Patent ID: 7210373

Claim:
A crankshaft ( 1 ) for an internal combustion engine, including; a first pair of journals ( 21 , 22 ) delimiting axially a first end span; a second pair of journals ( 23 , 24 ) delimiting axially a second, opposite end span; at least one intermediate span interposed axially between the said first and second end spans; a first crank arm ( 61 ) connected to the outermost journal ( 21 ) of the said first pair of journals ( 21 , 22 ) and a second crank arm ( 69 ) connected to the outermost journal ( 24 ) of the said second pair of journals ( 23 , 24 ), the axial dimensions of the said first and second crank arms ( 61 , 69 ) being such that the said end spans have substantially the same length (Y) as that of the at least one intermediate span; a first and a second counterweight ( 61 ′, 69 ′) provided on the first and the second crank arm ( 61 , 69 ), respectively, for balancing the crankshaft ( 1 ); and a third and a fourth counterweight ( 71 , 72 ) arranged outwardly of the respective end journals ( 21 , 24 ); characterised in that seats ( 80 ) are formed in one ( 72 ) of the said third and fourth counterweights ( 71 , 72 ) for fixing a flywheel directly to that counterweight.