The connecting rod is the basic component of a piston engine that is used for making the connection between the piston and the crankshaft. With a combination of crank connecting rod transform, the reciprocating movement of the piston is converted into the crankshaft rotation.
The connecting rod is used for transmitting compressive and tensile forces of the piston. It is a common type of internal combustion engine and provides a pivot on the piston and rotation for the shaft. The connecting rods are commonly used for internal combustion engines. In this post, we will cover features and uses of this component. So let’s get started with Introduction to Connecting Rod.
What is a connecting rod?
- The connecting rod, also known as the con rod, is an extension of the piston. It is used for making the connection of the piston with the crankshaft, and it is the main part of the internal engine design of a car.
- Its main function is to convert the linear motion of the piston into rotational motion that is used for driving the car.
- The compression and tensile forces of pistons are also transmitted through this rod. It provides pivoting features on the piston end and rotation for the shaft end side.
- The proper design rod reduces vibration of vehicles and reduces stress that helps the car to handle correctly through the suspension.
Parts of the Connecting Rod
The main components of connecting rods are as follows.
Shank
- The shank is the main part of the connecting rod that makes the connection between the small and larger ends. Based on the design of the con rod shank, it is a rectangular, tabular, or circular design.
- The shank design provides the highest strength with reduced weight. so itcan handle high compressive and tensile stress of engine operation, and it is the main component of the rod for providing good working performance.
Bush Bearing
- Bush bearings are at the terminal ends of the connecting rod. They provide smooth motion between the connecting rod and the piston pin, minimize friction and wear,, and maintain a longer working life of the rod rod and piston. They are normally made with bronze that has high wear resistance.
Small End
- It is the top part of the connecting rod that makes a connection of the piston face through the wrist pin. When the piston moves up and down, the small end provides uniform pivoting during motion in the cylinder. That stress from piston motion, the small end, comes with a bush bearing for reducing wear and increasing efficiency.
Big End
- The big end is the terminal of the connection rod that is configured with the crankshaft. It has a larger size than the small end that helps to handle the journal of the crankshaft.
Piston
- The piston part of the assembly of the connecting rod, not a component. It is connected with the small end of the connecting rod that makes its connection with the crankshaft. The operation of the piston in the engine cylinder is moving a plug that compresses the fuel-air mixture and helps to provide combustion.
Bolts and Nuts
- The bolts and nuts strongly connect the big end with the connecting rod through maintaining the connecting rod design quality when high stress is applied. The bolts’ material is such that it provides high resistance for handling high-frequency vibrations and forces.
Bearing Insert
- This component, also known as bearing shells, is connected in the big end for making a low-friction interface between the crankshaft and the connecting rod. Their composition materials provide good wear resistance for minimizing friction and increasing the working life of the connecting rod and the crankshaft journal.
Wrist Pin
- It is called a piston pin, which is a hollow steel tube that connects the small end of the connecting rod with the piston. It helps to provide smooth pivoting motion for the piston and the rod.
Bearing Cap
- It is a detachable part of the larger end that covers the journal of the crankshaft. This cap helps to provide easy assembly of the connecting rod on the crankshaft, and it is configured with bolts and nuts.
How the Connecting Rod Works in the Car Engine
Piston to Crankshaft Motion Transmission
- The basic working of the connecting rod is to transform the linear up-and-down motion of the piston into the circular motion of the crankshaft. This motion that is used to give power to vehicles helps piston motion to move wheels.
Engine Balance and Timing
- The accusation motion of the connecting rod helps to sustain accurate engine timing. It helps to synchronize the crankshaft and other engine parts, helps that each combustion cycle operates smoothly, and provides engine balance functions.
Piston Movement
- Connecting rods help the piston to move smoothly. It also stabilizes the piston motion path in the cylinder, avoids engine knocking, and provides high efficiency and working.
Fuel Efficiency and Power Output
- The connecting rod is an accurate car component that provides good power-transferring features from the piston to the crankshaft. It provides good fuel system performance and power output and increases the engine’s performance for different conditions.
Types of Connecting Rod
Plain Rods
- The plain connecting rod is used for inline and opposing engines. The big end of the rod connected with the crankpin and fitted through the bearing cap. The bearing cap is configured with a bolt or stud at the connecting rod end. The connecting rod was replaced in the similar cylinder and the same position for proper fitting.
Billet Rods
- This type of connecting rod is made with steel or aluminum. Than other connecting rods, they have low weight, strong design, and longer working life.
- It is used for high-speed vehicles. It made for reducing stress risers and was easy for a natural grain of billet components.
Cast Rods
- The main feature of these rods is that they can handle the load of a stock engine that helps to use them. They are low-cost designs and are not used where high horsepower is needed. The cast rods come with the good seam in the middle that makes them different from the forged type.
Fork and Blade Rods
- This connecting rod is used for V-twin motorbike engines and V12 aircraft engines. For single engine cylinder pairs, the fork rod is divided into two parts at the larger end, and the blade rod is tapered from the opposing cylinder for a fitting gap in the fork.
- This system reduces the rocking couple that is caused when the cylinder pairs have a uniform design with a crankshaft.
- For the big end bearing configuration, the fork rod comes with a single wide bearing sleeve that moves over the complete rod width, also for the central gap.
- The blade rod moves outside the sleeves, not over the crankpin. That resulted in two rods moving back and forth to reduce force on the bearing and surface speed.
Master and Slave Rods
- Master and slave rods are used for radial engines. Where one piston comes with a master rod with a direct connection to the crankshaft. Other pistons connect the connecting rod with rings covering the edge of the master rod.
- The main limitation of master-slave rods is that the stroke of the slave piston is larger as compared to the master piston, which increases the vibration of a V-type engine.
Materials of Connecting Rod
High-grade Aluminum Alloy
- Aluminum alloy is commonly used for the automobile industry since they are low weight. It provides good strength and is used where high performance is needed or for rating engines.
- Connecting rods face high loads and high conditions. For handling these parameters, forged and reinforced aluminum alloys were used.
MicroalloyedSteel
- Steel is also used for connecting rods in the form of microalloyed steel since they have high-pressure handling features. Microalloyed steel comes with alloying components such as molybdenum and titanium for providing durability and strength.
- It helps to handle fatigue resistance, high pressure, and temperature.
Titanium
- Titanium is used since it provides good mechanical features with low weight. So tantalum-based rods have features for handling stress and temperature and are good to use for high-performance engines, like in racing cars.
FAQs
Which connecting rod is good for a car?
- The best connecting rod for a car based on the engine features requirements. The I-beam rod is good to use for regular vehicles. provide good cost options and durable nature.
- For racing cars, H beams rods are made with titanium rods since they provide a good strength and low weight option.
Can we customize the car’s connecting rods?
- Yes, customer parts are available that can be used for modification of connection rods for good working features. These customizations are used for racing vehicles and high-performance uses.
What happens when a connecting rod is bad?
- If there is a bad connecting rod, it can cause issues for driving. During driving at speed, if bad connection rod damage can affect the engine badly.
What are the 2 types of connecting rods?
- I-beam and H-beam are commonly used types of connecting rods. The I-beam rod is low weight and best to use, and the H-beam design provides strength, works longer, and provides high performance for engines.
What is the working of the connecting rod bearing?
- The connecting rod bearing is a special type of plain bearing that is configured between the connecting rod and the crankshaft of an internal combustion engine. Its main working is to provide support for the connecting rod and help it to rotate in a uniform way on the crankpin and reduce friction between the metals.
What are the common disadvantages of a connecting rod?
- The main reason for the effect on the connecting rod is that tensile failure from high engine speeds and impact forces occurs when the piston collides with the valve, rod bearing damage, and faulty connection of the connecting rod.
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