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US4545341A
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US
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Means and method of balancing multi-cylinder reciprocating machines
Assignee: Soluna Holdings Inc
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Filing: 1984-05-01
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Granted: 1985-10-08
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Expires: 2004-05-01
Abstract
Abstract A virtual balancing axis arrangement is described for multi-cylinder reciprocating piston machines for effectively balancing out imbalanced forces and minimizing residual imbalance moments acting on the crankshaft of such machines without requiring the use of additional parallel-arrayed balancing shafts or complex and expensive gear arrangements. The novel virtual balancing axis arrangement is capable of being designed into multi-cylinder reciprocating piston and crankshaft machines for substantially reducing vibrations induced during operation of such machines with only minimal number of additional component parts. Some of the required component parts may be available from parts already required for operation of auxiliary equipment, such as oil and water pumps used in certain types of reciprocating piston and crankshaft machine so that by appropriate location and dimensioning in accordance with the teachings of the invention, the virtual balancing axis arrangement can be built into the machine at little or no additional cost.
Inventors
- 👤 John A. Corey
- 👤 Michael M. Walsh
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:25
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16F; F16F15/00; F16F15/22; F16F15/26; F16F15/264; F16F15/265; F02; F02B; F02B75/00; F02B75/16; F02B75/18; F02B75/02; F02B2075/022; F02B2075/025; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/21; Y10T74/2173; Y10T74/2183; Y10T74/2184
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
340 words
In combination with a multi-cylinder reciprocating machine of the type including a crankshaft mounted for rotation therein and which crankshaft is counterbalanced throughout so as to be in static and dynamic balance, a balancing system comprising: (a) only two balance weights each appropriately sized and arranged to eliminate the force imbalance and to minimize the imbalance moments of said reciprocating machine; (b) the first appropriately-sized balance weight being mounted for rotation at a distance D in an axial direction toward one end of the crankshaft from the center of action of the residual imbalance force and at a preselected distance on one side of the axis of rotation of said crankshaft and wherein said distance D is determined in accordance with the relationship ##EQU6## where: M R- equals the counter rotating component of the reciprocating imbalance moment, F B- equals the counter rotating balance force which balances the counter rotating component, F R- , of the reciprocating imbalance force, α equals the acute angle subtended between F R- and F MR- , and F MR- equals the force components of moment M R- taken as a couple at distances D and -D along the crankshaft axis; (c) means for driving said first balance weight at the same rotational speed as that of said crankshaft but in the opposite direction; (d) the second appropriately-sized balance weight being mounted for rotation at said same distance D but in an axial direction toward the opposite end of said crankshaft from said center of action of the residual imbalance force and at a preselected distance substantially on the other side of the axis of rotation of said crankshaft; and (e) means driving said second balance weight at the same rotational speed as that of said crankshaft but in the opposite direction, whereby there is created a virtual balance axis which passes through the centers of rotation of said first and second balance weights and intersects or as near thereto as possible the center of action of the residual force imbalance acting on said crankshaft.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
340 words
In combination with a multi-cylinder reciprocating machine of the type including a crankshaft mounted for rotation therein and which crankshaft is counterbalanced throughout so as to be in static and dynamic balance, a balancing system comprising: (a) only two balance weights each appropriately sized and arranged to eliminate the force imbalance and to minimize the imbalance moments of said reciprocating machine; (b) the first appropriately-sized balance weight being mounted for rotation at a distance D in an axial direction toward one end of the crankshaft from the center of action of the residual imbalance force and at a preselected distance on one side of the axis of rotation of said crankshaft and wherein said distance D is determined in accordance with the relationship ##EQU6## where: M R- equals the counter rotating component of the reciprocating imbalance moment, F B- equals the counter rotating balance force which balances the counter rotating component, F R- , of the reciprocating imbalance force, α equals the acute angle subtended between F R- and F MR- , and F MR- equals the force components of moment M R- taken as a couple at distances D and -D along the crankshaft axis; (c) means for driving said first balance weight at the same rotational speed as that of said crankshaft but in the opposite direction; (d) the second appropriately-sized balance weight being mounted for rotation at said same distance D but in an axial direction toward the opposite end of said crankshaft from said center of action of the residual imbalance force and at a preselected distance substantially on the other side of the axis of rotation of said crankshaft; and (e) means driving said second balance weight at the same rotational speed as that of said crankshaft but in the opposite direction, whereby there is created a virtual balance axis which passes through the centers of rotation of said first and second balance weights and intersects or as near thereto as possible the center of action of the residual force imbalance acting on said crankshaft.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The balancing system recited in claim 1 wherein the multi-cylinder reciprocating machine is an engine and said first and second balance weights are incorporated into auxiliary equipment already required in the running of the engine.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The balancing system recited in claim 2 wherein the working members of said auxiliary equipment constitute the balance weights.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The balancing system recited in claim 3 wherein one balancing weight is provided by the impeller of an oil pump and the other balance weight is provided by the impeller of a water pump.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The balancing system recited in claim 2 wherein the balance weights are carried by the working members of said auxiliary equipment.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The balancing system recited in claim 1 wherein said first and second balance weights are respectively coupled to said crankshaft by separate sets of driving and driven gear wheels with said balance weights being carried by the driven gear wheels.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
The balancing system recited in claim 6 wherein the multi-cylinder reciprocating machine is an engine and the driven gear wheels which carry the balance weights also serve to drive auxiliary equipment already required in the running of the engine.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The balancing system recited in claim 7 wherein one piece of auxiliary equipment comprises an oil pump and the other comprises a water pump.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The balancing system recited in claim 1 wherein said first and second balance weights are driven from said crankshaft by gear means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
The balancing system recited in claim 1 wherein said first and second balance weights are carried by gear wheels mounted for rotation on stub-shafts mounted in but not extending axially throughout said engine and which gear wheels mesh with gear wheels mounted on said crankshaft.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
307 words
In a multi-cylinder reciprocating machine having a crankshaft mounted for rotation therein which crankshaft is counterbalanced throughout so as to be in static and dynamic balance, the method of establishing a virtual balance axis for said machine operative to eliminate all residual imbalance forces and minimize the residual imbalance moments, comprising: (a) determining a center of action of the imbalance forces and moments of the engine crankshaft due to reciprocating and rotating masses; (b) providing only first and second appropriately sized eccentric masses each having a center of rotation; (c) locating said first eccentric mass a preselected distance on one side of the axis of rotation of said crankshaft and at an axial distance D toward one end of said crankshaft from said center of action and said second eccentric mass a preselected distance on the opposite side of the axis of rotation of said crankshaft and at said same axial distance D, but toward the other end of said crankshaft from said center of action and wherein the distance D is determined in accordance with the relationship ##EQU7## Where: M R- equals the counter rotating component of the reciprocating imbalance moment, F B- equals the counter rotating balance force which balances the counter rotating component, F R- , of the reciprocating imbalance force, α equals the acute angle subtended between F R- and F MR- , and F MR- equals the force components of moment M R- taken as a couple at distanced D and -D along the crankshaft axis and wherein the centers of rotation of said first and second eccentric masses and said center of action all lie on a common virtual balance axis; and (d) causing said first and second eccentric masses to be rotated at the same rotational speed as that of said crankshaft but in a direction opposite such crankshaft rotation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
307 words
In a multi-cylinder reciprocating machine having a crankshaft mounted for rotation therein which crankshaft is counterbalanced throughout so as to be in static and dynamic balance, the method of establishing a virtual balance axis for said machine operative to eliminate all residual imbalance forces and minimize the residual imbalance moments, comprising: (a) determining a center of action of the imbalance forces and moments of the engine crankshaft due to reciprocating and rotating masses; (b) providing only first and second appropriately sized eccentric masses each having a center of rotation; (c) locating said first eccentric mass a preselected distance on one side of the axis of rotation of said crankshaft and at an axial distance D toward one end of said crankshaft from said center of action and said second eccentric mass a preselected distance on the opposite side of the axis of rotation of said crankshaft and at said same axial distance D, but toward the other end of said crankshaft from said center of action and wherein the distance D is determined in accordance with the relationship ##EQU7## Where: M R- equals the counter rotating component of the reciprocating imbalance moment, F B- equals the counter rotating balance force which balances the counter rotating component, F R- , of the reciprocating imbalance force, α equals the acute angle subtended between F R- and F MR- , and F MR- equals the force components of moment M R- taken as a couple at distanced D and -D along the crankshaft axis and wherein the centers of rotation of said first and second eccentric masses and said center of action all lie on a common virtual balance axis; and (d) causing said first and second eccentric masses to be rotated at the same rotational speed as that of said crankshaft but in a direction opposite such crankshaft rotation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method recited in claim 11 wherein said first and second eccentric masses are caused to be rotated by said crankshaft through gear means including drive and driven gears.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method recited in claim 12 wherein the driven gears of said gear means carry said eccentric masses.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method recited in claim 13 wherein said multi-cylinder reciprocating machine is an engine and wherein one or both of said driven gears also drives the working member of auxiliary equipment already required in the engine.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method recited in claim 11 wherein said multi-cylinder reciprocating machine is an engine and said first and second eccentric masses are arranged as part of the working members of auxiliary equipment already required in the engine.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method recited in claim 15 wherein the auxiliary equipment with which said first and second eccentric masses are arranged comprise an oil pump and a water pump.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-10-07 | 1989-04-08 | 1989-10-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-10-07 | 1993-04-08 | 1993-10-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-10-07 | 1997-04-08 | 1997-10-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |