Spherical joint connecting rod
AssigneeCummins Engine Company, Inc.
InventorsPaul David Wiczynski, Craig Allen Barnes, Richard Belush, Richard Duane Conrow, Siegfried Gustav Mielke
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A spherical joint connecting rod. The connecting rod has a small end which terminates in a sphere or ball, and a big end which is adapted to sliding engage an engine crankshaft. The small end and big end of the connecting rod are coupled by a shank having a substantially elliptical cross-section. The shank has formed therethrough an internal oil passage which allows transmission of lubricating/cooling oil from the engine crankshaft to the spherical joint of the piston and to the piston cooling gallery.
Claims22
A spherical joint connecting rod, comprising:
- a big end adapted to slidingly engage an engine crankshaft;
- a semi-spherical small end adapted to be received within a spherically jointed piston;
- and
- a shank coupling the big end to the small end, the shank having a substantially elliptical cross-section at at least one point along its length.
A spherical joint connecting rod, comprising:
- a big end adapted to slidingly engage an engine crankshaft;
- a semi-spherical small end adapted to be received within a spherically jointed piston;
- a shank coupling the big end to the small end;
- and
- at least one notch formed in a surface of the small end;
- wherein the notch is configured to receive a spray of lubricant and deflect the lubricant to a first region surrounding the small end.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.