(19)

(11)

EP 0 906 498 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 07.04.1999 Bulletin 1999/14 (21) Application number: 97934000.0 (22) Date of filing: 20.06.1997

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  F02B 17/ 00( . ) F02B 61/ 04( . ) F02P 5/ 155( . ) F02P 15/ 00( . ) F02P 15/ 10( . ) F02B 75/ 02( . ) F02B 23/ 08( . ) F02P 5/ 15( . ) F02P 7/ 03( . ) F02P 15/ 08( . ) F02B 23/ 10( . ) F02B 75/ 12( . ) (86) International application number: PCT/US1997/010785 (87) International publication number: WO 1997/048891 (24.12.1997 Gazette 1998/03)

(84) Designated Contracting States: BE DE FR GB IT SE (30) Priority: 21.06.1996 US 19960020490P (71) Applicant: Ficht GmbH & Co. KG 85614 Kirchseeon (DE)

(72) Inventors: MCDOWELL, Philip, D. Sullivan, WI 53178 (US) HELLMICH, Wolfram D-81829 München (DE) CRAFT, Todd, D. Kenosha, WI 53142 (US) IRGENS, Christopher, R. Elm Grove, WI 53122 (US) HEIMBERG, Wolfgang D-85560 Ebersberg (DE) BINVERSIE, Gregory, J. Grayslake, IL 60030 (US) (74) Representative: Bakkum, Ruben Joseph, et al  van Exter Polak & Charlouis B.V., P.O. Box 3241 2280 GE Rijswijk 2280 GE Rijswijk (NL)