# US 2014/0196570 A1 · Lightened Rotating Member and Method of Producing Same

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- Number: US 2014/0196570 A1
- Document ID: US20140196570A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/740,989
- Filed: 2013-01-14
- Published: 2014-07-17
- Earliest claimed: 2013-01-14
- Assignees: FTS International, LLC
- Applicants: Fts International
- Inventors: Tony M. Small; Pankaj Patel
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140196570A1

## CPC

- F16C 3/06: Crankshafts
- F16C 3/08: made in one piece (features relating to lubrication F16C3/14, to cooling F16C3/16)
- F16C 9/02: Crankshaft bearings
- F16C 19/26: with a single row of rollers
- Y10T 29/49: Method of mechanical manufacture
- Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining
- Y10T 74/2183: Counterbalanced
- F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A lightened rotating member for a machine. The lightened member includes a plurality of radially machined penetrations within at least one main bearing support journal of the rotating member. The plurality of penetrations is formed around the circumference of the main bearing journal face, with the penetration centerline directed radially toward the rotating member's axial centerline. An even number of penetrations may be utilized with minimal adverse effect on the balance of the rotating member. Odd numbers of penetrations may require subsequent rebalancing. The rotating member may be any rotating member that utilizes one or more main bearing support journals.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A lightened rotating member for a machine, the rotating member comprising:
a plurality of radial penetrations, the radial penetrations formed around the circumference of at least one main bearing support journal.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The lightened rotating member of claim 1, further comprising:
a plurality of radial penetrations, the radial penetrations formed around the circumference of each of a plurality of main bearing support journals.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The lightened rotating member of claim 1, wherein the radial penetrations are blind holes.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The lightened rotating member of claim 1, wherein the radial penetration centerlines are evenly spaced around the circumference.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The lightened rotating member of claim 1, further comprising:
an even number of evenly-spaced radial penetrations, wherein at least one radial penetration dimension differs in response to dynamic balancing of the rotating member.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The lightened rotating member of claim 1, further comprising:
one or more grooves formed around the circumference of the at least one main bearing support journal.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The lightened rotating member of claim 1, further comprising:
a bearing race that is independently positional about the penetrated bearing support journal.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The lightened rotating member of claim 1, further comprising:
a bearing race that is independently positional about the penetrated bearing support journal, wherein positioning of the bearing race substantially conceals the radial penetrations.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The lightened rotating member of claim 1, wherein the radial penetrations are configured to reduce the inertia of the rotating member without substantially reducing the torsional stability and balance of the rotating member.

### Claim 10

A method for lightening the weight of a rotating member of a positive displacement device, the method steps comprising:
forming a plurality of radial penetrations around the circumference of at least one main bearing support journal.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, the method steps further comprising:
forming a plurality of radial penetrations around the circumference of each of a plurality of main bearing support journals.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, the method steps further comprising:
dynamically balancing the rotating member by varying the dimension of one or more of the radial penetrations.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, the method steps further comprising:
forming one or more grooves around the circumference of the at least one main bearing support journal.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the radial penetrations are blind holes.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the radial penetration centerlines are evenly spaced around the circumference.

### Claim 16 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, the method steps further comprising:
installing a bearing race that is independently positional about the penetrated bearing support journal.

### Claim 17 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, the method steps further comprising:
installing a bearing race that is independently positional about the penetrated bearing support journal, wherein positioning of the bearing race substantially conceals the radial penetrations.

### Claim 18 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the radial penetrations are configured to reduce the inertia of the rotating member without substantially reducing the torsional stability and balance of the rotating member.