Abstract: A method of regulating an electromagnetic actuator is disclosed. The electromagnetic actuator has an electromagnet; an armature movable, in a switching step, by a controlled current supply to said magnet coil, from a first armature position to a second, pole face-engaging armature position against a force of a resetting spring. The method includes the following steps for regulating the current flow through the magnet coil to set a low velocity of the armature as it arrives at the pole face: during the switching step, detecting the energy amount in the electromagnetic actuator by detecting a changing armature position and/or a changing armature velocity; estimating by extrapolation the expected energy amount upon arrival of the armature on the pole face; and forming a coarse correcting value by comparing the estimation to be extrapolated with a predetermined target value selected with an aid of the total energy stored in the system in the second armature position.

Abstract: An electromagnetic actuator for actuating a gas-exchange valve in a reciprocating internal combustion engine, the electromagnetic actuator comprising: an armature which is operatively connected to the gas-exchange valve; two electromagnets, each having a pole face; two oppositely oriented restoring springs; wherein the armature is guided in a reciprocating manner counter to the force of the two oppositely oriented restoring springs between the pole faces of the two electromagnets whose current supply can be controlled by a control device, the two electromagnets being disposed in mutual spacing and acting as opening and closing devices; and at least one additional mass which is associated with the gas-exchange valve and can be guided so that it is movable relative thereto and in the same direction of the gas-exchange valve, the at least one additional mass entering into operative connection with the gas-exchange valve, in the final phase of the armature's motion in the direction of a respective one of the two

Abstract: An apparatus for reciprocating an engine valve between open and closed positions in an internal-combustion engine includes an electromagnetic actuator having first and second mutually spaced electromagnets for generating electromagnetic forces; and an armature disposed between the first and second electromagnets and movable in response to the electromagnetic forces. The armature is operatively coupled to the engine valve to cause it to reciprocate between its open and closed positions. First and second gas springs are coupled to the armature for opposing the electromagnetic forces generated by the first and second electromagnets, respectively. A pressurized gas source supplies the first and second gas springs with pressure and a control arrangement varies the pressure in the first and second gas springs. A positioning spring is coupled to the engine valve for moving the engine valve into its closed position when the first and second gas springs are in a depressurized state.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for controlling a multiple cylinder internal combustion engine in which exhaust gases undergo subsequent treatment. To ensure a gaseous exchange, air is supplied to the individual cylinders through inlet devices and exhaust gases are discharged through outlet or exhaust devices. The inlet and outlet devices are independently driven but their opening and closing times may be synchronized. Beginning in the cold start phase until the warming up phase, fuel is supplied to only part of the cylinders that act as an engine and the supply of fuel to the other cylinders is cut off. The other cylinders work then as compressors. The air volume heated in these cylinders by compression flows through the outlet device into the exhaust gas system and reacts with the exhaust gases.

Abstract: A method is provided for reducing an impact speed of an armature on a pole face of an electromagnet in an electro-magnetic actuator, in which the armature moves toward the pole face against a restoring spring force when the coil of the electromagnet is charged with current. The method includes limiting a voltage applied to the coil to a predeterminable maximum value as the armature approaches the pole face so that a current flowing through the coil drops for a portion of the time of the voltage limitation.

Abstract: A method of supplying driving energy to subassemblies of a vehicle having an engine, a braking system including a brake pedal, a hydraulic machine, a hydraulic accumulator and a clutch having an engaged state for connecting the engine to the hydraulic machine for driving the hydraulic machine from the engine and a disengaged state for disconnecting the engine from the hydraulic machine.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes an intake valve for controlling a cylinder intake port; an exhaust valve for controlling a cylinder exhaust port; first and second valve lifters coupled to the intake and exhaust valves, respectively, for cyclically opening and closing the intake and exhaust valves during normal engine operation; and an actuating device for contacting the exhaust valve and for operating the exhaust valve independently from the second valve lifter. The actuating device has a withdrawn position and a valve-contacting position. In the withdrawn position the actuating device is out of contact with the exhaust valve and in the valve-contacting position the actuating device is in contact with the exhaust valve. There is further provided an electromagnetically-operating setting device having an inoperative position assumed for a normal engine operation and an operative position assumed for an engine-braking operation.

Abstract: A piston engine which includes an engine block composed of a base material. The engine which block has a cylinder block with at least one cylinder formed therein, a piston located in the cylinder, and a crankshaft connected to the piston and being mounted on crankshaft bearings disposed in a crankcase of the engine block. The engine further includes a plurality of reinforcing components connected to the walls of the engine block. The reinforcing components are composed of a component material that is different from the base material and has a higher modulus of elasticity than the base material.

Abstract: A piston-type internal combustion engine includes an engine cylinder; a piston slidably received in the engine cylinder; and a device, carried by the piston, for measuring deformations in the cylinder wall. The piston has at least two radial bores. The measuring device includes a separate carrier element disposed in each radial bore. The carrier elements are attached to the piston in a region of the piston axis such as to be displaceable relative to the radial bores, whereby a relative motion between the piston and each carrier element is provided upon radial expansion and contraction of the piston. The measuring device further includes a separate, electrically inductive path sensor, which is electrically connectable to a measuring and evaluating device, and which is attached to a respective carrier element such that the path sensor remains out of contact with the cylinder wall at all times during movement of the piston relative to the engine cylinder.

Abstract: A reciprocating piston engine includes a housing; a cylinder disposed in the housing; a piston guided for reciprocation within the cylinder; a crankshaft connected to the piston for effecting a guided reciprocation thereof within the cylinder; at least two camplates connected to the crankshaft such that they rotate together with the crankshaft, each camplate defining a control contour thereon; two balancing masses operatively coupled to the camplates such that the camplates are effective for actuating respective ones of the balancing masses, each balancing mass comprising a pivoting arm; and coupling means connecting the balancing masses to one another thereby effecting a forced reciprocation thereof as a function of a rotation of the crankshaft.

Abstract: A piston internal combustion engine includes an engine block made of a base material and including a cylinder block having walls. Segmented, rib shaped reinforcements are disposed on the engine block, each reinforcement defining breaks along a course thereof, the reinforcements further being made of a material having a higher modulus of elasticity than the base material.

Abstract: A four-stroke Otto engine. At least two intake valves of the engine have an open position and a closed position, and include a main intake valve and an additional intake valve. A camshaft moves the main intake valve into its open position and into its closed position, and a transmission element transmits a motion of the camshaft to the main intake valve. The transmission element includes a cutoff apparatus actuatable independently of the camshaft for cutting off a transmission of the actuation of the camshaft to the main intake valve for keeping the main intake valve in its closed position in a lower partial load and rpm range of the engine. An operating apparatus connected to the additional intake valve actuates the additional intake valve independently of the actuation of the main intake valve for moving the additional intake valve into its open position in a lower partial load and rpm range of the engine and into its closed position in an upper partial load and rpm range of the engine.

Abstract: A process for controlling a piston internal combustion engine by maintaining a running limit thereof. The process includes the steps of: detecting in at least one cylinder, over at least one work cycle and without reference to a crankshaft position of the engine, a measured variable which is influenced by a conversion of fuel into energy; setting the measured variable in relation to a detected, stored measured variable of at least one previously intercepted work cycle; and producing an adjusting signal from any deviation between the measured variables for inputting the adjusting signal to an engine regulation system. The measured variable can be either a pressure course, a light intensity or an ion current corresponding to the combustion process within the engine.

Abstract: A spark-ignition reciprocating piston engine has at least one piston cylinder, at least one inlet port arranged at an end of the cylinder, an inlet valve located at the inlet port and that is movable to open and close the inlet port, and an inlet conduit leading to the inlet port for feeding a fluid from a fuel feed to an inlet area of the inlet port. The engine includes a partition arranged within the inlet conduit which divides the inlet conduit into at least two partial conduits over at least a portion of a length of the inlet conduit between the fuel feed and the inlet area. At least one of the partial conduits is connected to the fuel feed. The partial conduits converge directly in front of the inlet port to form the inlet area. The partition is located within a plane that extends essentially transversely to an axis of the cylinder at least in the inlet area.

Abstract: A method of determining a combustion air ratio of a reciprocating-piston internal combustion engine includes the steps of measuring a gradient of a combustion chamber pressure as a function of a position of a piston in a piston cylinder, for at least one operating cycle of the engine. Measured signals are formed representing the gradient of the combustion chamber pressure. The measured signals are digitized and entered into a programmed evaluation unit, where they are evaluated on the premise that energy prior to combustion and energy following or toward the end of combustion are at least approximately equal. Further, they are evaluated based on the equation ##EQU1## A value of the combustion air ratio is calculated from the evaluated digitized measured signals in an iterative computation process, and the value is displayed.

Abstract: A combustion engine. The engine includes an engine housing; at least one cylinder disposed in the engine housing; and a crank drive including: a crankshaft having a crank; and a piston being axially displaceable within the cylinder. The crank drive further includes a connecting rod which has an upper connecting rod part hinged to the piston; and a lower connecting rod part hinged to the crank. The lower connecting rod part is hinged to the upper connecting rod part. A central joint hinges the upper connecting rod part and the lower connecting rod part to one another, a longitudinal axis of the upper connecting rod part further being defined by a line connecting the central joint with a hinge joint of the upper connecting rod part to the piston.

Abstract: In an internal combustion engine there is provided a cylinder head; a plurality of cylinder head bolts for securing the cylinder head to a cylinder block; at least one engine cylinder; at least two intake valves and two exhaust valves controlling the flow of gases into and from the engine cylinder. A plane defined by the intake valves and a plane defined by the exhaust valves extend at an angle of between 0.degree. and 15.degree. to one another and have an inclined orientation to the longitudinal engine axis. An overhead camshaft extends parallel to the engine axis and is situated in a zone bounded by the cylinder head bolts. Respective valve bridges interconnect the intake valves with one another and the exhaust valves with one another, and rocker arms connect respective cams of the camshaft with the valve bridges, whereby the intake valves are simultaneously operated by one cam and the exhaust valves are simultaneously operated by another cam.