Crankshaft
US9803685B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 17, 2016 |
| Grant date | Oct 31, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 10, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF02B2075/1816
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
It is common for crankshafts of internal combustion engines to have main bearing journals provided between each of the conrod bearing journals. However, to reduce engine friction, the fewest main bearing journals that can be used while still meeting the design targets is preferred. A crankshaft for an in-line, four-cylinder engine, according to an embodiment of the disclosure, has three main bearing journals. Bridges, one each located between first and second conrod bearing journals and between third and fourth conrod bearing journals. The bridges have a cross-section with at least two concavities to improve the strength of the bridge compared to, for example, a cylindrical bridge, without greatly increasing the mass of material used in the bridge. Furthermore, a locus of a centroid of cross sections through the bridge are not coincident with an axis of rotation of the crankshaft, but instead is displaced toward the nearer conrod bearing journal.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.