Crankshaft impact protector
AssigneeTecumseh Products Company
InventorMiles S. Geringer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A crankshaft impact protector for protecting the crankshaft of a lawnmower engine from bending beyond its elastic limit whenever a hard or immovable object like a rock or a stump is struck by the lawnmower blade. The protector has a flange for mounting on a mower deck, a mounting base for mounting the lawnmower engine thereupon and a bumper for providing physical support to the crankshaft. Impact forces experienced by the crankshaft are dissipated by the bumper of the protector and shifting of the bumper with respect to the crankshaft is prevented because the engine is integral with the crankshaft impact protector. A small clearance is provided between the bumper and the crankshaft thereby also helping to prevent soil and dust from traveling therethrough and reaching the main bearing of the engine.
Claims20
For use in a lawnmower having a generally planar mower deck, a crankshaft protector for protecting the crankshaft of a lawnmower engine from undue deflection, comprising:
- a crankshaft bumper means adapted to receive therein and support said crankshaft of said lawnmower engine;
- an engine mounting base portion connected to said bumper means by a first generally frusto-conical portion said mounting base portion having an upper surface for mounting a lawnmower engine thereupon, said first frusto-conical portion extending downwardly and inwardly from said mounting base surface;
- and
- a flange connected to said mounting base portion for mounting said protector upon said generally planar mower deck.
For use in a lawnmower having a mower deck including an aperture therein, a crankshaft impact protector for protecting from undue deflection the crankshaft of a lawnmower engine, comprising:
- a generally circular flange adapted for mounting upon said mower deck having an aperture therein, said mower deck aperture being located inside of said flange when said flange is mounted upon said mower deck;
- a first frusto-conical portion connected to said flange and extending inwardly and upwardly therefrom;
- a generally circular and planar engine mounting base connected to said first frusto-conical portion and adapted for mounting a lawnmower engine thereon;
- a cylindrical portion integrally connected to said engine mounting base and extending downwardly therefrom within said first frusto-conical portion, said cylindrical portion adapted to receive and laterally support a portion of said engine therein;
- a second frusto-conical portion connected to said cylindrical portion and extending downwardly and inwardly therefrom;
- and
- a cylindrical bumper means connected to said second frusto-conical portion and extending downwardly therefrom for receiving therein and supporting said engine crankshaft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.