Drive system for a motor vehicle and motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a drive unit (1) for a motor vehicle, comprising an internal combustion engine (2) which has a crankcase (3) and a crankshaft (20) rotatably mounted on the crankcase (3) and at least partially located within the crankcase (3), via which torques for driving the motor vehicle can be provided by the internal combustion engine (2). A separator (21) is provided, which has a line (22) through which a liquid mixture containing oil and water mixed with the oil can flow. A centrifugal separator (23) is also provided, which can be supplied with the mixture flowing through the line (22) and by means of which the oil can be separated from the water.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a drive device for a motor vehicle, in particular for a motor vehicle, according to the preamble of patent claim 1. Furthermore, the invention relates to a motor vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, with such a drive device.

[0002] DE 20 2007 010 776 U1 discloses an oil mist separator for internal combustion engines, comprising a centrifugal separator with a disc separator. DE 10 2013 006 954 B4 discloses an oil mist separator for crankcase ventilation. DE 10 2008 030 028 A1 discloses a centrifugal separator. Furthermore, US Pat. No. 9,545,591 B2 discloses a rotary separator.

[0003] The object of the present invention is to provide a drive device for a motor vehicle and a motor vehicle with such a drive device, so that an advantageous operation of the drive device can be realized.

[0004] This object is achieved according to the invention by a drive device having the features of patent claim 1 and by a motor vehicle having the features of patent claim 11. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0005] A first aspect of the invention relates to a drive device for a motor vehicle, also simply referred to as a vehicle, which is preferably designed as a motor vehicle, in particular as a passenger car. This means that the motor vehicle, in its fully manufactured state, has the drive device and can be driven by means of the drive device. The drive device has an internal combustion engine, also referred to as an internal combustion engine, combustion engine or motor, which is designed as a reciprocating piston machine with a reciprocating piston engine. The internal combustion engine has a crankcase and a crankshaft which is rotatably mounted on the crankcase. The crankshaft is an output shaft of the internal combustion engine, which can provide torque for driving the motor vehicle via the output shaft. The crankshaft is at least partially arranged in the crankcase.In particular, the crankcase has a crank chamber, which is defined, in particular, directly, by the crankcase. The crankshaft is arranged at least partially in the crank chamber.

[0006] In order to be able to realize advantageous operation of the drive device, in particular of the internal combustion engine, the invention provides that the drive device has a separating device which has at least one line through which a liquid mixture comprising liquid oil and liquid water mixed with the oil can flow. The separating device also has a centrifugal separator which can be supplied with the liquid mixture flowing through the line. For example, the centrifugal separator is or comprises a disc separator. By means of the centrifugal separator, in particular by means of the disc separator, the liquid oil can be separated from the liquid water, or vice versa.In other words, the liquid mixture can be separated by means of the centrifugal separator, in particular by means of the disc separator, in that the liquid oil can be separated from the liquid water, or vice versa, by means of the centrifugal separator, in particular by means of the disc separator. Expressed again in other words, the liquid water and the liquid oil are phases of the liquid mixture, in particular such that the liquid oil is a first liquid phase of the mixture and the liquid water is a second liquid phase of the mixture. The phases of the mixture can be separated from one another by means of the centrifugal separator, in particular by means of the disc separator. Since the oil is used to cool and / or lubricate at least a portion of the internal combustion engine, it is undesirable for an excessive amount of water to be mixed with the oil.By separating the oil from the water by means of the centrifugal separator, or vice versa, the oil is cleaned, since the water is, so to speak, a contaminant of the oil. When reference is made to oil in the following, unless otherwise stated, this means the oil separated from the water by means of the centrifugal separator and thus cleaned. When reference is made to water in the following, unless otherwise stated, this means the water after the oil has been separated from the water, by which, when reference is made to water in the following, this means the water from which the oil was separated by means of the centrifugal separator. After the oil has been separated from the water, the separated and thus cleaned oil can (again) be advantageously used to cool and / or lubricate at least part of the internal combustion engine.

[0007] The invention is based in particular on the following findings and considerations: It has been shown that, particularly with increasing operation of the internal combustion engine, water can get into the oil. This happens, for example, when, during fired operation of the internal combustion engine, blow-by gas can get into an area of ​​the internal combustion engine still referred to as the oil chamber, the area of ​​which also contains the oil, at least temporarily. As is sufficiently known from the general prior art, the blow-by gas is gas which, during fired operation of the internal combustion engine, flows between a cylinder wall of a cylinder of the internal combustion engine partially defining a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine and a piston which is received in the cylinder so as to be translationally movable and which defines the combustion chamber, and flows, for example, into the aforementioned area.The blow-by gas can contain water, which precipitates at low temperatures and subsequently mixes with the oil, also known as engine oil. The water mixed with the oil forms the aforementioned mixture, from which the water only evaporates or evaporates again when the mixture has a temperature of 50 degrees Celsius or more. However, modern internal combustion engines, particularly those of hybrid vehicles such as plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs), are often only operated for a short time in their fired mode, so that the internal combustion engine often does not reach its operating temperature, meaning that the mixture is not heated to 50 degrees Celsius or more but remains colder than 50 degrees Celsius. This can cause more and more water to accumulate in the oil or mixture, whereby the water can then no longer be removed from the mixture or oil.As a result, the mixture can form a pudding-like water-oil emulsion, which, if its quantity increases, can lead to undesirable effects such as corrosion, particularly in the oil chamber.

[0008] In order to avoid the aforementioned problems and disadvantages, the invention uses the separation device with the active centrifugal separator as an active separation element, by means of which the oil and water can be separated from one another, i.e. separated, in particular even when the mixture has a temperature of less than 50 degrees Celsius. As a result, the water can be advantageously removed from the oil or the mixture, in particular even when the internal combustion engine is only operated in fired mode for a short time and as a result the mixture is and remains consistently colder than 50 degrees Celsius, in particular for an excessively long period of time. The invention makes use of the fact that the centrifugal separator, which is designed, for example, as a disc separator or comprises a disc separator, can separate liquid media from one another when the difference between the densities of the media is more than 5 percent.The density difference between water and oil is approximately 20 percent. Thus, the centrifugal separator can be used to separate oil from water, or vice versa. Particularly when the motor vehicle is designed as a hybrid vehicle, especially a plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV), in which the internal combustion engine is operated with low power and only for a very short time in its fired mode, the centrifugal separator can advantageously separate water from oil, or vice versa. This is especially true when the internal combustion engine has not yet reached its operating temperature and thus the mixture remains colder than 50 degrees Celsius. This prevents the mixture from becoming so warm due to the fired operation of the internal combustion engine that the water from the mixture evaporates.As a result, undesirable effects caused by the mixture, such as corrosion or other undesirable damage, can be avoided.

[0009] For example, the centrifugal separator is fluidically connected to the line, so that the liquid mixture flowing through the line can be fed to the particularly active centrifugal separator, whereby the centrifugal separator can be supplied with the liquid mixture flowing through the line.

[0010] In order to effectively and efficiently separate the mixture, and thus to be able to effectively and efficiently separate the water from the oil or vice versa, one embodiment of the invention provides for the line to be designed as a discharge line which, for example, runs at least partially outside the crankcase, in particular outside the internal combustion engine. For example, the internal combustion engine has a cylinder head formed separately from the crankcase. For example, the internal combustion engine has a cylinder head cover formed separately from the crankcase and separately from the cylinder head, by which the cylinder head is closed, for example. The crankcase, the cylinder head and the cylinder head cover are housing parts, in particular three different ones, wherein the housing parts are preferably formed separately from one another and connected to one another.Most preferably, the discharge line runs at least partially outside the crankcase, outside the cylinder head and outside the cylinder head cover.

[0011] The discharge line is fluidically connected to at least or exactly one chamber of the internal combustion engine, whereby the liquid mixture can be discharged from the chamber, in particular from the internal combustion engine, by means of the discharge line and introduced into the discharge line, through which the mixture can flow.

[0012] It has proven particularly advantageous if the separation device has a return line through which the separated oil can flow, by means of which the separated oil can be returned to the chamber and / or to at least one other chamber of the internal combustion engine, in particular into the internal combustion engine. This allows the mixture to be separated in a targeted, effective, and efficient manner, whereupon the oil can be (re)used to effectively and efficiently cool and / or lubricate at least the aforementioned sub-area of ​​the internal combustion engine.

[0013] In a further, particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the drive device has an intake tract through which air can flow, also referred to as an intake tract, by means of which the internal combustion engine, in particular the aforementioned combustion chamber, can be supplied with the air flowing through the intake tract. In particular, the intake tract can introduce the air into the combustion chamber.

[0014] It has proven particularly advantageous if the separation device has a water line provided in addition to the return line and at least partially separate from the return line. Preferably, the return line is provided in addition to the line and at least partially separate from the line. Preferably, the water line is provided in addition to the line and separate from the line. By means of the water line, the water can be discharged from the centrifugal separator after the oil has been separated from the water and introduced into the intake tract. The intake tract can guide the water introduced into the intake tract into the combustion chamber, so that the water, after the oil has been separated from the water, can be supplied to the combustion chamber and thus to at least one combustion of the internal combustion engine taking place in the combustion chamber during fired operation of the internal combustion engine.This ensures that undesirable effects caused by the water can be avoided.

[0015] It has proven particularly advantageous if the drive device has a crankcase ventilation device, which is also simply referred to as crankcase ventilation.

[0016] The crankcase ventilation device comprises a vent line provided in addition to the line, and preferably also in addition to the return line and in addition to the water line, and at least partially separated from the line, and preferably at least partially from the return line and at least partially from the water line, by means of which vent line blow-by gas can be discharged from the crankcase, in particular from the crank chamber, and introduced into the intake tract of the internal combustion engine. This prevents excessive pressure in the crankcase, in particular in the crank chamber, so that particularly advantageous operation of the drive device can be ensured.

[0017] It has proven particularly advantageous if the water line opens into the vent line, allowing the water flowing through the water line, after the oil has been separated from the water, to be fed into the vent line, by means of which the water from the water line can be fed into the intake tract. Thus, the vent line, or at least part of the vent line, has a dual function: On the one hand, the vent line is used to remove blow-by gas from the crankcase. On the other hand, at least part of the vent line is used to feed the blow-by gas into the intake tract and, after the oil has been separated from the water, to feed the water into the exhaust tract.In this way, a particularly advantageous operation of the internal combustion engine can be ensured in a particularly space-saving and weight-efficient manner, since undesirable effects caused by the water itself or by an excessively large amount of water in the oil can be avoided.

[0018] In a further, particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that at least one separation element is arranged in the vent line in addition to the centrifugal separator, also referred to as the first centrifugal separator, by means of which separation element any oil contained in the blow-by gas can be separated from or from the blow-by gas in order to clean the blow-by gas. The blow-by gas can thus be cleaned, so that the cleaned blow-by gas and the water can be introduced into the intake tract via the vent line. The oil separated from the blow-by gas can, for example, be introduced into the internal combustion engine, in particular into the crankcase or the cylinder head. This effectively and efficiently prevents excessive introduction of the liquid oil into the intake tract, so that particularly advantageous operation of the internal combustion engine can be ensured.

[0019] The separation element can, for example, be or comprise a second centrifugal separator. The second centrifugal separator is or comprises, for example, a second disc separator, so that the oil can be separated from the blow-by gas particularly effectively and efficiently.

[0020] In a further, particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the water line opens into the vent line at, in particular, at least one or precisely one opening point, which is arranged downstream of the separation element in the flow direction of the blow-by gas flowing through the vent line and upstream of a connection point at which the vent line is fluidly connected to the inlet tract and at which the purified blow-by gas and, in particular, also the water from the water line can be introduced. As a result, the water flowing through the water line bypasses the separation element, so that the separation element can effectively and efficiently separate the oil from or from the blow-by gas. As a result, the separated water and the purified blow-by gas can advantageously be introduced into the inlet tract, thereby ensuring advantageous operation of the internal combustion engine.

[0021] In order to be able to effectively, efficiently, and as needed, for example, at least at virtually every operating point of the internal combustion engine and / or at virtually every state of the internal combustion engine, a further embodiment of the invention provides for the separation device to have a pump, in particular a dedicated pump. The pump is preferably designed as an electric pump, thus as an electrically operated pump. By means of the pump, the liquid mixture can be actively conveyed through the line and thus to the centrifugal separator.

[0022] It is conceivable that the connection point is arranged in an inlet channel formed in particular by the cylinder head, in particular directly, and through which air can flow, so that, for example, the water from the water line can be introduced, in particular directly, into the inlet channel.

[0023] For example, at least one or exactly one compressor is arranged inside the intake tract, by means of which the air flowing through the intake tract can be compressed. The connection point is preferably located downstream of the compressor in the flow direction of the air flowing through the intake tract, and is thus arranged, for example, within the intake tract. Furthermore, it would be conceivable for the connection point to be located upstream of the compressor.

[0024] Furthermore, it is conceivable that the centrifugal separator, designed or functioning as an oil-water separator, is supplied and fed with the mixture by means of a pressurized oil system, thus being supplied and fed with the mixture from the pressurized oil system of the internal combustion engine. For example, the pressurized oil system supplies the internal combustion engine with the oil, which is preferably provided so that the pressurized oil system also supplies the centrifugal separator with the mixture.

[0025] The oil cleaned and separated by means of the centrifugal separator flows, for example, in particular via the return line, in particular again, into an oil pan, from where the oil is pumped out, for example, by means of an oil pump and subsequently pumped through an oil circuit.

[0026] As is well known from the general state of the art, the centrifugal separator has, for example, a drum, also referred to as a separator drum, which is rotatable or rotates, in particular about a rotational axis relative to a separator housing of the centrifugal separator, in order to separate the oil from the water. The liquid mixture is introduced into the drum, which rotates, in particular, about the rotational axis and relative to the separator housing, and there is accelerated, in particular, to a peripheral speed of the drum, so that centrifugal forces act on the mixture, in particular due to the high speed at which the drum rotates about the rotational axis relative to the housing. As a result of these centrifugal forces and due to the difference in density between the oil and the water, the oil is separated from the water, or vice versa.

[0027] A second aspect of the invention relates to a motor vehicle, also referred to simply as a vehicle, and preferably designed as a motor vehicle, in particular as a passenger car, which has a drive device according to the first aspect of the invention. Advantages and advantageous embodiments of the first aspect of the invention are to be regarded as advantages and advantageous embodiments of the second aspect of the invention, and vice versa.

[0028] Further details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment with the accompanying drawings. In the drawings: Fig. 1 a schematic representation of a drive device for a motor vehicle; Fig. 2 shows a partial schematic sectional view of an internal combustion engine of the drive device; Fig. 3 shows a further schematic sectional view of the internal combustion engine; and Fig. 4 a schematic sectional view of a centrifugal separator of the drive device.

[0029] In the figures, identical or functionally identical elements are provided with the same reference symbols.

[0030] Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a drive device 1 for a motor vehicle, also referred to simply as a vehicle, which in its fully manufactured state has the drive device 1 and can be driven by means of the drive device 1. The motor vehicle is very preferably designed as a motor vehicle, in particular a passenger car. The drive device 1 has an internal combustion engine 2, which in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 is shown in detail in a respective schematic sectional view. From a synopsis of Fig. 1 to 3, it can be seen that the internal combustion engine 2 has a crankcase 3 as the first housing part, a cylinder head 4 as the second housing part, and a cylinder head cover 5 as the third housing part. The housing parts are formed in pairs, separate from one another. The cylinder head 4 is connected to the crankcase 3, and the cylinder head cover 5 is connected to the cylinder head 4. The cylinder head 4, in particular at least one receiving space 6 of the cylinder head 4, is covered and thus closed by the cylinder head cover 5. For example, at least one camshaft of the internal combustion engine 2 is at least partially accommodated in the receiving space 6. The crankcase 3 is designed as a cylinder crankcase and has at least one cylinder 7, which is delimited, in particular directly, by a cylinder wall 8 of the crankcase 3.A piston (not shown in the figures) of the internal combustion engine 2 is accommodated in the cylinder 7 for translational movement. The cylinder 7, i.e. the cylinder wall 8 and the piston, each partially define a combustion chamber 9 of the internal combustion engine 2. The combustion chamber 9 is also partially defined by a combustion chamber roof 10, which is formed by the cylinder head 4. At least one inlet port 11 and at least one exhaust port 13 are assigned to the combustion chamber 9. The inlet port 11 is formed, in particular directly, by the cylinder head 4, i.e., defined by it, and the exhaust port 13 is formed, in particular directly, by the cylinder head 4. During fired operation of the internal combustion engine 2, combustion processes take place in the combustion chamber 9. During each combustion process, a respective fuel-air mixture is ignited and burned, thereby driving the piston.The piston is articulated via a connecting rod to an output shaft of the internal combustion engine 2, designed as a crankshaft, the crankshaft of which is rotatable about a crankshaft axis of rotation relative to the crankcase 3 or is mounted on the crankcase 3. The internal combustion engine 2 can provide torque to drive the motor vehicle via the crankshaft. The combustion of the respective fuel-air mixture results in exhaust gas, which can flow out of the combustion chamber 9 and into the exhaust port 13, and thus be discharged from the combustion chamber 9 via the exhaust port 13. The fuel-air mixture comprises a liquid fuel and air, also referred to as fresh air, which can flow through the inlet port 11 and be introduced into the combustion chamber 9 via the inlet port 11.

[0031] Out of Fig. 1 that the drive device 1 has an intake tract 12 through which the aforementioned air can flow, wherein the intake channel 11 is a component of the intake tract 12. By means of the intake tract 12, the air flowing through the intake tract 12 can be guided to and into the combustion chamber 9, so that the internal combustion engine 2 can be supplied with air (fresh air) by means of the intake tract 12 and thus by means of the intake channel 11. It can be seen that a throttle valve 37 is arranged in the intake tract 12, by means of which a quantity of air to be introduced into the combustion chamber 9 can be adjusted. The drive device 1 also has an exhaust tract 14 through which the exhaust gas from the combustion chamber 9 can flow. One exhaust channel 13 is part of the exhaust tract 14. An air filter 15, by means of which the air is filtered, is arranged in the intake tract 12.

[0032] The drive device 1 also has at least or exactly one exhaust gas turbocharger 16, which has a turbine 17 arranged in the exhaust tract 14 and driven by the exhaust gas, and a compressor 18 arranged in the intake tract 12, by means of which the air flowing through the intake tract 12 can be compressed by driving the compressor 18. The compressor 18 can be driven by the turbine 17, in particular via a shaft 19 of the exhaust gas turbocharger 16. Fig. The crankshaft of the internal combustion engine 2, which is particularly schematically illustrated in FIG. 1 and designated 20, is designed as a reciprocating piston engine or reciprocating piston machine. It is arranged at least partially in the crankcase 3 and in a crank chamber of the crankcase 3. This is particularly true during fired operation, as blow-by gas from the combustion chamber 9 can flow between the piston and the cylinder wall 8 and into the crank chamber. The crank chamber is, for example, a cavity in which an oil, also referred to as engine oil, can be at least temporarily accommodated. As a result, at least a portion of the internal combustion engine 2 is cooled and / or lubricated by means of the engine oil. In particular, bearing points on which the crankshaft 20 is rotatably mounted on the crankcase 3 are supplied with the oil in order to cool and / or lubricate the bearing points by means of the oil.

[0033] The drive device 1 has, for example, an oil circuit through which oil can flow, also simply referred to as a circuit, in which an oil pump, for example one that can be operated electrically, is arranged. By operating the oil pump, the oil pump can pump the engine oil, and thus the oil, through the oil circuit. The oil pump is also referred to as the first pump. The internal combustion engine 2, i.e. at least the partial area of ​​the internal combustion engine 2, is arranged in the oil circuit so that at least the partial area of ​​the internal combustion engine 2 can be supplied with oil via the oil circuit. The blow-by gas can contain water, in particular in the gaseous state. In particular, at low temperatures of the internal combustion engine 2, the water contained in the blow-by gas can precipitate and / or condense and mix with the liquid oil, for example in the crankcase.This creates, for example, a liquid mixture comprising the liquid and the liquid oil. The oil pump, for example, can pump the oil or mixture out of the crankcase and through the oil circuit. Alternatively or additionally, the oil or mixture can flow from the crankcase to and into an oil pan, from where the oil pump, for example, can drain the oil or mixture and subsequently pump it through the oil circuit.

[0034] In order to ensure particularly advantageous operation of the drive device 1 even over a long service life, the drive device 1 has a separating device 21. The separating device 21 has a line 22 through which the aforementioned liquid mixture, which comprises the liquid oil and the liquid water mixed with the liquid oil, can flow. The separating device 21 also has an active centrifugal separator 23, which is in particular fluidically connected to the line 22 and can be supplied with the liquid mixture flowing through the line 22. By means of the centrifugal separator 23, the liquid oil of the mixture can be or is separated from the liquid water of the mixture. In other words, the mixture is separated by means of the centrifugal separator 23 in that the liquid is separated from the liquid water by means of the centrifugal separator 23, or vice versa.The centrifugal separator 23 is or comprises, for example, at least or exactly one disc separator, by means of which the mixture can be actively separated.

[0035] In the exemplary embodiment shown in the figures, the line 22 is designed as a discharge line which is fluidically connected to the internal combustion engine 2, in particular to at least one chamber of the internal combustion engine 2, at a first connection point V1. As a result, the liquid mixture can be discharged from the internal combustion engine 2, in particular from the aforementioned chamber, at the first connection point V1 by means of the discharge line and introduced into the discharge line, through which the mixture discharged at the connection point V1 can flow. The mixture discharged from the internal combustion engine 2 at the connection point V1 and introduced into the discharge line can be guided to the centrifugal separator 23 by means of the discharge line (line 22) and separated by the centrifugal separator 23.The connection point V1 is very preferably a point on the cylinder head 4, so that the aforementioned space is preferably arranged in the cylinder head 4. Thus, at the connection point V1, the mixture can be introduced into the discharge line (line 22), bypassing the crank chamber and in particular bypassing the crankcase 3, so that the mixture does not flow through the crankcase 3 on its way from the aforementioned space into the discharge line 22. If necessary, the mixture can flow through the crankcase 3 beforehand, just as the mixture does not flow through the crankcase 3 on its way from the space to and into the line 22. The aforementioned space is shown, for example, in . Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 and is marked with R and it can be seen that the space R is arranged in the cylinder head 4, wherein, for example, the space R is partially and directly limited by the cylinder head and partially and directly by the cylinder head cover 5. In Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 is illustrated by a respective arrow 24 that the liquid mixture is discharged from the space R and introduced into the line 22.

[0036] In principle, it would be conceivable for the centrifugal separator 23 to be arranged outside the cylinder head 4 and outside the cylinder head cover 5 and to be spaced apart from the cylinder head 4 and the cylinder head cover 5. Furthermore, it would be conceivable for the centrifugal separator 23 to be arranged at least partially in the cylinder head 4 and / or at least partially in the cylinder head cover 5.

[0037] In the exemplary embodiment shown in the figures, the separating device 21 has a second pump 25 provided in addition to the oil pump, which is preferably an electric pump. As illustrated by the arrow 24, the mixture is actively pumped out or removed from the space R, into the line 22, through the line 22, and thereby to the centrifugal separator 23, whereby the centrifugal separator 23 can be or is supplied with the mixture. In particular, an oil chamber of the cylinder head 4 is covered by the cylinder head cover 5, in particular upwards in the vertical direction of the internal combustion engine 2, and is thus covered and closed.In the installed position of the drive device 1, the vertical direction of the internal combustion engine 2 coincides, for example, with the vertical direction of the motor vehicle, with the drive device 1 having its installed position in the fully manufactured state of the motor vehicle. The background to this is, in particular, that a plurality of moving parts can be arranged in the cylinder head 4, which are supplied with oil and thus lubricated and / or cooled by the oil. As a result, an advantageously large amount of oil is always contained in the cylinder head 4.

[0038] Particularly clearly visible from Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 is that at an advantageous location S in the cylinder head 4 there is arranged a collection volume V, also referred to as an oil collection volume, in which the oil flowing out, in particular from the moving parts and / or bearing points at which the moving parts are movably mounted on one another, and / or sprayed off by the moving parts can collect. The volume V is formed, in particular directly delimited, by a type of trough T. In the present case, the volume V is partially delimited, in particular directly, by at least or exactly one rib 26 of the cylinder head 4. Preferably, the cylinder head 4 is produced as a cast component and thus by casting, so that the rib 26 is preferably produced by casting. In this way, the rib 26 and thus the collection volume V can be advantageously formed.By means of the pump 25, the oil is pumped out, in particular sucked out, from the collecting volume V arranged in the space R and / or forming at least part of the space R and is conveyed via the line 22 to the centrifugal separator 23.

[0039] In Fig. 1 that the separation device 21 has a return line 27 through which the oil separated by the centrifugal separator 23 can flow, by means of which the oil separated by the centrifugal separator 23 can be returned to the internal combustion engine 2 and thus, for example, to the cylinder head 4 and / or the crankcase 3, in particular to the crankcase and / or the oil pan. In the present case, a check valve 28 is arranged in the return line 27, which opens the return line 27 for a flow of oil flowing away from the centrifugal separator 23 and toward the internal combustion engine 2 and blocks the return line 27 for an opposite flow, in particular automatically or independently.

[0040] Furthermore, the separation device 21 has a water line 29, which is provided in addition to the return line 27 and at least partially separated from the return line 27 and through which the water can flow after the oil has been separated from the water. By means of the water line 29, the water can be discharged from the centrifugal separator 23 after the oil has been separated from the water and introduced into the inlet tract 12. The drive device 1 has a crankcase ventilation device 30, which is provided in particular in addition to the separation device 21. The crankcase ventilation device 30 has a ventilation line 31, which is provided in particular in addition to the return line 27 and in addition to the water line 29 and is fluidly connected to the crankcase 3, for example, at a second connection point V2.For example, the connection points V1 and V2 are different connection points and thus in particular spaced apart from one another. At the connection point V2, blow-by gas can be discharged from the crankcase 3, in particular in the crankcase, by means of the vent line 31 and introduced into the vent line 31, through which the discharged blow-by gas can flow. The vent line 31 is fluidly connected to the intake tract 12 at a third connection point V3. At the connection point V3, the blow-by gas flowing through the vent line 31 can be introduced into the intake tract 12 by means of the vent line 31. In the flow direction of the air flowing through the intake tract 12, the connection point V3 is arranged downstream of the air filter 15 and upstream of the compressor 18.A second check valve 32 is arranged in the vent line 31, which opens the vent line 31 for a flow of blow-by gas flowing through it toward the inlet tract 12 and into the inlet tract 12, and fluidically blocks the vent line 31 for an opposite flow, in particular automatically or independently. It can be seen that the water line 29 opens into the vent line 31 at a discharge point M, whereby the water flowing through the water line 29 can be introduced into the vent line 31 at the discharge point M after the oil has been separated from the water.As a result, the water introduced into the vent line 31 at the outlet point M can flow through a partial region TB of the vent line 31 extending from the outlet point M to the connection point V3, so that by means of the partial region TB, the water introduced into the vent line 31 at the outlet point M and originating from the water line 29 is guided to the connection point V3 and introduced into the inlet tract 12 at the connection point V3. In the flow direction of the blow-by gas flowing through the vent line 31, the outlet point M is arranged upstream of the connection point V3 and downstream of the connection point V2.

[0041] The crankcase ventilation system 30 can have a separation element 33 provided in addition to the centrifugal separator 23, which is arranged in the vent line 31. By means of the separation element 33, any oil contained in the blow-by gas can be separated from or from the blow-by gas. It can be seen that, in the flow direction of the blow-by gas flowing through the vent line 31, the outlet point M is arranged downstream of the separation element 33 and upstream of the connection point V3. As a result, the water does not flow through the separation element 33 on its way through the water line 29 and to the outlet point M on its way into the vent line 31.

[0042] Fig.Figure 4 shows a schematic sectional view of the centrifugal separator 23. Visible is the line 22, through which, as illustrated by arrows 34, the mixture can flow, which is conveyed via the line 22 to the centrifugal separator 23. Also visible is at least a portion of the water line 29, through which, as illustrated by arrows 35, the water can flow after the oil has been separated from or from the water. Also visible is at least a portion of the return line 27, through which, as illustrated by arrows 36, the separated oil can flow or flows. By means of the active centrifugal separator 23, the oil can be actively and thus effectively and efficiently separated from the water, or vice versa.Thus, the liquid mixture can be separated even if the mixture is not heated to a particularly high temperature by operation of the internal combustion engine 2, at which temperature the water from the mixture evaporates or vaporizes. In other words, the mixture can be separated by means of the centrifugal separator 23, in particular, even if the mixture is or remains so cold that the water does not evaporate or vaporize from the mixture. This avoids effects that can result from an excessively high water content in the oil. Thus, particularly advantageous operation of the internal combustion engine 2 and thus of the drive device 1 can be ensured.

[0043] By means of the return line 27, for example, the separated oil can be introduced, in particular back, into the chamber R and / or the cylinder head 4 and / or into the crankcase 3. In particular, by means of the return line 27, the purified oil flowing through the return line 27 can be guided, in particular returned, into the chamber R and / or into at least or exactly one further chamber of the internal combustion engine 2 that is different from the chamber R. For this purpose, the return line 27 is, for example, fluidically connected to a region of the internal combustion engine 2 at a fourth connection point V4, wherein by means of the return line 27 the purified oil flowing through the return line 27 can be introduced into the aforementioned region of the internal combustion engine 2, in particular via the connection point V4. The region can be the chamber R or the region can comprise the chamber R.Alternatively or additionally, the region can be or comprise another space of the internal combustion engine 2 that is different from the space R. It can be seen that the connection point V4 can be spaced apart from the connection points V1 and V2. Furthermore, it is conceivable that the connection point V4 is spaced apart from the connection point V1. Furthermore, it is conceivable that the connection point V4 coincides with the connection point V2. List of reference symbols 1 drive device 2 internal combustion engine 3 crankcase 4 cylinder head 5 Cylinder head cover 6 Recording room 7 cylinders 8 cylinder wall 9 Combustion chamber 10 Combustion chamber roof 11 Inlet channel 12 Inlet tract 13 Exhaust channel 14 Exhaust system 15 air filters 16 exhaust gas turbochargers 17 turbines 18 compressors 19 Wave 20 Crankshaft 21 Separation device 22 Line 23 centrifugal separators 24 Arrow 25 Pump 26 rib 27 Return line 28 Check valve 29 Water pipe 30 Crankcase ventilation system 31 Ventilation line 32 Check valve 33 Separation element 34 Arrow 35 Arrow 36 Arrow 37 Throttle valve M Mouth R Room S position T Trough TB sub-area V Collection volume V1 first connection point V2 second connection point V3 third connection point V4 fourth connection point QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 20 2007 010 776 U1

[0002] DE 10 2013 006 954 B4

[0002] DE 10 2008 030 028 A1

[0002] US 9 545 591 B2

[0002]

Claims

[1] Drive device (1) for a motor vehicle, with an internal combustion engine (2) which has a crankcase (3) and with a crankshaft (20) which is rotatably mounted on the crankcase (3) and arranged at least partially in the crankcase (3), via which torques for driving the motor vehicle can be provided by the internal combustion engine (2), characterized by a separation device (21) comprising: - a line (22) through which a liquid mixture comprising oil and water mixed with the oil can flow; and - a centrifugal separator (23) which can be supplied with the mixture flowing through the line (22), by means of which the oil can be separated from the water. [2] Drive device (1) according to claim 1, characterized byin that the line (22) is designed as a discharge line which is fluidically connected to at least one space (R) of the internal combustion engine (2), whereby the liquid mixture can be discharged from the space (R) of the internal combustion engine (2) by means of the discharge line and introduced into the discharge line (22), through which the mixture can flow. [3] Drive device (1) according to claim 2, characterized by that the separation device (21) has a return line (27) through which the separated oil can flow, by means of which the separated oil can be guided into the space (R) and / or a further space of the internal combustion engine (2). [4] Drive device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the drive device (1) has an inlet tract (12) through which air can flow, by means of which the internal combustion engine (2) can be supplied with the air flowing through the inlet tract (12). [5] Drive device (1) according to claims 3 and 4, characterized by in that the separation device (21) has a water line (29) which is provided in addition to the return line (27) and at least partially separated from the return line (27), by means of which the water can be discharged from the centrifugal separator (23) after the oil has been separated from the water and can be introduced into the inlet tract (12). [6] Drive device (1) according to claim 4 or according to claims 4 and 5, characterized by a crankcase ventilation device (30) which has a ventilation line (31) by means of which blow-by gas can be discharged from the crankcase (3) and introduced into the intake tract (12) of the internal combustion engine (1). [7] Drive device (1) according to claims 5 and 6, characterized bythat the water line (29) opens into the vent line (31), whereby the water flowing through the water line (29) can be introduced into the vent line (31) after the oil has been separated from the water, by means of which the water from the water line (29) can be introduced into the inlet tract (12). [8] Drive device (1) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized by that in the vent line (31) at least one separation element (33) is arranged, which is provided in addition to the centrifugal separator (23), by means of which oil can be separated from the blow-by gas in order to clean the blow-by gas. [9] Drive device (1) according to claims 7 and 8, characterized bythat the water line (29) opens into the vent line (31) at an opening point (M) which is arranged downstream of the separation element (33) in the flow direction of the blow-by gas flowing through the vent line (31) and upstream of a connection point (V3) at which the vent line (31) is fluidically connected to the inlet tract (12) and the cleaned blow-by gas can be introduced into the inlet tract (12). [10] Drive device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the separating device (21) has a pump (25) by means of which the liquid mixture is to be actively conveyed through the line (22) and thereby to the centrifugal separator (23). [11] Motor vehicle, with a drive device (1) according to one of the preceding claims.

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