Definition of "pushrod"

(mechanical engineering) A rigid reciprocating rod that, by its movement, transmits force to actuate a mechanism.

1. (automotive) A rod in a piston engine that actuates rocker arms above the cylinder head.  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • The cam-within-a-cam concept has existed for decades, but perfecting it for production might just add another decade to the life of the pushrod engine.

     2007 January 14, Don Sherman, “Making Modern Horsepower the Old-Fashioned Way”, in New York Times‎

2. (cycling) A rod in an internal gear hub that actuates the shifting mechanism.  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • An internal-gear hub with a hollow axle may be re-oiled by removing the pushrod or indicator spindle and squirting oil into the end of the axle.

     2000, 2008, “Internal-Gear Hubs”, in Sheldon Brown's Bicycle Technical Info‎

   • Push Rod (81.85 mm) for Axle Length 168 mm

     2018, “NEXUS 3-SPEED HUB w/Coaster Brake”, in Manuals & Technical Documents‎

3. (aviation) A rod used in the transmission of flight control inputs to an aircraft's control surfaces.  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • On 17 August 2005, a Saab 2000, at the ramp, with controls locked, was subjected to jet blast of around 126 kt (233 km/h) from a passing B747. This resulted in the bending of the left aileron control pushrod, causing it to fail at the time of takeoff. The crew had to make an emergency landing.

     2013 May, Bureau d'Enquêtes et d'Analyses pour la sécurité de l'aviation civile, “1.16.9.5: Known events”, in Report: Accident on 9 August 2007 off the coast of Moorea (French Polynesia) to the DHC6-300 registered F-OIQI operated by Air Moorea‎, archived from the original on 31 January 2021, page 55