Connecting rod assembly for an internal combustion engine and method of manufacturing same

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates, generally, to connecting rod assemblies and, more specifically, to a connecting rod assembly for an internal combustion engine and method of manufacturing same.

#2. Description of the Related Art

#FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional environmental view of an internal combustion engine including a connecting rod assembly manufactured pursuant to the method of the present invention.

#FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the connecting rod assembly manufactured pursuant to the method of the present invention and shown secured to a piston.

#FIG. 3A is an exploded, fragmentary cross-sectional view of the small end of the connecting rod assembly with formed channels but prior to installation of a bushing and final machining, with the final machining lines shown in phantom, in accordance with the present invention.

#A connecting rod assembly manufactured pursuant to the method of the present invention is generally indicated at 10 throughout the figures, where like numbers are used to designate like structures throughout the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the present invention is particularly adapted for use in an internal combustion engine, generally indicated at 12. In this case, the assembly 10 of the present invention is illustrated in connection with a single cylinder 14 of an internal combustion engine 12 having a dual-overhead cam arrangement. Those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the engine 12 is but one of the many internal combustion engines with which the present invention may be employed. By way of example, the present invention may be employed to manufacture a connecting rod assembly used in a two-stroke or four-stroke engine. The cylinders may be arranged in an in-line, v-shaped, or flat manner or in any other manner commonly known in the art. The present invention may also be employed with a carbureted or fuel injected internal combustion engine having single or dual overhead or undermounted cam(s).

#With continuing reference to FIG. 1, the internal combustion engine 12 includes an engine block 16 having one or more cylinders 14, and a cylinder head generally indicated at 18 associated with the engine block 16. Rocker panels 20 are associated with the cylinder head 18 in a manner commonly known in the art. A piston, generally indicated at 22, is supported for reciprocal movement in a cylinder 14. The connecting rod assembly 10 is secured to the piston 22 through a piston pin 24 as will be explained in greater detail below. A crankshaft 26 is associated with the connecting rod assembly 10 and an oil pan 28 is associated with the engine block 16. An intake valve 30 and an exhaust valve 32, each having valve stems 34 and valve springs 36 are supported in the cylinder head 18 and are opened and closed via cams 38 to provide fluid communication between the cylinder 14 and the intake valve 30 and the exhaust valve 32. The internal combustion engine 12 also includes a spark plug 40 for igniting the fuel within the combustion chamber 42 defined by the cylinder walls 44 and above the piston 22. Alternatively, or in addition, the engine 12 may include a fuel injector (not shown) as a means of introducing atomized fuel into the combustion chamber 42. Thus, the present invention may be employed in connection with both a spark ignition or compression ignition (diesel) engine. Those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the engine 12 also includes a number of other conventional components that are commonly known in the art and that will not be described in detail here.

#Generally, fuel is combusted within the combustion chamber 42 of a cylinder 14 to reciprocate the piston 22. The piston 22 drives the connecting rod assembly 10, which drives the crankshaft 26, causing it to rotate within the engine block 16. Specifically, the combustion pressure within the cylinder 14 drives the piston 22 downward in a substantially linear, but slightly rotational motion. On the other hand, movement of the crankshaft 26 drives the connecting rod assembly 10 in a substantially rotational motion.