Simple Tech: Connecting rods explained

As you know from previous editions of Simple Tech, the piston converts the heat energy of combustion into a more useful up and down, or reciprocating motion. But what we need to produce forward motion is to convert this reciprocating motion into rotation. And that role is given to the bit that connects the piston to the crankshaft, called simply, the connecting rod. The most common place, it used to be, to see this was the steam locomotive where massive connecting rods rotate the wheels (on steam locomotives, the wheels function as the...