Jan.

19, 1965 S, GOLTEN 3,165,866

CRANKSHAFT MAIN JOURNAL REGRINDING PROCESS
Filed Nov. 6, 1962

Y INVENTOR.
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United States Patent Office 2
3,165.835 - 34 and nuts 33 on studs 32 as shown in FIG. 3. After
CSRANKSEAFT IAAF SBJERRAS, EEGERNiCANG
PRG-CSESS
Sigiszi Gessia, 22.3 EPixes Elaze Bive E.,
Wayga Cataly, N.g.
Fied Noy. 5, 1962, Sea. Ne, 233,527
3 (Casas. (3.55-235)
This invention relates to crankshaft main bearing re
grinding processes useful especially in large marine en
gines. The broad object of the invention is to provide
an improved process of regrinding damaged main journals
without removing the crankshaft from the engine and
without laying ug the ship for more than a few days. A
more specific object is to provide a process of regrinding
several damaged main journals at the same time while
the crankshaft is being rotatably supported on its other
main journals and is being rotated by the turning engine
or other outside source of power.
A journal bearing usually contacts only the central por
tion of the journal, the ends of the bearing being cham
fered to provide clearance so that they do not touch nar
row ring areas of the journal adjacent to the crankcheeks.
The practice of using the undamaged ring areas at the
ends of a journal as reference surfaces in regrinding the
journal, to insure that the refinished journal will be co
axial with the original journal, is now well known.
An object of the invention is to provide a process of
regrinding several main journals at the same time, each
with reference to its undamaged narrow ring areas, while
the crankshaft is rotatably supported on its other main
journals and is being rotated by the turning engine. A
second object is to provide a process of regrinding several
main journals at the same time, each coaxial with the axis
of rotation of the crankshaft while it is rotatably sup
ported on its other main journals and is being rotated by
the turning engine. A third object is to provide a process
of regrinding all the main journals of a crankshaft in two
steps corresponding, respectively, to the aforesaid first
and second objects.
These and other objects of the invention will be appar
ent from the following specification in connection with
the drawings in which FG. 1 is a diagrammatic elevation
a view of a crankshaft rotatably supported on several of
its main journals while other main journals are being re
ground; FG. 2 is a diagrammatic elevational view of the
crankshaft rotatably supported on the main journals pre
viously reground, its remaining main journals in process
of being reground; FG. 3 is a diagrammatic sectional
view taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1; and FIG. 4 is a
diagrammatic sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of
FG, 2.
Referring to the drawings, crankcase 5 operably sup
ports crankshaft 7 in crankshaft main bearing 10. Crank
shaft 7 has a plurality of main journals 8 and crankpins
9 connected by crankcheeks 6. Each crankshaft main
bearing 20 may be chamfered at both ends as shown at
1, FIG. 1, so that while the central portion of journal
8 may become worn or damaged in service, the narrow
ring areas adjacent crankcheeks 6 ordinarily remain true
and undamaged.
In preparation for regrinding several of the main jour
nails 8, their corresponding bearings 10 are removed leav
ing crankshaft 7 rotatably supported on other main jour
nals 3 and corresponding bearings 10 as shown in FIG. 1.
A known type of regrinding mechanism including cup
wheel 30 (and means for feeding cupwheel 30 into grind
ing contact with journal 8 and for moving it in a plane
parallel to the axis of journal 8 while in operation) is
shown diagrammatically as mounted on U-member 29
having a pair of shoes 31 held in operable contact with
3,165,866
Fatented Jan. 19, 1965
exed
the undamaged ring areas of main journal 8 by springs
thus removing bearing 10 and mounting a regrinding
mechanism with its cupwheel 36 in position relative to
each of several journals 8 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3,
process of regrinding these journals consists of rotating
crankshaft 7 by the turning engine or other outside source
of power while separately driving, feeding, and moving
cupwheels 30 of the regrinding mechanisms so as to re
O grind these several journals 8 at the same time.
Thereupon, new bearings it may be fitted to reground
journals 8 and crankshaft 7 may be rotatably supported
thereon, and the other bearings 10 may be removed while
the grinding mechanisms with their cupwheels 30 may
5 be positioned relative to each of the other journals 8 as
shown in FIGS. 2 and 4; then the process of regrinding
these journals consists of rotating crankshaft 7 by the
turning engine while separately driving, feeding, and -
moving cupwheels 30 of the regrinding mechanism in a
well-known manner so as to regrind these remaining jour
nais 3 to the same time.
Having thus described the invention, it is obvious that
the objects, as stated, have been attained in a practical
manner. While specific processes have been shown and
described, it is obvious that changes may be made therein
without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention
as expressed in the following claims:
I claim:
1. In a reconditioning engine having a crankshaft with
30 more than three main journals supported in main bearings,
the surfaces of said journals (except for narrow ring areas
at the ends thereof) having been damaged, the process
of regrinding several selected main journals at the same
time and without removing the crankshaft from the
engine, which process consists of removing the main bear
ings from the selected main journals leaving the crank
shaft operably supported on the other main journals and
their bearings, of operable mounting grinding mechanisms
on said narrow ring areas of said selected main journals,
40 and of rotating said crankshaft while operating said
regrinding mechanisms thereby regrinding said selected
main journals coaxially with their respective narrow ring
acaS
2. In reconditioning an engine having a crankshaft
45 with more than three main journals supported in main
bearings, the surfaces of said journals (except for narrow
ring areas at the ends thereof) having been damaged in
service: the two-step process of regrinding all of said
main journals which consists, first, of rotating the crank
50 shaft supported on a plurality of said damage main jour
nals while regrinding the other main journals coaxially
with their narrow ring areas; and, second, of rotating the
crankshaft supported on the reground main journals and
their bearings while regrinding the remaining damaged
journals coaxially with the axis of the crankshaft.
3. In reconditioning an engine having a crankshaft
with more than three main journals supported in main
bearings, the surfaces of said journals (except for narrow
ring areas at the ends thereof) having been damaged in
60 Service: the two-step process of regrinding all of said
main journals which consists, first, of rotating the crank
shaft supported on some of said damaged main journals
while regrinding the other main journals coaxially with
their narrow ring areas; and, second, of rotating the crank
shaft supported on the reground main journals and their
bearings while regrinding the remaining damage journals
coaxially with their undamaged narrow ring areas.
References Cited in the file of this patent
70 UNITED STATES PATENTS
2.937,479 Golten ---------------- May 24, 1960