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, especially for a motor vehicle, with a multicylinder internal combustion engine, a device for shutting off at least some of the cylinders of the internal combustion engine, and a device for active reduction of rotational nonuniformities, acting in particular on a shaft, such as a drive shaft of the internal combustion engine, or a shaft that is coupled or which can be coupled to it, which is active at least for certain operating states during cylinder shutoff mode. A method of operating such a drive system is also disclosed.

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: The invention concerns a system for active reduction of rotational nonuniformities of a shaft, especially the drive shaft (10) of an internal combustion engine or a shaft that is coupled or can be coupled to it, with at least one electric machine (4), which is coupled or can be coupled to the shaft, wherein the electric machine (4) is controlled such that it generates a rapidly varying torque, to reduce the rotational nonuniformities, and it superimposes on this torque a positive or negative torque in order to further achieve a driving action or braking or generator type action. The invention is also oriented to a corresponding method for active reduction of rotational nonuniformities.

Abstract: The invention concerns a starter/generator for an internal combustion engine (1), especially that of a motor vehicle, with an electric rotary-field machine (4), which exercises the starter and generator function; and at least one invertor (17) for generating the voltages and/or currents of variable frequency, amplitude and/or phase required for the magnetic fields of the electric machine (4); wherein the electric machine (4) starts the internal combustion engine (1) by merging in from standstill.

Abstract: The invention concerns a drive system with a drive motor (1), especially the internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, an electric machine (4), which provides additional driving action, and at least one short-duty battery (11), which furnishes at least some of the energy required during the driving action of the electric machine (4).

Abstract: An apparatus for retarding an increase in braking torque associated with connecting an electrical consumer to a power supply of a drive system of a vehicle such as an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The apparatus includes a generator operatively connected to the drive engine. The generator serves to supply one or more electrical consumers. The apparatus also includes a control system which causes the generator to subject the drive engine to a slowly increasing braking torque during engagement of one or more electrical consumers to thereby provide time for performance of an ignition or filling intervention to ensure the increased load of the added consumer(s) does not cause undesirable effects in engine performance.

Abstract: An electric machine with a stator and a rotor arranged in the drive train of a drive unit is disclosed. A vibration insulation device is incorporated in the rotor of the electric machine. The electric machine can function as a starter/generator, a generator vehicle brake, an auxiliary drive and/or an active vibration damper.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for starting an internal combustion engine are disclosed. One of the disclosed apparatus includes an electric starter operatively coupled to the internal combustion engine and an energy storage device for supplying the starter with power. The apparatus is also provided with a sensor for detecting a temperature of the internal combustion engine and a consumer control device associated with a consumer of electrical power. The apparatus is further provided with a power flow controller which controls the consumer control device such that a portion of the energy stored in the energy storage device is delivered to the consumer of electrical power before the electric starter is supplied with power. The portion of the energy has a size which is dependent upon the sensed temperature. The size of the portion is smaller at low temperatures than at high temperatures.

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.

Abstract: The invention concerns a drive system, especially for a motor vehicle, with a drive assembly, especially an internal combustion engine; an electric machine that is directly coupled or can be coupled to the drive shaft of the drive assembly, being designed such that it can start the drive assembly by merging in from standstill; and an automatic start-stop control of the drive assembly. The invention is also addressed to a method for operating such a drive system.

Abstract: Drive system, especially for a motor vehicle, with a drive assembly, especially an internal combustion engine (1), an electric machine (4) and an antislip control, in which the (one) electric machine (4) is designed such that it can produce a reduction of drive slip, in particular by braking action and/or—when the electric machine (4) is acting as a coupling—by clutch slip action.

Abstract: The invention concerns a starter/generator for an internal combustion engine (1), especially that of a motor vehicle, with an electric rotary-field machine (4), which exercises the starter and generator function; and at least one invertor (17) for generating the voltages and/or currents of variable frequency, amplitude and/or phase required for the magnetic fields of the electric machine (4); wherein the electric machine (4) starts the internal combustion engine (1) by merging in from standstill.

Abstract: The invention concerns a drive system, especially for a motor vehicle, with a drive assembly, especially an internal combustion engine (1), and at least one electric machine (4) for active reduction of rotational nonuniformities, acting on the drive assembly, in particular, its drive shaft (10) or a shaft coupled or which can be coupled to it, wherein at least one sensor (16, 32) of the drive system and/or at least one quantity derived from sensor information serves both to control the drive assembly and also to control the electric machine (4), and/or wherein a control unit (31 and 33, respectively) responsible for the control of the electric machine (4) or of the drive assembly also partly or entirely controls the drive assembly or the electric machine (4), respectfully. The invention is also oriented to a method of operating such a drive system.

Abstract: The invention concerns a drive system, especially for a motor vehicle, with a drive assembly, especially an internal combustion engine (1); and at least one electric machine (4), which acts as an electromagnetic coupling in the drive train (2) of the drive system and/or as an active transmission synchronization device. The invention is also oriented to a method of operating a drive system.

Abstract: The invention concerns a system for active reduction of radial vibrations of a rotating shaft (4), especially the drive shaft of an internal combustion engine (1), with at least one active electromagnetic device (7; 10; 15, 16), which is configured and controlled such that it applies radial forces to the shaft (4), which counteract the radial vibrations of the shaft (4).

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an idling speed of an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The apparatus includes an electric machine operatively coupled to the internal combustion engine for applying a braking torque to the internal combustion engine to reduce the idling speed and for applying a driving torque to the internal combustion engine to increase the idling speed. It also includes a controller for controlling the electric machine. The controller is responsive to a load change to control the electric machine to apply one of a braking torque and a driving torque to the internal combustion engine to substantially maintain the idling speed at a predefined level.

Abstract: An auxiliary starter unit is disclosed for facilitating starting of a diesel engine. The auxiliary starter unit includes a heater positioned in proximity to the diesel engine to improve a starting characteristic of the diesel engine. The auxiliary starter unit also includes an inverter having an intermediate circuit. The auxiliary starter unit is further provided with an energy storage device located to receive electrical energy from the intermediate circuit, and a controlled switch having a closed state and an open state. The controlled switch is positioned to couple the energy storage device in circuit with the heater to deliver electrical energy thereto.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for controlling the idling speed of an internal combustion engine by reducing torque fluctuations experienced by the engine. In the disclosed apparatus, an electric machine is coupled to the drive shaft of an internal combustion engine. The electric machine is controlled such that it applies a varying torque substantially in counterphase to the torque fluctuations to reduce such fluctuations. The amplitude of the torque variations applied by the electric machine in the cold state of the internal combustion engine are greater than in the warm state. An idle control system functions to maintain the reference idling speed of the internal combustion engine in the cold state below or at the same level set in the warm state. The reference idling speed can be reduced relative to the idling speeds set in prior art systems to achieve enhanced engine performance.