Abstract:
A motor vehicle steering column includes a bracket fixed to the vehicle and a steering column tube. The steering column tube may be adjusted in inclination relative to the bracket fixed to the vehicle via an adjusting device. The adjusting device includes a lever which is mounted pivotably on the bracket and may be deflected about a pivot axis by a driving device. The motor vehicle steering column may permit a maximum inclination setting irrespective of the available construction space. A deflecting clamp which is connected pivotably to the steering column tube is coupled to an output end of the lever.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for determining the number of particles or cells in a liquid sample. The method comprises a) determining the number of particles or cells in a first volume of the liquid sample, b) determining the statistical uncertainty of the determined number of particles in said first volume, c) if the determined uncertainty is larger than a pre-determined value, determining the number of particles or cells in a further volume of the liquid sample, d) adding the numbers of cells or particles determined in steps a) and c), e) determining the statistical uncertainty of the number of particles determined in step d), f) repeating steps d) and e) with a further volumes of the liquid sample, until the uncertainty determined in step e) is lower than said pre-determined value or until a pre-determined total volume of the liquid sample in which the number of cells or particles has been determined exceeds a pre-determined volume being larger than said first volume. In this way, the volume examined and the uncertainty of the measurement may be selected so that a suitable compromise between the uncertainty and the time required to perform the measurement can be obtained. The apparatus according to the invention comprises a liquid flow system allowing the measurement sequence to be interrupted as soon as the calculating means decide that the uncertainty of the actual cell count is small enough to rely on the present determination. The apparatus will then be ready to carry on with the next sample, thereby maintaining a high capacity while obtaining reliable cell counts.
Abstract:
A probe having a probe head in which is formed an opening for receiving a sample to be analyzed, the head comprising a pair of optical interfaces disposed at an opposing inner surface of the opening to delimit a path for optical radiation through the opening, wherein one of the pair of optical interfaces comprises a transparent element adapted to permit optical radiation in one or more wavelength regions of interest to travel between the probe head and the opening, the optical probe comprising a movable diaphragm in which one of the pair of optical interfaces is located for movement therewith and an actuator operably connected to the diaphragm to control its movement so as to vary the path length wherein the probe head comprises a hinge system cooperable with the actuator to move the optical interface in the movable diaphragm in an arc to vary the path length.
Abstract:
A safety steering column (1) is provided for a motor vehicle, which has a telescopic steering spindle (2) with an upper spindle part (3) which is near to the steering wheel and a lower spindle part (4) which is remote from the steering wheel, and is rotatably mounted in a jacket tube (5). The jacket tube (5) is of telescopic design and has an upper tube part (6) which is near to the steering wheel and a lower tube part (7) which is remote from the steering wheel, the lower tube part (7) being mounted so as to be pivotable about a first axis (10) on a bracket (9) which can be arranged fixed to the vehicle. In addition, an adjustment device which serves to vertically adjust the safety steering column (1) and has an actuating element (12) which is mounted so as to be pivotable about a second axis (14) is provided. The safety steering column (1) is distinguished by the fact that the actuating element (12) is coupled to the jacket tube (5) by means of a force transmitting element (33) which can be adjusted in a translatory fashion in the axial direction relative to the jacket tube (5).
Abstract:
The invention relates to a safety steering column for a motor vehicle, with a column tube which is arranged concentrically to a steering spindle and is fastened to the vehicle body and which, during an axial impact action, can be shortened, while absorbing energy, and at the same time cooperates with at least one energy absorption element. According to the invention, the at least one energy absorption element is a chip removal element which, in the event of a relative movement of the column tube with respect to the vehicle body, caused by the axial impact action, breaks down energy by chip removal.
Abstract:
A steering column for a motor vehicle has a steering shaft rotatably mounted in a tubular jacket. The tubular jacket is secured on two rails extending substantially in an axial direction and fixed on the bodywork. The tubular jacket is guided between the rails in the event of an axial displacement in case of a crash. At least one rail is assigned at least one deformation element which is secured at least at one end on the rail and is plastically deformable, with absorption of energy, in the event of an axial displacement of the tubular jacket in a manner such that it is deformed by rolling friction via deflection structure fixedly disposed on the tubular jacket.
Abstract:
A probe having a probe head in which is formed an opening for receiving a sample to be analysed, the head comprising a pair of optical interfaces disposed at an opposing inner surface of the opening to delimit a path for optical radiation through the opening, wherein one of the pair of optical interfaces comprises a transparent element adapted to permit optical radiation in one or more wavelength regions of interest to travel between the probe head and the opening, the optical probe comprising a movable diaphragm in which one of the pair of optical interfaces is located for movement therewith and an actuator operably connected to the diaphragm to control its movement so as to vary the path length wherein the probe head comprises a hinge system cooperable with the actuator to move the optical interface in the movable diaphragm in an arc to vary the path length.
Abstract:
A motor vehicle steering column includes a bracket fixed to the vehicle and a steering column tube. The steering column tube may be adjusted in inclination relative to the bracket fixed to the vehicle via an adjusting device. The adjusting device includes a lever which is mounted pivotably on the bracket and may be deflected about a pivot axis by a driving device. The motor vehicle steering column may permit a maximum inclination setting irrespective of the available construction space. A deflecting clamp which is connected pivotably to the steering column tube is coupled to an output end of the lever.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a steering-column assembly 1, in which the telescopic spindle 5.1 is fastened to the inner casing tube 2.1 via a crash element 4. The telescopic spindle 5.1 moves into the crash element 4 by virtue of the fact that the spindle nut 5.6 is fixed to the crash element 4, which permits reduced installation space for the telescopic spindle 5.1. In order to improve acoustic decoupling, the spindle nut 5.6 is composed at least partially of plastic. By mechanical decoupling of the tensile and compressive forces of the telescopic spindle 5.1 from the torque which acts on the telescopic spindle 5.1, the possibility is provided of using plastic for a drive shaft 5.4 of the telescopic spindle 5.1 and for the bearings 5.7, 5.7′ of the telescopic drive 5.3.
Abstract:
A positional adjustment apparatus is provided for a steering column of a motor vehicle. A tubular jacket is fixed on two rails disposed substantially opposite one another, the rails extending in an axial direction of the tubular jacket and having slots extending in the axial direction for longitudinal adjustment of the steering column. Clamping bolts are provided that are guided through the slots in the rails and extend substantially in a radial direction away from the tubular jacket. At least one clamping bolt passes through a rail for vertical adjustment. Longitudinal and vertical adjustments are secured and released by means of an operating lever. The securing and releasing of the longitudinal and vertical adjustments takes place via a cam disc actuatable by the operating lever.