Patent ID: 7444976

Claim:
A balance shaft for a multi-cylinder, in-line engine with at least two imbalance weight sections ( 18 , 20 , 22 , 24 ) and at least two bearing structures ( 14 , 16 ), with said imbalance weight sections ( 18 , 20 , 22 , 24 ) being arranged on either side of the bearing structures ( 14 , 16 ) axially symmetrical thereto and adjacent imbalance weight sections ( 20 , 22 ) being interconnected between the bearing structures ( 14 , 16 ) by a radially flexible but rotationally rigid coupling element ( 32 , 90 ) provided between the adjacent imbalance weight sections ( 20 , 22 , 50 , 52 , 82 , 84 ) so as to permit a certain degree of radial deflection of the ends of the interconnected imbalance weight sections ( 20 , 22 , 50 , 52 , 82 , 84 ) in the direction of the resulting centrifugal forces ( 26 , 28 ) effective on the imbalance weight sections, the imbalance weight sections ( 18 , 20 , 22 , 24 ; 48 , 50 , 52 , 54 ; 80 , 82 , 84 , 86 ) arranged on either side of the bearing structures ( 14 , 16 ; 44 , 46 ; 76 , 78 ) being dimensioned and disposed at such distances from the bearing structures ( 14 , 16 ; 44 , 46 ; 76 , 78 ) that they are balanced at the bearing structures and essentially no bearing tilting moments occur on the bearing structures ( 14 , 16 ; 44 , 46 ; 76 , 78 ) during the rotation of the balance shaft.