# US 10,480,634 B2 · Counterbalance gear for an engine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,480,634 B2 - Document ID: US10480634B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/711,063 - Filed: 2017-09-21 - Published: 2019-03-21 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2017-09-21 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Mohammad Ali Moetakef - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10480634B2 ## CPC - F16H 55/06: Use of materials; Use of treatments of toothed members or worms to affect their intrinsic material properties - F16F 15/26: of crankshaft systems using solid masses, other than the ordinary pistons, moving with the system {, i.e. masses connected through a kinematic mechanism or gear system (F16F15/226 takes precedence)} - F16F 15/283: {for engine crankshafts} - F16H 1/06: with parallel axes - F16H 55/14: Construction providing resilience or vibration-damping (F16H55/06 takes precedence) - F16H: GEARING - F16F: SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION ## Abstract A gear train for an engine is provided with a driving gear and a driven gear. The driving gear is formed by a laminate structure of a plurality of plastic sheets and a plurality of metal sheets, with the plastic and metal sheets alternating with one another. The driven gear is formed by another laminate structure of another plurality of plastic sheets and another plurality of metal sheets, with the plastic and metal sheets alternating with one another. The gear train may be provided for use with an engine crankshaft and an associated balance shaft. A method of forming the gear is also provided. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An engine system comprising: a crankshaft gear coupled to an engine crankshaft for rotation therewith; and a balance gear coupled to a balance shaft for rotation therewith, the balance and crankshaft gears in meshed engagement, the balance gear is formed from a plurality of layers of a first material and a plurality of layers of a second material, the first and second material layers alternating with one another to form a laminate structure; wherein each layer of the plurality of first material layers comprises metal; wherein each layer of the plurality of second material layers comprises plastic; wherein two layers of the plurality of second material layers are provided as outermost layers for the balance gear; and wherein each layer of the plurality of first material layers and the plurality of second material layers has a common outer perimeter. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The engine system of claim 1 wherein the crankshaft gear is formed from another plurality of layers of the first material and another plurality of layers of the second material, the another first and second material layers alternating with one another to form a laminate structure. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The engine system of claim 2 wherein the plurality of first material layers interface with the another plurality of second material layers; and wherein the plurality of second material layers interface with the another plurality of first material layers. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The engine system of claim 2 wherein the plurality of first material layers interface with the another plurality of first material layers; and wherein the plurality of second material layers interface with the another plurality of second material layers. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The engine system of claim 1 wherein a thickness of each layer of the plurality of second material layers is greater than a thickness of each layer of the plurality of first material layers. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The engine system of claim 1 wherein each layer of the plurality of first material layers and the plurality of second material layers is defined by a sheet extending radially outwardly from a central bore to the outer perimeter, an edge region of the outer perimeter defining a series of teeth. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The engine system of claim 1 wherein each layer of the plurality of first material layers and the plurality of second material layers defines a series of apertures therethrough, the apertures of each layer aligned with one another; and wherein the balance gear comprises a series of fasteners, each fastener positioned through a respective one of the series of apertures. ### Claim 8 A gear train for an engine, the gear train comprising: a driving gear formed by a laminate structure of a plurality of plastic sheets and a plurality of metal sheets, the plastic and metal sheets alternating with one another; and a driven gear formed by another laminate structure of another plurality of plastic sheets and another plurality of metal sheets, the plastic and metal sheets alternating with one another; wherein the plurality of plastic sheets of the driving gear is provided by (n+1) sheets, and the plurality of metal sheets is provided by (n) sheets: wherein the another plurality of plastic sheets of the driven gear is provided by (n+1) sheets, and the another plurality of metal sheets is provided by (n) sheets; and wherein each sheet of the plurality of plastic sheets and the plurality of metal sheets of the driving gear share a common outer perimeter; and wherein each sheet of the another plurality of plastic sheets and the another plurality of metal sheets of the driven gear share a common outer perimeter. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The gear train of claim 8 wherein the plurality of metal sheets of the driving gear interface with the another plurality of metal sheets of the driven gear. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The gear train of claim 8 wherein each of the sheets of the plurality of plastic sheets and the another plurality of plastic sheets have a first thickness; wherein each of the sheets of the plurality of metal sheets and the another plurality of metal sheets have a second thickness; and wherein the second thickness is less than the first thickness. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The gear train of claim 8 wherein each sheet of the driving gear and the driven gear extends radially outwards from a central bore to a circumferential edge defining a series of teeth. ### Claim 12 A gear train for an engine, the gear train comprising: a driving gear formed by a laminate structure of a plurality of plastic sheets and a plurality of metal sheets, the plastic and metal sheets alternating with one another; and a driven gear formed by another laminate structure of another plurality of plastic sheets and another plurality of metal sheets, the plastic and metal sheets alternating with one another; wherein the plurality of plastic sheets of the driving gear is provided by (n) sheets, and the plurality of metal sheets is provided by (n) sheets; and wherein the another plurality of plastic sheets of the driven gear is provided by (n) sheets, and the another plurality of metal sheets is provided by (n) sheets. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The gear train of claim 12 wherein the plurality of metal sheets of the driving gear interface with the another plurality of plastic sheets of the driven gear.