Lubricated engine compensator assembly and motorcycle having the same

• US 8,678,938 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2012
• Issued: 03/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harley-Davidson Motor Company Incorporated (Harley-Davidson Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Harley-Davidson Motor Company Group LLC (Harley-Davidson Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schmidt, Rick A., Monis, Karl W., Cartes, Alfredo Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hurley, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US13/562,775
• Publication Number:
  US 20140034404A1
• Time in Patent Office: 602 Days
• Field of Search: 464/161, 464/38, 180/219, 123/192.1
• US Class Current: 464/161
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 1/46 Component parts, details, or accessories, not provided for in preceding subgroups
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2250/02 the camshaft being driven by chains
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2250/04 the camshaft being driven by belts
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2301/00 Using particular materials
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2810/02 Lubrication
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2810/03 Reducing vibration
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 61/02 for driving cycles
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 75/22 with cylinders in V, fan, or star arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 35/00 Screw-bolts; Stay-bolts; Screw-threaded studs; Screws; Set screws F16B33/008 takes precedence; joining sheets or plates using screws with two separate threads F16B5/0275; using screws with adjustment sleeves F16B5/0283; thread cutting screws F16B25/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/12 using elastic members or friction-damping members, e.g. between a rotating shaft and a gyratory mass mounted thereon F16F15/14 , F16F15/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/126 consisting of at least one annular element surrounding the axis of rotation
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/26 of crankshaft systems using solid masses, other than the ordinary pistons, moving with the system , i.e. masses connected through a kinematic mechanism or gear system F16F15/226 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 2230/0064 using a cam
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2123 and pressure compensation

Abstract

The present invention provides a compensator assembly for use in a motorcycle. The compensator assembly includes an input member, and an output member driven by the input member through a torque-buffering interface. The compensator assembly also includes one or more lubrication passageways formed therein extending between a distal end and one or more interfaces to provide lubricant thereto.

Claims

1. A motorcycle comprising:

a frame;

a rear wheel rotatably coupled to the frame;

an engine supported by the frame and configured to drive the rear wheel, the engine having a crankshaft; and

a compensator assembly coupled between the crankshaft and the rear wheel and configured to dampen impulse loads between the crankshaft and the rear wheel, the compensator assembly having,

a shaft extension rotatably fixed with respect to the crankshaft,

an input member rotatably fixed and axially slideable with respect to the shaft extension, the shaft extension and input member forming a first interface therebetween,

an output member driven by the input member with a torque-buffering interface, and

a retainer rotatably fixed to the crankshaft and configured to axially retain the input member and the output member thereto, the retainer and output member being rotatably coupled to one another forming a second interface therebetween, and wherein the retainer includes a passageway extending between a distal end of the retainer and at least one of the first interface and the second interface.

2. The motorcycle of claim 1, further comprising a cover at least partially enclosing the compensator assembly and containing a first quantity of lubricant therein.

3. The motorcycle of claim 2, wherein the cover includes at least one rib configured to direct lubricant onto the compensator assembly.

4. The motorcycle of claim 2, wherein the cover includes a plurality of ribs forming a “

V”

shape and having an apex, and wherein the apex is vertically aligned with the crankshaft axis.

5. The motorcycle of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the retainer defines a pocket, and wherein the passageway is in fluid communication with the pocket.

6. The motorcycle of claim 5, wherein the compensator assembly is coupled to the crankshaft by a retention bolt, and wherein the head of the retention bolt has a conical outer surface.

7. The motorcycle of claim 6, wherein the conical outer surface is at least partially nested within the pocket.

8. The motorcycle of claim 5, wherein the pocket includes an oil groove open on the radially inward side and extending along a periphery of the retainer.

9. The motorcycle of claim 1, wherein the input member includes a cam surface in contact with the output member.

10. The motorcycle of claim 1, further comprising a cap coupled to the distal end of the retainer having a convex outer surface.

11. The motorcycle of claim 10, wherein the cap includes an annular sheath spaced radially outwardly from and at least partially encompassing a portion of the outer, convex surface.

12. The motorcycle of claim 1, wherein the output member comprises a sprocket.

13. A compensator assembly for transmitting torque along a drivetrain, the drivetrain having at least one shaft therein, the compensator assembly comprising:

an input member rotationally fixed to and axially moveable with respect to the shaft along a first interface;

an output member driven by the input member with a torque-buffering interface; and

a retainer mounted to the shaft and configured to retain the input member and output member thereto, the retainer and output member being rotatably coupled to one another to form a second interface therebetween, and wherein the retainer defines at least one passageway extending between a distal end of the retainer and at least one of the first interface and the second interface.

14. The compensator assembly of claim 13, wherein the distal end of the retainer defines a pocket, and wherein the at least one passageway is in fluid communication with the pocket.

15. The compensator assembly of claim 14, further comprising a retention bolt having a head portion with a conically shaped outer surface that expands radially outwardly as it extends axially inwardly toward the retainer, and wherein at least a portion of the conically shaped outer surface is positioned within the pocket.

16. The compensator assembly of claim 14, wherein the pocket includes an oil groove extending along the periphery thereof, and wherein the oil groove is open on the radially inward side.

17. The compensator assembly of claim 13, further comprising a retention bolt having a head portion with a conically shaped outer surface.

18. The compensator assembly of claim 13, further comprising a cap coupled to the distal end of the retainer having a convex outer surface.

19. The compensator assembly of claim 18, wherein the cap includes a sheath spaced radially outwardly from and at least partially encompassing a portion of the convex outer surface.

20. The compensator assembly of claim 13, further comprising a shaft extension having a set of inner splines to engage the shaft and a set of exterior splines to engage the input member.

21. The compensator assembly of claim 20, wherein the input member contacts the exterior splines to form the first interface therebetween.

22. The compensator assembly of claim 20, wherein the exterior splines of the shaft extension define a root diameter, and wherein the shaft extension also includes an oil groove proximate one end having an outer diameter greater than the root diameter.

23. The compensator assembly of claim 13, wherein the output member comprises a sprocket having one or more radially extending spokes, and wherein each spoke includes an oil groove formed therein.

24. The compensator assembly of claim 23, wherein each oil groove extends radially along a respective spoke.

25. The compensator assembly of claim 13, wherein the shaft comprises a crankshaft.

26. A motorcycle comprising:

a frame;

a rear wheel rotatably coupled to the frame;

an engine supported by the frame and configured to drive the rear wheel, the engine having a crankshaft defining a crankshaft axis;

a compensator assembly to dampen impulse loads between the crankshaft and the rear wheel, the compensator assembly having,

a shaft extension rotatably fixed with respect to the crankshaft,

an input member rotatably fixed and axially slideable with respect to the shaft extension, the shaft extension and input member forming a first interface therebetween,

an output member driven by the input member with a torque-buffering interface,

a retainer rotatably fixed to the crankshaft, the retainer and output member being rotatably coupled to one another forming a second interface therebetween, wherein a distal end of the retainer defines a pocket, and wherein the retainer includes a passageway extending and in fluid communication with the pocket and at least one of the first interface and the second interface, and

a retention bolt coupling the retainer to the crankshaft, the retention bolt having a head portion with a substantially conical outer surface, and wherein at least a portion of the conical outer surface is positioned within the pocket; and

a cover at least partially encompassing the compensator assembly therein, the cover having a plurality of ribs forming an apex that is vertically aligned with the crankshaft axis.