Methods and systems for a crankshaft stabilizing device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10837485-B2
Application number	US-201815973248-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 7, 2018
Priority date	May 7, 2018
Publication date	Nov 17, 2020
Grant date	Nov 17, 2020

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for a stabilizing device of a crankshaft. In one example, a method may comprise randomizing a shape of each fin of a plurality of fins and a space between each fin. Randomizing the fins may decrease noise production as a result of airflow generated by the fins.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system, comprising:
a crankshaft comprising a damper having a plurality of radially extending spokes; and
a stabilizing device comprising a plurality of cooling fins arranged in the damper, wherein the plurality of cooling fins divert airflow around the damper and toward a portion of the crankshaft arranged in an engine.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the stabilizing device is arranged between the plurality of spokes and the crankshaft, the stabilizing device being pressed against radially interior surfaces of the plurality of spokes.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein no two cooling fins of the plurality of cooling fins are identical, and each of the plurality of cooling fins is spaced apart from one another, where no two spaces are identical.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an elastomeric member arranged between radially exterior surfaces of the plurality of spokes and an inertia ring, and where the elastomeric member is spaced away from the stabilizing device and the plurality of cooling fins.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the stabilizing device is inserted into an inner hub along a portion of the crankshaft arranged outside of the engine, and where the cooling fins of the stabilizing device extend between only the crankshaft and the plurality of spokes.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the stabilizing device and the plurality of cooling fins comprise one or more of copper, manganese, marble, aluminum (alloy or pure), diamond, and Teflon.

7. A stabilizing device, comprising:
a plurality of fins shaped to fit radially interior to a plurality of radially extending spokes arranged in a damper, the plurality of spokes adapted to be coupled to a portion of a crankshaft arranged outside of an engine, wherein the plurality of fins supplement air flow to a portion of the crankshaft interior to the engine.

8. The stabilizing device of claim 7 , wherein each fin of the plurality of fins comprises a shape and dimension that are different from other fins of the plurality of fins.

9. The stabilizing device of claim 7 , wherein a space between two fins of the plurality of fins is different from a space between two other fins of the plurality of fins.

10. The stabilizing device of claim 7 , wherein an inertia ring of the damper is radially exterior to the plurality of spokes, and where an elastomeric member is arranged between the inertia ring and the plurality of spokes, and where the plurality of fins only contact portions of one or more of the inertia ring and the elastomeric member furthest away from the engine.

11. The stabilizing device of claim 7 , wherein a shape of each fin of the plurality of fins is one or more of triangular, L-shaped, E-shaped, square-shaped, and rectangular.

12. The stabilizing device of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of fins comprises three or more fins.

13. The stabilizing device of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of fins is in face-sharing contact with the portion of the crankshaft outside of the engine and radially inwardly facing surfaces of the plurality of spokes.

14. A system, comprising:
an engine comprising a crankshaft, wherein a portion of the crankshaft extends out of the engine, a damper being arranged on the portion of the crankshaft; wherein
a plurality of spokes extend in a radially outward direction from the crankshaft within an inner hub of the damper, and where an elastomeric member is sandwiched between a first surface of the spokes and an inertia ring; and
a stabilizing device pressed against a second surface of the spokes, the second surface being opposite the first surface, and where the stabilizing device comprises a plurality of fins radially extending therefrom, wherein the plurality of fins supplements air flow to a portion of the crankshaft interior to the engine.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of fins is spaced away from the inertia ring and the elastomeric member, wherein no two fins of the plurality of fins are identical, and wherein each of the plurality of fins is spaced apart from one another, where no two spaces are identical.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of fins contact one or more of the elastomeric member and the inertia ring.

17. The system of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of fins is thermally coupled to the spokes.

18. The system of claim 14 , wherein the stabilizing device is press fit into the inner hub.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Church Jeremy

Classifications

• F16F15/126 Primary

  consisting of at least one annular element surrounding the axis of rotation · CPC title

• F01P1/06

  Arrangements for cooling other engine or machine parts · CPC title

• F16C3/20

  Shape of crankshafts or eccentric-shafts having regard to balancing · CPC title

• F16C3/16 Primary

  Features relating to cooling · CPC title

• F16F15/12

  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 title