Abstract: A method for starting an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle includes detecting before a direct starting of the internal combustion engine that a piston which is disposed translationally moveably in a start cylinder of the internal combustion engine is in an upper half of, or in a middle of, a stroke of the piston. In response to the detecting, rotating an output shaft of the internal combustion engine in a direction of rotation of the output shaft such that the piston is in a lower half of the stroke of the piston and in an intermediate position. The method further includes rotating the output shaft in a second direction of rotation before and/or during fuel being first directly injected into the start cylinder such that the piston is moved out of the intermediate position in a direction of an upper dead center of the piston.

Abstract: A method for starting an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle includes detecting before a direct starting of the internal combustion engine that a piston which is disposed translationally moveably in a start cylinder of the internal combustion engine is in an upper half of, or in a middle of, a stroke of the piston. In response to the detecting, rotating an output shaft of the internal combustion engine in a direction of rotation of the output shaft such that the piston is in a lower half of the stroke of the piston and in an intermediate position. The method further includes rotating the output shaft in a second direction of rotation before and/or during fuel being first directly injected into the start cylinder such that the piston is moved out of the intermediate position in a direction of an upper dead center of the piston.

Abstract: A valve train device, in particular for an internal combustion engine, includes at least one camshaft which has at least one cam element with at least one multi-track cam. The cam element is provided to be axially displaced by a maximum displacement path. The valve train device further includes a limiting mechanism which is provided to limit in at least one operating state the displacement path of the cam element to a switching path of the switching operation.

Abstract: A valve train device, in particular for an internal combustion engine, includes at least one camshaft which has at least one cam element with at least one multi-track cam. The cam element is provided to be axially displaced by a maximum displacement path. The valve train device further includes a limiting mechanism which is provided to limit in at least one operating state the displacement path of the cam element to a switching path of the switching operation.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine for a motor vehicle, having at least one adjusting device by means of which at least one compression ratio of the internal combustion engine is variably settable. At least one detection device is provided by means of which at least one signal (20, 22) which characterizes an actuation effort for setting the compression ratio is detectable. The invention further relates to a method for checking an adjusting device of such an internal combustion engine.

Abstract: In an internal combustion engine including cylinders arranged in a housing, a crankshaft, pistons disposed in the cylinders so as to be movable by the crankshaft, and a device for varying a compression ratio of the internal combustion engine wherein the device, for varying the compression ratio, includes an adjusting structure which varies the effective length of a connecting rod of the piston, the lift of the crankshaft or the position of the cylinder with respect to the center of the crankshaft, an operating structure is provided by rotation of which the position of the adjusting structure can be controlled, and a drive device for controlling the operating structures contains a coupling mechanism with an integrated brake function, whereby h the adjusting structure can either be placed in operative connection with the crankshaft or can be blocked.

Abstract: In an internal combustion engine including a housing with cylinders arranged in the housing, a crankshaft, and pistons moveably disposed in the cylinders and operatively connected to the crankshaft, and a device for changing the compression ratio of the cylinders of the internal combustion engine, the device comprises an adjusting arrangement with an eccentric which is mounted in the housing and, by means of rotation, controls the position and the direction of movement of the adjusting arrangement, and a drive for operating the adjusting arrangement including the eccentric.

Abstract: In a method for making it easier to start an internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder in which there is at least one piston which is intended to execute an oscillating motion between a top dead center and a bottom dead center, air or a fuel-air mixture is drawn in via an induction line as a result of a movement of the piston toward the bottom dead center. After the bottom dead center has been passed and after the piston has started to move toward the top dead center, the air or the fuel-air mixture is discharged from the cylinder via the induction line. Intake valves are closed at a time which is shifted toward the top dead center. A control element arranged in the induction line closes the induction line after the piston has passed the bottom dead center.

Abstract: A unit carrier for secondary units of a motor vehicle internal combustion engine, having secondary unit attachment devices and engine block attachment devices. The unit carrier has a planned deformation point, which allows a relative displacement between the secondary unit and the engine block in case of a vehicle collision, if a predefined force is exceeded. The unit carrier is used in motor vehicles having a front engine arrangement.

Abstract: In a method for making it easier to start an internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder in which there is at least one piston which is intended to execute an oscillating motion between a top dead center and a bottom dead center, air or a fuel-air mixture is drawn in via an induction line as a result of a movement of the piston toward the bottom dead center. After the bottom dead center has been passed and after the piston has started to move toward the top dead center, the air or the fuel-air mixture is discharged from the cylinder via the induction line. Intake valves are closed at a time which is shifted toward the top dead center. A control element arranged in the induction line closes the induction line after the piston has passed the bottom dead center.

Abstract: A device and a method are for closing a flow duct. The device has a valve which may be pivoted between an open position and a closed position by a valve shaft and has at least one valve wing which, in the closed position, rests against a sealing contour provided in the flow duct. The valve wing is of elastic configuration and the sealing contour or the valve wing is arranged such that first of all a region, at a distance from the valve shaft in the radial direction, of the valve wing comes into contact with the sealing contour when the valve wing is being brought into contact with the sealing contour, and that, during further pivoting of the valve shaft, the valve wing is deformed to such an extent that it rests substantially completely against the sealing contour.