Connecting rod split construction

Abstract

A breaking and splitting structure of a connecting rod has a large end having a crank pin bore including a surface-hardened surface. The large end is broken and split into a rod section and a cap section, and the rod and cap sections are coupled with fastening bolts, with their broken and split surfaces engaged and aligned with each other. A breakage-starting portion extends in the axial direction of the crank pin bore and is formed in an inside circumferential surface of the crank pin bore of the large end. An axial length of the breakage-starting portion is smaller than the axial length of the inside circumferential surface.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a breaking and splitting structure of a connecting rod in which a large end treated by carburizing and hardening is broken and split into a rod section and a cap section and the rod and cap sections are coupled with fastening bolts, with their broken and split surfaces aligned with each other.

2. Description of the Related Art

In some split type connecting rods, a breakage-starting groove for inducing a breakage is provided before its large end is broken and split into a rod section and a cap section. For example, as shown in FIGS. 10(a) and 10(b), there has been suggested a structure in which breakage-starting grooves 51 are formed by cutting out a portion of the inside circumferential surface of a crank pin bore 50a of a large end 50 of the connecting rod, extending linearly in the axial direction of the crank pin bore through the inside circumferential surface from one end to the other (see U.S. Pat. No. 4,569,109).

However, when such a conventional structure is adopted in which breakage-starting grooves are formed in the inside circumferential surface of the large end through the inside circumferential surface from one end to the other, part of the broken and split surface may be formed at a location that is spaced from the breakage-starting portion, as shown in FIG. 8. If the broken and split surface is displaced from the breakage-starting groove as described above, a flake-like burr 53 may be produced between the broken and split surface 52 and the breakage-starting groove 51, as shown in FIG. 9, which might cause engine trouble such as damage or seizure inside the engine when such a burr 53 chips off and falls during engine operation.

On the other hand, in the case where a broken and split surface is formed along the entire length of the breakage-starting groove, the flatness of the broken and split surfaces between the rod and cap sections increases, although no burr 53 is produced. Therefore, positional reproducibility might be worsened when the rod and cap sections are assembled to the crank pin, after they are broken off, coupled together for the fine boring of the crank pin bore of the large end, and then separated for the assembly. As a result, no sufficient roundness or cylindricity of the large end is obtained when it is assembled to the crankshaft, which might cause wear or seizure inside the engine or increase horsepower loss.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to overcome the problems described above, preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a breaking and splitting structure of a connecting rod that prevents generation of burrs that occur when the broken and split surface is displaced from the breakage-starting groove and also prevents deterioration of reproducibility in aligning the broken and split surfaces with each other, thus preventing engine trouble.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a breaking and splitting structure of a connecting rod includes a large end with a crank pin bore, the large end having a surface-hardened surface and being broken and split into a rod section and a cap section, and the rod and cap sections are coupled with fastening bolts, with their broken and split surfaces engaged and aligned with each other, in which a breakage-starting portion extending in the axial direction of the crank pin bore is formed in an inside circumferential surface of the crank pin bore of the large end, and the axial length of the breakage-starting portion is smaller than the axial length of the inside circumferential surface.

At an intersection of the broken and split surface and the inside circumferential surface, a portion where the breakage-starting portion is formed coincides with the breakage-starting portion, while most of the other portion deviates from an extension of the breakage-starting portion.

It is preferred that the shoulders of the large end are each formed with a bolt hole extending in the direction that is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the crank pin bore, and the bolt hole is close to the crank pin bore so that the thickness between the bolt hole and the inside circumferential surface is smaller than the thickness between the bolt hole and an outside wall.

It is also preferred that one end of the breakage-starting portion is positioned at one end of the crank pin bore in the axial direction.

The other end of the breakage-starting portion is preferably positioned closer to the one end of the crank pin bore than to the bolt hole.

The breakage-starting portion may preferably be constituted by a tapered groove formed by machining or a plurality of pores formed successively at given intervals by laser machining.

First and second ends of the breakage-starting portion may preferably be positioned on both sides of a line so as to straddle the line which connects axes of the bolt holes and extends in the direction that is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the crank pin hole, and a length of the breakage-starting portion is preferably equal to or smaller than the diameter of the bolt hole.

The breakage-starting portion is preferably formed at a position that is substantially coincident with the line connecting the axes of the bolt holes and extending in the direction that is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the crank pin hole.

The breakage-starting portion may also be constituted by a large number of pores formed successively at given intervals by laser machining.

Other features, elements, steps, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view partly in section of a large end of a connecting rod according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view showing the large end in an intermediate stage of a manufacturing process.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the large end (sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. 2).

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the manufacturing process of the connecting rod.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a breakage-starting portion according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a breakage-starting portion according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a view showing a broken surface of the breakage-starting portion.

FIG. 8 is a view showing a broken surface of a conventional large end.

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a problem occurring in the prior art devices.

FIGS. 10(a) and 10(b) are views illustrating a conventional breaking and splitting method.

FIG. 11 is a partial sectional view of the large end of a connecting rod according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a partial sectional view of the large end of a connecting rod according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Now, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1-FIG. 4 are views illustrating a breaking and splitting structure of a connecting rod according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention wherein FIG. 1 is a view partly in section of a large end of a connecting rod; FIG. 2 is a view showing the large end in an intermediate stage of a manufacturing process; FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a breaking and splitting portion of the large end (sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. 2); and FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the manufacturing process of the connecting rod.

A connecting rod 1 of the present preferred embodiment is preferably a nut-less type formed by forging or casting, and configured such that it is integrally formed, at one end of a rod body 1a, with a small end to which an unillustrated piston pin is connected, and, at the other end, with a large end 1b to which an unillustrated crank pin is connected. The large end 1b has shoulders 1c extending outward from the connecting portion with the rod body 1a, and a crank pin bore 1d formed in the center of the large end 1b.

A rod section 2 and a cap section 3, of the large end 1b, are formed integrally in advance, surface hardening treatment such as carburizing, hardening and tempering is applied to the whole connecting rod including the large end 1b, and then the large end 1b is broken and split into the rod section 2 and the cap section 3 along an expected breakage line A. These split rod and cap sections 2, 3 are coupled with fastening bolts 4, with their broken and split surfaces engaged and aligned with each other. As a result of the surface hardening treatment, there is formed a hardened surface layer having a given depth of carburization on the outer surface of the connecting rod 1.

Also, bolt holes 2a having a diameter that is slightly larger than that of the fastening bolt 4 are formed in the shoulders 1c of the rod section 2. A female threaded hole 3a, which is coaxial with the bolt hole 2a, is formed through the bottom 3b of the cap section 3 below the bolt hole 2a. The fastening bolt 4 is inserted into the bolt hole 2a and engaged with the female threaded hole 3a, coupling the rod and cap sections 2, 3 together.

The bolt hole 2a extends in the direction that is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the crank pin bore 1d, and is located close to the crank pin bore 1d. That is, the thickness t1 between the bolt hole 2a and the inside circumferential surface of the crank pin bore 1d is smaller than the thickness t2 between the bolt hole 2a and the outside wall 1e of the shoulder 1c. The thickness t2 is set to such a value as required in terms of strength to withstand the combustion pressure of the engine.

A pair of breakage-starting portions 5 are formed in the inside circumferential surface of the crank pin bore 1d, and extend in the axial direction of the crank pin bore 1d. The breakage-starting portion 5 is constituted by a cut-out groove formed by machining, along an intersection line on which an expected breakage plane A of the rod and cap sections 2, 3 of the large end 1b and the inside wall surface intersect.

Unlike the prior art structure shown in FIGS. 10(a) and 10(b) where the breakage-starting groove extends long the entire axial length of the crank pin bore, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 3, the axial length L1 of each breakage-starting portion 5 is preferably less than the axial length L2 of the crank pin bore 1d. In addition, one end 5a of the breakage-starting portion 5 is positioned at one end of the crank pin bore 1d in the axial direction (i.e., at the topmost portion of the crank pin bore 1d in FIG. 3), and the other end 5b is positioned near the axial middle of the crank pin bore 1d, more specifically, at a position that is just short of the middle of the crank pin bore 1d, which position is closer to the one end of the crank pin bore 1d (at the topmost portion of the crank pin bore 1d in FIG. 3) than the opposite end of the crank pin bore 1d (at the bottom most portion of the crank pint bore 1d in FIG. 3).

A method of manufacturing the connecting rod will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 4.

A raw blank of the connecting rod 1 is formed by forging. At this time, the rod section 2 and the cap section 3 of the large end 1b are formed integrally. By pre-carburization machining, a bolt hole 2a is formed in each shoulder 1c of the connecting rod 1, as well as a breakage-starting portion 5 constituted by a cut-out groove is formed in the inside circumferential surface of the crank pin bore 1d. The breakage-starting portion 5 is formed so as to extend from one axial end of the crank pin bore 1d to a position that is slightly short of the middle of the crank pin bore 1d and closer to the one axial end (at the top most portion of the crank pint bore 1d in FIG. 3) than to the other axial end of the crank pin bore 1d (at the bottom most portion of the crank pint bore 1d in FIG. 3).

Surface hardening treatment including carburizing, hardening and tempering is applied to the connecting rod 1 in this stage to form a hardened surface layer in the surface of the connecting rod 1. Thereafter, the connecting rod 1 is put through a shot-peening process, and a cutting tool is inserted into the bolt hole 2a to machine the female threaded hole 3a.

Then, the large end 1b is broken with a jig and split into the rod section 2 and the cap section 3. This breaking and splitting is performed in such a way that sliders, which are movable in the radial directions, for example, are inserted in the crank pin bore 1d of the large end 1b and a wedge is driven between the sliders.

Referring now to the intersection where the broken and split surface formed by the foregoing splitting action and the inside circumferential surface of the crank pin bore 1d intersect, a part of this intersection where the breakage-starting portion 5 is formed extends along the breakage-starting portion 5, while most of the remaining portions of the intersection deviates from the extension of the breakage-starting portion 5.

The broken and split surfaces of the rod and cap sections 2, 3 formed in this way are aligned with each other, and, at the same time, both sections are fastened with fastening bolts 4 to be coupled together. Final machining of the crank pin bore 1d is performed with the rod and cap sections coupled together. Thereafter, the cap section 3 is removed and separated from the rod section 2, followed by assembly of the large end 1b to the crankshaft.

In this preferred embodiment, as described above, a pair of axially extending breakage-starting portions 5 are formed by cutting out a portion of the inside circumferential surface of the crank pin bore 1d of the large end 1b, and the cut-out length L1 of each breakage-starting portion 5 is preferably less than the axial length L2 of the crank pin bore 1d. Therefore, the broken and split surface is formed along the breakage-starting portion 5 in a portion of the crank pin bore 1d where the breakage-starting portion 5 is formed, while the broken and split surface deviates from and is not coincident with the direction of an extension of the breakage-starting portion 5 in most of the other portion of the crank pin bore 1d where no breakage-starting portion 5 is formed. No burr is produced by this deviation. As a result, it is possible to prevent engine trouble such as damage and seizure due to falling of burrs during engine operation.

Also, in this preferred embodiment, the intersection (corner edge) of the broken and split surface of the rod and cap sections 2, 3 and the inside circumferential surface of the crank pin bore 1d extends along the breakage-starting portion 5 in a portion where the breakage-starting portion 5 is formed, while this intersection extends in a direction that is not coincident with that of the extension of the breakage-starting portion in most of the other portion of the crank pin bore 1d where the breakage-starting portion is not formed. Therefore, the broken and split surface can have a three-dimensional irregular shape, accurate alignment of the rod and cap sections 2, 3 can be achieved when their broken and split surfaces are engaged with each other, and reproducibility can be enhanced at the time of assembly to the crankshaft. Thus, this solves the problem with increased flatness described with respect to the prior art shown in FIGS. 10(a) and 10(b). As a result, roundness and cylindricity after engine assembly can be secured, wear and seizure can be prevented, and horsepower loss can be reduced.

In this preferred embodiment, the bolt hole 2a of the large end 1b is preferably close to the crank pin bore 1d. Therefore, the width of the shoulders of the large end 1b can be decreased while the thickness t2 between the bolt hole 2a and the outside wall 1e is reliably large as required in terms of strength, allowing for size and weight reduction of the connecting rod.

In this preferred embodiment, one end 5a of the breakage-starting portion 5 is positioned at one axial end of the crank pin bore 1d, which allows the broken and split line to coincide with an expected breakage line.

Further, the other end 5b of the breakage-starting portion 5 is positioned in the axial middle of the crank pin bore 1d. Therefore, the broken and split surface coincides with the breakage-starting portion 5 in a portion of the crank pin hole 1d where the breakage-starting portion 5 is formed, while the broken and split surface deviates from and is not coincident with a direction of an extension of the breakage-starting portion 5 in a portion of the crank pin bore 1d where no breakage-starting portion 5 is formed. Further, the other end 5b is positioned closer to the one end 5a than to the middle, that is, at a position not further than the middle. Therefore, when the thickness t1 between the crank pin bore 1d and the bolt hole 2a is decreased, the portion with the decreased thickness t1 is prevented from being decreased further in thickness and workability can be improved in machining the breakage-starting portion 5.

Although the length L1 of the breakage-starting portion 5 is determined as from one end of the crank pin bore 1d to a position that is slightly short of the middle in this preferred embodiment, the present invention is not limited to that. For example, the breakage-starting portion may be formed only at the axial end of the crank pin bore, may be formed to extend from an axial end of the crank pin bore to beyond the middle thereof, or may be formed only at the middle of the crank pin bore. In short, the length of the breakage-starting portion may be set such that the broken surface is formed reliably along the breakage-starting portion in a portion of the crank pin bore where the breakage-starting portion is formed, in order to prevent generation of burrs.

Although this preferred embodiment is described as a case where breakage-starting portions 5 are formed by machining into grooves of the same depth, the present invention is not limited to that.

FIG. 5 is an example in which a tapered groove 6a is formed as a breakage-starting portion 6 by broaching according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention. When the breakage-starting portion 6 is formed by the tapered groove 6a, workability can be improved compared with when a cut-out groove of a uniform depth is formed, and the depth of the groove at the inner end can be decreased. Therefore, even when the thickness t1 between the crank pin bore 1d and the bolt hole 2a is small, the length L3 of the breakage-starting portion 6 can be set such that the breakage-starting portion extends beyond the portion with the decreased thickness t1.

FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 show an example in which a large number of pores 7a are formed successively at given intervals by laser machining as a breakage-starting portion 7, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. When the breakage-starting portion 7 is formed by laser machining, the breakage-starting portion 7 can be formed accurately and easily.

Also, it is possible that the inside circumferential surface is melted by a heated wire to form a breakage-starting portion, though not shown in the figure.

FIG. 11 is a view illustrating another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

In this preferred embodiment, one end 8a and the other end 8b of a breakage-starting portion 8 are positioned on both sides of a line “a” so as to extend across the line “a”, which connects axes 2b of the bolt holes 2a and extends in the direction that is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the crank pin hole 1d. The length L3 of the breakage-starting portion 8 is preferably equal to or smaller than the diameter of the bolt hole 2a. Although the above-described breakage-starting portion 8 is preferably constituted by a large number of pores formed successively at given intervals by laser machining, the processing method of the breakage-starting portion 8 is not limited to laser machining.

In this preferred embodiment, the breakage-starting portion 8 preferably has the same length as or a smaller length than the diameter of the bolt hole 2a, and is positioned in the vicinity of the axis of the bolt hole. Therefore, a breakage starts only in a portion where the breakage-starting portion 8 is formed, and then extends to other portions b and c. Since a breakage starts at one point in the vicinity of the axis and it is not the case that breakages having started at different points join, which often accompanies generation of burrs, it is possible to reliably prevent generation of burrs.

FIG. 12 is a view illustrating another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

In this preferred embodiment, a breakage-starting portion 9 is formed at a position that is generally coincident with the line “a” connecting the axes 2b of the bolt holes 2a and extending in the direction that is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the crank pin hole 1d.

In this preferred embodiment, since the breakage-starting portion 9 is formed only in the middle of the bolt hole 2a, a breakage starts only in a portion where the breakage-starting portion 9 is formed, and then extends to the other portions b and c. Therefore, since it is not the case that breakages having started at different points join, which often accompanies generation of burrs, it is possible to reliably prevent generation of burrs.

In the breaking and splitting structure of a connecting rod according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a breakage-starting portion extending in the axial direction of the crank pin bore is formed in the inside circumferential surface of the crank pin bore of a large end, and the axial length of the breakage-starting portion is smaller than the axial length of the inside circumferential surface. Therefore, the broken and split surface is formed along only the breakage-starting portion, not in a location spaced from the breakage-starting portion, while no burr is produced by the broken and split surface in the other portion of the crank pin bore where no breakage-starting portion is formed. As a result, it is possible to prevent engine trouble such as damage or seizure inside the engine due to the falling of a burr during engine operation.

According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, at the intersection of the broken and split surface and the inside circumferential surface, the other portion where no breakage-starting portion is formed deviates from and is not coincident with a direction of an extension of the breakage-starting portion. Therefore, the broken and split surface has a three-dimensional irregular shape, so that accurate alignment can be performed when the broken and split surfaces of the rod and cap sections are engaged with each other, and reproducibility of roundness and cylindricity can be enhanced during assembly to the crankshaft. As a result, roundness and cylindricity after engine assembly can be secured, wear and seizure can be prevented, and horsepower loss can be reduced.

According to yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, since the bolt hole of the large end is close to the crank pin bore, the width of the shoulders of the large end can be decreased while a necessary thickness is secured between the bolt hole and the outside wall, thus allowing for size and weight reduction of the connecting rod.

In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, since one end of the breakage-starting portion is positioned at one end, in the axial direction, of the inside circumferential surface of the crank pin bore, a breakage at the time of splitting is caused to start reliably at the one end of the crank pin bore in the axial direction. Therefore, in a portion where the breakage-starting portion is formed, splitting along the starting portion can be performed reliably, preventing generation of burrs more consistently and dependably.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the other end of the breakage-starting portion is positioned closer to the one end of the crank pin hole than to the bolt hole. Therefore, in the case that the thickness between the crank pin bore and the bolt hole is decreased, the portion with the decreased thickness is prevented from being decreased further in thickness.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, since the breakage-starting portion is constituted by a tapered groove formed by machining, the forming work of the breakage-starting portion is greatly simplified. Even when the breakage-starting portion is formed such that the other end of the breakage-starting portion is positioned beyond the bolt hole, the portion with the decreased thickness is prevented from being decreased excessively in thickness.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, since the breakage-starting portion is constituted by pores formed successively at given intervals by laser machining, the breakage-starting portion can be formed accurately and easily.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, one end and another end of a breakage-starting portion are positioned on both sides of a line so as to extend across the line connecting axes of the bolt holes and extending in the direction that is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the crank pin hole, and a length of the breakage-starting portion is preferably equal to or smaller than the diameter of the bolt hole.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the breakage-starting portion is formed at a position that is generally coincident with the line connecting the axes of the bolt holes and extending in the direction that is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the crank pin hole. Therefore, a breakage in breaking and splitting starts reliably in a portion where the breakage-starting portion is formed. Since a breakage is very unlikely to start in another portion where no breakage-starting portion is formed, it is not the case that breakages having started at different points join together. As a result, it is possible to more reliably prevent generation of burrs.

While the present invention has been described with respect to preferred embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the disclosed invention may be modified in numerous ways and may assume many embodiments other than those specifically set out and described above. Accordingly, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all modifications of the invention which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11: A breaking and splitting structure of a connecting rod comprising:

a large end having a crank pin bore, the large end being broken and split into a rod section and a cap section such that the rod section and the cap section have broken and split surfaces, the rod and cap sections being coupled to each other via fastening bolts such that the broken and split surfaces of the rod section and the cap section are engaged and aligned with each other; wherein

a breakage-starting portion extending in the axial direction of the crank pin bore is formed in an inside circumferential surface of the crank pin bore of the large end, and the axial length of the breakage-starting portion is less than the axial length of the inside circumferential surface.

12: The breaking and splitting structure of a connecting rod according to claim 11, wherein an outer surface of the large end has a hardened surface layer extending to a predetermined depth thereof.

13: The breaking and splitting structure of a connecting rod according to claim 12, wherein the hardened surface layer is a carburized, hardened and tempered surface.

14: The breaking and splitting structure of a connecting rod according to claim 11, wherein an outer surface of the connecting rod has a hardened surface layer extending to a predetermined depth thereof.

15: The breaking and splitting structure of a connecting rod according to claim 14, wherein the hardened surface layer is a carburized, hardened and tempered surface.

16: The breaking and splitting structure of a connecting rod according to claim 11, wherein the breakage-starting portion is defined by a groove formed in the crank pin bore.

17: The breaking and splitting structure of a connecting rod according to claim 16, wherein the groove has a tapered configuration.

18: The breaking and splitting structure of a connecting rod according to claim 11, wherein the breakage-starting portion is defined by a plurality of pores formed in the crank pin bore.

19: The breaking and splitting structure of a connecting rod according to claim 11, wherein the axial length of the breakage-starting portion is substantially equal to or less than a diameter of the crank pin bore.

20: The breaking and splitting structure of a connecting rod according to claim 11, wherein the breakage-starting portion extends from one end of the crank pin bore to a location just short of a middle of the axial length of the crank pin bore.

21: The breaking and splitting structure of a connecting rod according to claim 11, wherein the breakage-starting portion extends along a middle portion of an axial length of the crank pin bore.

22: The breaking and splitting structure of a connecting rod according to claim 11, wherein the large end includes a pair of shoulders and each of the shoulders of the large end includes a bolt hole extending in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the crank pin bore, and one end and another end of the breakage-starting portion are positioned on both sides of a line so as to extend across the line connecting axes of the bolt holes and extending in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the crank pin hole.

23: The breaking and splitting structure of a connecting rod according to claim 11, wherein, of an intersection where the broken and split surfaces and the inside circumferential surface of the crank pin bore meet, a first portion of the intersection where the breakage-starting portion is formed extends along the breakage-starting portion, and a remaining portion of the intersection deviates from and is not coincident with an extension of the breakage-starting portion.

24: The breaking and splitting structure of a connecting rod according to claim 11, wherein the large end includes a pair of shoulders and each of the shoulders of the large end includes a bolt hole extending in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the crank pin bore, and the bolt holes are close to the crank pin bore so that a distance between the bolt holes and the inside circumferential surface is less than a distance between the bolt holes and an outside wall of the crank pin bore.

25: The breaking and splitting structure of a connecting rod according to claim 24, wherein the breakage-starting portion is formed at a position that is substantially coincident with a line connecting the axes of the bolt holes and extending in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the crank pin hole.

26: The breaking and splitting structure of a connecting rod according to claim 11, wherein one end of the breakage-starting portion is positioned at one end of the crank pin bore in the axial direction thereof.

27: A method of forming a breaking and splitting structure of a connecting rod, the method comprising the steps of:

forming the connecting rod including a large end having a crank pin bore;

forming a breakage-starting portion extending in the axial direction of the crank pin bore in an inside circumferential surface of the crank pin bore such that the axial length of the breakage-starting portion is less than the axial length of the inside circumferential surface;

breaking and splitting the large end along the breakage-starting portion such that the large end is broken and split into a rod section and a cap section and such that the rod section and the cap section have broken and split surfaces; and

coupling the rod and cap sections to each other via fastening bolts such that the broken and split surfaces of the rod section and the cap section are engaged and aligned with each other.

28: The method according to claim 27, further comprising the step of surface-hardening an outer surface of the large end before the step of breaking and splitting.

29: The method according to claim 28, wherein the step of surface-hardening includes carburizing, hardening and tempering the outer surface of the large end.

30: The method according to claim 27, further comprising the step of surface-hardening an outer surface of the connecting rod before the step of breaking and splitting.

31: The method according to claim 30, wherein the step of surface-hardening includes carburizing, hardening and tempering the outer surface of the connecting rod.

32: The method according to claim 27, wherein the step of forming the breakage-starting portion includes the step of forming a groove by machining a portion of the crank pin bore.

33: The method according to claim 32, wherein the groove is machined so as to have a tapered configuration.

34: The method according to claim 27, wherein the step of forming the breakage-starting portion includes the step of forming a plurality of bores by laser machining a portion of the crank pin bore.

35: The method according to claim 27, wherein the axial length of the breakage-starting portion is substantially equal to or less than a diameter of the crank pin bore.

36: The method according to claim 27, wherein the breakage-starting portion extends from one end of the crank pin bore to a location just short of a middle of the axial length of the crank pin bore.

37: The method according to claim 27, wherein the breakage-starting portion extends along a middle portion of the axial length of the crank pin bore.

38: The method according to claim 27, further comprising the steps of forming a pair of shoulders in the large end and forming a bolt hole in each of the shoulders, the bolt holes extending in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the crank pin bore, and one end and another end of the breakage-starting portion are positioned on both sides of a line so as to extend across the line connecting axes of the bolt holes and extending in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the crank pin hole.

39: The method according to claim 27, wherein, of an intersection where the broken and split surfaces and the inside circumferential surface of the crank pin bore meet, a first portion of the intersection where the breakage-starting portion is formed extends along the breakage-starting portion, and a remaining portion of the intersection deviates from and is not coincident with an extension of the breakage-starting portion.

40: The method according to claim 27, further comprising the steps of forming a pair of shoulders in the large end and forming a bolt hole in each of the shoulders, the bolt holes extending in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the crank pin bore, and the bolt holes are close to the crank pin bore so that a distance between the bolt holes and the inside circumferential surface is less than a distance between the bolt holes and an outside wall of the crank pin bore.

41: The method according to claim 40, wherein the breakage-starting portion is formed at a position that is substantially coincident with a line connecting the axes of the bolt holes and extending in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the crank pin hole.