Patent ID: 8544362

Claim:
A crankshaft flange protector, comprising: a cover removably coupleable to a crankshaft, the crankshaft having a crankshaft flange connected to a first lateral end of a first portion of a shaft, wherein a second lateral end of the first portion of the shaft is connected to a lateral end of a second portion of the shaft by an arm and wherein the arm connects the first portion of the shaft to the second portion of the shaft such that a central axis of the first portion of the shaft is offset from a central axis of a second portion of the shaft; wherein the cover includes a top wall, a bottom wall and a sidewall, the top wall having a recessed portion formed to correspondingly receive and support the crankshaft flange therein; a plurality of connector members adapted to extend through a plurality of openings disposed within the recessed portion that are aligned with a plurality of corresponding openings in the crankshaft flange to secure the cover to the flange; and wherein the plurality of openings in the recessed portion are aligned with respective openings on a support structure to secure the cover to the support structure.