Precision crankshaft rotating apparatus and method of crankshaft rotation

A portable precision crankshaft rotating apparatus for rotating the crankshaft of an internal combustion engine, comprising:

• a body portion;
• a handle associated with said body portion;
• a motor/gearbox assembly attached to said body portion;
• a drive element coupled to said motor/gearbox assembly, said drive element adapted to engage an exposed end of a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine;
• an anti-rotation element for preventing rotation of said apparatus during rotation of said drive element portion thereof;
• an activation element for energizing said motor/gearbox assembly and initiating the controlled rotation of said drive element;
• a position sensor, said position sensor having a dual output, a first output providing a multitude of pulses per revolution and used to monitor and control the angular position of said drive element, and a second output providing a single pulse per revolution and used to return said drive element to a home position;
• and
• a programmed controller having a microprocessor, said controller in communication with said position sensor and said motor/gearbox assembly, and operative to cause said motor/gearbox assembly to sequentially rotate said crankshaft to a next preprogrammed angular position in response to each operation of said activation element.

A method of precisely rotating a crankshaft, comprising:

• providing a portable precision crankshaft rotating apparatus comprising:
• a body portion,
• a motor/gearbox assembly attached to said body portion,
• a drive element coupled to said motor/gearbox assembly, said drive element adapted to engage an exposed end of the crankshaft,
• an anti-rotation element for preventing rotation of said apparatus during rotation of said drive element portion thereof;
• a position sensor arranged to monitor the angular position of the crankshaft and product an output based thereupon;
• and
• a controller in communication with said position sensor and said motor/gearbox assembly, and operative to cause said motor/gearbox assembly to rotate said crankshaft to one or more desired angular positions in response to the output,
• locating said drive element of said portable precision crankshaft rotating apparatus to an exposed end of a crankshaft, and
• causing said controller to operate said motor/gearbox assembly to rotate said crankshaft to one or more desired angular positions.