IP Library Granted Patent US 10,077,799
Granted Patent B2
US 10,077,799 · App. 14/689,269 · Granted Sep 18, 2018

Crankshaft assembly

Inventors: Shawn Wilhelm (Minneapolis, MN); James D. Van de Ven (Long Lake, MN)
Assignee: Regents of the University of Minnesota
F16C3/12F16C2300/14
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,077,799
App. No.
14/689,269
Granted
Sep 18, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A crankshaft assembly includes a crankshaft member, a crank pin shaft member and a clamp. The crankshaft member includes a first central axis and an end having a first circumferential mating surface. The crank pin shaft member includes a second central axis that is substantially parallel to the first central axis, and an end having a second circumferential mating surface. The clamp is configured to secure the first circumferential mating surface to the second circumferential mating surface.

Claims (28)

1. A crankshaft assembly comprising:

a crankshaft member including a first central axis and an end having a first circumferential mating surface;

a crank pin shaft member including a second central axis that is substantially parallel to the first central axis, and an end having a second circumferential mating surface;

a clamp configured to secure the first circumferential mating surface to the second circumferential mating surface, the clamp comprising first and second clamp members surrounding the ends of the crankshaft and crank pin members, and extending perpendicularly to the first and second central axes;

a first alignment member receiver within the first circumferential mating surface of the crankshaft member comprising a first bore having an open end and a closed end that is opposite the open end;

a second alignment member receiver within the second circumferential mating surface of the crank pin shaft member comprising a second bore having an open end and a closed end that is opposite the open end; and

an alignment member having a first portion within the first alignment receiver, and a second portion within the second alignment member receiver;

wherein:

the alignment member aligns the first circumferential mating surface to the second circumferential mating surface; and

the first and second circumferential mating surfaces each include a flat portion.

2. The crankshaft assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second circumferential mating surfaces conform to each other.

3. The crankshaft assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the alignment member comprises a pin or a dowel received in the first and second bores.

4. The crankshaft assembly according to claim 3 , wherein at least one of the alignment member receivers includes a groove or keyway.

5. The crankshaft assembly according to claim 1 , wherein:

the clamp includes a third alignment member receiver; and

one of the crankshaft member and the crank pin shaft member includes a fourth alignment member receiver;

wherein the third and fourth alignment member receivers facilitate radial alignment between the clamp and one of the crankshaft member and the crank pin shaft member.

6. The crankshaft assembly according to claim 5 , wherein the crankshaft member includes the fourth alignment member receiver of the crankshaft member on an opposing side of the first circumferential mating surface.

7. The crankshaft assembly according to claim 5 , wherein the crank pin shaft member includes the fourth alignment member receiver of the crankshaft member on an opposing side of the second circumferential mating surface.

8. The crankshaft assembly according to claim 5 , wherein at least one of the third and fourth alignment member receivers includes a bore.

9. The crankshaft assembly according to claim 5 , wherein at least one of the third and fourth alignment member receivers includes a groove or a keyway.

10. The crankshaft assembly according to claim 1 , wherein:

the flat portion of the first circumferential mating surface is parallel to the first central axis;

the flat portion of the second circumferential mating surface is parallel to the second central axis; and

the clamp presses the flat portions of the first and second circumferential mating surfaces together.

11. The crankshaft assembly according to claim 10 , wherein the crankshaft member includes a radiused circumferential portion extending from the first circumferential mating surface.

12. The crankshaft assembly according to claim 10 , wherein the crank pin shaft member includes a radiused circumferential portion extending from the second circumferential mating surface.

13. The crankshaft assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second central axes are displaced from each other by a throw distance.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 4, 2015
From: WILHELM, SHAWN; VAN DE VEN, JAMES D.
To: REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
Reel/Frame 035788/0112 →
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded May 1, 2015
From: UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
To: NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Reel/Frame 035562/0962 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61982422 · Apr 22, 2014
Related Publication 20150300402A1 · Oct 22, 2015
Cited By (1)
US 12,601,581