Author: claimsbot

1. A method for determining the length (b) of at least one of two legs (13, 14) of a workpiece (12) seated in a bending die (6), the legs having been bent toward each other by means of the bending die (6) at a bending angle (\u03b2) whose vertex (S) is located at the point of intersection of the straight, angle forming projections (29, 30) of the legs (13, 14) of the bent part (12), with one end (E) of the leg (13, 14) to be measured limiting the latter on the far side opposite the bending angle vertex (S), comprising:
(a) holding the object part (12) in the bending die (6);
(b) determining the position of the bending angle vertex (S) and the position of the end (E) of the leg (13, 14); and
(c) from the respective position of the bending angle vertex (S) and of the end (E) thus determined, calculating the length (b) of the leg as the distance between the said bending angle vertex (S) and the said end (E).
2. The method for determining the length of at least one of two legs of a workpiece in accordance with claim 1 wherein the workpiece (12) is retained in the bending die (6) in a defined position.
3. The method for determining the length of at least one of two legs of a workpiece in accordance with claim 1 wherein the position of the bending angle vertex (S) is determined by initially determining the bending angle (\u03b2).
4. The method for determining the length of at least one of two legs of a workpiece in accordance with claim 1 wherein, during the step of determining the position of the bending angle vertex (S), the workpiece (12) is supported on a backing surface (27, 28) and the position of the bending angle vertex (S) is determined on the basis of the position in which the workpiece (12) is supported on said backing surface (27, 28).
5. The method for determining the length of at least one of two legs of a workpiece in accordance with claim 1 wherein the position of the bending angle vertex (S) is determined by measuring the bending angle (\u03b2) by optical means.
6. The method for determining the length of at least one of two legs of a workpiece in accordance with claim 1 wherein the position of the end of the leg (13, 14) of the workpiece (12) is determined by optical means.
7. A method for bending workpieces comprising the steps of
(a) placing a workpiece in a bending die;
(b) bending two angular two angular legs (13, 14) of a workpiece toward each other in the bending die (6) at a bending angle (\u03b2) to produce a bent workpiece (12) with two angular legs; and
(c) determining the length (b) of at least one of the said legs (13, 14) is determined from the bending angle vertex (S) located at the point of intersection of the straight projections (29, 30) of the legs that form the bending angle (\u03b2) of the legs (13, 14) of the workpiece (12) and with from the end (E) of the leg (13, 14) delimiting the latter on the far side from the bending angle vertex (S).
8. The method for bending workpieces in accordance with claim 7 wherein the actual value obtained as a result of the determination of the length (b) of a leg (13, 14) is compared to a leg length set point value and that the result of said actual valueset point value comparison is used to define at least one parameter of significance for the length (b) in a subsequent bending step.
9. Apparatus for determining the length (b) of at least one out of two legs (13, 14) of a workpiece (12) seated in a bending die (6), the legs having been bent toward each other by means of the bending die (6) at a bending angle (\u03b2) whose bending angle vertex (S) is located at the point of intersection of the straight projections (29, 30) of the legs (13, 14) forming the angle (\u03b2) of the legs (13, 14) of the workpiece (12) while an end (E) of the leg (13, 14) concerned delimits the latter on the far side from the bending angle vertex (S), said apparatus including:
(a) a system (31) for determining the position of the bending angle vertex (S);
(b) a unit (34) for determining the position of the end (E); and
(c) an evaluation unit (36), said system (31) and unit (34) permitting the determination of the position of the bending angle vertex (S) and the position of the end (E) of the bent workpiece (12) held in the bending die (6) in a defined position, and said evaluation unit (36) processing data on the position of the bending angle vertex (S) and of the end (E) to determine the length (b) as the distance between the bending angle vertex (S) and the end (E).
10. The apparatus for determining the length of at least one of two legs (13, 14) of a workpiece in accordance with claim 9 wherein a retaining element is provided for the determination of the position of the bending angle vertex (S) and the determination of the position of the end (E), with the workpiece (12) being is held in specifically defined fashion in the bending die (6).
11. The apparatus for determining the length of at least one of two legs (13, 14) of a workpiece in accordance with claim 9 wherein the system (31) for determining the position of the bending angle vertex (S) includes a unit (9) serving to measure the bending angle (\u03b2) as well as a processor that connects to the unit (9) measuring the bending angle (\u03b2) and to the evaluation unit (36), said processor (32) determining the position of the bending angle vertex (S) on the basis of the bending angle (\u03b2) thus measured.
12. The apparatus for determining the length of at least one of two legs (13,14) of a workpiece in accordance with claim 9 wherein the system (31) for determining the position of the bending angle vertex (S) includes a processor (32) connected to the evaluation unit (36), and a backing surface (27, 28) supporting the workpiece (12) for the determination of the position of the bending angle vertex (S), said processor (32) determining the position of the bending angle vertex (S) on the basis of the position of the support for the workpiece (12) on the backing surface (27, 28).
13. The apparatus for determining the length of at least one of two legs (13,14) of a workpiece in accordance with claim 9 wherein the unit measuring the bending angle (\u03b2) is an optical measuring tool.
14. The apparatus for determining the length of at least one of two legs (13,14) of a workpiece in accordance with claim 9 wherein the unit (34) serving to determine the position of the end (E) includes a detection and acquisition unit (20, 21) for capturing the position of the end (E), and a processor (35) connected to the detection and acquisition unit (20,21) and also to the evaluation unit (36), said processor (35) determining the position of the end (E) on the basis of the position of the end (E) captured by the detection and acquisition unit (20, 21).
15. The apparatus for determining the length of at least one of two legs (13,14) of a workpiece in accordance with claim 14 wherein the detection and acquisition unit serving to capture the position of the end (E) may include a tactile contact sensor assembly that can be brought into contact with the end (E).
16. The apparatus for determining the length of at least one of two legs (13,14) of a workpiece in accordance with claim 15 wherein the contact sensor assembly that is in contact with the end (E) is capable of moving with the end (E) during the bending process.
17. The apparatus for determining the length of at least one of two legs (13,14) of a workpiece in accordance with claim 15 wherein the contact sensor assembly comprises a positioning stop lug (17, 18) for the workpiece to be bent.
18. The apparatus for determining the length of at least one of two legs (13,14) of a workpiece in accordance with claim 14 wherein the detection and acquisition unit (20, 21) serving to capture the position of the end (E) is an optical image acquisition unit (20, 21).
19. The apparatus for determining the length of at least one of two legs (13,14) of a workpiece in accordance with claim 9 mounted in a device for bending workpieces including a bending die (6) by means of which at least two legs (13, 14) of a workpiece can be bent toward each other to produce a bent workpiece (12) with a bending angle (\u03b2) whose bending angle vertex (S) is located at the point of intersection of the projections (29, 30) forming the angle (\u03b2) of the legs (13, 14) of the bent workpiece (12), and an end (E) of the respective leg (13, 14) delimiting the latter on the far side opposite the bending angle vertex (S), and, additionally, a system for determining the length (b) of a leg (13,14).
20. The apparatus for determining the length of at least one of two legs (13,14) of a workpiece in accordance with claim 19 wherein the bending die (6) itself serves as the retaining element for the defined placement of the workpiece (12) for the determination of the bending angle vertex (S) andor for the determination of the position of the end (E).
21. The apparatus for determining the length of at least one of two legs (13,14) of a workpiece in accordance with claim 20 wherein a backing surface (27, 28) supporting the workpiece (12) for the determination of the position of the bending angle vertex (S) is provided by the bending die (6).
22. The apparatus for determining the length of at least one of two legs (13,14) of a workpiece in accordance with claim 21 wherein a contact sensor assembly in the detection and acquisition unit (34) serving to capture the position of the end (E) is constituted of a positioning stop (17, 18) of the bending device against which the workpiece can be set for appropriate positioning relative to the bending die (6) prior to being processed.
23. The apparatus for determining the length of at least one of two legs (13,14) of a workpiece in accordance with claim 22 an optical detection and acquisition unit (20, 21) for capturing the position of the end (E) is at least in part mounted on a positioning stop (17, 18) of the bending device.
24. The apparatus for determining the length of at least one of two legs (13,14) of a workpiece in accordance with claim 23 wherein the positioning stop (17, 18) is preferably movable by the control system (11).
25. The apparatus for determining the length of at least one of two legs (13,14) of a workpiece in accordance with claim 24 wherein, for determining the length (b) of a leg, said evaluation unit (36) as a part of a system controller (11) in which at least one set point value for the length (b) is stored and by means of which an actual length value can be compared against a length set point value, and, on the basis of the result of the actual versus set point length comparison, at least one parameter controlling the length (b) in at least one subsequent bending operation can be defined.

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

1-13. (canceled)
14. An internal combustion engine, comprising
a control unit;
a combustion space formed between a piston and a cylinder head; and
a fuel injection device with an injection nozzle, which has a nozzle needle and a plurality of injection bores, wherein
the injection nozzle is arranged to inject fuel into the combustion space in the form of a plurality of fuel jets as at least one of a main injection, pre-injection and post-injection,
the nozzle needle is arranged to permit fuel injection selectively through at least two separate groups of said injection bores, and
the control unit is programmed to control an operating stroke of the nozzle needle as a function of at least one of a piston position and an operating point of the internal combustion engine.
15. The internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 14, wherein
each of the at least two separate groups of bores are arranged in the rows about a circumference of the injection nozzle, and
at least one row of bores has a fuel injection cone angle which is different from a fuel injection cone angle of a different row of bores.
16. The internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 15, wherein
a first row of bores is activated during main injection and a second row of holes is activated during at least in of pre-injection and post-injection, and
the first row fuel injection cone angle is greater than the second row fuel injection cone angle.
17. The internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 14, wherein a fuel injection pressure is set as a function of at least one of the piston position and the operating point.
18. The internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 14, wherein the operating stroke of the nozzle needle is controlled by the control unit to form an unstable cavitating flow in the injection bores.
19. The internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 14, wherein the engine is configured to produce a gas swirl movement in the combustion space.
20. The internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 19, wherein the nozzle needle is controlled to inject fuel in one of a continuous or an intermittent manner while the gas swirl movement is present in the combustion space, such that the injected fuel is laterally displaced relative to the fuel injection device by the swirl movement.
21. The internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 14, wherein the operating stroke of the nozzle needle of the injection nozzle needle is controlled to provide an effective flow cross section between the nozzle needle and a nozzle needle seat amounting to about 0.8 to 1.2 times an effective flow cross section of the sum of all the injection bores.
22. The internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 14, wherein the fuel injection cone angle of each injection bore is between 60\xb0 and 160\xb0.
23. The internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 14, wherein the operating stroke of the nozzle needle is set by one of a two-spring holder and a piezoelectric actuator.
24. The internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 14, wherein the piston has a dish-shaped piston recess and a projection extending from a center of the piston recess toward the injection nozzle.
25. The internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 24, wherein the piston recess has, starting from a radially outer region, a flat entry region with a low curvature and, from the region of a maximum recess depth, a greater curvature extending into the piston recess projection.
26. The internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 24, wherein the piston recess projection has a cone angle in a range of 90\xb0 to 140\xb0.

1. A flame retardant composition, comprising:
at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyurethane, polycarbonate and polycarbonateacrylonitrilebutadienestyrene block copolymer; and
a flame retardant additive comprising a polyacrylate which is a salt of a polyacrylic acid, a salt of a crosslinked polyacrylic acid, a salt of a copolymer of acrylic acid with an olefin or other monomer, a salt of a crosslinked copolymer of acrylic acid with an olefin or other monomer or a salt of a graft copolymer of acrylic acid with an olefin or other monomer improving the compatibility of the additive with the polymer, in combination with
a) at least one zinc borate,
b) at least one silicone resin, and
c) alumina trihydrate or magnesium hydroxide or a mixture thereof,
said additive being free of halogens, antimony oxide and phosphorus-containing substances.
2. The flame retardant composition according to claim 1, wherein the flame retardant additive also comprises:
d) at least one molybdenum compound selected from the group consisting of calcium zinc molybdate and zinc molybdate-magnesium silicate compounds, andor
e) a polymer layered silicate nanocomposite material.
3. The flame retardant composition according to claim 2, comprising the polyacrylate in combination with zinc borate, silicone resin, alumina trihydrate and calcium zinc molybdate.
4. A flame retardant composition comprising the at least one polymer, and a flame retardant additive, wherein the flame retardant additive is as set forth in claim 3.
5. The flame retardant composition according to claim 2, comprising polyacrylate in combination with zinc borate, silicone resin, magnesium hydroxide and calcium zinc molybdate.
6. A flame retardant composition comprising the at least one polymer, and a flame retardant additive, wherein the flame retardant additive is as set forth in claim 5.
7. The flame retardant composition according to claim 2, comprising the polyacrylate in combination with zinc borate, silicone resin, magnesium hydroxide, alumina trihydrate and calcium zinc molybdate.
8. A flame retardant composition comprising the at least one polymer, and a flame retardant additive, wherein the flame retardant additive is as set forth in claim 7.
9. A flame retardant composition comprising the at least one polymer, and a flame retardant additive, wherein the flame retardant additive is as set forth in claim 2.
10. The flame retardant composition according to claim 1, comprising the polyacrylate in combination with zinc borate, silicone resin and alumina trihydrate.
11. A flame retardant composition comprising the at least one polymer and a flame retardant additive, wherein the flame retardant additive is as set forth in claim 10.
12. The flame retardant composition according to claim 1, wherein the polyacrylate is a sodium or potassium salt of a crosslinked polyacrylic acid.
13. A flame retardant composition comprising the at least one polymer, and a flame retardant additive, wherein the flame retardant additive is as set forth in claim 12.
14. The flame retardant composition according to claim 1, which also contains a polymer layered silicate composite material.
15. A flame retardant composition comprising the at least one polymer, and a flame retardant additive, wherein the flame retardant additive is as set forth in claim 14.
16. The flame retardant composition according to claim 1, wherein the polyacrylate is a salt of a copolymer of acrylic acid with an olefin or other monomer or a salt of a graft copolymer of acrylic acid with an olefin or other monomer in order to improve the compatibility of the additive with the polymer.
17. A method of reducing the flammability of the at least one polymer which method comprises mixing said at least one polymer with the flame retardant additive according to claim 1.
18. A flame retardant additive for polymers, comprising:
a polyacrylate which is a salt of a polyacrylic acid, a salt of a crosslinked polyacrylic acid, a salt of a copolymer of acrylic acid with an olefin or other monomer or a salt of a crosslinked copolymer of acrylic acid with an olefin or other monomer improving the compatibility of the additive with the polymer, in combination with
a) at least one zinc borate,
b) at least one silicone resin, and
c) alumina trihydrate or magnesium hydroxide or a mixture thereof,
said additive being free of halogens, antimony oxide and phosphorus-containing substances.
19. The flame retardant additive according to claim 18, wherein the flame retardant additive also comprises:
d) at least one molybdenum compound selected from the group consisting of calcium zinc molybdate and zinc molybdate-magnesium silicate compounds, andor
e) a polymer layered silicate nanocomposite material.
20. The flame retardant additive according to claim 18, comprising the polyacrylate in combination with zinc borate, silicone resin and alumina trihydrate.

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 motor vehicle comprising:
a chassis comprising wheels on which the vehicle travels, at least some of which are driven by an internal combustion engine through a powertrain,
a brake system for braking the wheels comprising an actuator that is operated by a driver of the vehicle to brake the vehicle by selective operation of foundation brakes at the wheels and of one or more mechanisms in the powertrain capable of applying braking torque to driven wheels,
a sensor associated with the actuator for disclosing vehicle deceleration request data corresponding to a vehicle deceleration request by the driver, and
a processor comprising an algorithm for comparing vehicle deceleration request data from the sensor with data representing vehicle deceleration that is potentially obtainable by operating one or more of the mechanisms in the powertrain and for requesting operation of the one or more mechanisms to satisfy the request when the comparison discloses that operation of the one or more the mechanisms can satisfy the request.
2. A motor vehicle as set forth in claim 1 wherein the algorithm is structured to define a range of vehicle deceleration requests, to evaluate deceleration request data from the sensor against the defined range of vehicle deceleration requests, and to request operation of the one or more mechanisms in the powertrain when both the evaluation of the request discloses that the request is within the defined range and the one or more mechanisms in the powertrain are capable of satisfying the request.
3. A motor vehicle as set forth in claim 2 wherein the algorithm is structured to evaluate the ability of the one or more mechanisms in the powertrain to satisfy the request on the basis of current powertrain operation.
4. A motor vehicle as set forth in claim 3 wherein the algorithm is structured to evaluate the ability of the one or more mechanisms to satisfy the request according to a hierarchy of the mechanisms.
5. A motor vehicle as set forth in claim 4 wherein the sensor commands application of the foundation brakes when the actuator is operated beyond an initial portion of its range of operation.
6. A motor vehicle as set forth in claim 2 wherein the sensor comprises a position sensor sensing brake pedal position, and algorithm is structured to evaluate brake pedal position as indicated by data from the sensor against the defined range of vehicle deceleration requests.
7. A motor vehicle as set forth in claim 6 wherein the algorithm is structured to command application of the foundation brakes when evaluation of the brake pedal position discloses that the pedal has been depressed beyond a defined amount of pedal travel that corresponds to a limit of the defined range of vehicle deceleration requests.
8. A motor vehicle as set forth in claim 1 wherein the algorithm is structured to include an estimate of vehicle weight data in evaluating vehicle deceleration that is potentially obtainable by operating one or more of the mechanisms in the powertrain.
9. A motor vehicle as set forth in claim 1 wherein the one or more mechanisms include an engine brake and an engine exhaust brake.
10. A system for adaptive deceleration control of a motor vehicle that comprises a chassis comprising wheels on which the vehicle travels, at least some of which are driven by an internal combustion engine through a powertrain, and a brake system for braking the wheels comprising an actuator that is operated by a driver of the vehicle to brake the vehicle by selective operation of foundation brakes at the wheels and of one or more mechanisms in the powertrain capable of applying braking torque to driven wheels, the system comprising:
a sensor associated with the actuator for disclosing vehicle deceleration request data corresponding to a vehicle deceleration request by the driver, and
a processor comprising an algorithm for comparing vehicle deceleration request data from the sensor with data representing vehicle deceleration that is potentially obtainable by operating one or more of the mechanisms in the powertrain and for requesting operation of the one or more mechanisms to satisfy the request when the comparison discloses that operation of the one or more the mechanisms can satisfy the request.
11. A system as set forth in claim 10 wherein the algorithm is structured to define a range of vehicle deceleration requests, to evaluate deceleration request data from the sensor against the defined range of vehicle deceleration requests, and to request operation of the one or more mechanisms in the powertrain when both the evaluation of the request discloses that the request is within the defined range and the one or more mechanisms in the powertrain are capable of satisfying the request.
12. A system as set forth in claim 11 wherein the algorithm is structured to evaluate the ability of the one or more mechanisms in the powertrain to satisfy the request on the basis of current powertrain operation.
13. A system as set forth in claim 12 wherein the algorithm is structured to evaluate the ability of the one or more mechanisms to satisfy the request according to a hierarchy of the mechanisms.
14. A system as set forth in claim 13 wherein the sensor commands application of the foundation brakes when the actuator is operated beyond an initial portion of its range of operation.
15. A system as set forth in claim 11 wherein the sensor comprises a position sensor sensing brake pedal position, and algorithm is structured to evaluate brake pedal position as indicated by data from the sensor against the defined range of vehicle deceleration requests.
16. A system as set forth in claim 15 wherein the algorithm is structured to command application of the foundation brakes when evaluation of the brake pedal position discloses that the pedal has been depressed beyond a defined amount of pedal travel that corresponds to a limit of the defined range of vehicle deceleration requests.
17. A system as set forth in claim 10 wherein the sensor commands application of the foundation brakes when the actuator is operated beyond an initial portion of its range of operation.
18. A system as set forth in claim 10 wherein the algorithm is structured to include an estimate of vehicle weight data in evaluating vehicle deceleration that is potentially obtainable by operating one or more of the mechanisms in the powertrain.
19. A method for adaptive deceleration control of a motor vehicle that comprises a chassis comprising wheels on which the vehicle travels, at least some of which are driven by an internal combustion engine through a powertrain, a brake system for braking the wheels comprising an actuator that is operated by a driver of the vehicle to brake the vehicle by selective operation of foundation brakes at the wheels and of one or more mechanisms in the powertrain capable of applying braking torque to driven wheels, a sensor associated with the actuator for disclosing vehicle deceleration request data corresponding to a vehicle deceleration request by the driver, and a processor, the method comprising:
executing an algorithm in the processor to compare vehicle deceleration request data from the sensor with data representing vehicle deceleration that is potentially obtainable by operating one or more of the mechanisms in the powertrain and requesting operation of the one or more mechanisms to satisfy the request when the comparison discloses that operation of the one or more the mechanisms can satisfy the request.
20. A method as set forth in claim 19 wherein execution of the algorithm comprises evaluating deceleration request data from the sensor against a defined range of vehicle deceleration requests, and requesting operation of the one or more mechanisms in the powertrain when both the evaluation of the request discloses that the request is within the defined range and the one or more mechanisms in the powertrain are capable of satisfying the request.
21. A method as set forth in claim 20 wherein execution of the algorithm also comprises evaluating the ability of the one or more mechanisms in the powertrain to satisfy the request on the basis of current powertrain operation.
22. A method as set forth in claim 20 wherein execution of the algorithm comprises evaluating the ability of the one or more mechanisms to satisfy the request according to a hierarchy of the mechanisms.
23. A method as set forth in claim 22 wherein application of the foundation brakes occurs when the actuator is operated beyond an initial portion of its range of operation.
24. A method as set forth in claim 20 comprising sensing brake pedal position via the sensor, and wherein execution of the algorithm evaluates brake pedal position data obtained from the sensing step against the defined range of vehicle deceleration requests.
25. A method as set forth in claim 24 wherein application of the foundation brakes occurs when the pedal has been depressed beyond a defined amount of pedal travel that corresponds to a limit of the defined range of vehicle deceleration requests.
26. A method as set forth in claim 19 wherein execution of the algorithm includes processing an estimate of vehicle weight data in evaluating vehicle deceleration that is potentially obtainable by operating one or more of the mechanisms in the powertrain.