Patent ID: 7270097

Claim:
An engine assembly comprising: an engine crankshaft; a balance shaft operatively connected with said crankshaft and rotatably driven thereby; a vehicle component operatively connected with said balance shaft such that said vehicle component is rotatably driven by said crankshaft through said balance shaft; wherein said balance shaft is operatively connected with said crankshaft at one end and operatively connected with said vehicle component at an opposing end; and wherein said vehicle component is not coaxial with said balance shaft; a rear end gear set including a drive gear connected for rotation with said crankshaft and a driven gear intermeshing with said drive gear and connected for rotation with said balance shaft; a front end gear set including a first gear connected for rotation with said balance shaft and an idler gear intermeshing with said first gear; wherein said front end gear set is at said opposing end of said balance shaft and said rear end gear set is at said one end of said balance shaft; and wherein said vehicle component is driven by rotation of said idler gear.