US Patent 7252066 Integrated drive sprocket and gear for balance shaft

An idler shaft assembly for an internal combustion engine provides significant cost savings eliminates processing and assembly steps, and provides accurate orientation of components. The idler shaft assembly includes a shaft adapted for rotation about a first axis. A one-piece sprocket and gear assembly is received on the shaft. A sprocket portion of the one-piece assembly has a first diameter that cooperates with an associated drive chain that is driven by the crankshaft, and a gear portion of the one-piece assembly has a second diameter that cooperates with an associated gear of an associated balance shaft.