Granted Patent B2

US 7,509,890 · App. 10/855,117 · Granted Mar 31, 2009

Abstract

Claims (14)

1. An apparatus comprising:

a non-homogenous one piece crankshaft unitarily formed in a powder metallurgy process,

wherein the crankshaft has a crankshaft body, wherein the crankshaft body has a first end and a second end, and a plurality of spacers and journals disposed between the first end and the second end, wherein the crankshaft body is formed of a first sintered material having a known density, and

wherein the crankshaft has at least one counter weight having a second sintered material of different density than the first material and formed integral with the first material.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second material is of greater density than the first material.

3. A crankshaft comprising:

a one piece crankshaft body having a first end, a second end, and a plurality of spacers and journals disposed between the first end and the second end, wherein the crankshaft body is formed of a first material having a first density;

at least one counter weight formed of a second material of different density than the first material and formed integral with the first material;

wherein the crankshaft comprises a non-homogenous structure unitarily formed in a powder metallurgy process;

wherein the first material is formed from a first powdered metal constituent and the second material is formed from a second powdered metal constituent.

4. The crankshaft of claim 3 , wherein the second material is of greater density than the first material.

5. An internal combustion engine comprising:

a one piece crankshaft comprising a sintered metal main body comprising a plurality of spacers and journals disposed between opposite lengthwise ends, and

at least one sintered metal counterweight having a material density greater than the material density of the main body and integrally joining with the main body.

Assignments (12)