Abstract: The invention relates to drive systems for a motor vehicle, with an internal combustion engine (1) and at least one electric machine (6, 6′), each of which can be used independently as a drive motor for the vehicle, the drive systems being constructed in such a way that the vehicle drive-away phase proceeds as follows: i) the vehicle is initially accelerated by the electric machine (6, 6′) alone, ii) during this process, the internal combustion engine (1) is started, iii) the internal combustion engine (1) then takes over the driving of the vehicle, jerky coupling of the internal combustion engine (1) in the course of steps i) to iii) being avoided either by a) entraining the internal combustion engine (1) while the electric machine (6, 6′) is accelerating the vehicle, or b) the internal combustion engine (1) being accelerated for the purpose of starting while decoupled from the drive and being coupled to the drive at the synchronous speed.

Abstract: The invention concerns a drive system with a drive motor (1), especially an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, and a drive train (27); an electric machine (26), which can apply a braking and/or driving torque to the drive motor (1) and/or drive train (27) and/or form a coupling in the drive train (27); and an open-loop/closed-loop control system, which controls/regulates the electric machine such that it diminishes drive train torque and/or speed fluctuations.

Abstract: A method for starting an internal combustion engine and a starter system is disclosed. The crankshaft of an internal combustion engine is accelerated at least to the starting speed required for starting the internal combustion engine. The crankshaft is brought to a stipulated crank angle for the starting process by an electric machine before the actual starting process, and the starting process is started from this crank angle.

Abstract: In a valve control, which operates in the normal case purely electromagnetically without return spring and ancillary means of this kind, the unwanted collision between piston base and valve plate (8) is to be reliably avoided. An electromagnetically operating control device (2) for at least one gas-exchange valve in an internal combustion engine has a shaft (safety lock shaft) (18), which is provided with at least one cam (16), the shaft being drivable via the crankshaft at a ratio of 1:1. In the event of a disturbance of the electromagnetic valve actuation, the valve mechanism corresponding to the particular control device (2) can be displaced at least so far that the valve plate (8) has left the collision position thereby reliably avoiding a collision between piston base and valve plate (8). The control device can be used in a reciprocating engine, a piston compressor or a machine having the same operating principle.