Connecting rod with lubrication passage
AssigneeMahle International GmbH
InventorsChristopher Hall, Dan H. Dinu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Exemplary connecting rods and piston assemblies are disclosed. An exemplary connecting rod includes a shaft extending between a piston pin end and a crankshaft pin end, where the piston pin end defines a pin bore opening. The shaft defines a lubrication passage. The connecting rod further includes a piston pin bore surface extending about an inner circumference of the pin bore opening, and the lubrication passage extends through the shaft from the crankshaft pin end to the pin bore opening. The connecting rod may further include a valve received within the opening, e.g., a one-way valve, that is configured to permit a fluid to flow through the valve toward the piston pin end while restricting flow of the fluid through the valve toward the crankshaft pin end.
Claims18
A connecting rod, comprising:
- a shaft extending between a piston pin end and a crankshaft pin end, the piston pin end defining a pin bore opening, the shaft defining a lubrication passage;
- a piston pin bore surface extending about an inner circumference of the pin bore opening, wherein the lubrication passage extends through the shaft from the crankshaft pin end to the pin bore opening;
- and
- a valve received within the passage, the valve configured to permit a fluid to flow through the valve toward the piston pin end while restricting flow of the fluid through the valve toward the crankshaft pin end, such that the valve is configured to maintain an amount of coolant in the passage after an initial operation, wherein the valve is configured to move laterally with respect to the passage to restrict flow of the fluid through the valve toward the crankshaft pin end, wherein the valve includes a disc pivotally disposed within a passage inlet, the disc configured to pivot about an axis aligned transverse to the passage.
A connecting rod, comprising:
- a shaft extending between a piston pin end and a crankshaft pin end, the piston pin end defining a pin bore opening, the shaft defining a lubrication passage;
- a piston pin bore surface extending about an inner circumference of the pin bore opening, wherein the lubrication passage extends through the shaft from the crankshaft pin end to the pin bore opening;
- and
- a one-way valve received within the passage, wherein the valve is configured to move laterally with respect to the passage to restrict flow of the fluid through the valve toward the crankshaft pin end, wherein the valve includes a disc pivotally disposed within a passage inlet, the disc configured to pivot about an axis aligned transverse to the passage.
A piston assembly, comprising:
- a connecting rod, including:
- a shaft extending between a piston pin end and a crankshaft pin end, the piston pin end defining a bore opening, the shaft defining a passage extending from the crankshaft pin end to the bore opening;
- a piston pin bore surface formed integrally with the piston pin end and extending about an inner circumference of the bore opening;
- and
- a valve received within the passage, the valve configured to permit a fluid to flow through the valve toward the piston pin end while restricting flow of the fluid through the valve toward the crankshaft pin end, such that the valve is configured to maintain an amount of coolant in the passage after an initial operation, wherein the valve is configured to move laterally with respect to the passage to restrict flow of the fluid through the valve toward the crankshaft pin end, wherein the valve includes a disc pivotally disposed within a passage inlet, the disc configured to pivot about an axis aligned transverse to the passage;
- and
- a piston pin selectively extending through the bore opening of the connecting rod and the piston bore, the piston pin configured to secure the connecting rod to the piston.
A connecting rod comprising:
- a shaft extending between a piston pin end and a crankshaft pin end, the piston pin end defining a pin bore opening, the shaft defining a lubrication passage;
- a piston pin bore surface extending about an inner circumference of the pin bore opening, wherein the lubrication passage extends through the shaft from the crankshaft pin end to the pin bore opening;
- and
- a valve received within the passage, the valve configured to permit a fluid to flow through the valve toward the piston pin end while restricting flow of the fluid through the valve toward the crankshaft pin end, such that the valve is configured to maintain an amount of coolant in the passage after an initial operation, wherein the valve is configured to move laterally with respect to the passage to restrict flow of the fluid through the valve toward the crankshaft pin end, wherein the valve comprises a pair of valve elements configured to be urged laterally away from corresponding valve bores to permit a fluid to flow through the valve toward the piston pin end.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.