Powertrain of an internal combustion engine with piston and connecting rod
A powertrain for an internal combustion engine having a connecting rod with a piston supported at one end which is adapted for easy assembly and disassembly without expensive tools. The piston is supported on the connecting rod by a universal joint defined by a spherical surface of an integral connecting rod end and an end plate of the piston having a correspondingly configured spherical recess. The connecting rod end is formed with flat surfaces on opposed sides for engagement by releasable securement members which maintain the piston in proper seated position on the connecting rod during normal usage, but which are releasable to permit removal of the piston upon rotation of the connecting rod 90° about its longitudinal axis.
1. A powertrain for an internal combustion engine having a crankshaft comprising:
an elongated connecting rod ( 1 ) having a piston ( 3 ) at one end and having an opposite end formed with an eye ( 8 ) for connection to the crankshaft;
a piston support bearing at said one connecting rod end in the form of a universal ball joint ( 11 ), ( 13 );
said universal ball joint ( 11 ) being defined by a spherical surface ( 12 ) on said one connecting rod end and a corresponding spherical surface of an endplate ( 13 ) that provides axial support for said connecting rod, the spherical surface of said one connecting rod end being immersed in a lubricant and the end plate forming an outer end member of said piston;
said universal ball joint ( 11 ), ( 13 ) including releasable securement members ( 23 a , 23 b ) for maintaining said spherical surfaces in operable mating relation to each other during operation of said powertrain and for preventing rotational movement of said connecting rod about a longitudinal elongated axis of the connecting rod;
recesses defined between said piston and said one connecting rod end, said securement members each being disposed in a respective one of said recesses, said recesses being on diametrically opposed sides of said one connecting rod end, said one connecting rod end being formed with flattened wall surfaces facing said recesses for engagement by respective ones of said securement members when in an assembled state; and
said securing members ( 23 a , 23 b ) being releasable to permit separation of said spherical surfaces and removal of said piston rod from said piston upon rotation of the connecting rod about its longitudinal axis.
2. The powertrain of claim 1 including a lubrication system for said spherical bearing surfaces which includes an oil bore hole ( 9 ) in a shank of said connecting rod that communicates with a reservoir ( 19 ) at said end plate ( 13 ).