Two-piece connecting rod for a reciprocating compressor and method for assembling a two-piece connecting rod

Method for assembling a two-piece connecting rod in a reciprocating compressor, said connecting rod comprising a first connecting rod portion to be mounted to the eccentric of a crankshaft of the compressor, and a second connecting rod portion to be articulated to a piston reciprocating inside a cylinder with an end closed by a cylinder head, one of said connecting rod parts carrying an engaging portion and the other of said parts carrying a guide portion comprising the steps of:

• a—mounting the first connecting rod portion to the eccentric of the crankshaft;
• b—coupling by mutual mechanical interference, the engaging portion with the guide portion in a predetermined axial distance between the top face of the piston, in the upper dead point condition, and the inner face of the cylinder head of the cylinder;
• c—sliding, axially towards the axis of the connecting rod, the engaging portion in relation to the guide portion, until the top face of the piston mounted inside the cylinder remains, in the upper dead point condition of the eccentric, at a predetermined axial distance from the inner face of the cylinder head of the cylinder;
• d—retaining said parts defined by the engaging portion and guide portion to each other, against involuntary relative axial displacements, by means of said mutual mechanical interference;
• and
• e—mutually affixing the parts defined by the engaging portion and guide portion through a fixation means applied in the mutual coupling region between said connecting rod portions.