Crankshaft Assembly With Load Transfer Member for Torque Angle Gain
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional crankshaft assemblies experience inefficiencies due to significant force absorption at bearing surfaces, leading to reduced mechanical advantage and increased heat losses, particularly in combustion engines, as a result of limited torque conversion efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An improved crankshaft system incorporating a load transfer member with a greater maximum torque angle, which includes a rotatable shaft, crank means, load transfer member, connecting rods, and stabilizing members, optimizing torque conversion by distributing force more efficiently throughout the crankshaft's cycle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional crankshaft bearing surfaces are used, then the structure is simple, but force is absorbed at bearing surfaces reducing torque conversion efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The crankshaft is divided into multiple segments including a main shaft, multiple crank arms, and multiple connecting rods. Each crank arm can rotate independently relative to the main shaft, allowing force distribution across multiple bearing surfaces rather than concentrating all forces at single bearing points, thereby reducing energy loss while maintaining structural manageability
Solution Approach 2:
Interior connecting pins are introduced as intermediary elements between the crank arms and connecting rods. These pins allow for optimized force transfer paths and enable the crank arms to rotate relative to the main shaft, improving torque conversion efficiency by reducing direct force absorption at main bearing surfaces
2Loss of energy
If crank arms are fixed to the main shaft, then the structure is simpler, but torque conversion efficiency is reduced due to limited torque angle
Solution Approach 1:
The crank arms are designed to rotate dynamically relative to the main shaft through interior connecting pins, rather than being fixed. This dynamic configuration allows the crank arms to optimize their angular positions during operation, maintaining better torque angles throughout the cycle and improving torque conversion efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adds a rotational degree of freedom between the crank arms and main shaft, transitioning from a planar fixed connection to a multi-dimensional rotating connection. This allows the system to optimize torque transfer across multiple angular dimensions, effectively increasing the useful torque angle range
3Strength
If bearing surfaces absorb more force, then structural strength is improved, but mechanical advantage is reduced and heat losses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The force transmission path is segmented into multiple crank arms and connecting rods, distributing the total force across multiple bearing surfaces. This reduces the force burden on individual bearing surfaces, lowering friction and heat generation while maintaining overall structural strength through the distributed load path
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters by allowing crank arms to rotate at different angles relative to the main shaft. This optimizes the torque angle throughout the cycle, improving mechanical advantage and reducing the force component that must be absorbed by bearing surfaces, thereby reducing frictional heat loss
Data Source
AI summary
There is presented various embodiments disclosed in this application, including an improved crankshaft system using a load connecting member which provides a greater maximum torque angle than a conventional system, thereby improving efficiency and power.