Vacuum engine

An arrangement comprising a reciprocating piston engine, which is configured for combustion-free operation, and a vacuum chamber, in which a reduced air pressure can be generated relative to the atmosphere (A) surrounding the reciprocating piston engine, wherein:

• a) the reciprocating piston engine has at least one cylinder which is closed by a cylinder head and in which a piston can be moved, the piston coupled to a crankshaft of the reciprocating piston engine via a connecting rod on a side facing away from the cylinder head, wherein the connecting rod and the crankshaft are integrated in a crankcase of the reciprocating piston engine;
• b) the at least one cylinder on the cylinder head has at least one inlet valve and at least one outlet valve, the vacuum chamber being connectable via the outlet valve to a working chamber of the at least one cylinder in a fluid-conducting manner, to generate a negative pressure in the working chamber, and the working chamber being fluid-conductively connectable to the atmosphere (A) surrounding the reciprocating piston engine via the inlet valve to generate ambient pressure in the working chamber;
• c) wherein a valve control is provided which controls the inlet valve and the outlet valve in operation such that the piston in the at least one cylinder is moved back and forth by alternately applying ambient pressure and negative pressure;
• d) and the reciprocating piston engine is configured in such a way that during operation there is always a substantially constant pressure, in a region of the piston facing away from the cylinder head,
• wherein the vacuum generating device includes an electrically operated vacuum pump, and
• wherein the vacuum generating device further comprises a vacuum booster connected between the vacuum chamber and the electrically operated vacuum pump.