# US 2015/0240913 A1 · Pendulum-absorber brake

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- Number: US 2015/0240913 A1
- Document ID: US20150240913A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/699,947
- Filed: 2015-04-29
- Published: 2015-08-27
- Earliest claimed: 2013-01-16
- Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
- Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
- Inventors: Gregory Michael Pietron; Jeffrey Eliot Chottiner; John Edward Brevick; Matthew David Hammond; Rick L. Williams
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20150240913A1

## CPC

- F16F 15/283: {for engine crankshafts}
- F16D 59/00: Self-acting brakes, e.g. coming into operation at a predetermined speed
- F16F 7/1005: {characterised by active control of the mass}
- F16F 15/1457: {Systems with a single mass}
- Y10T 74/2128: Damping using swinging masses, e.g., pendulum type, etc.
- Y10T 74/2184: Vibration dampers
- F16F: SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION
- F16D: COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A crankshaft comprising a cheek, a torsion-absorbing pendulum pivotally coupled to the cheek, and a rotational speed actuated brake to oppose motion of the pendulum relative to the cheek. The brake is configured to provide greater opposition to the motion at lower rotational speeds than at higher rotational speeds.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A crankshaft comprising:
a cheek;
a torsion-absorbing pendulum pivotally coupled to the cheek; and
a rotational speed actuated brake including a valve configured to release, when open, a lubricant jet to oppose motion of the pendulum relative to the cheek and further configured to cut off the lubricant jet when closed, the brake configured to provide greater opposition to the motion at lower rotational speeds than at higher rotational speeds via the valve.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The crankshaft of claim 1, wherein the brake includes a shoe extendable to bridge a clearance between the cheek and the pendulum to oppose the motion of the pendulum relative to the cheek.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The crankshaft of claim 2, wherein the brake further includes a spring coupled to the shoe and configured to push the shoe out into the clearance.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The crankshaft of claim 3, wherein the spring and shoe are coupled to the pendulum.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The crankshaft of claim 3, wherein the spring and shoe are coupled to the cheek.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The crankshaft of claim 2, wherein the shoe is arranged to retract from the clearance under centrifugal force from rotation of the crankshaft.

### Claim 7 (depends on 2)

The crankshaft of claim 2, wherein the brake further includes a piston that telescopes into and partly out of a fluid-filled cylinder, wherein the piston is coupled to the shoe, and wherein increased fluid pressure within the cylinder telescopes the piston back into the cylinder, retracting the shoe from the clearance.

### Claim at position 8

8-15. (canceled)

### Claim 16

An engine comprising:
a crankshaft having a cheek, a torsion-absorbing pendulum pivotally coupled to the cheek, and a rotational speed actuated brake coupled between the cheek and the pendulum to oppose motion of the pendulum relative to the cheek;
a rotational speed sensing element; and
a controller operatively coupled to the brake and to the rotational speed sensing element and configured to cause the brake to increase opposition to the motion as the rotational speed decreases and to decrease the opposition to the motion as the rotational speed increases.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The engine of claim 16, wherein the brake includes:
a shoe extendable to bridge a clearance between the cheek and the pendulum to oppose the motion of the pendulum relative to the cheek; and
a piston that telescopes into and partly out of a fluid-filled cylinder, the piston being integrated with or coupled to the shoe;
wherein increased fluid pressure within the cylinder telescopes the piston back into the cylinder, retracting the shoe from the clearance; and
wherein the controller is configured to increase the fluid pressure when the sensing element reports that the rotational speed is below a threshold.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The engine of claim 16, wherein the brake includes:
a valve configured to release, when open, a lubricant jet to oppose the motion of the pendulum relative to the cheek, the valve further configured to cut off the lubricant jet when closed; and
a piston that telescopes into and partly out of a fluid-filled cylinder, the piston being integrated with or coupled to the stopper;
wherein increased fluid pressure within the cylinder telescopes the piston partly out of the cylinder, unseating the stopper; and
wherein the controller is configured to increase the fluid pressure when the sensing element reports that the rotational speed is below a threshold.

### Claim 19

A method to reduce noise and wear of a crankshaft of an engine system, the crankshaft including a cheek and a torsion-absorbing pendulum pivotally coupled to the cheek, the method comprising:
at lower rotational speeds, opposing to a greater degree motion of the pendulum relative to the cheek with a rotational speed actuated brake coupled between the cheek and the pendulum; and
at higher rotational speeds, opposing to a lesser degree the motion of the pendulum relative to the cheek with the rotational speed actuated brake.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, further comprising sensing the rotational speed.