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: 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 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: 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 system for actively reducing rotational nonuniformity of oa shaft, in particular the drive shaft (10) of an internal combustion engine (1) or a shaft which is coupled, or can be coupled, to the drive shaft. The system includes at least one electrical machine (4), in particular an induction machine or traveling wave machine, which is coupled, or can be coupled, to the shaft; at least one invertor (17) which generates the voltage and/nor current of variable frequency, amplitude and/or phase necessary to produce the magnetic field of the electrical machine (4); and at least one control device (31) which controls the invertor (17) and hence the electrical machine (4) in such a way that the machine counteracts both positive and negative rotational nonuniformity of the shaft. The invention also concerns a method of actively reducing rotational nonuniformity using the 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) 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: 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.

Abstract: A starter for a drive unit, such as an internal combustion engine, includes a stationary and a movable base element which form a linear motor. The movable base element is seated on a revolving shaft of the drive unit an inertia mass of a flywheel of the drive unit. The inertia mass of the flywheel is rigidly connected with the revolving shaft and is acted upon with sufficient torque required for the starting of the drive unit. Upon starting, the linear motor is switched over into a generator operation.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine 2 which drives the vehicle via a drive shaft 4. The motor vehicle further includes a latent heat accumulator 18. In addition, the motor vehicle includes an electrical machine 8 which is at least at intervals of time coupled to the drive shaft 4 so that the rotational energy of the drive shaft 4 can be converted into electrical energy with the aid of the electrical machine 8. The electrical energy is supplied to the latent heat accumulator 18 and is there converted into heat energy to charge the latent heat accumulator 18.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a cooling system for a electric machine. A reliable tightness with respect to the coolant to be used is ensured with respect to the machine to be cooled as well as with respect to the ambient. The cooling arrangement is convenient and does not constitute a hindrance in the event that repair or maintenance work must be conducted on the machine. The electric machine includes a stator and a cooling jacket defining a hollow interior and having an inlet opening and an outlet opening for connecting the cooling jacket to an external cooling circulating system for facilitating a flow of coolant through the interior. The cooling jacket has a hose-like configuration and is made of a flexible, elastic material so as to cause the cooling jacket to lie in close intimate contact with the stator to facilitate a transfer of heat from the stator to the coolant. The cooling jacket is made of rubber or silicone.

Abstract: An active vibration damping system for a drive unit having at least one drive shaft is provided. The vibration damping system includes a flywheel which comprises a movable base element of a linear electric motor that acts on the rotation of the shaft. The linear electric motor consists of a linear machine which generates a traveling magnetic field. The turning direction of the traveling magnetic field chosen relative to the turning direction of the crankshaft such that when unacceptably low momentary turning rates are sensed, a thrust force is applied to the flywheel and when unacceptably high momentary turning rates are sensed, a retarding force is applied until an evening up of the crankshaft rotation or a rotary vibration damping is achieved.