Counterbalancer assemblies for engines
AssigneeBrunswick Corporation
InventorsAlexander W. Oppermann, Daniel P. Hoffman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A counterbalancer for an engine, the counterbalancer having a housing, a first shaft and a second shaft each positioned within the housing such that the first shaft is configured to be rotated by the engine in use. A first gear and a first weight are each non-rotatably coupled to the first shaft and a second gear and a second weight are each non-rotatably coupled to the second shaft. The first gear and the second gear are meshed such that the first weight and the second weight rotate together to counterbalance the engine in use. The counterbalancer further includes roller bearings that rotatably support the first shaft and the second shaft within the housing and retainer clips that prevent axial movement of the bearings within the housing.
Claims20
A counterbalancer for an engine, the counterbalancer comprising:
- a housing;
- a first shaft and a second shaft each positioned within the housing, wherein the first shaft is configured to be rotated by the engine in use;
- a first gear and a first weight each non-rotatably coupled to the first shaft;
- a second gear and a second weight each non-rotatably coupled to the second shaft, wherein the first gear and the second gear are meshed such that the first weight and the second weight rotate together to counterbalance the engine in use;
- roller bearings rotatably supporting the first shaft and the second shaft within the housing;
- and
- retainer clips that prevent axial movement of the bearings within the housing.
A counterbalancer for an engine, the counterbalancer comprising:
- a housing;
- a first shaft and a second shaft each positioned within the housing, wherein the first shaft is configured to be rotated by the engine in use;
- a first gear and a first weight each non-rotatably coupled to the first shaft;
- a second gear and a second weight each non-rotatably coupled to the second shaft, wherein the first gear and the second gear are meshed such that the first weight and the second weight rotate together to counterbalance the engine in use;
- and
- roller bearings rotatably supporting the first shaft and the second shaft within the housing, wherein outer diameters of the first shaft and the second shaft are greatest where the first shaft and the second shaft extend through the roller bearings, respectively.
A method for assembling a counterbalancer for an engine, the method comprising:
- axially inserting bearings into openings in a housing;
- coupling a first gear to a first shaft and a second gear to a second shaft;
- axially inserting the first shaft and the second shaft into the housing and through the bearings after the first gear and the second gear are coupled thereto, respectively;
- coupling a first weight to the first shaft and a second weight to the second shaft when the first shaft and the second shaft are at least partially positioned within the housing;
- and
- meshing the first gear and the second gear such that the first weight and the second weight rotate together to counterbalance the engine in use.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.