Author: claimsbot

1. A method of estimating a lifetime of a rechargeable lithium battery, the rechargeable lithium battery comprising:
a positive electrode having a positive active material capable of absorbing and releasing lithium ions;
a negative electrode having a negative active material containing at least one of silicon and tin; and
an electrolyte having lithium-ion conductivity and disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode,
the method comprising:
A) detecting an open circuit voltage of the discharged rechargeable lithium battery at least two times while the rechargeable lithium battery undergoes chargedischarge cycles;
B) on a two-dimensional graph defined by the open circuit voltage and the chargedischarge cycle, plotting the detected at least two voltage values as a function of ordinal numbers of chargedischarge cycles at which the at least two voltage values are detected;
C) drawing a circular arc on the graph such that the circular arc passes through the plotted at least two voltage values; and
D) estimating the lifetime of the rechargeable lithium battery on the graph based on an ordinal number of a chargedischarge cycle at which the drawn circular arc is expected to come close to the open circuit voltage equal to or lower than a discharge end voltage.
2. The method of estimating the lifetime of the rechargeable lithium battery according to claim 1, further comprising
E) predicting one of a number of chargedischarge cycles and a period of time remaining in the lifetime, based on the estimated lifetime of the rechargeable lithium battery and a usage history of the rechargeable lithium battery observed when the lifetime thereof is estimated.
3. The method of estimating the lifetime of the rechargeable lithium battery according to claim 1, further comprising:
F) based on the estimated lifetime of the rechargeable lithium battery, controlling charging of the rechargeable lithium battery so as to reduce a usage capacity of the rechargeable lithium battery, in order to suppress deterioration of the rechargeable lithium battery; and
G) memorizing the reduced usage capacity, and performing Step A through Step D to update the estimated lifetime of the rechargeable lithium battery while the rechargeable lithium battery undergoes chargedischarge cycles with the reduced usage capacity.
4. The method of estimating the lifetime of the rechargeable lithium battery according to claim 1, further comprising:
F) based on the estimated lifetime of the rechargeable lithium battery, controlling discharging of the rechargeable lithium battery so as to reduce a usage capacity of the rechargeable lithium battery, in order to suppress deterioration of the rechargeable lithium battery; and
G) memorizing the reduced usage capacity, and performing Step A through Step D to update the estimated lifetime of the rechargeable lithium battery while the rechargeable lithium battery undergoes chargedischarge cycles with the reduced usage capacity.
5. The method of estimating the lifetime of the rechargeable lithium battery according to claim 1, wherein the open circuit voltage is detected in step A when the rechargeable lithium battery is discharged from a fully charged level down to 10% or lower of the fully charged level.
6. A method of suppressing deterioration of a rechargeable lithium battery, the rechargeable lithium battery comprising:
a positive electrode having a positive active material capable of absorbing and releasing lithium ions;
a negative electrode having a negative active material containing at least one of silicon and tin; and
an electrolyte having lithium-ion conductivity and disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode,
the method comprising:
A) detecting an open circuit voltage of the discharged rechargeable lithium battery at least two times while the rechargeable lithium battery undergoes chargedischarge cycles;
B) on a two-dimensional graph defined by the open circuit voltage and the chargedischarge cycle, plotting the detected at least two voltage values as a function of ordinal numbers of chargedischarge cycles at which the at least two voltage values are detected;
C) drawing a circular arc on the graph such that the circular arc passes through the plotted at least two voltage values;
D) estimating the lifetime of the rechargeable lithium battery on the graph based on an ordinal number of a chargedischarge cycle at which the drawn circular arc is expected to come close to the open circuit voltage equal to or lower than a discharge end voltage; and
F) controlling charging of the rechargeable lithium battery based on the estimated lifetime thereof.
7. The method of suppressing the deterioration of the rechargeable lithium battery according to claim 6, wherein controlling charging of the rechargeable lithium battery comprises reducing a time for charging the rechargeable lithium battery.
8. The method of suppressing the deterioration of the rechargeable lithium battery according to claim 6, wherein controlling charging of the rechargeable lithium battery comprises changing a charge cutoff voltage therefor.
9. The method of suppressing the deterioration of the rechargeable lithium battery according to claim 6, wherein the open circuit voltage is detected in step A when the rechargeable lithium battery is discharged from a fully charged level down to 10% or lower of the fully charged level.
10. A method of suppressing deterioration of a rechargeable lithium battery, the rechargeable lithium battery comprising:
a positive electrode having a positive active material capable of absorbing and releasing lithium ions;
a negative electrode having a negative active material containing at least one of silicon and tin; and
an electrolyte having lithium-ion conductivity and disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode,
the method comprising:
A) detecting an open circuit voltages of the discharged rechargeable lithium battery at least two times while the rechargeable lithium battery undergoes chargedischarge cycles;
B) on a two-dimensional graph defined by the open circuit voltage and the chargedischarge cycle, plotting the detected at least two voltage values as a function of ordinal numbers of chargedischarge cycles at which the at least two voltage values are detected;
C) drawing a circular arc on the graph such that the circular arc passes through the plotted at least two voltage values;
D) estimating the lifetime of the rechargeable lithium battery on the graph based on an ordinal number of a chargedischarge cycle at which the drawn circular arc is expected to come close to the open circuit voltage equal to or lower than a discharge end voltage; and
F) controlling discharging of the rechargeable lithium battery based on the estimated lifetime thereof.
11. The method of suppressing the deterioration of the rechargeable lithium battery according to claim 10, wherein controlling discharging of the rechargeable lithium battery comprises reducing a time for discharging the rechargeable lithium battery.
12. The method of suppressing the deterioration of the rechargeable lithium battery according to claim 10, wherein controlling discharging of the rechargeable lithium battery comprises changing a discharge cutoff voltage therefor.
13. The method of suppressing the deterioration of the rechargeable lithium battery according to claim 10, wherein the open circuit voltage is detected when the rechargeable lithium battery is discharged from a fully charged level down to 10% or lower of the fully charged level.
14. A lifetime estimating apparatus for a rechargeable lithium battery, the rechargeable lithium battery comprising:
a positive electrode having a positive active material capable of absorbing and releasing lithium ions;
a negative electrode having a negative active material containing at least one of silicon and tin; and
an electrolyte having lithium-ion conductivity and disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode,
the apparatus comprising:
a detecting section configured to detect an open circuit voltage of the discharged rechargeable lithium battery at least two times while the rechargeable lithium battery undergoes chargedischarge cycles;
a plot section configured to use a two-dimensional graph defined by the open circuit voltage and the chargedischarge cycle to plot the detected at least two voltage values on the graph as a function of ordinal numbers of chargedischarge cycles at which the at least two voltage values are detected;
an estimating section configured to draw a circular arc on the graph such that the circular arc passes through the plotted at least two voltage values; and
a determining section configured to estimate the lifetime of the rechargeable lithium battery on the graph based on an ordinal number of a chargedischarge cycle at which the drawn circular arc is expected to come close to the open circuit voltage equal to or lower than a discharge end voltage.
15. The lifetime estimating apparatus for the rechargeable lithium battery according to claim 14, wherein
the determining section predicts one of a number of chargedischarge cycles and a period of time remaining in the lifetime of the rechargeable lithium battery, based on the estimated lifetime of the rechargeable lithium battery and a usage history of the rechargeable lithium battery observed when the lifetime thereof is estimated.
16. The lifetime estimating apparatus for the rechargeable lithium battery according to claim 14, further comprising:
a control section configured to control charging of the rechargeable lithium battery so as to reduce a usage capacity of the rechargeable lithium battery, based on the estimated lifetime thereof, in order to suppress deterioration of the rechargeable lithium battery,
wherein the determining section memorizes the reduced usage capacity, and updates the estimated lifetime of the rechargeable lithium battery while the rechargeable lithium battery undergoes chargedischarge cycles with the reduced usage capacity.
17. The lifetime estimating apparatus for the rechargeable lithium battery according to claim 14, further comprising:
a control section configured to control discharging of the rechargeable lithium battery so as to reduce a usage capacity of the rechargeable lithium based on the estimated lifetime thereof, in order to suppress deterioration of the rechargeable lithium battery,
wherein the determining section memorizes the reduced usage capacity, and updates the estimated lifetime of the rechargeable lithium battery while the rechargeable lithium battery undergoes chargedischarge cycles with the reduced usage capacity.
18. The lifetime estimating apparatus for the rechargeable lithium battery according to claim 14, wherein the detecting section detects the open circuit voltage when the rechargeable lithium battery is discharged from a fully charged level down to 10% or lower of the fully charged level.
19. A deterioration suppressor for a rechargeable lithium battery, the rechargeable lithium battery comprising:
a positive electrode having a positive active material capable of absorbing and releasing lithium ions;
a negative electrode having a negative active material containing at least one of silicon and tin; and
an electrolyte having lithium-ion conductivity and disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode,
the deterioration suppressor comprising:
a detecting section configured to detect an open circuit voltage of the discharged rechargeable lithium battery at least two times while the rechargeable lithium battery undergoes chargedischarge cycles;
a plot section configured to use a two-dimensional graph defined by the open circuit voltage and the chargedischarge cycle to plot the detected at least two voltage values on the graph as a function of ordinal numbers of chargedischarge cycles at which the at least two voltage values are detected;
an estimating section configured to draw a circular arc on the graph such that the circular arc passes through the plotted at least two voltage values; and
a determining section configured to estimate the lifetime of the rechargeable lithium battery on the graph based on an ordinal number of a chargedischarge cycle at which the drawn circular arc is expected to come close to the open circuit voltage equal to or lower than a discharge end voltage; and
a control section configured to control charging of the rechargeable lithium battery based on the estimated lifetime thereof.
20. The deterioration suppressor for the rechargeable lithium battery according to claim 19, wherein the detecting section detects the open circuit voltage when the rechargeable lithium battery is discharged from a fully charged level to 10% or lower of the fully charged level.
21. A battery pack comprising:
a rechargeable lithium battery including:
a positive electrode having a positive active material capable of absorbing and releasing lithium ions;
a negative electrode having a negative active material containing at least one of silicon and tin; and
an electrolyte having lithium-ion conductivity and disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode,
a detecting section configured to detect an open circuit voltage of the discharged rechargeable lithium battery at least two times while the rechargeable lithium battery undergoes chargedischarge cycles;
a plot section configured to use a two-dimensional graph defined by the open circuit voltage and the chargedischarge cycle to plot the detected at least two voltage values on the graph as a function of ordinal numbers of chargedischarge cycles at which the at least two voltage values are detected;
an estimating section configured to draw a circular arc on the graph such that the circular arc passes through the plotted at least two voltage values;
a determining section configured to estimate the lifetime of the rechargeable lithium battery on the graph based on an ordinal number of a chargedischarge cycle at which the drawn circular arc is expected to come close to the open circuit voltage equal to or lower than a discharge end voltage; and
a control section configured to control charging of the rechargeable lithium battery based on the estimated lifetime thereof.
22. The battery pack according to claim 21, wherein the detecting section detects the open circuit voltage when the rechargeable lithium battery is discharged from a fully charged level to 10% or lower of the fully charge level.
23. A charger for a rechargeable lithium battery, the rechargeable lithium battery comprising:
a positive electrode having a positive active material capable of absorbing and releasing lithium ions;
a negative electrode having a negative active material containing at least one of silicon and tin; and
an electrolyte having lithium-ion conductivity and disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode,
the charger comprising a deterioration suppressor which comprises:
a detecting section configured to detect an open circuit voltage of the discharged rechargeable lithium battery at least two times while the rechargeable lithium battery undergoes chargedischarge cycles;
a plot section configured to use a two-dimensional graph defined by the open circuit voltage and the chargedischarge cycle to plot the detected at least two voltage values on the graph as a function of ordinal numbers of chargedischarge cycles at which the at least two voltage values are detected;
an estimating section configured to draw a circular arc on the graph such that the circular arc passes through the plotted at least two voltage values;
a determining section configured to estimate the lifetime of the rechargeable lithium battery based on an ordinal number of a chargedischarge cycle at which the drawn circular arc is expected to come close to the open circuit voltage equal to or lower than a discharge end voltage;
a control section configured to control charging of the rechargeable lithium battery based on the estimated lifetime thereof; and
a charging section configured to charge the rechargeable lithium battery in a manner controlled by the control section.
24. The charger according to claim 23, wherein the detecting section detects the open circuit voltage when the rechargeable lithium battery is discharged from a fully charged level to 10% or lower of the fully charged level.
25. A deterioration suppressor for a rechargeable lithium battery, the rechargeable lithium battery comprising:
a positive electrode having a positive active material capable of absorbing and releasing lithium ions;
a negative electrode having a negative active material containing at least one of silicon and tin; and
an electrolyte having lithium-ion conductivity and disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode,
the deterioration suppressor comprising:
a detecting section configured to detect an open circuit voltage of the discharged rechargeable lithium battery at least two times while the rechargeable lithium battery undergoes chargedischarge cycles;
a plot section configured to use a two-dimensional graph defined by the open circuit voltage and the chargedischarge cycle to plot the detected at least two voltage values on the graph as a function of ordinal numbers of chargedischarge cycles at which the at least two voltage values are detected;
an estimating section configured to draw a circular arc on the graph such that the circular arc passes through the plotted at least two voltage values;
a determining section configured to estimate the lifetime of the rechargeable lithium battery based on an ordinal number of a chargedischarge cycle at which the drawn circular arc is expected to come close to the open circuit voltage equal to or lower than a discharge end voltage; and
a control section configured to control discharging of the rechargeable lithium battery based on the estimated lifetime thereof.
26. The deterioration suppressor of the rechargeable lithium battery according to claim 25, wherein the detecting section detects the open circuit voltage when the rechargeable lithium battery is discharged from a fully charged level to 10% or lower of the fully charged level.
27. A battery pack comprising:
a rechargeable lithium battery including:
a positive electrode having a positive active material capable of absorbing and releasing lithium ions;
a negative electrode having a negative active material containing at least one of silicon and tin; and
an electrolyte having lithium-ion conductivity and disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode,
a detecting section configured to detect an open circuit voltage of the discharged rechargeable lithium battery at least two times while the rechargeable lithium battery undergoes chargedischarge cycles;
a plot section configured to use a two-dimensional graph defined by the open circuit voltage and the chargedischarge cycle to plot the detected at least two voltage values on the graph as a function of ordinal numbers of chargedischarge cycles at which the at least two voltage values are detected;
an estimating section configured to draw a circular arc on the graph such that the circular arc passes through the plotted at least two voltage values;
a determining section configured to estimate the lifetime of the rechargeable lithium battery based on an ordinal number of a chargedischarge cycle at which the drawn circular arc is expected to come close to the open circuit voltage equal to or lower than a discharge end voltage; and
a control section configured to control discharging of the rechargeable lithium battery based on the estimated lifetime thereof.
28. The battery pack according to claim 27, wherein the detecting section detects the open circuit voltage when the rechargeable lithium battery is discharged from a fully charged level to 10% or lower of that fully charged level.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A hinged clamp bracket for a structural member, comprising:
a lower clamp body having a hinge end and a second end generally opposite to the hinge end;
an upper clamp body having a hinge end and a second end generally opposite to the hinge end, the hinge end of the upper clamp body being pivotally coupled to the hinge end of the lower clamp body for relative rotation about a hinge axis;
a first fastener adapted to secure the respective second ends of the upper and lower clamp bodies together, to thereby clamp the bracket about the structural member; and
a second fastener on the lower clamp body proximate to the hinge end of the lower clamp body, the first fastener being adapted to secure the hinge end of the lower clamp body to the hinge end of the upper clamp body,
wherein at least one of the lower clamp body and the upper clamp body includes a mating surface that is shaped to correspond and mate to a surface of the structural member; and
the mating surface defines a locating feature adapted to engage a complementary feature on the surface of the structural member.
2. The hinged clamp bracket of claim 1, wherein the first end of the lower clamp body and the first end of the upper clamp body cooperate with a hinge pin to define a hinge.
3. The hinged clamp bracket of claim 1, wherein the first fastener is a male threaded fastener permanently attached to the lower clamp body prior to clamping the bracket on the structural member.
4. The hinged clamp bracket of claim 3, wherein the first fastener is a male threaded fastener selected from the group consisting of a weld stud, a staked bolt, and a clinched bolt.
5. The hinged clamp bracket of claim 3, wherein the upper clamp body defines a first complementary slot adapted to receive the first fastener as the upper clamp body is pivoted about the hinge axis into an assembled position about the structural member.
6. The hinged clamp bracket of claim 1, wherein the second fastener is a male threaded fastener permanently attached to the lower clamp body prior to clamping the bracket on the structural member.
7. The hinged clamp bracket of claim 6, wherein the second fastener is a male threaded fastener selected from the group consisting of a weld stud, a staked bolt, and a clinched bolt.
8. The hinged clamp bracket of claim 6, wherein the upper clamp body defines a first complementary slot adapted to receive the first fastener as the upper clamp body is pivoted about the hinge axis into an assembled position about the structural member.
9. The hinged clamp bracket of claim 1, wherein one of the upper and lower clamp bodies defines an attachment point by which a component can be mounted on the structural member when the bracket is installed on the structural member.
10. The hinged clamp bracket of claim 9, wherein the attachment point includes a pair of generally-parallel-spaced flanges, the flanges including aligned apertures defining a pivot axis for mounting the component.
11. The hinged clamp bracket of claim 9, wherein the attachment point is defined on the second end of the lower clamp bracket.
12. The hinged clamp bracket of claim 1, wherein the locating feature is a raised feature disposed on the mating surface of the lower clamp body intermediate the hinged and second ends of the lower clamp body.
13. The hinged clamp bracket of claim 1, wherein the locating feature is a raised boss defined on the mating surface of the lower clamp body intermediate the hinged and second ends of the lower clamp body.
14. A hinged clamp bracket for defining an attachment point on a hydroformed structural member adapted to pivotally mount a component to the structural member, wherein the structural member includes a locating recess defined in a surface thereof, the bracket comprising:
a lower clamp body having a hinge end and a second end generally opposite to the hinge end, and an upper surface intermediate the hinged and second ends, the upper surface including a raised feature complementary to the locating recess of the structural member, the lower clamp body further including a pair of generally-parallel-spaced flanges, each flange including an aperture defining a pivot axis for mounting the component;
an upper clamp body having a hinge end and a second end generally opposite to the hinge end, the hinge end of the upper clamp body being pivotally coupled to the hinge end of the lower clamp body for relative rotation about a hinge axis;
a first fastener permanently attached to the lower clamp body proximate to the second end thereof for securing the respective second ends of the upper and lower clamp bodies together, to thereby clamp the bracket about the structural member; and
a second fastener permanently attached to the lower clamp body proximate to the hinge end thereof for securing the hinge end of the lower clamp body to the hinge end of the upper clamp body.
15. The bracket of claim 14, wherein the first end of the lower clamp body and the first end of the upper clamp body cooperate with a hinge pin to define a hinge.
16. The bracket of claim 14, wherein at least one of the first and second fastener is a male threaded fastener selected from the group consisting of a weld stud, a staked bolt, and a clinched bolt.
17. The bracket of claim 14, wherein the upper clamp body defines first and second complementary slots respectively adapted to receive the first and second fasteners as the upper clamp body is pivoted about the hinge axis into an assembled position about the structural member.
18. The hinged clamp bracket of claim 14, wherein the raised feature on the lower clamp body is a boss projecting from the upper surface of the lower clamp body, the boss being adapted to transfer loads to the structural member.

1. A sailboat comprising:
a plurality of hulls arranged parallel to each other and coupled together by a truss arrangement,
a wingsail structure that is rotatable about a first axis of rotation that is orthogonal to a plane of the hulls, and a second axis of rotation that is parallel to the hulls, and
an auto-righting system that is configured to rotate the wingsail structure about the second axis of rotation when a capsize of the sailboat is detected.
2. The sailboat of claim 1, wherein the wingsail structure includes a buoyancy element that serves to facilitate righting of the sailboat when the auto-righting system rotates the wingsail structure.
3. The sailboat of claim 2, wherein the buoyancy element includes a wingsail.
4. The sailboat of claim 3, wherein the buoyancy element includes a flotation bulb above the wingsail.
5. The sailboat of claim 1, including a keel that is rotatable about a keel axis of rotation that is parallel to the hulls.
6. The sailboat of claim 5, wherein the keel is fixedly attached to the wingsail structure, and the keel axis of rotation corresponds to the second axis of rotation.
7. The sailboat of claim 1, including a control system that detects whether a capsize has occurred, and activates the auto-righting system when the capsize is detected.
8. The sailboat of claim 7, wherein the control system detects a heeling angle and activates the auto-righting system before the capsize is detected, based on the detected heeling angle.
9. The sailboat of claim 1, including one or more solar panels that provide the energy required to enable the auto-righting system.
10. The sailboat of claim 1, including a rudder, and a navigation control system that controls an orientation of the rudder to create a direction of travel of the sailboat toward a target area.
11. The sailboat of claim 1, wherein the wingsail structure includes a wingsail that provides lift to propel the sailboat forward.
12. The sailboat of claim 11, wherein the wingsail structure includes a wind vane that pivots on the wingsail structure so as to consistently be aligned with a current wind direction.
13. The sailboat of claim 12, wherein the wingsail structure includes a balance element that facilitates the rotation of the wingsail structure about the first axis of rotation.
14. The sailboat of claim 12, including a coupling rod that controls a difference between an orientation of the wingsail structure and an orientation of the wind vane.
15. The sailboat of claim 14, wherein the truss structure includes a cam coupled to the coupling rod to control the difference between the orientation of the wingsail structure and the orientation of the wind vane based on an orientation of the truss structure.
16. The sailboat of claim 15, wherein the cam includes a cam slot that is shaped to provide a desired angle of attack of the wingsail based on the orientation of the truss structure.
17. The sailboat of claim 1, including one or more watertight compartments for installation of monitoring equipment.
18. The sailboat of claim 17, including one or more communication systems for communicating information from the monitoring equipment to a remote monitoring station.
19. The sailboat of claim 18, wherein the one or more communication systems include a satellite transceiver.
20. The sailboat of claim 19, wherein the one or more communication systems include a SENS transmitter.
21. The sailboat of claim 1, including a motor that controls rotation of the wingsail structure about the first axis of rotation.
22. The sailboat of claim 21, wherein the motor may be configured as a generator that generates energy as the wingsail structure fluctuates about the first axis of rotation.
23. A sailboat comprising:
a plurality of hulls arranged parallel to each other and coupled together by a truss arrangement,
a wingsail structure that is rotatable about a first axis of rotation that is orthogonal to a plane of the hulls, and
an autotrim system that controls rotation of the wingsail structure about the first axis of rotation;
wherein:
the wingsail structure includes:
a wingsail that provides lift to propel the sailboat forward,
a wind vane that pivots on the wingsail structure so as to consistently be aligned with a current wind direction, and
a coupling rod that controls a difference between an orientation of the wingsail structure and an orientation of the wind vane; and

the autotrim system includes a cam attached to the truss arrangement and coupled to the coupling rod to control the difference between the orientation of the wingsail structure and the orientation of the wind vane based on an orientation of the truss structure.
24. The sailboat of claim 23, wherein the wingsail structure includes a balance element that facilitates the rotation of the wingsail structure about the first axis of rotation.
25. The sailboat of claim 23, wherein the cam includes a cam slot that is shaped to provide a desired angle of attack of the wingsail based on the orientation of the truss structure.
26. The sailboat of claim 23, including a motor that controls rotation of the wingsail structure about the first axis of rotation.
27. The sailboat of claim 24, wherein the motor may be configured as a generator that generates energy as the wingsail structure fluctuates about the first axis of rotation.
28. A method of righting a capsized sailboat in a body of water comprising rotating a buoyant mast structure about an axis that is parallel to a surface of the body of water, so as to move a center of buoyancy of the capsized sailboat away from a center of gravity of the capsized sailboat, thereby introducing a righting torque.
29. A method of self-trimming a sailboat comprising:
providing a wingsail structure that provides lift to the sailboat at a given angle of attack;
providing a windvane structure the indicates a direction of wind relative to the sailboat;
coupling the wingsail structure and the windvane structure via a cam that controls the angle of attack of the wingsail based on the direction of wind indicated by the windvane structure.
30. The method of claim 29, wherein the cam is rigidly affixed to the sailboat, such that its relative orientation is consistent with an orientation of the sailboat, and is coupled to the windvane structure such that a rotation of the windvane structure causes the wingsail structure to rotate relative to the orientation of the sailboat.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

What is claimed is:

1. A heating flange, in particular for preheating air in an intake line leading to an internal combustion engine, said heating flange comprising
at least one heating element for heating the air flowing past said heating element, and
a body for mechanically holding and electrically contacting said heating element,
wherein said body comprises a fastening bow having a substantially U-shaped cross-section, and the heating element comprises at least one substantially U-shaped meander loop which is fixedly connected to the base of said fastening bow.
2. The heating flange according to claim 1, wherein the heating element is electrically insulated from the fastening bow at the base of said bow.
3. The heating flange according to claim 2, wherein a substantially rectangular board consisting of an electrically insulating material, preferably mica, micanite or ceramics, is arranged between the heating element and the base of the fastening bow.
4. The heating flange according to claim 1, wherein the heating element is riveted to the fastening bow at the base of said bow.
5. The heating flange according to claim 1, wherein the heating element is welded to the fastening bow at the base of said bow.
6. The heating flange according to claim 1, wherein the heating element is adapted to be produced from a ferritic iron-chromium-aluminium alloy, preferably Kanthal D.
7. The heating flange according to claim 1, wherein the body of the heating flange additionally comprises a cover through which the heating flange can be connected to the intake line.
8. The heating flange according to claim 7, wherein the fastening bow is connected to the cover in an electrically conductive manner.
9. The heating flange according to claim 7, wherein the fastening bow is electrically insulated from the cover.
10. The heating flange according to claim 1, wherein the legs of the U-shaped meander loop of the heating element are angled at least once in the freestanding area encompassed by the air current.
11. The heating flange according to claim 1, wherein the heating flange comprises a first and a second heating element, said heating elements being arranged such that they are displaced relative to one another in a direction transversely to the U-shaped cross-section of the fastening bow.
12. The heating flange according to claim 11, wherein the legs of the meander loop of the first heating element are angled in the freestanding, air current-encompassed areas thereof in a direction opposite to the direction in which the legs of the meander loop of the second heating element are angled.
13. The heating flange according to claim 1, wherein the fastening bow is provided with openings formed in the flanks thereof and used for allowing the air to be heated to flow in transversely to the opening of the U-shaped cross-section.
14. The heating flange according to claim 1, wherein a switching means is provided for switching the electric power at the heating element on and off.
15. The heating flange according to claim 14, wherein the electric switching means comprises at least one semiconductor device.
16. The heating flange according to claim 15, further comprising at least two separately controllable heating elements which are each connected to a respective switching means for switching the electric power supply on and off.
17. The heating flange according to claim 16, wherein the heating elements have power supplied thereto in a time-shifted manner.
18. The heating flange according to claim 1, wherein the power supply of the heating element is controlled by means of a micro controller.
19. The heating flange according to claim 1, further comprising at least one temperature sensor for detecting respective temperature values occurring, preferably temperature values of the air to be heated.