Crosshead

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The crosshead, essential in long reciprocating engines and compressors, mitigates lateral pressure on the piston. It also facilitates free movement of the connecting rod beyond the cylinder, preventing it from hitting cylinder walls and stalling engine rotation. This is particularly crucial in engines with a small bore-to-stroke ratio where direct attachment of the piston to the connecting rod would cause such issues. Hence, the crosshead's longitudinal dimension must conform to the engine's stroke length.