Centered Crankshaft Vibration Damper With Integrated Mounting

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing crankshaft assemblies with vibration dampers have complex and costly interfaces that require significant manufacturing effort and installation space, making them inefficient and space-intensive.

Innovation Solution

A compact crankshaft assembly design featuring a retaining plate with a screw receiving hole and offset centering region, allowing for simultaneous fastening and centering of the vibration damper using a centrifugal pendulum, which simplifies the structure and reduces assembly effort while using a support with a horseshoe-shaped extension and a cover for additional functionality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If existing fastening means and centering means are used to attach the vibration damper to the crankshaft, then the vibration damper can be securely mounted, but the interface becomes complex and costly to manufacture

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecure mounting of vibration damperVSAvoidinterface complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the fastening function and centering function into a single integrated interface structure. The retaining plate incorporates both the fastening screw hole and the centering protrusion, eliminating the need for separate fastening and centering components. This merging reduces the number of parts, simplifies the interface design, and lowers manufacturing costs while maintaining secure mounting of the vibration damper to the crankshaft.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If existing fastening means and centering means are used to attach the vibration damper to the crankshaft, then the vibration damper can be securely mounted, but manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecure mounting of vibration damperVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the fastening function and centering function into a single integrated interface structure. The retaining plate incorporates both the fastening screw hole and the centering protrusion, eliminating the need for separate fastening and centering components. This merging reduces the number of parts, simplifies the interface design, and lowers manufacturing costs while maintaining secure mounting of the vibration damper to the crankshaft.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If existing fastening means and centering means are used to attach the vibration damper to the crankshaft, then the vibration damper can be securely mounted, but installation space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecure mounting of vibration damperVSAvoidinstallation space

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the fastening function and centering function into a single integrated interface structure. The retaining plate incorporates both the fastening screw hole and the centering protrusion, eliminating the need for separate fastening and centering components. This merging reduces the number of parts, simplifies the interface design, and lowers manufacturing costs while maintaining secure mounting of the vibration damper to the crankshaft.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The design achieves space-saving and simplified assembly of the vibration damper, effectively damping resonant vibrations and compensating for imbalances, while reducing manufacturing costs and installation space requirements.

Implementation Method 1

the vibration damper is designed as a centrifugal pendulum. This effectively dampens the resonant vibrations that occur during operation.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Implementation Method 2

the vibration damper is designed as a centrifugal pendulum. This effectively dampens the resonant vibrations that occur during operation.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPendulum motion: Pendulum

Implementation Method 3

This cover can be used to accommodate a friction device of the damping unit.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentUS12018731B2Crankshaft assembly comprising a centered vibration damper

Publication Date: 2024.06.25 SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO KG

AI summary

The disclosure relates to a crankshaft assembly for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, comprising a crankshaft segment and a vibration damper accommodated on the crankshaft segment. The vibration damper has a support fastened to the crankshaft segment and a damping unit accommodated on the support. A retaining plate of the support, which plate is secured to an end face of a flange region of the crankshaft segment, has a screw receiving hole for receiving a fastening screw that connects the support to the crankshaft segment. The retaining plate also has a centering region that is offset relative to the screw receiving hole in a circumferential direction and is intended to accommodate, or so as to directly form, a centering means supporting the support relative to the crankshaft segment in a centered manner.