Crankshaft drive for an internal-combustion engine
AssigneeHarley-Davidson Motor Company Group, Inc.
InventorsAlfons Linder, Johannes Krauss
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A crankshaft drive for an internal-combustion engine includes a crankshaft, a connecting rod assembly coupled to the crankshaft, and a balancing shaft arranged parallel to the crankshaft and at a distance r from the crankshaft. A balancing weight extends from the balancing shaft for balancing mass forces caused by the rotation of the crankshaft. A recess is formed in the balancing weight, so that during rotation of the balancing shaft, the balancing weight does not interfere with the rotating crankshaft and connecting rod assembly. The inclusion of the recess allows the distance r between the crankshaft and the balancing shaft to be reduced. Preferably, a rib is formed on one side of the balancing shaft to strengthen the balancing shaft.
Claims24
A motorcycle comprising:
- a front wheel;
- a rear wheel;
- a frame supported by the wheels;
- and
- a engine supported by the frame, the engine including:
- a crankshaft;
- a connecting rod assembly coupled at one end to the crankshaft;
- and
- a balancing shaft having a balancing weight extending radially therefrom for rotation with the balancing shaft, the balancing weight having a recess defined therein such that when the crankshaft rotates the recess provides clearance for the connecting rod assembly so the connecting rod assembly does not substantially interfere with the balancing weight.
An internal combustion engine for a motorcycle, the engine comprising:
- a crankshaft;
- a connecting rod assembly coupled at one end to the crankshaft;
- and
- a balancing shaft having a balancing weight extending radially therefrom for rotation with the balancing shaft, the balancing weight having a recess defined therein such that when the crankshaft rotates, the recess provides clearance for the connecting rod assembly so the connecting rod assembly does not substantially interfere with the balancing weight.
A method of operating an internal combustion engine having a rotatable crankshaft, a connecting rod assembly coupled to the crankshaft for rotation therewith, and a rotatable balancing shaft spaced from the crankshaft and including a balancing weight, the balancing weight having a recess defined therein, the method comprising:
- rotating the crankshaft;
- rotating the balancing shaft;
- and
- passing a portion of the connecting rod assembly through the recess in the balancing weight as the crankshaft and the balancing shaft rotate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.