Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes an engine cylinder; a first intake port leading to the cylinder for introducing combustion gases thereinto; a first intake valve situated at the cylinder in the first intake port; a second intake port leading to the cylinder for introducing combustion gases thereinto; a second intake valve situated at the cylinder in the second intake port; and a throttle arrangement situated in the second intake port for varying a flow passage cross section thereof. The throttle arrangement includes a flat sliding member movable in a direction of motion thereof perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the second intake port for varying the flow passage cross section thereof.

Abstract: A method is provided for adapting a control for an electromagnetic actuator for actuating an adjusting device in a system, in particular for actuating a cylinder valve in a piston engine, to operation-dictated changes in the electromagnetic actuator. The electromagnetic actuator includes at least one electromagnet, a restoring spring, an armature operately coupled to the cylinder valve and disposed for movement counter to the restoring spring. The electromagnet is energized, during an idling phase of the engine, with a current having a path deviating from a normal current in a normal mode of operation. Portions of a course over time of current through the electromagnet are detected. The detected course of current is compared with a predetermined curve. The control for the electromagnet for the normal mode is adapted if there are deviations between the detected course of the current and the predetermined curve.

Abstract: An internal-combustion engine includes a cylinder head; a cylinder valve supported for reciprocating motion in the cylinder head to assume open and closed positions; and an electromagnetic actuator for operating the cylinder valve. The electromagnetic actuator includes a housing; and a first and a second electromagnet received in the housing and secured thereto at a fixed distance from one another. The first electromagnet has a first pole face and the second electromagnet has a second pole face oriented toward the first pole face. The actuator further has an armature positioned between the first and second pole faces for a reciprocating motion therebetween; return springs arranged for exerting oppositely oriented forces on the armature, whereby the armature executes reciprocating motion against a spring force; a connecting arrangement for coupling the armature to the stem of the cylinder valve; and a setting unit for displacing the housing relative to the cylinder valve.

Abstract: A method for controlling a piston-type internal combustion engine including dosing a fuel amount conditional upon a desired engine output and dosing a required air amount by controlling opening times of at least the gas intake valves.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining valve control times for a maximum charge for cylinders in a piston-type internal combustion engine provided with fuel injection, lambda sensor control and electromagnetically actuatable cylinder valves. The method includes setting the "intake closes" control moment to a preliminary value on all gas intake valves of the engine; changing continuously the "intake closes" control moment on the gas intake valves at least one cylinder while maintaining a constant engine rpm and determining, with the lambda sensor control at .lambda.=1, one of (1) a longest fuel injection duration and (2) a leanest operation at a constant injection duration; and storing the determined "intake closes" control moments at respective rpm's in a performance characteristic of an engine control for achieving a maximum charge in the cylinders at the respective rpm's.

Abstract: A method of controlling a motion of an armature away from an electromagnet of an electromagnetic actuator includes the following steps: passing an electric current through a solenoid of the electromagnet for holding the armature at the electromagnet against a resetting force; interrupting the current flow through the solenoid at a desired moment for releasing the armature from the electromagnet; and impressing a current pulse of reverse polarity on the solenoid after interrupting the current flow for launching the armature from the electromagnet.

Abstract: A method of operating an internal-combustion engine including a plurality of cylinders; cylinder valves for admitting gases into and removing gases from the cylinders; and actuators connected to the valves for reciprocating the valves between open and closed positions. The method includes the following steps: controlling the actuators of the plurality of cylinders with a first control process as a function of load requirements arising during engine run, as long as the load requirements remain at or above a minimum value; controlling the actuators of at least one first cylinder of the plurality of cylinders with a second control process when the load requirement falls below the minimum value; and simultaneously with controlling the actuators of the first cylinder with the second control process, controlling the actuators of at least one second cylinder of the plurality of cylinders with a third control process.

Abstract: A method of controlling movements of an armature in an electromagnetic circuit which includes at least one holding solenoid applying magnetic forces to the armature and at least one resetting arrangement for applying a resetting force to the armature. The method includes the following cyclical steps: switching on a holding current to flow through the solenoid for holding the armature at the solenoid; after a predetermined period, switching off the holding current for causing the armature to begin a motion away from the solenoid; after switch-off of the holding current detecting, across the solenoid, a voltage change caused by the displacement of the armature for recognizing a starting moment of armature motion from the solenoid; and deriving a control signal from signals representing the voltage change ascertained in the course of the detecting step.

Abstract: An electromagnetic switching arrangement for operating a control device, with the arrangement having two electromagnets (1, 2) which are formed respectively from a coil (3.1, 3.2) and a magnetic yoke (4.1, 4.2), are connected to an actuatable direct-current supply (9), and are spaced from one another, with the pole faces (5) of the two magnet yokes (4.1. 4.2) facing one another. An armature (6) is disposed between the two electromagnets so that the armature can move back and forth between the pole faces (5) of the two electromagnets. The armature (6) is connected to the control device to be operated and is held by spring elements (8.1, 8.2) in an inoperative or neutral position between the two electromagnets (1, 2) when both electromagnets are currentless. At least the armature (6) is made of a material that contains a residual magnetization.

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 method of measuring a valve play in a reciprocating valve. The valve has open and closed positions and is operated by an electromagnetic actuator which includes an opening electromagnet, a closing electromagnet, an armature movable between pole faces by electromagnetic forces against a spring force of a return spring arrangement for moving the valve into an open position. The valve play is defined by a clearance between the armature and the valve when the armature is in contact with the pole face of the closing magnet and the valve is in the closed position. The method includes the steps of detecting a motion of the armature within the clearance as a function of the course of voltage and/or current in the closing electromagnet; and deriving the size of the valve play from an irregularity (spike) in the course of voltage and/or current. The irregularity is caused by an impacting of the armature on the valve and/or the pole face of the closing electromagnet.

Abstract: A method of controlling an electromagnetic actuator having at least one electromagnet and an armature that can be moved by generated magnetic forces in a direction counter to the force of a restoring spring associated with the electromagnet, with the armature acting on a control element. The supply of current to the electromagnet in order to initiate the armature movement is effected by a linear regulator that regulates the coil current to a constant value, via a control member, prior to the anticipated impact of the armature on the pole face of the electromagnet. An identifying signal for armature impact is derived from changes in the control variable of the regulator (control current or control voltage) when the armature impacts during the constant-current phase.

Abstract: A method is provided for automatic calibration of an angle mark transmitter at the crankshaft of an internal combustion engine having fuel injection, Lambda sensor control and electromagnetically actuated gas cylinder valves. The control time "intake closes" is initially adjusted for all gas cylinder valves to a preliminary value. For defined marginal operating conditions, in particular speed and temperature, the control time "intake closes" for at least one gas cylinder valve is changed to determine, via the Lambda sensor control at Lambda=1, a value at which the longest fuel injection time is detected or, for a constant injection time, the leanest operation is detected. The determined control time is compared to the desired control time for an exactly adjusted angle mark transmitter on the internal combustion engine and in case of deviation is compensated for in the control for the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A method of recognizing armature impingement in an electromagnetic actuator having an electromagnet including a solenoid, an armature movable toward and away from the electromagnet and return means for exerting a force on the armature. The method includes the steps of maintaining a solenoid current at a predetermined magnitude I.sub.max during a predetermined period T.sub.A for capturing the armature at the electromagnet; switching off the solenoid current at a moment t.sub.1 upon lapse of the period T.sub.A ; upon lapse of a period T.sub.1 running from moment t.sub.1, oscillating the solenoid current between a lower holding current threshold I.sub.H1 and an upper holding current threshold I.sub.H2 ; detecting a current course from moment t.sub.1 ; and deriving a signal from such current course.

Abstract: A method of switching an electromagnetic actuator which includes an armature movable along a path of travel and two electromagnets having respective solenoids, disposed at opposite ends of the path of travel for alternatingly attracting the armature. The method includes the steps of alternatingly applying a supply voltage to the electromagnets for alternatingly causing a supply current to flow therethrough for effecting a reciprocating motion of the armature; and applying an induced current, generated by an induced voltage appearing across one of the solenoids upon removal of the supply current from the one solenoid, to the other of the solenoids until the supply voltage applied to the other solenoid is greater than the induced voltage and the supply voltage across the other solenoid is capable of maintaining an attained current flow therethrough.

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 method of reducing NO.sub.x emissions of a turbo-charged internal combustion engine. The engine has an exhaust conduit guiding an exhaust gas stream, a charge-air intake conduit guiding a charge-air stream and a turbocharger including a turbine disposed in the exhaust conduit and a compressor disposed in the charge-air intake conduit. The method comprises the steps of branching off a partial exhaust gas quantity from the exhaust gas stream upstream of the turbine as viewed in a direction of exhaust gas flow; passing the partial exhaust gas quantity through a particle filter; and introducing the partial exhaust gas quantity into the charge-air stream upstream of the compressor.

Abstract: A flywheel system for a machine includes a rotary body affixed to a rotary shaft of the machine for rotating with the shaft as a unit; an additional rotary body forming a flywheel mass and being mounted on the shaft for rotation relative thereto; an electromagnetic device for torque-transmittingly coupling the rotary bodies to one another in a contactless manner; and a control for actuating the electromagnetic device.

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.