Connecting rod bolt having locating features

1. A connecting rod bolt, comprising:

a body portion having a first end, a threaded second end opposite the first end, and an outer surface extending in a length direction from the first end to the second end;

a plurality of locating features disposed on the body portion, wherein the plurality of locating features are concentric arcs having a radius substantially equal to a radius of the outer surface;

a plurality of clearance features positioned between adjacent locating features, wherein a distance from a center of the body portion to each clearance feature is less than the radius of the plurality of locating features; and

a head portion connected to the first end of the body portion,

wherein each of the plurality of locating features and the plurality of clearance features extend at least along an entire length of an axial alignment zone of the body portion, and

wherein each of the plurality of clearance features includes a plurality of substantially flat transition portions between adjacent locating features.

2. The connecting rod bolt of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of locating features includes four locating features.

3. The connecting rod bolt of claim 1 , wherein:

a length of the axial alignment zone is less than a length of the body portion.

4. The connecting rod bolt of claim 3 , wherein the length of the axial alignment zone is about 8-12 percent of a length of the body portion.

5. The connecting rod bolt of claim 1 , wherein:

each of the plurality of locating features extend at a first angle from a first plane passing through the center of the body portion and at a second angle from a second plane that is substantially perpendicular to the first plane; and

wherein the first and second angles are substantially equal.

6. The connecting rod bolt of claim 1 , wherein the head portion includes an internal chamfered edge at the head portion that extends only part-way around the head portion.

7. A connecting rod bolt, comprising:

a body portion having a first end, a threaded second end opposite the first end, and an outer surface extending in a length direction from the first end to the second end;

a plurality of locating features disposed in an axial alignment zone of the body portion, wherein a length of the axial alignment zone is less than a length of the body portion, and wherein the plurality of locating features are concentric arcs having a radius substantially equal to a radius of the outer surface;

a plurality of clearance features positioned between adjacent locating features; and

a head portion connected to the first end of the body portion,

wherein each of the plurality of locating features and the plurality of clearance features extends at least along an entire length of the axial alignment zone, and

wherein:

each of the plurality of locating features extends for a first angle in between a second angle from a first plane passing through a center of the body portion and a third angle from a second plane that is substantially perpendicular to the first plane; and

the first, second, and third angles are substantially equal.

8. The connecting rod bolt of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of locating features includes four locating features.

9. The connecting rod bolt of claim 7 , wherein the head portion includes an internal chamfered edge at the head portion that extends only part-way around the head portion.

10. The connecting rod bolt of claim 7 , wherein each of the plurality of clearance features includes a plurality of substantially flat transition portions.

11. A connecting rod assembly, comprising:

a connecting rod having a first shoulder and first bore disposed within the first shoulder;

a cap having a second shoulder and a second bore disposed within the second shoulder in alignment with the first bore;

a connecting rod bolt disposed in the first and second bores, the connecting rod bolt including:

a body portion having a first end, a threaded second end opposite the first end, and an outer surface extending in a length direction from the first end to the second end;

a plurality of locating features each being a concentric arc having a radius disposed in an axial alignment zone of the outer surface and configured to contact the first and second bores, wherein a length of the axial alignment zone is less than a length of the body portion;

a plurality of clearance features positioned between adjacent features of the plurality of locating features, wherein a distance from a center of the body portion to each of the plurality of clearance features is less than the radius of each of the plurality of locating features; and

a head portion connected to the first end of the body portion, the head portion configured to contact the first shoulder of the connecting rod,

wherein each of the plurality of locating features and the plurality of clearance features extends at least along an entire length of the axial alignment zone, and

wherein each of the plurality of clearance features includes a plurality of substantially flat transition portions between adjacent locating features; and

a nut configured to engage the second shoulder of the cap and the threaded second end of the connecting rod bolt.

12. The connecting rod assembly of claim 11 , wherein:

the connecting rod further includes a connecting rod feature; and

the connecting rod bolt further includes a connecting rod bolt feature generally aligned with the connecting rod feature when the connecting rod bolt is correctly assembled within the connecting rod.

13. The connecting rod assembly of claim 11 , wherein the head portion includes an internal chamfered edge at the head portion that extends only part-way around the head portion.

14. The connecting rod assembly of claim 13 , wherein:

the connecting rod further includes a fillet adjacent to an opening of the first bore; and

the internal chamfered edge generally surrounds the fillet.

15. The connecting rod assembly of claim 11 , wherein:

each of the plurality of locating features extend at a first angle from a first plane passing through the center of the body portion and at a second angle from a second plane that is substantially perpendicular to the first plane; and

wherein the first and second angles are substantially equal.

16. The connecting rod assembly of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of locating features includes four locating features.