Abstract: A device for driving an ancillary unit of an internal combustion engine includes the ancillary unit having a mechanical drive, joined to a first coupling section, and an electric drive having a rotor and a stator with windings. The rotor is joined to a second coupling section and non-rotatably to a shaft. The shaft is joined to a component of the ancillary unit to be driven. The rotor is movable axially along a lengthwise extension of the shaft and axially with respect to the shaft. The first and second coupling sections are movable relative to each other by means of the axial movement of the rotor so as to either join together or separate the mechanical drive and the rotor, the rotor being movable axially along the lengthwise extension of the shaft with respect to the shaft in such a way that an electric current flows through the windings.

Abstract: A device for driving an ancillary unit of an internal combustion engine includes the ancillary unit having a mechanical drive, joined to a first coupling section, and an electric drive having a rotor and a stator with windings. The rotor is joined to a second coupling section and non-rotatably to a shaft. The shaft is joined to a component of the ancillary unit to be driven. The rotor is movable axially along a lengthwise extension of the shaft and axially with respect to the shaft. The first and second coupling sections are movable relative to each other by means of the axial movement of the rotor so as to either join together or separate the mechanical drive and the rotor, the rotor being movable axially along the lengthwise extension of the shaft with respect to the shaft in such a way that an electric current flows through the windings.