Reciprocating machine

Claim 2

In a reciprocating machine: a shaft adapted to be rotated; a crankpin attached to said shaft; a cylinder, said cylinder being closed at one end, said cylinder having a sidewall depending from the closed end, said depending sidewall having a downwardly-open opening therein throughout the thickness of the sidewall; a piston located in said cylinder, said piston being adapted for reciprocating movement in said cylinder, said piston having means for attaching said piston to a wrist pin, said piston being movable in said cylinder to position said means for attaching said piston to said wrist pin in alignment with said opening in said depending sidewall of said cylinder; a connecting rod for connecting said crankpin to said piston, said connecting rod having an unbroken, closed loop, cylindrical bearing portion positioned on said crankpin and a wrist pin portion for attaching to said means on said piston said wrist pin portion of said connecting rod being movable through said opening in said depending sidewall of said cylinder to engage said means for attaching said piston to said wrist pin simultaneously as said cylindrical bearing portion of said connEcting rod is positioned on said crankpin.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the means for attaching said piston to said wrist pin portion of said connecting rod comprises a substantially transverse opening through said piston, said opening receives the wrist pin portion of said connecting rod as the wrist pin portion of said connecting rod is inserted through said opening in said depending wall of said cylinder.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein: said wrist pin portion of said connecting rod comprises a separate bearing member removably attached to said connecting rod.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: said means for attaching said piston to said wrist pin portion of said connecting rod comprises a pin integral with said piston, and said wrist pin portion of said connecting rod comprises a socket section for engaging said pin as said wrist pin portion of said connecting rod is inserted through said opening in said depending wall of said cylinder.

Claim 6

In a reciprocating machine: a unitary connecting rod - wrist pin having an unbroken, closed loop at the crank end, and a journal portion at the other end; a crankshaft including a projecting crankpin; a piston having a transverse bore open at at lease one side of the piston, and open at the bottom for at least the major part of the length of the bore, to receive the journal portion of said rod - wrist pin into the bore through the side of said piston; a cylinder for receiving said piston and having a wall provided with a downwardly-open slot throughout the thickness of the wall in a location thereon in registry with said journal portion of said rod - wrist pin when said piston is in a position at substantially bottom dead center; means for preventing said crank end loop from becoming disengaged from said crankpin; said foregoing parts thereby being adapted to permit assembly by inserting said pistion into the bottom end of said cylinder and aligning said bore with said slot; moving said rod - wrist pin into place by sliding said journal portion into said bore with said closed loop end being received on said crankpin in its substantially bottom dead center position, and applying said disengagement prevention means.

Claim 7

In a reciprocating machine: a unitary connecting rod - wrist pin having an unbroken, closed loop at the crank end, and a journal portion at the other end; a crankshaft including a projecting crankpin; a piston having a transverse bore open at at lease one side of the piston, and open at the bottom for at least the major part of the length of the bore, to receive the journal portion of said rod - wrist pin into the bore through the side of said piston; a cylinder for receiving said piston and having a wall provided with a downwardly-open slot throughout the thickness of the wall in a location thereon in registry with said journal portion of said rod - wrist pin when said piston is in a position at substantially bottom dead center; means for preventing said crank end loop from becoming disengaged from said crankpin; said foregoing parts thereby being adapted to permit assembly by inserting said pistion into the bottom end of said cylinder and aligning said bore with said slot; moving said rod - wrist pin into place by sliding said journal portion into said bore with said closed loop end being received on said crankpin in its substantially bottom dead center position, and applying said disengagement prevention means.

Claim 8

An improved reciprocating machine having an assembly of parts comprising a reciprocating piston housed within a cylinder, a rotatable crankshaft and means drivingly connecting said crankshaft to said piston wherein the improvement comprises: a slot extending through the thickness of the sidewall of said cylinder, said slot being open in the direction of said crankshaft; said means connecting said crankshaft to said piston comprising a connecting rod having on each end means for telescopic engagement of complementary engaging means on said crankshaft and said piston in direction transverse to the direction of reciprocation and wherein said slot and said complementary engaging means on said piston are aligned for passage of said rod through said slot in said transverse direction for simultaneous engagement of said rod with both said crankshaft and said piston; and, means for maintaining said parts in said assembled position.

Claim 9

An improved reciprocating machine having an assembly of parts comprising a reciprocating piston housed within a cylinder, a rotatable crankshaft and means drivingly connecting said crankshaft to said piston wherein the improvement comprises: a slot extending through the thickness of the sidewall of said cylinder, said slot being open in the direction of said crankshaft; said means connecting said crankshaft to said piston comprising a connecting rod having on each end means for telescopic engagement of complementary engaging means on said crankshaft and said piston in direction transverse to the direction of reciprocation and wherein said slot and said complementary engaging means on said piston are aligned for passage of said rod through said slot in said transverse direction for simultaneous engagement of said rod with both said crankshaft and said piston; and, means for maintaining said parts in said assembled position.