Lightweight, stiff in compression, connecting rod for a reciprocating piston engine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016265580-A1
Application number	US-201514656154-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 12, 2015
Priority date	Mar 12, 2015
Publication date	Sep 15, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A connecting rod is provided for a reciprocating piston engine. The connecting rod includes a body having an embedded structural tube for increasing the stiffness of the connecting rod.

First claim

What is claimed:

1 . A connecting rod for a reciprocating piston engine, comprising:
a body including an embedded structural tube for increasing stiffness of said connecting rod.

2 . The connecting rod of claim 1 , wherein said body includes a piston end, a crank shaft end and an intermediate section between said piston end and said crank shaft end.

3 . The connecting rod of claim 2 , wherein said structural tube extends from said piston end to said crank shaft end in said intermediate section.

4 . The connecting rod of claim 3 , wherein said structural tube includes a lumen having a diameter of between about 0.2 mm and about 2.0 mm.

5 . The connecting rod of claim 3 , wherein said structural tube has a Young's modulus Y 1 , and said body has a Young's modulus Y 2 where Y 1 >Y 2 .

6 . The connecting rod of claim 5 , wherein said Young's modulus Y 2 is between about 500 and 200 GPa.

7 . The connecting rod of claim 6 , wherein said structural tube is made from a ceramic.

8 . The connecting rod of claim 7 , wherein said ceramic is selected from a group consisting of ceramic oxides, ceramic non-oxides, composites and combinations thereof.

9 . The connecting rod of claim 8 , wherein said ceramic oxides are selected from a group consisting of aluminum oxide, beryllium oxide, cerium oxide, zirconium oxide, silicon oxide, quartz and mixtures thereof.

10 . The connecting rod of claim 8 , wherein said ceramic non-oxides are selected from a group consisting of carbide, boride, nitride, silicide and combinations thereof.

11 . The connecting rod of claim 8 , wherein said composite material includes a matrix binder and a reinforcing element selected from a group of materials consisting of reinforcing fibers, graphite fibers, glass fibers, carbon fibers, carbon nanotubes and combinations thereof.

12 . The connecting rod of claim 8 , wherein said body is made from a material selected from a group consisting of aluminum, aluminum alloy, iron, iron alloy, steel, tungsten alloy steel and combinations thereof.

13 . A method of producing a connecting rod for a reciprocating piston engine, comprising:
forming a body of the connecting rod with an embedded structural tube thereby increasing stiffness of the connecting rod.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein said forming is by casting.

15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein said forming is by sintering.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Elie Larry Dean
• Potter Timothy J

Classifications

• F16C7/023 Primary

  for piston engines, pumps or the like · CPC title

• B22D19/02 Primary

  for making reinforced articles (B22D19/14 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B22F5/106

  Tube or ring forms · CPC title

• B22F7/08

  with one or more parts not made from powder {(B22F7/062 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B22F5/00

  Manufacture of workpieces or articles from metallic powder characterised by the special shape of the product · CPC title