Apparatus and method for adjusting a joint of a connecting rod
AssigneeHonda Motor Co., Ltd.
InventorDouglas J. Duff
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for adjusting a joint of a connecting rod is provided. The joint couples a first segment of the rod to a second segment of the rod. The apparatus includes a body and a first leg having a first distal end for engaging the first rod segment to inhibit rotational movement of the first rod segment while permitting axial movement of the first rod segment relative to the first leg. The apparatus also includes a second leg for engaging the second rod segment. The second leg has a second distal end for inhibiting rotational movement of the second rod segment relative to the second leg. The apparatus further includes a clamp for selectively inhibiting axial movement of the second rod segment relative to the second leg.
Claims16
An apparatus for adjusting a joint of a connecting rod, wherein the joint couples a first segment of the rod to a second segment of the rod, said apparatus comprising:
- a body;
- a first leg extending from said body, said first leg comprising a first distal end opposite the body, wherein said first distal end defines a first recess extending from said first distal end towards said body, said first recess sized to receive at least a portion of the first rod segment therein and shaped to inhibit rotational movement of the first rod segment while permitting axial movement of the first rod segment relative to said first leg;
- a second leg extending from said body, said second leg comprising a second distal end opposite said body, wherein said second distal end defines a second recess extending from said second distal end towards said body, said second recess sized to receive at least a portion of the second rod segment therein and shaped for inhibiting rotational movement of the second rod segment relative to said second leg;
- and
- a clamp selectively moveable into and out of the second recess to selectively inhibit axial movement of the second rod segment relative to said second leg.
A method for adjusting a joint of a connecting rod, wherein the joint couples a first segment of the rod to a second segment of the rod, said method comprises:
- grasping a handle of an apparatus including a body, a first leg extending from the body, and a second leg extending from the body, wherein the first leg has a first distal end opposite the body and the second leg has a second distal end opposite the body and a clamp, wherein the first distal end defines a first recess extending from the first distal end towards the body, wherein the second distal end defines a second recess extending from the second distal end towards the body, and wherein the clamp is selectively moveable into and out of the second recess to selectively inhibit axial movement of the second rod segment relative to said second leg;
- engaging the first rod segment with the first distal end of the first leg by inserting at least a portion of the first rod segment within the first recess such that the first leg inhibits rotational movement of the first rod segment while permitting axial movement of the first rod segment relative to the first leg;
- engaging the second rod segment with the second distal end of the second leg by inserting at least a portion of the second rod segment within the second recess such that the second leg inhibits rotational movement of the second rod segment relative to the second leg;
- and
- actuating the clamp such that axial movement of the second rod segment relative to the second leg is inhibited.
A method of assembling an apparatus for adjusting a joint of a connecting rod, wherein the joint couples a first segment of the rod to a second segment of the rod, said method comprises:
- forming a body;
- forming a first leg that extends from the body, the first leg including a first distal end opposite the body, wherein the first distal end defines a first recess extending from the first distal end towards the body, the first recess sized to receive at least a portion of the first rod segment therein and shaped to inhibit rotational movement of the first rod segment while permitting axial movement of the first rod segment relative to the first leg;
- forming a second leg that extends from the body, the second leg including a second distal end opposite the body, wherein the second distal end defines a second recess extending from the second distal end towards the body, the second recess sized to receive at least a portion of the second rod segment therein and shaped to inhibit rotational movement of the second rod segment relative to the second leg;
- and
- fabricating a clamp of the apparatus such that the clamp is selectively moveable into and out of the second recess to selectively inhibit axial movement of the second rod segment relative to the second leg.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.