A device and a method for generating percussive pulses or vibrations for a construction machine, in which a piston is reversibly reciprocated in a working space in a housing between a first reversal point and a second reversal point, wherein, for the purpose of generating the percussive pulses or vibrations, the piston is set into a reversible movement by a pressure fluid and the pressure fluid is led into and out of the working space in the region of the first reversal point and the second reversal point. The position of the piston is detected by way of a sensor, in that depending on the detected position of the piston a control unit controls at least one controllable valve, through which pressure fluid is led into and/or out of the working space, wherein by the control unit the movement of the piston is controlled.