Method and apparatus for repairing a crankshaft

A crankshaft apparatus, comprising:

• a) a crankshaft body that includes an elongated member of a first smaller diameter with first and second end portions, a raised annular rib defining an enlarged diameter portion of the body, and the body having a center of rotation during use;
• b) a ring gear removably mounted at one of the end portions upon the annular rib, the ring gear comprising a pair of gear sections, each gear section having a generally semicircular recess that is shaped to conform to the outer surface of the crankshaft body, a pair of opposed mating faces that abut and engage, and a generally semicircular toothed section;
• and
• c) a removable connection that secures each ring gear section to the crankshaft body, said removable connection including a plurality of longitudinally extending drilled and tapped openings in the crankshaft at the raised annular rib, the plurality of openings extending circumferentially about the crankshaft center of rotation, spaced radially away from the smaller diameter elongated member, and a plurality of fasteners that attach each gear section to the crankshaft at the openings in the annular rib.

A crankshaft apparatus, comprising:

• a) a crankshaft body that includes an elongated member with first and second end portions, the body having a center of rotation during use;
• b) an enlarged diameter annular member comprised of multiple, separable sections and mounted to one of said end portions;
• c) a ring gear removably mounted to the crankshaft next to the enlarged diameter member, the ring gear comprising a pair of gear half sections, each gear half section having a curved inner surface defining a recess that is shaped to conform to the outer surface of the crankshaft body, a pair of opposed mating faces, a generally semicircular toothed section, and an annular flange extending both longitudinally of the gear toothed section radially inwardly of said semicircular curved inner surface;
• and
• d) a removable connection that secures each ring gear section to the crankshaft body and to the enlarged diameter annular member, said removable connection including a plurality of openings in the annular member, the plurality of openings extending circumferentially about the crankshaft center of rotation, and a plurality of fasteners that attach each gear section to the annular member at the openings.

A method of repairing a crankshaft body having first and second end portions, a center of rotation, and a ring gear at one end portion thereof mounted on an enlarged diameter annular member, comprising the steps of:

• a) removing the worn ring gear from the crankshaft end portion;
• b) providing a replacement ring gear that comprises a pair of gear half sections, each gear half section having an annular flange shaped inner surface that conforms generally to the outer surface of the crankshaft next to the enlarged diameter annular member, a pair of opposed mating surfaces, and a transversely extending annular surface that extends radially along a plane the intersects the center of rotation of the crankshaft;
• c) drilling and tapping a plurality of openings in the crankshaft, the plurality of openings extending circumferentially about the crankshaft center of rotation;
• d) fastening each gear half section to the crankshaft with fasteners that attach the gear half section to the crankshaft at the openings;
• and
• e) fastening each gear half section to the other gear section at the mating faces.

A method of repairing a crankshaft body having first and second end portions, a center of rotation, and a ring gear at one end portion thereof, comprising the steps of:

• a) attaching an enlarged diameter annular member to the crankshaft body at a selected location, the enlarged annular member including a plurality of sections that are connected together, each section having a curved surface that closely conforms to the crankshaft body;
• b) removing the worn ring gear from the crankshaft end portion;
• c) providing a replacement ring gear that comprises a pair of gear half sections, each gear half section having an annular flange shaped inner surface that conforms generally to the outer surface of the crankshaft next to the enlarged diameter annular member, a pair of opposed mating surfaces, and a transversely extending annular surface that extends radially along a plane the intersects the center of rotation of the crankshaft;
• d) drilling and tapping a plurality of openings in the enlarged annular member the plurality of openings extending circumferentially about the enlarged annular member center of rotation;
• e) fastening each gear half section to the enlarged annular member with fasteners that attach the gear half section to the enlarged annular member at the openings;
• and
• f) fastening each gear half section to the other gear section at the mating faces.