Single Cylinder Balance System
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a crankshaft for a single cylinder engine;
a first gear rotated by the crankshaft;
a primary balance shaft including at least one weight selected to balance forces in a first harmonic caused by operation of the single cylinder engine;
a second gear for the primary balance shaft, wherein the second gear is directly meshed with the first gear and no other balance shaft gear is directly meshed with the first gear;
a secondary balance shaft including at least one weight selected to balance forces of a second harmonic caused by operation of the single cylinder engine;
a third gear for the secondary balance shaft, wherein the third gear is directly meshed with the second gear.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A balance system for a single cylinder engine is described. The single cylinder engine generates forces, that if left unbalanced, cause significant vibrations or movement to the single cylinder engine and devices driven by the single cylinder engine. The balance shaft includes a primary balance shaft for a first type of forces and at least one secondary balance shaft for a second type of forces. The secondary balance shaft is driven directly by the primary balance shaft. In one example, only one secondary balance shaft may be used, which may leave some forces unbalanced but is more space and cost effective. In another example, two or more secondary balance shafts may be included in a drive chain such that one secondary balance shaft drive the next secondary balance shaft.
7 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a crankshaft for a single cylinder engine; a first gear rotated by the crankshaft; a primary balance shaft including at least one weight selected to balance forces in a first harmonic caused by operation of the single cylinder engine; a second gear for the primary balance shaft, wherein the second gear is directly meshed with the first gear and no other balance shaft gear is directly meshed with the first gear; a secondary balance shaft including at least one weight selected to balance forces of a second harmonic caused by operation of the single cylinder engine; a third gear for the secondary balance shaft, wherein the third gear is directly meshed with the second gear. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An engine comprising:
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a piston configured to apply a drive force to a connecting rod; a crankshaft configured to rotate under the drive force from the connecting rod; a first gear rotated by the crankshaft; a primary balance shaft including at least one weight selected to balance forces in a first direction caused by operation of the piston; a second gear of the primary balance shaft, wherein the second gear is directly meshed with the first gear and the only balance shaft gear directly meshed with the first gear; a secondary balance shaft including at least one weight selected to balance forces in a second direction at a multiple speed of the balance forces in the first direction caused by operation of the single cylinder engine; and a third gear of to the secondary balance shaft, wherein the third gear is directly driven by the primary balance shaft. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method comprising:
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generating a drive force from a single cylinder engine including a first harmonic and a second harmonic; balancing the first harmonic of the drive force with a primary balance shaft including at least one weight selected to balance forces in a first direction caused by operation of the single cylinder engine; and balancing a portion of the second harmonic of the drive force with a secondary balance shaft including at least one weight selected to balance forces in a second direction caused by operation of the single cylinder engine, wherein the primary balance shaft is directly meshed with a crankshaft of the single cylinder engine and no other balance shaft gears are meshed with the crankshaft of the single cylinder engine, wherein the secondary balance shaft is directly meshed with the primary balance shaft. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification