnated, placing the workpiece in a bath of impregnating agent inside a vessel, and oscillating movement of a vibrating body inside the vessel during an impregnation period. The vibrating body creates oscillating pressure changes inside the bath by acting on the bath. the method further includes removing the workpiece from the bath after the impregnation period.

Impregnation method

The present disclosure relates to a nozzle for discharging compressed air having a circumferential surface section which extends from a feed end to a discharge end and extends at least partially axially, and an end section produced in one piece, which extends radially inward from the circumferential surface section at the discharge end. In order to allow efficient and targeted compressed air discharge, the present disclosure envisages that a plurality of helical passages extend through the end section, each of which slopes in a tangential direction, at least in some section or sections, and into each of which a first discharge opening for compressed air opens.

Nozzle for discharging compressed air

The disclosure concerns a crumple element for a steering column. In order to provide a reliable, structurally simple steering column, according to the disclosure, it is provided that the crumple element has first and second connecting portions arranged axially at an end to connect adjacent steering column parts, and an interrupted crumple portion arranged in between the first and second connecting portions, and is able to deform by a threshold force acting axially, while the connecting portions are deformation-resistant to the threshold force. The crumple element is made integrally by additive production from metal. An end region of the first connecting portion facing the crumple portion has a first portion that protrudes axially relative to a second portion lying opposite the first portion transversely to the axial direction.

Crumple element for a safety steering column

The disclosure relates to a sensor carrier as a mechanical connection of a sensor to a component of a motor vehicle. The sensor carrier has a sensor section to fix the sensor to the sensor carrier, at least one component section to fix the sensor carrier to the component, and at least one intermediate section that connects the sensor section to the at least one component section. The sensor carrier is composed, at least in the intermediate section, of an inherently rigid cellular material, the cavities of cellular material are arranged regularly, at least in some sections, specifically in such a way that, starting from a defined minimum force, the material of the sensor carrier in the intermediate section is intrinsically more deformable in at least one direction than in other directions.

Sensor carrier in a motor vehicle

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for removing industrial powder from a shaped body manufactured generatively using the industrial powder. The apparatus includes at least one container for holding the shaped body having a vertically adjustable construction platform, a vibrating screen, a tilting device for tilting the container, and at least one catching unit adjoining a transfer end of the vibrating screen for catching the shaped body. In one form, the vibrating screen, tilting device, and catching unit are arranged within a housing. In another form, the vibrating screen and catching unit are arranged within the housing and the tilting device is at least partially arranged in the housing. At least one opening in the housing is closed in an airtight manner by a glove such that a user can use the glove to grasp the shaped body caught by the catching unit.

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Huerth, Germany

Bruno Alves