The present invention relates to a bushing for adjusting the camber and/or caster of a steerable wheel assembly.
The typical vehicular steering assembly is conventionally manufactured to provide a fixed camber and caster. The amount of camber and caster is predetermined and the wheel assembly is manufactured to these predetermined values.
Camber is the angle of the wheel relative to vertical, as viewed from the front or the rear of the vehicle. If the bottom of the wheel that contacts the road leans in towards the chassis, it has negative camber; if it leans away from the vehicle, it has positive camber.
Caster is the angle to which the steering pivot axis is tilted forward or rearward from vertical. If the pivot axis is tilted backward (that is, the top pivot is positioned farther rearward than the bottom pivot), then the caster is positive; if it's tilted forward, then the caster is negative.
Due to manufacturing tolerances and changes of condition of the vehicle, such as wear and environmental factors, camber and caster adjustment is desired to provide individualized and improved handling characteristic of the vehicle. A plurality of camber and caster adjusters are available, for example strut assemblies, joint assemblies and bushings or sleeves with an eccentrically displaced hole for adjustment. Most of these adjusters require multiple parts, tools, and/or technical skills to make the necessary adjustments to the camber and caster of a vehicle.
In view of the foregoing disadvantages of the prior art, it would be advantageous to have a simple, low cost adjuster that is easy to use and that can safely and effectively adjust the camber and caster of a vehicle.
The present invention is directed toward an adjustable camber and caster bushing. The bushing comprises a planar portion having a first side, a second side, an aperture and an outer perimeter. The bushing also comprises a tubular portion. The tubular portion is integrally formed with and unitary with the planar portion, and it is perpendicular to and extends away from the planar portion. The tubular portion comprises an inner diameter, an outer diameter, a first end, and a second end. The inner diameter defines an aperture extending the length of the tubular portion. The inner diameter is tapered, while the outer diameter remains constant. The tubular portion also comprises a slot extending the length of the tubular portion.
In accordance with the present invention, it has been discovered that the adjustable camber and caster bushing reduces the number of components and time needed to adjust the camber and caster of a vehicle steer assembly.
The above, as well as other advantages of the present invention, will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description when considered in the light of the accompanying drawings in which:
It is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative orientations and step sequences, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions, directions or other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.
The planar portion 16 comprises a first side 20, a second side 22, an aperture 24 and an outer perimeter 26. The aperture 24 extends from the first side 20 of the planar portion 16 to the second side 22 of the planar portion 16 and maintains a constant inner diameter 28, as shown in
As shown in
The tubular portion 18 is perpendicular to and extends away from the second side 22 of the planar portion 16. The tubular portion 18 comprises an inner diameter 30, an outer diameter 32, a first end 34 and a second end 36, as depicted in
As best illustrated in
The tubular portion 18 also comprises a slot 42, as depicted in the
The lengthwise slot 42 provided in the bushing 12 provides for a slip fit with the knuckle or yoke 14. The slot 42 also provides a mechanical locking feature by allowing expansion of the bushing 12 when a mating tapered part, such as a ball joint (not shown), is installed, and forces outward movement of the bushing 12 into the knuckle or yoke 14, depending on the design configuration. The slot 42 allows for the same bushing 12 to be used in multiple steering assemblies 10.
A method of using the adjustable camber and caster bushing 12 to align the camber and caster of a vehicle steer assembly 10 will now be described herein. The method of aligning the camber and caster of a vehicle steer assembly 10 uses an integrally formed, one-piece bushing 12 comprising a planar portion 16 and a tubular portion 18.
The tubular portion 18 is perpendicular to and extending away from a second side 22 of the planar portion 16. The planar portion 16 and the tubular portion 18 have an aperture 24, 38 extending the length of the bushing 12. The bushing 12 also has a slot 42 that extends the length of the bushing 12.
The method of aligning the camber and caster of a vehicle steer assembly 10 includes fitting the bushing 12 into an aperture (not shown) in a knuckle or yoke 14. A first side 20 of the planar portion 16 is parallel with a planar surface 44 of the knuckle or yoke 14 when the bushing 12 is inserted into the steering assembly 10, as depicted in
A reading, or measurement, of the initial camber and caster is taken and the settings are calculated to determine if they are correct for the particular application, or if any adjustment is needed to provide a desired camber and caster alignment setting;
As depicted in
The bushing 12 can be rotated 90 degrees from its original position and fitted back into the aperture in the knuckle or yoke 14. The ball joint is again placed into the bushing 12 and tightened to provide a second angle for camber and caster alignment.
The above steps can be repeated again to rotate the bushing 12 180 degrees from its original position, to provide a third angle for camber and caster alignment. The above steps can be repeated yet again, if needed, to rotate the bushing 12 270 degrees from its original position, to provide a fourth angle for camber and caster alignment.
As previously discussed, the bushing 12 can be inserted in one position, but if the camber/caster of the steering assembly 10 needs to be adjusted, the bushing 12 can be removed, rotated and replaced back into the aperture of the knuckle or yoke 14. Because of the different wall thicknesses of the tubular portion 18 and the angle of the tapered inner diameter 30 of the tubular portion 18 of the bushing 12, each rotation incrementally changes the camber/caster to tilt the vehicle wheel in or out. The simple one piece design allows for easily making four different camber/caster adjustments, without having to refer to a manual to determine adjustment increments.
This simple design also provides a secure mechanical lock between the components. Locking is achieved by a mating tapered component, for example a ball joint, that when inserted in the bushing 12 causes expansion due to the tightened ball joint being pulled in the bushing 12. This causes the slot 42 to open and the outer diameter 32 of the bushing 12 to expand and lock into the knuckle or yoke 14 bore. Other designs have multiple parts that must have anti rotational features that, if loosened, allows the camber/caster adjustment to be lost. This design, if loosened, will not cause a loss in the camber/caster adjustment.
In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, the present invention has been described in what is considered to represent its preferred embodiments, however, it should be noted that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its scope or spirit.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/289,391 filed on Feb. 1, 2016, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62289391 | Feb 2016 | US |