Connecting rod by Pawan Hande

grabcad

Connecting rods, or conrods, in reciprocating piston engines link the piston to the crank or crankshaft. Alongside the crank, they form a mechanism that transforms back-and-forth motion into rotational movement. Initially, connecting rods were employed to change rotary motion to linear motion before engine development. As they are rigid, conrods can transmit either push or pull force, allowing the rod to turn the crank during both parts of a revolution - piston push and piston pull. Early systems, such as chains, could only exert pull. In certain two-stroke engines, the connecting rod merely pushes. Today, connecting rods are predominantly associated with internal combustion piston engines in vehicles. These designs differ from earlier connecting rods used in steam engines and locomotives.