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VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT

VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT Patent applications
Patent application numberTitlePublished
20120083386DRIVE ARRANGEMENT FOR A HYBRID VEHICLE AND METHOD FOR OPERATING AN ELECTRIC ENGINE IN A HYBRID VEHICLE - A hybrid vehicle has an internal combustion engine and an electric engine. A drive arrangement for the vehicle has a crankshaft-side clutch part rigidly connected to a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine, and the crankshaft-side clutch part may be coupled to a drive train shaft-side clutch part via a clutch. The clutch part on the drive train shaft side is mechanically connected to a drive train shaft via at least one element for torsional vibration isolation. The drive train shaft is configured at least partially as a rotor of the electric engine. The crankshaft-side clutch part, the clutch and the drive train shaft-side clutch part form at least one part of the primary mass of a dual-mass flywheel. The drive train shaft forms at least one part of the secondary mass of the dual-mass flywheel.04-05-2012
20120060499Internal combustion engine with an exhaust-gas recirculation and method for operating an internal combustion engine - An internal combustion engine has a high-pressure exhaust-gas recirculation line and a low-pressure exhaust-gas recirculation line with a low-pressure exhaust-gas recirculation valve. The low-pressure exhaust-gas recirculation line branches off from the exhaust-gas system downstream of a turbine of an exhaust-gas turbocharger and opens into a fresh-air system upstream of a compressor of the exhaust-gas turbocharger. An exhaust-gas flap is disposed in the exhaust-gas system downstream from where the low-pressure exhaust-gas recirculation line branches off from the exhaust-gas system. At least one pressure sensor is disposed in the low-pressure exhaust-gas recirculation line and configured such that the at least one pressure sensor determines a pressure difference in the low-pressure exhaust-gas recirculation line between a point upstream of the low-pressure exhaust-gas recirculation valve and a point downstream of the low-pressure exhaust-gas recirculation valve. A method for operating an internal combustion engine is also provided.03-15-2012
20110162932METHOD FOR OPERATING A TORQUE-TRANSMITTING SYSTEM AND TORQUE-TRANSMITTING SYSTEM - A method for operating a torque-transmitting system, which is coupled on the input side to an output shaft of a drive assembly and on the output side to an input shaft of a transmission. A torque flux from the drive assembly to the transmission passes via the torque-transmitting system. The torque-transmitting system includes a hydrodynamic torque converter via which a hydraulic path of the torque flux passes, a converter lockup clutch which is arranged functionally in parallel with the torque converter and via which a mechanical path of the torque flux passes, and a control unit which controls distribution of the torque flux between the hydraulic and mechanical paths in such a way that a predetermined overall torque profile is established at the input shaft of the transmission.07-07-2011
20110107827Method for Testing the Functionality of an Oxidation Catalyst of an Internal Combustion Engine - A method of testing the functionality of an oxidation catalytic converter of an internal combustion engine, particularly a diesel engine, of a motor vehicle, includes the following steps: (a) verifying whether the motor vehicle is at a standstill; (b) verifying whether the internal combustion engine is idling; (c) verifying whether a temperature lies within a predetermined range upstream and downstream of the oxidation catalyst. Then, if all of the steps (a) to (c) yield an affirmative result, an intervention in the engine management is made in such a way that a predetermined temperature is set in the oxidation catalyst; (e) hydrocarbons (HCs) are actively produced by post-injecting fuel at a late point in time; (f) a lambda value is measured upstream and downstream of the oxidation catalyst as soon as the predetermined temperature from step (d) has been reached, and while HCs are actively produced in step (e). Then, a difference is determined between the lambda values measured upstream and downstream of the oxidation catalyst. If the difference is less than a predetermined value, a conclusion is reached that the oxidation catalyst is damaged.05-12-2011
20110035103METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MANIPULATING THE MOVEMENT OF A VEHICLE BODY OF A MOTOR VEHICLE CONTROLLABLE OR ADJUSTABLE WITH RESPECT TO ITS MOVEMENT PROCESSES AND VEHICLE - A method and a system generates signals for influencing the movement of the body of a vehicle, wherein the chain of movements of which can be controlled or adjusted. The movement of the vehicle body is determined by sensors in relation to at least three wheels of the motor vehicle and the vertical acceleration of the vehicle body, the sensor signals that correspond to the determined sensor values are fed to a shock absorber controller which delivers at least one control signal to control actuators, in particular semi-active or active shock absorbers which are used to influence the movement of the body. The control signal for controlling the actuators is determined by the shock absorber controller from the sensor signals, with the aid of condition-dependent adjustment algorithms, taking into consideration current and/or expected conditions in conjunction with selectable requirements for the movement of the vehicle body and driving safety requirements.02-10-2011
20110011336TREATMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR THE SURFACE TREATMENT OF WORKPIECES, PARTICULARLY VEHICLE BODIES - A treatment system for the surface treatment of workpieces, particularly vehicle bodies, includes a plurality of transport devices, on which at least one workpiece to be treated can be attached in a releasable manner. A conveying device moves the transport devices through the treatment system. At least one treatment bath is disposed in a first conveying plane of the treatment system and the transport devices with the workpieces arranged thereon are introduced into the treatment bath. At least one cleaning device, which is suitable and designed for cleaning the transport devices after the surface treatment of the workpieces, is disposed in a second conveying plane of the treatment system. The second conveying plane is offset in the vertical direction relative to the first conveying plane.01-20-2011
20100290243VEHICLE ILLUMINATING DEVICE COMPRISING AN AUXILIARY REFLECTOR FOR LATERAL DEFLECTION OF A LIGHT PORTION OF A LIGHT SOURCE - A vehicle illuminating device for the integrated attachment in each edge region of a motor vehicle, has a housing with at least one chamber, a light source positioned in a bracket, a reflector, an intermediate light disc with a prism arranged therein in at least partial regions, wherein the intermediate light disc has at least one signal function region dyed in a signal color, and electric connection contacts and a cover housing disc are spaced from the light disc. The reflector has in a first chamber a lateral section provided in a predominantly horizontal, lateral direction facing away from the vehicle. The housing has a lateral light region extending into the lateral region of the vehicle body, an additional lateral intermediate light disc arranged in the region, wherein the cover housing disc covers also the lateral light region with the lateral intermediate light disc from the outside at a distance.11-18-2010
20100263641Internal Combustion Engine With an Exhaust-Gas Turbocharger and a Charge-Air Cooler and Method for Operating an Internal Combustion Engine - An internal combustion engine includes an intake manifold in a fresh air system. The intake manifold opens into inlet ports of a cylinder head. An exhaust-gas turbocharger has a turbine and a compressor, which is driven by the turbine. The turbine is disposed in the exhaust-gas system. The compressor is disposed in the fresh air system. The turbine has a turbine wheel and a wastegate channel configured to allow a bypassing flow of exhaust-gas past the turbine wheel of the turbine. A wastegate valve is disposed in the wastegate channel for selectively opening and closing the wastegate channel. An electric actuator is provided for operating the wastegate valve. A charge-air cooler is disposed, downstream of the compressor, in the fresh air system. The charge-air cooler is integrated into the intake manifold and is embodied with a water-cooled heat exchanger.10-21-2010
20100230992HOLDING DEVICE FOR CLOSING CAPS OF A FUEL SUPPLY DEVICE - A motor vehicle has a fuel supply device provided in a bowl indentation of the vehicle body. A closing cap closes the fuel supply device and a cover flap is articulated on the motor vehicle that, in the closed state, covers the bowl body of the body. Vehicles of the same model series must have different closing caps for different sales markets. Here, at least two different holding devices for holding the closing cap are therefore provided in the region of the fuel supply device. Differently designed closing caps for closing the fuel supply device can thus be received.09-16-2010
20100193316ACTUATION DEVICE FOR A CLUTCH - An actuation device and a method for actuating a clutch, in particular for a hybrid drive, include a master cylinder having an interior separated by a master piston into master and slave oil chambers. The slave oil chamber is connected, via a valve in a first valve position, to a tank line leading to an oil reservoir and in a second valve position, to a pressure line of the oil reservoir. The master oil chamber is connected via a working line to an oil chamber of a slave cylinder and to a compensating tank via a compensating line as a function of the position of the master piston. The compensating tank has a compensating volume which has, at its highest point, an overflow which is connected to the tank line and in its first position the valve connects the slave oil chamber to the compensating tank via a return line.08-05-2010
20100132355Internal Combustion Engine - An internal combustion engine, in particular an Otto-cycle engine, has an exhaust gas turbocharger and a mechanical charger, wherein a compressor of the exhaust gas turbo charger is disposed upstream of the mechanical charger in the air channel for combustion air such that the compressor of the exhaust gas turbocharger draws combustion air directly from an air filter. A first charge air cooler is disposed downstream of the compressor of the exhaust gas turbocharger and upstream of the mechanical charger. A second charge air cooler is disposed downstream of the mechanical charger. The first charge air cooler, the second charge air cooler, the mechanical charger, and an intake manifold are all arranged in a single charge air cooling module, wherein direct fuel injection into the combustion chambers of the internal combustion engine is provided for supplying fuel.06-03-2010
20100131178METHOD OF OPERATING AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - A method relates to operating an internal combustion engine in the form of an Otto engine, especially of a motor vehicle. Otto engine fuel (i.e., carburetor fuel, spark ignition engine fuel), such as gasoline or ethanol (E85), are directly injected into at least one combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine with at least one fuel injector. Optionally, instead of injecting ignition spark engine fuel or in addition, the internal combustion engine is operated with gas, especially CNG (compressed natural gas) or LPG (liquefied petroleum gas). During operation of the internal combustion engine with gas only, the engine is automatically switched to the operation with spark ignition engine fuel for a predetermined period, or the engine is switched to the operation with spark ignition engine fuel in addition to the operation with gas, in such a manner that a predetermined quantity of the carburetor fuel flows through the at least one fuel injector. The engine is then automatically switched back to the operation with gas only.05-27-2010
20100131177METHOD OF OPERATING AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - A method for operating an internal combustion engine in the form of an Otto engine, especially of a motor vehicle, selectively uses carburetor fuel, especially gasoline or ethanol (E85) by direct injection into at least one combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine by means of at least one fuel injector. Optionally, instead of injecting ignition spark engine fuel or in addition to injecting ignition spark engine fuel, the internal combustion engine is operated with gas, especially CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) or LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas). A mixture adaptation value is continuously determined during the operation of the internal combustion engine with spark ignition engine fuel. An actual mixture adaptation value is stored in a memory during the operation of the internal combustion engine with the spark ignition engine fuel and, after a predetermined minimum duration of operation with gas, an actual mixture adaptation value is compared with the stored mixture adaptation value during the operation of the internal combustion engine with ignition spark engine fuel. The fuel injectors are scavenged when a difference between the actual mixture adaptation value and the stored mixture adaptation value exceeds a predetermined difference value.05-27-2010
20100088093Voice Command Acquisition System and Method - A voice command acquisition method and system for motor vehicles is improved in that noise source information is obtained directly from the vehicle system bus. Upon receiving an input signal with a voice command, the system bus is queried for one or more possible sources of a noise component in the input signal. In addition to vehicle-internal information (e.g., window status, fan blower speed, vehicle speed), the system may acquire external information (e.g., weather status) in order to better classify the noise component in the input signal. If the noise source is found to be a window, for example, the driver may be prompted to close the window. In addition, if the fan blower is at a high speed level, it may be slowed down automatically.04-08-2010
20100075766Shaft Assembly - A telescopable shaft assembly has at least two shaft elements capable of sliding in one another as an internal shaft element and an outer shaft element connected to one another in torque transmitting manner via at least one sliding splined portion. An axial fixation defines predetermined breaking point between the shaft elements. The axial fixation becomes ineffective once a predetermined impact force acting in a telescoping direction is reached. The shaft elements are movable relative to one another, once the axial fixation has become ineffective, in low-friction manner along the sliding splined portion under the action of the impact force. When the axial fixation is effective, an annular gap is formed between a splined portion runout on a free end of the outer shaft element and an unsplined portion of the inner shaft element. The annular gap, at least in the area of the free end of the outer shaft element, is at least partially filled with a sealant.03-25-2010
20100072795Headrest for Protecting Against Whiplash - The invention relates to a headrest (03-25-2010
20090277431Internal combustion engine with an exhaust-gas recirculation and method for operating an internal combustion engine - An internal combustion engine has a high-pressure exhaust-gas recirculation line and a low-pressure exhaust-gas recirculation line with a low-pressure exhaust-gas recirculation valve. The low-pressure exhaust-gas recirculation line branches off from the exhaust-gas system downstream of a turbine of an exhaust-gas turbocharger and opens into a fresh-air system upstream of a compressor of the exhaust-gas turbocharger. An exhaust-gas flap is disposed in the exhaust-gas system downstream from where the low-pressure exhaust-gas recirculation line branches off from the exhaust-gas system. At least one pressure sensor is disposed in the low-pressure exhaust-gas recirculation line and configured such that the at least one pressure sensor determines a pressure difference in the low-pressure exhaust-gas recirculation line between a point upstream of the low-pressure exhaust-gas recirculation valve and a point downstream of the low-pressure exhaust-gas recirculation valve. A method for operating an internal combustion engine is also provided.11-12-2009
20090146615Hybrid Motor Vehicle and Method for Controlling Operation of a Hybrid Motor Vehicle - The invention relates to a method for controlling an operation of a motor vehicle equipped with a hybrid drive unit (06-11-2009
20090087698MEMBRANE ELECTRODE ASSEMBLY WITH HYDROGENATABLE MATERIAL FOR A FUEL CELL - The invention relates to a membrane-electrode assembly (04-02-2009
20090079250ACTUATING DEVICE FOR ADJUSTING AND/OR REMOVING A HEAD RESTRAINT TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 202A (FMVSS 202A) - A head restraint is guided and at least indirectly held in a frame part of a seat, in particular of a backrest of a motor vehicle seat, via at least one holding element which can be positioned at various height levels relative to the frame part by way of an actuating element. The actuating element interacts with at least one locking element. The actuating element is operated with a first, second, and third operating action. A first operating action of the actuating element permits height adjustment of the head restraint and a second operating action permits removal thereof from the frame part of the seat. The second operating action, for removing the head restraint, can be carried out in parallel with or after a third operating action on at least one blocking member that is integrated in the actuating element.03-26-2009
20080236915Hybrid drive train of a motor vehicle and method for controlling a hybrid drive train - A hybrid drive train includes an internal combustion engine, an electromagnetic transmission downstream of the internal combustion engine and an axle drive downstream of the electromagnetic transmission. The electromagnetic transmission includes a first and a second electric machine and a stator in common for the first and the second electric machine. The first electric machine has a drive rotor connected to an input shaft. The second electric machine has an output drive rotor connected to an output shaft. An effective transmission ratio can be set by an axial displacement of the stator in relation to the drive rotor and the output drive rotor. A driving battery is connected to a short-circuit winding of the stator via switchable lines and power electronics having an associated controllable DC-DC converter, so that a flow of energy between the first and second electric machines and the driving battery can be controlled.10-02-2008
20080209886Method for Controlling an Operation of a Heatable Exhaust-Gas Sensor of a Motor Vehicle - A method is for controlling the operation of an exhaust-gas sensor disposed in an exhaust duct of a motor vehicle and equipped with an internal or external sensor heating device, the motor vehicle including a combustion engine and an automatic switchoff, which causes an automatic switching off of the combustion engine when at least one stop condition is present. It is provided that: (a) following an automatic switching off of the combustion engine by the automatic switchoff, a first future instant is determined at which the exhaust-gas temperature in the exhaust duct will drop below a condensation temperature below which condensate precipitation from the exhaust gas may occur; (b) a second instant is determined at which a heat output of the sensor heating device must be interrupted or reduced so that a sensor temperature of the exhaust-gas sensor will have dropped to a maximally allowed sensor temperature no later than the first future instant; and the heat output of the sensor heating device is interrupted or reduced when the second instant is attained.09-04-2008

Patent applications by VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT