Explore Topics of Piston Pin (also called Gudgeon Pin or Wrist Pin)

It is used to support the entire load coming from connecting rod and also connect the piston to the connecting rod.

Requirement:

To transfer the piston force to connecting rod it is necessary to connect both of them tightly in order to take all load from piston as well as from connecting rod.

Function:

Piston pin is generally forged and is made from steel alloy with good strength and hardness. It connects the piston to the connecting rod acting as a bearing for the connecting rod.

Piston pin is also sometimes referred as gudgeon pin or wrist pin and is generally forged hollow steel alloy rod which is pressed into the piston. It is generally made such that it can be removed easily from the piston cross as well as connecting rod end for replacement. Piston pin has to always resist high temperatures and has to also accommodate with uneven supply of lubricating oil due to its location under the piston face. Usually there are two main piston pin designs used in engines, semi floating and full floating. In case of semi floating, the pin is attached using an interference fit (press fit) with the journal inside the piston. While a fully floating configuration has a bearing surface between both the small end of the connecting rod as well as between the gudgeon pin and piston journal.