Piston assembly retaining device

A piston assembly for use in a reciprocating engine having a crankshaft and a connecting rod for connecting said piston assembly to said crankshaft, the connecting rod having a bore, the piston assembly comprising:

• a generally cylindrical piston crown having a pair of radially inset support struts extending from the piston crown and being spaced one from the other a preselected distance, each of said struts including a transverse bore positioned to align with said connecting rod bore,
• a hollow cylindrical piston skirt having an outer diameter and an inner diameter thereby forming a wall of a preselected thickness, said piston skirt including a pair of radial bores;
• a generally cylindrical piston pin disposed through each of said support strut transverse bores and said connecting rod bore to connect said piston crown to said connecting rod, said piston pin having a length generally equivalent to said piston skirt inner diameter and having an outer surface diameter which is greater than said piston skirt radial bore diameter, said piston pin including an axial bore;
• a pair of spindles, each said spindle having a first portion disposed within said piston skirt radial bores, the first portion being of a length generally equivalent to the thickness of the piston skirt wall and said spindles having a reduced diameter portion blendingly extending axially from said first portion forming a shoulder therebetween, said reduced diameter portion disposed within said piston pin axial bore and having a length suitable for retaining the reduced diameter portion within said piston pin axial bore;
• and,
• a retaining means to retain said piston skirt to said piston crown and to apply a compressive force along the entire piston pin length whereby the piston pin rigidity is increased.