Patent ID: 7073434

Claim:
A connecting rod for use in a plunger drive of a baler, said connecting rod coupled to a plunger of said baler, said connecting rod comprising: a force sensing load pin for sensing a force imposed on said plunger, said connecting rod being in the form of a bar having a central axis; first and second bearings respectively mounted in opposite ends of said connecting rod the central axis extending from the first bearing to the second bearing; said connecting rod including first and second sections forming a joint between said first and second bearings; said joint including a tongue on said first section and a bifurcated forward end on said second section of said connecting rod, said tongue located between opposite sides of said bifurcated forward end; and said joint being secured together by a pair of fasteners, one of said pair of fasteners is said force-sensing load pin located offset to one side of said central axis.