Conti Temic Microelectronic Gmbh

Coley Pharmaceutical Gmbh

Continental Automotive Gmbh

Zoetis Belgium S.a

Zoetis Belgium

Coley Pharmaceuticals Gmbh

Bavarian Nordic A/s

Stefan Bauer

Michael Beuschel

Grayson B Lipford

Hubertus Hochrein

Hermann Wagner

Alexander Kerler

Johann Steinberger

Norbert Seltner

Markus Ziegelmeier

Holger Fernengel

Mehmet Cini

Martin Kolbinger

Martin Ebel

Klaus Spreng

Johann Riepl

Stefan Buschmann

Grayson Lipford

Gerhard Demmelmeier

Gerhard Berghoff

Jan Sedenka

Thomas Schuetze

Jürgen Wedell

Thomas Neefe

Arthur Andree

Rainer Schmidt

Carsten Kirschning

A pneumatic valve comprises an actuator with a movable closing element being disposed in a housing; the closing element with a tappet penetrating an actuator opening between an air chamber formed in the housing and an actuator chamber, and a plate, with a sealing element, for closing the supply opening, thereon, on that end of said tappet protruding into the air chamber, and an elastic element pressing the plate toward the actuator opening in an activated state; the actuator element configured to move, in a non-energized state, the activating element to press the tappet against a supply opening, and in an energized state to move the activating element so as not to exert force on the tappet so that the plate is pressed in the direction of the actuator opening by the elastic element. A sealing collar disposed about the tappet seals the air chamber from the actuator chamber.

Pneumatic valve, and valve assembly having at least one such pneumatic valve

Disclosed is detecting the position of an actuator element of an actuator arrangement, having at least one actuator element movable in two opposing directions by two adjustment elements. The adjustment elements electrically connected via only one two-wire connection to a control unit comprise electrically controllable shape memory alloy wires. A resistance measurement circuit formed in the control unit periodically records the resistance values of the two adjustment elements. At an energization time of a currently actuated adjustment element, the resistance value of the adjustment element and, in a subsequent pause in energization, the resistance value of another adjustment element is determined and stored. The differential value of the two resistance values is compared with pairs of values which are stored in a table and describe a correlation between the resistance differential value and a position of the adjustment element, to determine the position of the actuator element.

Method for detecting the position of an actuator element

The crimping element for holding a wire with a nominal diameter of approximately 0.1 mm or less comprises sheet-metal with a base portion extending in a base plane and a holding portion connected to the base portion. The holding portion comprises first and second clamping elements spaced apart from each other by a holding portion recess. The first element comprises a first clamping portion extending in a first plane and connected to the base portion and a second clamping portion, forming a first clamping region for holding the wire. The second element comprises a third clamping portion extending in a second plane and connected to the base portion and a fourth clamping portion, forming a second clamping region for holding the wire The first plane forms a first angle approximately 0°-10° with the base portion plane. The second plane forms a second angle approximately 1°-10° with the first plane.

Crimping element and method for producing a crimping element

An actuator arrangement () for an electromagnetically actuatable valve () is disclosed. The actuator arrangement () comprises: a housing having a first housing wall () and having a second housing wall () situated opposite the first housing wall (), a solenoid armature () which is arranged in the housing between the first housing wall () and the second housing wall () and which is movable between the first housing wall () and the second housing wall () along an axis (), wherein the solenoid armature () has a first axial armature end surface (), which faces toward the first housing wall (), and a second axial armature end surface (), which faces toward the second housing wall (), and the solenoid armature () is movable between a first position, in which the first armature end surface () makes contact with the first housing wall (), and a second position, in which the first armature end surface () has been moved away from the first housing wall (). The actuator arrangement () furthermore comprises a damping element (A,B) which is arranged on the second armature end surface () and which extends from the second armature end surface () in the direction of the second housing wall () and which is composed of an elastomer material, wherein the at least one damping element (A,B) makes contact with the second housing wall () both in the first position and in the second position of the solenoid armature (), and at least one stop element (A,B) which is arranged on the second armature end surface () and which extends from the second armature end surface () in the direction of the second housing wall () and which is composed of an elastomer material and which, in the first position of the solenoid armature (), has been moved away from the second housing () and, in the second position of the solenoid armature (), makes contact with the second housing wall ().

Actuator assembly for an electromagnetically actuatable valve

A linear drive comprises: a lever having a through bore; a rod which extends through the bore; a bearing supporting the rod; a shape memory alloy connected to the lever and a first fixed bearing, the shape memory alloy exerting a tensile force on the lever when electrical power is applied; and a restoring element connected to the lever and a second fixed bearing, the restoring element exerting a restoring force on the lever and counter to the tensile force. In a first state, the lever is tilted making a non-positive connection between the lever and the rod. In a second state the lever is displaced in parallel to and in the direction of the tensile force. In a third state the lever is tilted back releasing the non-positive connection. In a fourth state, the lever is displaced in parallel to and in the direction of the restoring force.

Linear drive and linear drive arrangement

A housing for a control device, in particular for a pneumatic control device, is disclosed. The housing comprises the following components: a housing wall, which forms a receiving space for receiving an electronic component of the control device and has at least one opening, and a flexible insulation element, which surrounds the at least one opening in such a way that the flexible insulation element, together with the housing wall, defines a sound insulation space, wherein the flexible insulation element comprises at least one element selected from the group consisting of a flexible film, a flexible textile fabric and a flexible foam layer.

Housing for a control device, and control device of such type

Disclosed is an actuator unit for opening or closing a valve opening of a valve for a pneumatic adjusting device of a vehicle seat, comprising a circuit board with a top side extending in a circuit board plane, an actuating element with an actuating section for opening or closing the valve opening and a bending section connected to the actuating section, and an actuator element with a first end mechanically connected to the actuating section and a second end mechanically connected to the circuit board. The actuator element is configured to, when actuated, bend the bending section such that the actuating section is moved between a first position for opening the valve opening and a second position for closing the valve opening. The actuating section is arranged on a first side and the bending section is arranged on a second side, situated opposite the first side, respective of the circuit board plane.

Actuator unit for a valve, valve, valve assembly and adjusting device

A valve configuration parts kit for providing at least two valve configurations, including: a first plate-shaped main body, a plurality of wall-type webs attached to the plate-shaped main body which, conjointly with the plate-shaped main body, at least in part define fluid paths, and a second main body attached to the first main body, or a third main body attached to the first main body. The second main body contacts a first sub-quantity of the plurality of webs such that the first main body, the second main body, and the first sub-quantity define a first fluid path system for providing a first valve configuration. The third main body contacts a second sub-quantity of the plurality of webs such that the first main body, the third main body, and the second sub-quantity define a second fluid path system for providing a second valve configuration.

Valve configuration parts kit and pneumatic adjustment device having a parts kit of this type

A pneumatic solenoid valve includes a fluid connector, a magnet coil which extends along a coil axis, a yoke arranged on the magnet coil, and an armature movable relative to the yoke and which extends along an armature axis and which is formed for opening and closing the fluid connector. The armature can assume three different switching positions. In the first switching position, the armature and coil axes are arranged parallel to one another and the armature completely closes off the fluid connector. In the second switching position, the armature is rotated about an axis of rotation, such that the armature axis and the coil axis assume an angle with respect to one another and the armature partially opens the fluid connector. In the third switching position, the armature is in a state axially displaced in relation to the first switching position, such that the fluid connector is completely open.

Pneumatic solenoid valve

A method for determining a fluid pressure in a pneumatic bladder of a pneumatic adjusting device of a vehicle seat is disclosed, wherein the pneumatic bladder is connected to a valve for the filling or emptying of the bladder with or of fluid. Fluid start pressure at the valve is provided as initial pressure for determining of the fluid pressure in the bladder. Fluid throughflow through the valve device is determined using a first assignment rule which assigns the fluid throughflow to the fluid start pressure at the valve. The fluid throughflow obtained using the first assignment rule over a predetermined period of time is summed to determine a fluid quantity that has flowed through the valve. Fluid pressure present in the bladder is determined using a second assignment rule which assigns the fluid pressure present in the bladder to the determined fluid quantity.

Method for determining a fluid pressure

A device provides a pneumatic pressure medium via a pressure medium source for at least one pressure medium chamber in particular of a vehicle seat of a motor vehicle. The device has a pressure medium source for the pressure medium and a pressure medium line disposed between the pressure medium source and at least one valve. At least one connection for a pressure medium line is disposed between the valve and the pressure medium chamber. A control module actuates the pressure medium source and the at least one valve. The device further has a housing. A motor of the pressure medium source is located between the control module and a pump of the pressure medium source.

Device for providing a pneumatic pressure medium by means of a pressure medium source for at least one pressure medium chamber of a vehicle seat of a motor vehicle in particular

A fluid bladder valve for a pneumatic vehicle seat adjustment device is disclosed. The valve comprises a first chamber configured to connect to a fluid source, a second chamber configured to connect to the fluid bladder, a third chamber configured to connect to an environment, a fourth chamber connected to the first chamber via a first fluid passage, connected to the second valve chamber via a second fluid passage, and connected to the third valve chamber via a third fluid passage; and an actuator comprising a blocking element disposed in the fourth chamber and an actuator element disposed in the third valve chamber and coupled to the blocking element and configured to move the blocking element between a first position wherein the first passage is opened and the third passage is closed, and a second position wherein the first passage is closed and the third passage is opened.

Pneumatic valve

A pneumatic valve including an air chamber with an air connection, and an actuator with a movable shut-off element and with an SMA element composed of a shape memory alloy. The SMA element is mechanically coupled to the movable shut-off element, wherein, for the activation of the actuator, electrical heating power is fed to the SMA element, after which the SMA element deforms and brings about a predefined movement of the shut-off element for opening or closing the air connection. The actuator includes a detection unit to detect the arrival at and departure from an end position of the shut-off element when the actuator is activated. The actuator includes a control device which is configured such that, when the actuator is activated, the control device detects the current cycle time between a departure from and the next arrival at the end position by the shut-off element.

A pneumatic solenoid valve, comprising an electromagnetic actuator and an air chamber with multiple air connections configured to be connected with the interposition of the air chamber via multiple switching positions of the magnetic actuator is disclosed. The actuator is configured to assume three different switching positions by energizing the actuator in a unipolar manner with three different current intensities and to move first and second sealing element via an actuation mechanism when switching between the switching positions. In a first position, a first sealing element closes a first air connection, and a second sealing element releases a second air connection. In a second switching position, the first sealing element closes the first air connection, and the second sealing element closes the second air connection. In a third switching position, the first sealing element releases the first air connection, and the second sealing element closes the second air connection.

A pneumatic valve, includes an air chamber, a connector for supplying compressed air to the air chamber and one or more connectors for discharging compressed air from the air chamber. The valve includes an actuator with a mobile closure element which, when the actuator is activated, blocks the supply of compressed air via the supply connector, and when the actuator is deactivated, is arranged to permit the supply of compressed air via the supply connector. The actuator is configured such that the closure element, on deactivation of the actuator, is moved by a restoring force into the free position. A check valve with a spring is arranged at the supply connector. The elastic force of the spring in the free position of the closure element prevents back-flow of compressed air from the air chamber into the supply connector when there is no supply of compressed air at the supply connector.

Growing community of inventors

Engelbrechtsmünster, Germany

Stefan Bauer