Abstract:
A split type connecting rod has a simple structure that is capable of suppressing rotation of a metal bearing, and avoiding problems such as burning. The split type connecting rod  200  holds a crank-pin through a metal bearing  213  which has locking lugs  213   c   , 213   d . A bearing locking groove  201   h  locks at least one of the locking lugs  213   d  when the metal bearing  213  rotates forward in the circumferential direction of a crank-pin hole  101   d . A bearing locking groove  201   i  locks at least one of the locking lugs  213   c  when the metal bearing  213  rotates backward. The bearing locking grooves  201   h   , 201   i  are deviated from each other in the circumferential direction.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to a split type connecting rod, and more particularly, to a split type connecting rod with a bearing located inside of a crank-pin hole.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0004]    A split type connecting rod is formed such that a large end portion is fractured and divided into a rod portion and a cap portion a long a splitting plane including the shaft center of a crank-pin hole, and the rod portion and the cap portion are coupled by coupling bolts, and a metal bearing is generally located on the inner circumferential surface of the crank-pin hole.  
           [0005]    In general, this metal bearing has been split into a rod-side portion and a cap-side portion along the splitting plane and when such a split type metal bearing is disposed within the inner circumferential surface of the crank-pin hole, a bearing locking groove is formed in the inner circumferential surface so to extend in the circumferential direction so that a locking lug protruding from the rear surface (outer circumferential surface) of the metal bearing is locked by the bearing locking groove in order to determine a position of the metal bearing (e.g., see the Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No.HEI 6-74237).  
           [0006]    However, the conventional split type connecting rod has a problem in that the metal bearing is easily rotated in the circumferential direction by an external force, and in order to prevent burning caused by this problem, a reliable lubrication structure is required. In particular, a motorcycle engine which tends to be used at high speed revolutions has a problem in that a large amount of deformation occurs at the large end portion and the amount of rotation of the metal bearing is likely to increase accordingly.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    In order to overcome the problems described above, preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a split type connecting rod with a simple structure that is capable of suppressing rotation of the metal bearing and reliably prevents problems such as burning.  
           [0008]    According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a split type connecting rod that holds a crank-pin through a bearing having a first protrusion and a second protrusion, includes a first locking groove that locks the first protrusion of the bearing when the bearing rotates forward in a circumferential direction of the crank-pin hole, and a second locking groove that locks the second protrusion of the bearing when the bearing rotates backward in the circumferential direction of the crank-pin hole, wherein the first locking groove and the second locking groove are deviated from each other in the circumferential direction.  
           [0009]    The split type connecting rod includes a small end portion and a large end portion, the large end portion includes a rod portion and a cap portion, wherein the first locking groove and the second locking groove are arranged to extend over both the rod portion and the cap portion when the large end portion is fractured and split into the rod portion and the cap portion. When this happens, the first locking groove is preferably deviated to the rod portion side and the second locking groove is preferably deviated to the cap portion side.  
           [0010]    When the bearing is split as described above, the first protrusion locked by the first locking groove and the second protrusion locked by the second locking groove are arranged separately on separate portions of the bearing that has been split.  
           [0011]    It is preferred that the bearing is substantially ring-shaped and disposed on an inner circumferential surface of the crank-pin hole.  
           [0012]    The first and second locking grooves are preferably substantially arc-shaped.  
           [0013]    In addition, the first and second protrusions are preferably locking lugs.  
           [0014]    The first and second locking grooves are preferably arranged to prevent the bearing from moving in the circumferential direction.  
           [0015]    In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the bearing of the split type connecting rod includes a rod portion and a cap portion which are divided along a splitting line of the bearing, and at least two of the first locking grooves are provided on a first side of the splitting line and at least two of the second locking grooves are provided on a second side of the splitting line.  
           [0016]    It is also preferred that a valley is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the crank-pin hole and that the valley includes a base portion.  
           [0017]    It is also preferred that a fracture starting point groove is formed at the base portion of the valley, such that a width of the fracture starting point groove is less than a width of the valley.  
           [0018]    It is further preferred that the split type connecting rod is a nut-less type of connecting rod that is made of one of a forged material, a cast material and a sintered material.  
           [0019]    As described above, the split type connecting rod includes a small end portion and a large end portion, and the large end portion includes the valley and the fracture starting point groove is formed in the large end portion.  
           [0020]    In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a pair of the fracture starting point grooves are formed on the inner circumferential surface of the crank-pin hole.  
           [0021]    It is also preferred that the valley includes a pair of sloped portions which define chamfers for guiding the bearing and preferably have curved shapes or swelled, rounded shapes, or have a concave or rectilinear shape in an upper corner thereof.  
           [0022]    According to yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, an engine includes a split type connecting rod according to any of the various preferred embodiments described above.  
           [0023]    According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, a vehicle includes a split type connecting rod according to any of the various preferred embodiments described above.  
           [0024]    Other features, elements, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0025]    [0025]FIG. 1 is a front view of a split type connecting rod according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a large end portion of the split type connecting rod of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 3A is an enlarged view of a fracture starting point groove of the large end portion for illustrating the angle of a slope of the valley;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 3B is an enlarged view of a fracture starting point groove of the large end portion for illustrating the width of an opening of the valley;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 4 illustrates a method of fracturing and splitting the large end portion;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 5A is a front view of a split type connecting rod according to a second preferred-embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view of the split type connecting rod shown in FIG. 5A along a line V-V;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the split type connecting rod shown in FIG. 5B along a line VI-VI;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the split type connecting rod shown in FIG. 5B along a line VII-VII;  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an example of a cap-side metal bearing portion with a protruding locking lug provided at only one of the two ends; and  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the split type connecting rod provided with the cap-side metal bearing portion shown in FIG. 8. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0036]    With reference now to the attached drawings, embodiments of the present invention will be explained below.  
       First Preferred Embodiment  
       [0037]    FIGS.  1  to  4  illustrate a split type connecting rod according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a front view of the split type connecting rod, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a large end portion of the split type connecting rod, FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B are enlarged views of a fracture starting point groove of the large end portion and FIG. 4 illustrates a method of fracturing and splitting the large end portion.  
         [0038]    In these figures, reference numeral  100  denotes a split type connecting rod of the present preferred embodiment, which is preferably a nut-less type of connecting rod formed by forging, casting or sintering, or other suitable process. This split type connecting rod  100  is provided with a small end  101   c  having a piston-pin hole  101   b  at one end of a rod body  101   a  and a large end portion  101   e  having a crank-pin hole  101   d  at the other end.  
         [0039]    The large end portion  101   e  is provided with shoulders  101   f  which extend rightward and leftward from the connection with the rod body  101   a , and the crank-pin hole  101   d  is formed at the central portion between both shoulders  101   f . Furthermore, bolt holes  101   g  which extend from the underside to the vicinity of the topside of the large end portion  101   e  are formed in the shoulders In the large end portion  101   e , a rod portion  102  and a cap portion  103  are preferably integral and define a single, unitary structure that is formed beforehand and the entire split type connecting rod  100  including the large end portion  101   e  is subjected to surface hardening treatment such as carburization and tempering. The large end portion  101   e  is fractured and split into a rod portion  102  and cap portion  103  along a predetermined fracture plane (straight line A in the figure). Fracturing and splitting into the rod portion  102  and cap portion  103  is performed as shown in FIG. 4 by placing the split type connecting rod  100  on a base  110 , inserting sliders  111  which are movable in the diameter direction into the crank-pin hole  101   d  of the large end portion  101   e  and driving a wedge  112  between both sliders  111 .  
         [0040]    Then, these fractured and split rod portion  102  and cap portion  103  are aligned with each other by contacting both fractured and split surfaces with each other and coupled by coupling bolts  104  fitted in the respective bolt holes  101   g.    
         [0041]    Through the surface hardening treatment, a surface hardened layer having a predetermined carburization depth is formed on the outer surface of the split type connecting rod  100 . For the surface hardening treatment, not only carburization and tempering but also nitriding, thermal spraying, vapor deposition or high-frequency quenching, or other suitable process, can be used.  
         [0042]    On the inner circumferential surface of the crank-pin hole  101   d , a pair of fracture starting point grooves  105  which extend in the shaft center direction of the crank-pin hole  101   d  are preferably formed. The fracture starting point grooves  105  are preferably formed by notching through cutting, wire cutting (wire cutting electric discharge machining) or machining using a laser, or other suitable process, and are formed along a line of intersection between the plane that will define a fracture plane (expressed by straight line A in the figure) between the rod portion  102  and cap portion  103  of the large end portion  101   e , and the inner circumferential surface. That is, in the case of forming the fracture starting point grooves  105  by, e.g. wire cutting, a conductive wire is placed near a predetermined position of the inner circumferential surface of the crank-pin hole  101   d  and a pulsed high voltage is applied between this conductive wire and the inner circumferential surface of the crank-pin hole  101   d . This produces a corona discharge between the conductive wire and the inner circumferential surface of the crank-pin hole  101   d  and this discharge causes a portion of the inner circumferential surface of the crank-pin hole  101   d  to be shaved, thereby forming the fracture starting point grooves  105 .  
         [0043]    Between the inner circumferential surface of the crank-pin hole  101   d  and the fracture starting point grooves  105 , a valley  106  is formed. The valley  106  is formed by chamfering upper and lower corners which are formed by the fracture starting point grooves  105  and the inner circumferential surface of the crank-pin hole  101   d . Furthermore, the opening of the valley  106  is preferably wider than the opening of the fracture starting point grooves  105 . This valley  106  is preferably formed through machining such as wire cutting as with the fracture starting point grooves  105  or simultaneously with molding of the split type connecting rod  100  through forging, casting or sintering, or other suitable process.  
         [0044]    As shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B, sloped portions  106   a  making up the valley  106  are preferably formed by linear notching in such a way that an angle β formed with the straight line A (a plane that will define a fracture plane) passing from the shaft center a of the crank-pin hole  101   d  through a bottom portion  105   a  in a bottom surface  105   c  of the fracture starting point grooves  105  is preferably about 45 degrees. This causes the interior angle of the valley  106  to be approximately 90 degrees. Furthermore, upper and lower inner surfaces  105   b  of the fracture starting point groove  105  are formed in such a way that an angle α formed with the straight line A is approximately 0 degrees, that is, substantially parallel to the straight line A.  
         [0045]    Furthermore, the valley  106  preferably has a greater opening width L 4  than an opening width L 3  of the fracture starting point groove  105 . This causes the sloped portions  106   a  making up the valley  106  to function as chamfers when a bi-partitioned metal bearing (not shown) is inserted into the crank-pin hole  101   d  in the direction of the bolt hole  101   g.    
         [0046]    Here, the chamfering function of the sloped portions  106   a  will be explained. When no chamfering is applied to the corners, the metal bearing contacts the corners when the metal bearing is fitted into the crank-pin hole. Metal plating such as Sn (tin) plating is applied to the surface of the metal bearing as an anti-corrosion layer. When this plated layer comes into contact with the sharp corners formed by fracturing and splitting, a portion of the plated layer is shaved into particles and these particles are stuck to the fracture surface. The stuck particles hamper high-precision recoupling of the split type connecting rod. In contrast, when chamfering is applied to the corners, that is, when the valley  106  is formed, a portion of the plated layer is hardly shaved, making it possible to suppress generation of particles which is a factor in the hampering of high-precision recoupling of the split type connecting rod.  
         [0047]    The ratio of the depth L 2  of the fracture starting point groove  105  to a shortest distance L 1  from the base point of the fracture starting point groove  105  (that is, a boundary  107  between the inner surface  105   b  and sloped portion  106   a ) to the edge of the bolt hole  101   g  is preferably about 70% or above.  
         [0048]    Thus, according to this preferred embodiment, a pair of fracture starting point grooves  105  which extend in the inner circumferential surface of the crank-pin hole  101   d  in the shaft center direction are formed, sloped portions  106   a  are formed in the upper and lower corners between the fracture starting point groove  105  and the innercircumferential surface of the crank-pinhole  10   d . The valley  106  preferably has an opening width L 4  that is wider than the opening width L 3  of the fracture starting point groove  105 . In other words, the angle β formed by the valley  106  and the straight line A is preferably greater than the angle α formed by the fracture starting point groove  105 . As a result, it is possible to set a greater ratio of the depth L 2  of the fracture starting point groove  105  to the shortest distance L 1  from the base point of the fracture starting point groove  105  to the edge of the bolt hole  101   g  with respect to the inner circumferential surface of the crank-pin hole  101   d  as the base point and reliably form a hardened layer through surface hardening treatment up to the bottom portion  105   a  of the fracture starting point groove  105 . This makes it possible to increase a stress expansion coefficient at the bottom portion  105   a  of the fracture starting point groove  105 , to prevent peeling or falling at the time of fracturing and splitting, and to avoid problems such as damage or burning due to falling when the engine is running.  
       Second Preferred Embodiment  
       [0049]    [0049]FIG. 5A, FIG. 5B, FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 illustrate a split type connecting rod according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5A is a front view of the split type connecting rod of this embodiment, FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view of the split type connecting rod shown in FIG. 5A along a line V-V, FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the split type connecting rod shown in FIG. 5B along a line VI-VI and FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the split type connecting rod shown in FIG. 5B along a line VII-VII. The split type connecting rod which will be explained in this preferred embodiment preferably has a basic configuration similar to that of the split type connecting rod  100  explained in the first preferred embodiment and identical components or components corresponding to each other between the two preferred embodiments are assigned the same reference numerals and detailed explanations thereof will be omitted.  
         [0050]    A split type connecting rod  200  in this preferred embodiment is provided with a substantially ring-shaped metal bearing  213  on the inner circumferential surface of a crank-pin hole  101   d . This metal bearing  213  is split into two portions of a rod-side metal bearing portion  213   a  and a cap-side metal bearing portion  213   b  along splitting lines on which the fracture plane (straight line A) and the crank-pin hole  101   d  cross each other. That is, fracture starting point grooves  105  and the rod-side metal bearing portion  213   a  and the cap-side metal bearing portion  213   b  each preferably have a substantially semicircular shape.  
         [0051]    Furthermore, bearing locking grooves  201   h  and  201   i  are provided on the one splitting line side of the inner circumferential surface of the crank-pin hole  101   d , while bearing locking grooves  201   h ′ and  201   i ′ are provided on the other splitting line side. As shown in FIG. 6, the bearing locking grooves  201   h ,  201   h ′,  201   i ,  201   i ′ are preferably formed by revolving a grooving cutter T which is placed in such a way as to be inscribed in the crank-pin hole  101   d  and cutting to a predetermined depth. The bearing locking grooves  201   h ,  201   h ′,  201   i ,  201   i ′ are preferably arc-shaped when viewed in the shaft center direction of the crank-pinhole  101   d  (see FIG. 6 and FIG. 7) Furthermore, when viewed in the direction that is substantially perpendicular to the shaft center of the crank-pin hole  101   d , the bearing locking grooves  201   h ,  201   h ′,  201   i ,  201   i ′ are formed so as to extend over the splitting line in the circumferential direction and so as to deviate to either side of the splitting line in the circumferential direction (see FIG. 5B). More specifically, the bearing locking grooves  201   h ,  201   h ′ deviate to the rod portion  102  side, while the bearing locking grooves  201   i ,  201   i ′ deviate to the cap portion  103  side. In other words, of the bearing locking grooves  201   h ,  201   i  juxtaposed to each other in the shaft center direction of the crank-pin hole  101   d , the bearing locking groove  201   h  is formed so as to deviate to the rod portion  102  side, while the bearing locking groove  201   i  is formed so as to deviate to the cap portion  103  side. On the other hand, of the bearing locking grooves  201   h ′,  201   i ′ juxtaposed to each other in the shaft center direction of the crank-pin hole  101   d , the bearing locking groove  201   h ′ is formed so as to deviate to the rod portion  102  side, while the bearing locking groove  201   i ′ is formed so as to deviate to the cap portion  103  side.  
         [0052]    Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 6, locking lugs  213   c ,  213   c ′, preferably two lugs each, are provided on the back of both ends  213   a ′ of the substantially semi-circular rod-side metal bearing portion  213   a , and locking lugs  213   d ,  213   d ′, preferably two lugs each, are provided on the back of both ends  213   b ′ of the substantially semi-circular cap-side metal bearing portion  213   b . The locking lugs  213   c  are locked by the bearing locking grooves  201   h ,  201   i  formed on the split type connecting rod  200  side, while the locking lugs  213   c ′ are locked by the bearing locking grooves  201   h ′,  201   i ′ formed on the split type connecting rod  200  side. The locking lugs  213   d  are locked by the bearing locking grooves  201   h ,  201   i  formed on the split type connecting rod  200  side, while the locking lugs  213   d ′ are locked by the bearing locking grooves  201   h ′,  201   i ′ formed on the split type connecting rod  200  side.  
         [0053]    More specifically, since the bearing locking grooves  201   h ,  201   h ′,  201   i ,  201   i ′ are deviated to either side of the splitting line in the circumferential direction, the locking lugs  213   c ,  213   c ′ of the rod-side metal bearing portion  213   a  are locked at the ends on the rod portion  102  side of the bearing locking grooves  201   i ,  201   i ′ deviated to the cap portion  103  side. The locking lugs  213   d ,  213   d ′ of the cap-side metal bearing portion  213   b  are locked at the ends on the cap portion  103  of the bearing locking grooves  201   h ,  201   h ′ deviated to the rod portion  102  side.  
         [0054]    The operations and effects of the preferred embodiment of the present invention will be explained.  
         [0055]    According to the bearing structure of this preferred embodiment, the locking lugs  213   c .  213   c ′ of the rod-side metal bearing portion  213   a  are locked at the end of the bearing locking grooves  201   i ,  201   i ′ and the locking lugs  213   d ,  213   d ′ of the cap-side metal bearing portion  213   b  are locked at the end of the bearing locking grooves  201   h ,  201   h ′, and therefore it is possible to prevent the rod-side metal bearing portion  213   a  and cap-side metal bearing portion  213   b  from moving in the circumferential direction.  
         [0056]    Here, since the bearing locking grooves  201   h ,  201   h ′,  201   i ,  201   i ′ are deviated in the circumferential direction, it is possible to lock the locking lugs  213   c ,  213   c ′,  213   d ,  213   d ′ at the end of the bearing locking grooves  201   h ,  201   h ′,  201   i ,  201   i ′ without reducing the diameter of the grooving cutter T, that is, the diameters of the bearing locking grooves  201   h ,  201   h ′,  201   i ,  201   i ′. It is also possible to avoid the problem of stress concentration caused by reducing the diameters of the bearing locking grooves  201   h ,  201   h ′,  201   i ,  201   i ′. That is, when the necessary depth is secured while reducing the diameter of the grooving cutter T, i.e. the diameters of the bearing locking grooves  201   h ,  201   h ′,  201   i ,  201   i ′, the shape changes drastically in the bearing locking groove on the internal surface of the crank-pin hole  101   d  and the problem of stress concentration is likely to occur. On the other hand, when the diameters of the bearing locking grooves  201   h ,  201   h ′,  201   i ,  201   i ′ are simply increased, the locking lugs  213   c ,  213   c ′,  213   d ,  213   d ′ move easily in the circumferential direction in the bearing locking grooves  201   h ,  201   h ′,  201   i ,  201   i ′, which makes it easier for the metal bearing  213  to move in the circumferential direction. However, this preferred embodiment can prevent this problem because the locking lugs  213   c ,  213   c ′,  213   d ,  213   d ′ are locked at the end of the bearing locking grooves  201   h ,  201   h ′,  201   i ,  201   i′.    
         [0057]    In this preferred embodiment, the bearing locking grooves are preferably formed on both splitting lines, but the bearing locking grooves of various preferred embodiments of the present invention may be formed only on one splitting line. That is, as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, this preferred embodiment assumes that the locking lugs  213   c ,  213   c ′ protrude from both ends  213   a ′ of the rod-side metal bearing portion  213   a  and the locking lugs  213   d ,  213   d ′ protrude from both ends  213   b ′ of the cap-side metal bearing portion  213   b . However, it is also possible to use the rod-side metal bearing portion  213   a  from which a locking lug (e.g., locking lug  213   c  ) protrudes for only one of both ends  213   a ′ and use the cap-side metal bearing portion  213   b  from which a locking lug (locking lug  213   d  when only the locking lug  213   c  protrudes from the rod-side metal bearing portion  213   a ) protrudes for only one of both ends  213   b ′. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of one example of the cap-side metal bearing portion  213   b  from which one locking lug  213   d  protrudes for only one of both ends  213   b   40 . Furthermore, FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the split type connecting rod  200  when this cap-side metal bearing portion  213   b  is attached. As shown in FIG. 9, the locking lug  213   d  of the cap-side metal  213   b  is locked by the bearing locking groove  201   h  provided on the inner circumferential surface of the crank-pin hole  101   d . In actual use of such a cap-side metal bearing portion  213   b , the rod-side metal bearing portion  213   a  where one locking lug  213   c  is provided on one of the two ends  213   a ′ so as to be locked by the bearing locking groove  201   i  is also attached together. Therefore, it is possible to stop rotation in the circumferential direction of the rod-side metal bearing portion  213   a  and cap-side metal bearing portion  213   b . Thus, it is possible to realize the operations and effects similar to those of the split type connecting rod  200  explained in this preferred embodiment without providing the bearing locking grooves  201   h ′,  201   i′.    
         [0058]    In the above-described case, it is also possible to introduce the features of the split type connecting rod  100  explained in the first preferred embodiment into the split type connecting rod  200  of this preferred embodiment. More specifically, it is possible to form the valley  106  explained in the first preferred embodiment at positions where the bearing locking grooves  201   h ′,  201   i ′ are not provided, that is, at the positions on the predetermined fracture plane facing the bearing locking grooves  201   h ,  201   i  on the inner circumferential surface of the crank-pin hole  101   d .    
         [0059]    The present invention is not limited to the above described preferred embodiments, and various variations and modifications may be possible without departing from the scope of the present invention.  
         [0060]    This application is based on the Japanese Patent Application No.2002-378020 filed on Dec. 26, 2002 and the Japanese Patent Application No.2003-315615 filed on Sep. 8, 2003, the entire contents of which are expressly incorporated by reference herein.