Abstract: An internal combustion engine having four individual cylinder banks, in each case two cylinder banks being arranged in a V-shape with respect to one another in such a way that the cylinder banks forming a V are disposed on both sides of one engine plane E defined by a vertical axis H that symmetrically divides the internal combustion engine and by a longitudinal axis L of the internal combustion engine, one cylinder bank of the cylinder banks that are associated with one another in a V-shape being configured closer to the engine plane E or the vertical axis H than the cylinder bank that is diametrically opposed with respect to the engine plane E. The present invention is intended for use in mixture-compressing internal combustion engines having externally supplied ignition, but also for air-compressing, self-ignition internal combustion engines.

Abstract: A drive assembly for a vehicle with an internal-combustion engine for supplying driving energy, has an exhaust gas turbocharger which has a turbine and a compressor. The turbine is driven by exhaust gases of the internal-combustion engine, and the compressor is driven by the turbine. An air guiding system supplies fresh air to the compressor, in which the fresh air is compressed to form charge air. The air guiding system guides the charge air from the compressor to the internal-combustion engine, and the power of the internal-combustion engine is to be increased at low rotational speeds by an additional compressor which generates compressed fresh air which, as a function of the requirements, can be supplied to the air guiding system upstream of the internal-combustion engine. As the additional compressor, a compressor is used which is already present in the vehicle for other purposes.

Abstract: In known starting devices, an individual starter is provided which accelerates the internal combustion engine to only a relatively low rotational speed at which an initial injection with subsequent combustion takes place. During a cold start of the internal combustion engine, it is therefore absolutely necessary to provide a relatively rich fuel/air mixture for the initial injection. However, this results in a situation in which, during this phase, relatively high exhaust gas emissions, in particular of hydrocarbons, are produced, which cannot be controlled by a catalytic converter which is not yet at its operating temperature.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine having a mechanical supercharger for compressing the combustion air in the intake manifold. The supercharger communicates with a charge-air cooler which is arranged downstream in the direction of flow of the combustion air and is connected to the intake manifold. In order to design an internal combustion engine in such a way that as few alterations to the basic engine as possible are required for the arrangement of the supercharger, the supercharger, the charge-air cooler and the intake manifold are formed as an interchangeable supercharger module held on a support plate.

Abstract: A diesel internal combustion engine in the exhaust gas line system of which is arranged a device for the ionization of soot particles contained in the exhaust gas and a device for the separation thereof from the exhaust gas stream. In order to be able to realize a low structural expenditure, the device for the ionization of the soot particles is constructed as a light source emitting ultraviolet light.

Abstract: A method for the regulation of the mixture composition in a mixture-compressing internal combustion engine with an electronically controlled fuel injection system. In order to be able to dispense with a lambda probe, the mixture is initially enriched or leaned for each cylinder unit directly after the start of the internal combustion engine, the change between two successive firings of the energy pulse introduced into the crankshaft by an ignition is continuously determined thereafter and the mixture is enriched in the case that the amount of the respectively determined energy pulse change lies above a predetermined shifting-comparison value dependent on operating parameters, and otherwise is leaned down.

Abstract: A process and equipment for removing toxic and malodorous gases from the fresh air for vehicle cabins by catalytic oxidation, the process being based on passing the fresh air over a heating-system heat exchanger, the heat-emitting surfaces of which form the support for an oxidation catalyst. The heat exchanger used is the heating-system heat exchanger which is present in virtually all motor vehicles. In contrast to known solutions for purifying the fresh air, for example by means of activated carbon, the process is maintenance-free and does not require any additional constructional volume.

Abstract: Use of a metallic partial composite laminate body which is provided with a large number of axially extending channels and is made by expanding a large number of layers, as support for exhaust gas catalysts of Otto-engines in which the mutually oppositely disposed non-inflated edge portions of the expanded partial composite laminate body serve for a particularly stable fastening of the support in the catalyst housing.

Abstract: An exhaust gas filter for Diesel engines that consists of a monolithic filter block made of a porous ceramic material having a plurality of ducts extending in the flow direction of the exhaust gases, said ducts alternately being closed by plugs in order to force the passage of gas through the duct walls into adjacent ducts. In the case of this exhaust gas filter, the filter block is divided into zones having a decreasing porosity in the flow direction of the gases, and the plugs which force the passage of the gas through the duct walls are each arranged in the area of the zone border. Filters are preferred that have two to four zones of decreasing porosity. The exhaust gas filters are manufactured in that a filter blank that has the largest desired porosity is immersed in a solution or suspension of a porosity-reducing agent up to the desired zone border and is subsequently dried and is possibly burnt. Preferred agents for reducing the porosity are water glass solutions or cordierite suspensions.

Abstract: A process is described for the determination of the aging condition of an exhaust-gas catalyst for an internal combustion engine which is fitted with .lambda.-controlled regulation of the fuel/air ratio. In the process, the switching of the fuel/air ratio from rich to lean and vice versa is delayed and the content of the combustibles in the exhaust gas downstream of the catalyst is measured. With delayed switching, complete conversion of the exhaust gas only occurs when the catalyst still possesses its full oxygen-storage capability. Since the oxygen-storage capability decreases with increasing age of the catalyst, the degree of conversion or the proportion of combustible components arising in the exhaust gas when conversion is no longer complete is a direct measure of the aging condition of the catalyst. A catalyst can thus be replaced in good time before it is completely destroyed and before undesired components of the exhaust gas reach the atmosphere.

Abstract: An exhaust gas filter for Diesel engines that consists of a filter block made of a porous ceramic material, and a plurality of ducts extending through said filter block that extend in the flow direction of the exhaust gases. The ducts in each case are alternately closed at their upstream or their downstream end, whereby the exhaust gases are forced to penetrate a filtering separating wall between two ducts. The closing means at the downstream end, are arranged so that they are staggered with respect to one another in the flow direction; in particular they are staggered by about 5 to 150 mm. The staggered arrangement of the closing means reduces the danger of a thermal damage to the filter block during the burning-off of the deposited soot.

Abstract: A split gas generator, especially for an air-compressing internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, in which a catalyst supporting the split gas reaction is arranged in a container; the components of the split gas production flow through the catalyst in the longitudinal direction, while air-guide channels embedded in the catalyst are traversed by the exhaust gases and by the fresh air in a direction opposite to the direction of the split gas flow in the catalyst; the air-guide channels are in heat-transferring connection with the catalyst.