Engine

Abstract

An engine is described having a crankcase, a liner and a head assembly. The crankcase is split along a plane defining a two part crankcase, where fluid passages are passing through only one of the crankcase portions, so as to not require crossing the split line. A connecting rod also includes a tapered end, and the piston has a complementary carrier receiving the connecting rod.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . An engine, comprising:
 a crankcase;   a crankshaft journalled in the crankcase;   a piston;   a cylinder in which the piston reciprocates;   a head positioned over the piston and the cylinder; and   a connecting rod coupling the piston to the crankshaft, the connecting rod having a first end coupled to the crankshaft and a second end coupled to the piston, the second end being tapered inwardly and upwardly, and the piston comprising a complementary tapered coupling with a pin coupling the second end of the connecting rod to the piston.   
     
     
         3 . The engine of  claim 2 , wherein the complementary tapered coupling includes an opening in a lower portion of the piston, and the opening receiving the second end of the connecting rod. 
     
     
         4 . The engine of  claim 3 , wherein the opening tapers inwardly and upwardly from the lower portion of the piston towards an upper portion of the piston. 
     
     
         5 . The engine of  claim 4 , wherein the upper portion of the piston is wider than the lower portion of the piston, and the opening extends into the upper portion of the piston. 
     
     
         6 . The engine of  claim 2 , wherein the second end of the connecting rod has a lower portion and a top portion, and the lower portion is wider than the top portion. 
     
     
         7 . The engine of  claim 2 , wherein the second end of the connecting rod includes an aperture configured to receive the pin. 
     
     
         8 . The engine of  claim 7 , further comprising a bushing positioned within the aperture of the second end of the connecting rod, and the bushing is positioned intermediate the aperture and the pin. 
     
     
         9 . The engine of  claim 8 , wherein the bushing includes a tapered configuration complementary to the configuration of the tapered second end of the connecting rod. 
     
     
         10 . The engine of  claim 9 , wherein an upper end of the bushing has a width less than that of a lower end of the bushing. 
     
     
         11 . The engine of  claim 2 , wherein the crankcase is split along a plane forming a first crankcase portion and a second crankcase portion, and fluid passages are provided in only the first crankcase portion, and the fluid passages communicate with the head to deliver fluid to the head. 
     
     
         12 . An engine, comprising:
 a crankcase;   a crankshaft journalled in the crankcase;   a piston;   a cylinder in which the piston reciprocates;   a head positioned over the piston and cylinder; and   a connecting rod coupling the piston to the crankshaft, the connecting rod having a first end coupled to the crankshaft and a second end coupled to the piston, the second end being tapered inwardly and upwardly and configured to support a press fit bushing, and the bushing having markings to align the bushing properly within the second end.   
     
     
         13 . The engine of  claim 12 , wherein the piston comprises a complementary tapered coupling configured to receive a pin for coupling the second end of the connecting rod to the piston. 
     
     
         14 . The engine of  claim 13 , wherein the bushing is positioned intermediate the pin and the second end of the connecting rod. 
     
     
         15 . The engine of  claim 13 , wherein bushing has a width less than that of the pin. 
     
     
         16 . The engine of  claim 15 , wherein the bushing includes an upper end and a lower end, and a width of at least one of the upper end and the lower end is less than the width of the pin. 
     
     
         17 . The engine of  claim 16 , wherein the width of both the upper end and the lower end of the bushing is less than the width of the pin. 
     
     
         18 . The engine of  claim 12 , wherein the markings are slots configurated for rotational positioning of the bushing with respect to the second end of the connecting rod. 
     
     
         19 . The engine of  claim 12 , wherein the second end of the connecting rod includes an aperture configured to receive the bushing. 
     
     
         20 . The engine of  claim 19 , wherein the bushing axially extends from a first end to a second end, and the first end of the bushing is aligned with a first side of the second end of the connecting rod and the second end of the bushing is aligned with a second side of the second end of the connecting rod. 
     
     
         21 . The engine of  claim 12 , wherein the bushing is tapered complementary to the tapered configuration of the second end of the connecting rod. 
     
     
         22 . The engine of  claim 21 , wherein the bushing tapers from a lower portion to a top portion, and the top portion of the bushing has a width less than that of the lower portion of the bushing. 
     
     
         23 . The engine of  claim 22 , wherein the markings are positioned along a circumference of the  .