Patent ID: 7178501

Claim:
A crankshaft assembly of an internal combustion engine, the crankshaft assembly comprising: a crankshaft having a journal lug; a crank arm having a central cutout for receiving said journal lug therein; a crank pin for journalling a connecting rod of said engine; said crank arm being adjacent said connecting rod and having an eccentric cutout for journalling said crank pin therein; said crank arm defining a plane and having an end portion lying opposite said eccentric cutout; a centrifugal mass at said end portion of said crank arm and formed so as to be an integral part of said crank arm; said crank arm being bent so as to cause said centrifugal mass to be bent out of said plane in a direction toward said connecting rod; and, said crank arm having an essentially constant thickness (D) in the region of said centrifugal mass.