US 7,516,546 B2
Method of manufacturing a connecting rod assembly for an internal combustion engine
Alan Stephen McEwan, South Lyon, Mich. (US)
Assigned to MAHLE Technology, Inc., Farmington Hills, Mich. (US)
Filed on Nov. 16, 2004, as Appl. No. 10/990,135.
Prior Publication US 2006/0101642 A1, May 18, 2006
Int. Cl. B21D 53/84 (2006.01); B23D 13/04 (2006.01); B23P 11/02 (2006.01); F16C 7/00 (2006.01); F16C 7/02 (2006.01); F16J 1/14 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 29—888.09  [29/888.092; 29/557; 29/525; 29/447; 74/579 R; 74/579 E; 92/179; 92/187; 92/230; 92/238; 123/197.3; 123/197.4] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of manufacturing a connecting rod assembly for use within an internal combustion engine comprising the steps of:
defining a small end of a connecting rod assembly having a terminal end, defining a pin bore extending through said small end of said connecting rod assembly and forming a pair of channels on opposite sides of said small end of said connecting rod assembly wherein the axis of each of said channels is substantially perpendicular to the axis of said pin bore, and a pair of ridges on opposite sides of said pin bore with each pair of ridges cooperating to define an annular, coplanar platform disposed about the pin bore that acts to reduce moment forces that may be generated when the bushing is installed in the pin bore;
installing a bushing into the pin bore of the small end and;
machining the connecting rod assembly to reduce the width of the small end between each channel and the terminal end so as to eliminate one of the ridges on both sides of the small end to provide a small end having a stepped configuration.