Design and Development of a Novel Balancing System for Single and In-Line Twin Cylinder Engines

Piston engines are subject to cyclic vibrations due to the motion of the crank and pistons inside the engine. The vibrations are most obvious in single cylinder engines. As the number of cylinders is increased, so the vibrations decrease due to the interaction of the increasing number of pistons. Although the use of a large number of cylinders is preferential for reasons of refinement, it is undesirable for reasons of cost, weight and package space. Small engines therefore usually have few cylinders due to overriding cost implications. This paper describes a novel balancing system that allows the production of an engine that has the refinement of a multicylinder engine, with the cost, weight and size advantages of a small single or in-line twin cylinder engine.