Abstract: A gate signal is generated by summation of multiple signal profiles. The gate signal is applied to a switching device to switch the switching device between an off state and an on state. While the gate signal is applied to the switching device, at least an n-th order derivative of a load signal of the switching device is detected, with n being an integer which is equal to or larger than 2. Depending on the detected n-th order derivative, one or more of the signal profiles are adapted.

Abstract: Power switch devices having an overload limit are provided. The overload limit may be adjusted based on an inductance coupled with the power switch device.

Abstract: A power circuit is described that includes a switch coupled to a resistive-inductive-capacitive load and a driver coupled to the switch. The driver is configured to detect an emergency event within the power circuit. After detecting the emergency event within the power circuit, the driver is further configured to perform a controlled emergency switch-off operation of the switch to minimize the maximum temperature of the switch during the detected emergency event and switch-off operation.

Abstract: A gate signal is generated by summation of multiple signal profiles. The gate signal is applied to a switching device to switch the switching device between an off state and an on state. While the gate signal is applied to the switching device, at least an n-th order derivative of a load signal of the switching device is detected, with n being an integer which is equal to or larger than 2. Depending on the detected n-th order derivative, one or more of the signal profiles are adapted.

Abstract: A pump device is operated according to a method for varying the duration of a supply stroke of a pump element, the supply stroke of which is actuated by a rotatably driven pump shaft (P) over a predetermined rotational position range of the pump shaft. In the method, the pump shaft (P) is rotatably driven by a drive shaft (A) and the angular speed of the pump shaft, at a constant angular speed of the drive shaft, is increased and decreased at least once during one revolution of the pump shaft.

Abstract: In a method for operating a reciprocating-piston internal combustion engine having internal exhaust gas energy recuperation, a cylinder head recuperator is heated up during an exhaust cycle by hot exhaust gas flowing through the cylinder head recuperator prior to being exhausted from the cylinder via an exhaust valve. During an intake cycle, fresh charge flows into the power chamber of the cylinder by passing around a cylinder head recuperator. During the subsequent compression stroke, the cylinder head recuperator is moved out of a recess formed in the cylinder head such that some of the compressed charge can flow into the recess. Near the end of the compression stroke, the cylinder head recuperator is moved back into the recess so that compressed charge located in the recess is forced to flow through the hot cylinder head recuperator and thereby be heated up immediately before ignition of the compressed charge.

Abstract: In a method for reducing rotational non-uniformities of the crankshaft of a piston internal combustion engine, a movable balancing mass component is coupled to the crankshaft in such a way that the kinetic energy of the mass component increases in phases in which the angular speed of the crankshaft would increase if said crankshaft were not coupled to the balancing mass part, and decreases in phases in which the angular speed of the crankshaft would decrease if said crankshaft were not coupled to the balancing mass component.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a power cylinder having a power chamber delimited by a power piston, the power chamber having an intake valve and an exhaust valve, a compression cylinder having a compression chamber delimited by a compression piston, the compression chamber having a fresh charge intake valve, and a flow-through chamber delimited by a flow-through piston and fluidly connected with the compression chamber via a flow-through passage. The flow-through chamber is directly or indirectly connected with the power chamber via a push-out passage. A flow-through valve is disposed in the flow-through passage. A cooler is arranged so as to cool compressed fresh charge flowing through the first flow-through passage. The pistons and the valves are movable such that the cooled, compressed fresh charge is pushed over by the compression piston from the compression chamber into the first flow-through chamber and is ultimately pushed out into the power chamber.

Abstract: A pump device is operated according to a method for varying the duration of a supply stroke of a pump element, the supply stroke of which is actuated by a rotatably driven pump shaft (P) over a predetermined rotational position range of the pump shaft. In the method, the pump shaft (P) is rotatably driven by a drive shaft (A) and the angular speed of the pump shaft, at a constant angular speed of the drive shaft, is increased and decreased at least once during one revolution of the pump shaft.

Abstract: A valve actuation device may comprise a camshaft including first and second cams, the second cam having a larger lobe than the first cam. A valve lever includes a first follower component or surface adapted to follow the first cam and a second follower component or surface adapted to follow the second cam. The second follower component or surface may be mounted on or defined by an eccentrically-disposed device, which is rotatable relative to the first follower component or surface. When the rotatability of the second follower component or surface is locked by a latching device, the second follower surface translates the contour of the second cam into actuation of an engine valve and, when the second follower component or surface is freely rotatable, the first follower surface translates the contour of the first cam into actuation of the engine valve.

Abstract: An engine comprises a power cylinder having a power chamber, a compression cylinder having a compression chamber and a flow-through chamber connected with the compression chamber when a flow-through valve is open and connected with the power chamber when an intake valve is open. The engine is operated by flowing-in fresh charge into the compression chamber while increasing the volume of the compression chamber, compressing the fresh charge while decreasing the volume of the compression chamber, pushing-over the compressed fresh charge into the flow-through chamber, pushing-out the fresh charge into the power chamber, combusting the fresh charge while increasing the volume of the power chamber and discharging the combusted charge while decreasing the volume of the power chamber. The flow-through chamber volume increases during at least a part of the pushing-over step and, at the end thereof, the volume is less than 15% of its maximum volume.

Abstract: In a method for reducing rotational non-uniformities of the crankshaft of a piston internal combustion engine, a movable balancing mass component is coupled to the crankshaft in such a way that the kinetic energy of the mass component increases in phases in which the angular speed of the crankshaft would increase if said crankshaft were not coupled to the balancing mass part, and decreases in phases in which the angular speed of the crankshaft would decrease if said crankshaft were not coupled to the balancing mass component.

Abstract: An engine comprises a power cylinder having a power chamber, a compression cylinder having a compression chamber and a flow-through chamber connected with the compression chamber when a flow-through valve is open and connected with the power chamber when an intake valve is open. The engine is operated by flowing-in fresh charge into the compression chamber while increasing the volume of the compression chamber, compressing the fresh charge while decreasing the volume of the compression chamber, pushing-over the compressed fresh charge into the flow-through chamber, pushing-out the fresh charge into the power chamber, combusting the fresh charge while increasing the volume of the power chamber and discharging the combusted charge while decreasing the volume of the power chamber. The flow-through chamber volume increases during at least a part of the pushing-over step and, at the end thereof, the volume is less than 15% of its maximum volume.

Abstract: A piston compressor contains at least one cylinder (2), inside of which a reciprocating piston (4) forms two working chambers (10, 12) disposed on opposing sides of the piston, which each have at least one inlet and one outlet opening, in which a respective inlet valve (20, 22) or an outlet valve (24, 26) operates. A housing (32) surrounds the cylinder, and has a suction port (34) and an exhaust port (36). A space between the cylinder and the housing is divided by a separating wall (28, 30) in such a way as to connect the suction port with the inlet openings and the exhaust port with the outlet openings. A driving arrangement (42, 44) reciprocally moves the piston. The inlet valve of one working chamber opens and the inlet valve of the other working chamber closes for each stroke of the piston, and the outlet valve of the one working chamber closes, while the outlet valve of the other working chamber opens.

Abstract: A valve actuation device may comprise a camshaft including first and second cams, the second cam having a larger lobe than the first cam. A valve lever includes a first follower component or surface adapted to follow the first cam and a second follower component or surface adapted to follow the second cam. The second follower component or surface may be mounted on or defined by an eccentrically-disposed device, which is rotatable relative to the first follower component or surface. When the rotatability of the second follower component or surface is locked by a latching device, the second follower surface translates the contour of the second cam into actuation of an engine valve and, when the second follower component or surface is freely rotatable, the first follower surface translates the contour of the first cam into actuation of the engine valve.

Abstract: A combined roller- and slide bearing comprises at least one roller bearing having roller elements disposed between inner and outer bushings thereof and a slide bearing having a lubricating gap defined between inner and outer bushings thereof. The roller bearing and the slide bearing are disposed axially adjacent to each other and have the same rotational axis. The roller bearing and the slide bearing are configured such that the roller bearings elastically deform in response to a radially-acting load, thereby reducing the radial thickness of the lubricating gap in a circumferential portion thereof, because the outer bushing of the slide bearing radially shifts relative to the inner bushing of the slide bearing. In this state, the circumferential portion of the slide bearing having the reduced radial thickness undertakes a load-supporting and bearing function.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine may comprise at least one double cylinder (17). A piston (10, 12) is reciprocally movably disposed in each individual cylinder (14, 16) of the double cylinder and each piston is connected to a crankshaft (4). The pistons preferably reciprocate in the same direction within the individual cylinders. A cylinder space (19, 20) is defined within the cylinders above each piston head. Preferably, the cylinder spaces are formed such that the cylinder spaces communicate during at least a portion of the reciprocal movement of the pistons.

Abstract: An apparatus for adjusting the stroke of a valve that is actuated by a camshaft having at least one cam is provided. A valve lever having an outer lever and an inner lever is provided and has a first end region supported on a fixed component, and a second end region for actuating a valve. The U-shaped outer lever includes two arms and a crosspiece that faces the fixed component. At least one of the arms is provided with an abutment surface for contacting the at least one cam. The inner lever is mounted on a free end of the outer lever between the arms, and has an abutment surface, for contacting cams, that is disposed between the mounting axis of the inner lever on the arms and the support of the first end region of the valve lever on the fixed component. A blocking device is provided for fixing the crosspiece of the outer lever on an end of the inner lever remote from the valve, this end being supported on the fixed component and containing the blocking device.

Abstract: A piston compressor contains at least one cylinder (2), inside of which a reciprocating piston (4) forms two working chambers (10, 12) disposed on opposing sides of the piston, which each have at least one inlet and one outlet opening, in which a respective inlet valve (20, 22) or an outlet valve (24, 26) operates. A housing (32) surrounds the cylinder, and has a suction port (34) and an exhaust port (36). A space between the cylinder and the housing is divided by a separating wall (28, 30) in such a way as to connect the suction port with the inlet openings and the exhaust port with the outlet openings. A driving arrangement (42, 44) reciprocally moves the piston. The inlet valve of one working chamber opens and the inlet valve of the other working chamber closes for each stroke of the piston, and the outlet valve of the one working chamber closes, while the outlet valve of the other working chamber opens.

Abstract: A process reducing the side opening and closing time of a valve. The process uses a valve for mounting in an intake port of a reciprocating engine upstream from a charge changing valve, which valve contains a valve element operating in conjunction with the inner wall of the intake port, and may be moved back and forth between a closed position and an open position. The valve in the closed position blocks passage of fluid through the port and when in the open position, clears such passage. The valve is characterized in that the inner wall of the port and the valve element are of a design such that when the valve element is moved from its closed position the opening cross-section initially does not increase at all or increases only slowly and then increases rapidly and when the valve element is moved from its open position the opening cross-section initially does not decrease at all or decreases only slowly and then decreases rapidly.