Split-angle connecting rod
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsJames Dean Dunbar, Michael Ray Hess, Lucas John Moehling
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The disclosure is directed to a connecting rod, The connecting rod may include a first end having a bore configured to receive a piston pin, and a second end having a yoke and a cap removably connected to the yoke at a separation plane. Together, the yoke and the cap may define a bore configured to receive a crankshaft. The connecting rod may also include a shank extending between the first and second ends and being generally symmetrical about a longitudinal plane that may be oriented at an oblique angle with respect to the separation plane. The connecting rod may further include a radial thickness of a shoulder that is greater than a radial thickness of the yoke at the separation plane.
Claims20
A connecting rod, comprising:
- a first end including a bore configured to receive a piston pin;
- a second end including:
- a yoke having a shoulder;
- and
- a cap removably connected to the yoke at a separation plane, wherein the yoke and the cap together define a bore configured to receive a crankshaft;
- and
- a shank extending between the first and second ends and being generally symmetrical about a longitudinal plane, the longitudinal plane being oriented at an oblique angle with respect to the separation plane,
- wherein a radial thickness of the shoulder is greater than a radial thickness of the yoke at the separation plane.
A connecting rod, comprising:
- a first end including a bore configured to receive a piston pin;
- a second end including:
- a yoke having a shoulder;
- a cap removably connected to the yoke at a separation plane, wherein the yoke and the cap define a bore configured to receive a crankshaft;
- a shank extending between the first and second ends and being positioned on a longitudinal plane extending between a center axis of the bore in the first end and a center axis of the bore in the second end, the longitudinal plane being oriented at an oblique angle with respect to the separation plane;
- a concave side having a first transitional radius of curvature where the shank transitions into the second end;
- and
- a convex side located opposite the concave side and having a second transitional radius of curvature where the shank transitions into the second end,
- wherein a ratio of the first transitional radius of curvature to the second transitional radius of curvature is about 5:4.
An engine, comprising:
- an engine block at least partially defining a cylinder;
- a piston located to reciprocate within the cylinder;
- a connecting rod connected to the piston by a piston pin, wherein the connecting rod includes:
- a first end including a bore configured to receive the piston pin;
- a second end including:
- a yoke having a shoulder;
- and
- a cap removably connected to the yoke at a separation plane, wherein the yoke and the cap together define a bore configured to receive a crankshaft;
- and
- a shank extending between the first and second ends and being generally symmetrical about a longitudinal plane, the longitudinal plane being oriented at an oblique angle with respect to the separation plane,
- wherein a radial thickness of the shoulder is greater than a radial thickness of the yoke at the separation plane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.