Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine having a waste heat utilization device including a waste heat utilization cycle in which a valve mechanism, an evaporator, and an expander are arranged, may include adjusting the valve mechanism between an evaporator position and a bypass position via a control/regulating device as a function of at least one operating parameter of the internal combustion engine. The method may also include calculating at least one of a power and an energy generatable by the waste heat utilization device via the control/regulating device as a function of the at least one operating parameter of the internal combustion engine. The method may further include switching the expander between an active state and an inactive state via the control/regulating device as a function of the at least one of the calculated power and the calculated energy.

Abstract: An engine assembly may include an internal combustion engine and an expander couplable to the internal combustion engine in a force transmitting manner. The engine assembly may also include a pulley mounted rotatably on a shaft of the expander. The pulley may be coupled to the internal combustion engine in a force-transmitting manner via a belt drive. The engine assembly may further include a first driver plate connected non-rotatably to the pulley and a second driver plate arranged adjacent thereto and connected non-rotatably to the shaft. The engine assembly may additionally include a clutch device including at least one actuating device and a coupling wheel. The coupling wheel may contact the first driver plate and the second driver plate when the clutch device is closed such that the pulley is connected with the shaft of the expander in a driving manner.

Abstract: An axial piston machine may include a rotor rotatably mounted in a housing. A plurality of cylinders may be arranged in a ring around the rotor. A plurality of pistons may each be arranged within each of the plurality of cylinders and may be constructed and arranged to selectively translate within the plurality of cylinders. A plurality of inlet openings may be defined in a cylinder head and at least one outlet opening may be defined in the housing. The plurality of cylinders may be in operative communication with the plurality of inlet openings and the at least one outlet opening. An inlet channel may be defined in the cylinder head and may extend to each of the plurality of inlet openings. An outlet channel may be defined in the housing and may be in operative communication with the at least one outlet opening. A bypass channel may be defined in the housing and may extend from the cylinder head into one of the outlet channel or a swashplate space.

Abstract: An engine assembly may include an internal combustion engine, an expander coupled to the engine, a pulley rotatably arranged on a shaft of the expander and coupled to the engine, a coupling device including at least one elastic operating element arranged within an operating element accommodation in an axially deformable manner, a drive disk arranged on the shaft between the pulley and the at least one operating element, and a pressure device connected to the operating element accommodation via a fluid line and configured to apply pressure to the operating element accommodation. The at least one operating element may be deformable in an axial direction such that the at least one operating element adjusts the drive disk into force-transferring contact with the pulley when the at least one operating element is deformed by a pressure applied to the operating element accommodation by the pressure device.

Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine having a waste heat utilization device including a waste heat utilization cycle in which a valve mechanism, an evaporator, and an expander are arranged, may include adjusting the valve mechanism between an evaporator position and a bypass position via a control/regulating device as a function of at least one operating parameter of the internal combustion engine. The method may also include calculating at least one of a power and an energy generatable by the waste heat utilization device via the control/regulating device as a function of the at least one operating parameter of the internal combustion engine. The method may further include switching the expander between an active state and an inactive state via the control/regulating device as a function of the at least one of the calculated power and the calculated energy.

Abstract: A heat exchanger unit for a fluid circuit of a motor vehicle includes a plurality of fluid connections for a through-flow of a working fluid, a fluid distributor fluidically connected to the fluid connections, and a fluid connector fluidically connected to the fluid connections. The fluid distributor is structured and arranged to distribute the working fluid among the fluid connections, and the fluid collector is structured and arranged to collect the working fluid after flowing through the fluid connection. At least a portion of the fluid distributor and/or the fluid collector includes a surge tank for the working fluid.

Abstract: A drive system may include an internal combustion engine and an expander operated via a working medium. A force transmission device may be disposed between a crankcase and the expander. A first seal may be disposed between the expander and the force transmission device and/or a second seal may be disposed between the force transmission device and the crankcase. A crankcase ventilation line may lead from the crankcase into an intake pipe of the internal combustion engine. An air mass sensor may be disposed in the intake pipe. An engine control unit may be in communication with the air mass sensor, the expander, and the internal combustion engine and may be configured to detect a power of the internal combustion engine and an air mass flow of the air mass sensor and may switch off the expander if a power suddenly rises with the air mass flow remaining constant.

Abstract: An engine assembly may include an internal combustion engine, an expander coupled to the engine, a pulley rotatably arranged on a shaft of the expander and coupled to the engine, a coupling device including at least one elastic operating element arranged within an operating element accommodation in an axially deformable manner, a drive disk arranged on the shaft between the pulley and the at least one operating element, and a pressure device connected to the operating element accommodation via a fluid line and configured to apply pressure to the operating element accommodation. The at least one operating element may be deformable in an axial direction such that the at least one operating element adjusts the drive disk into force-transferring contact with the pulley when the at least one operating element is deformed by a pressure applied to the operating element accommodation by the pressure device.

Abstract: An engine assembly may include an internal combustion engine and an expander couplable to the internal combustion engine in a force transmitting manner. The engine assembly may also include a pulley mounted rotatably on a shaft of the expander. The pulley may be coupled to the internal combustion engine in a force-transmitting manner via a belt drive. The engine assembly may further include a first driver plate connected non-rotatably to the pulley and a second driver plate arranged adjacent thereto and connected non-rotatably to the shaft. The engine assembly may additionally include a clutch device including at least one actuating device and a coupling wheel. The coupling wheel may contact the first driver plate and the second driver plate when the clutch device is closed such that the pulley is connected with the shaft of the expander in a driving manner.