Abstract: The invention relates to a method for converting thermal energy into mechanical work. Said method comprises the following steps which are performed as a cycle: A liquid work medium is fed from a supply reservoir (1) to a work container (3); the work medium in the work container (3) is heated by a first heat exchanger (5); a sub-amount of the work medium flows from the work container (3) to a pneumatic-hydraulic-converter (8), a hydraulic medium from the pneumatic-hydraulic-converter (8) is compressed in a work machine (9) in order to convert the hydraulic work of the hydraulic medium into mechanical work; the work medium from the pneumatic-hydraulic-converter (8) is fed back into the supply reservoir (1) and the hydraulic medium is returned into the pneumatic-hydraulic-converter (8). The invention also relates to a device for carrying out said method.

Abstract: The invention relates to a clutch (2), especially for motor vehicles, for the torque connection of at least two drive parts which are rotatable about a rotational axis (4), comprising at least one clutch device (6) with a first clutch body (8) with at least one first clutch surface (12) and a second clutch body (10) with at least one second clutch surface (14), with said first and second clutch body (8, 10) being coaxially displaceable relative to each other by means of an actuating means (24) and said first and second clutch surface (12, 14) being mutually connectable in a non-positive way in at least one clutch engagement position, with the actuating means (24) comprising at least one ring gear (26) which comprises a ramp mechanism (28) and is twistable about the rotational axis (4) by an actuator (40), which mechanism, in the clutch engagement position, presses the first clutch body (8) against the second clutch body (10).

Abstract: The invention relates to a heat engine comprising a first ambient heat exchanger (1) for exchanging heat with the environment at a first temperature level, a second ambient heat exchanger (2) for exchanging heat with the environment at a second temperature level, a first high-pressure tank (11) for receiving a high-pressure working medium, a second high-pressure tank (12) for receiving a high-pressure working medium, a working machine (31) for producing mechanical energy from the working medium that is discharged from one of the high-pressure tanks (11, 12), and a control device (42) for controlling the progress of the process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for converting thermal energy into mechanical work with the following steps: supply of a hot heat transfer medium to a first working chamber of a first heat exchanger (1a); isochoric heating of a first quantity of a working medium in a second working chamber of the first heat exchanger by the heat transfer medium; repeated performance of the following sub-steps: allowing the transfer flow of at least a partial quantity of the first quantity of the working medium from the second working chamber (3a; 3b) of the first heat exchanger or the preceding heat exchanger to a second working chamber (3b; 3c) of a further subsequent heat exchanger (1b; 1c); isochoric heating of the transferred partial quantity of the first quantity of a working medium in the second working chamber (3b; 3c) of the further subsequent heat exchanger (1b; 1c) by a heat transfer medium present in a first working chamber (2b; 2c) of the further subsequent heat exchanger (1b; 1c); connecting the