Patent Application
20180127028
This invention relates to a suspension adjuster and has been devised particularly though not solely for adjusting the camber of a motor vehicle wheel supported by a two bolt twin flange strut-type motor vehicle suspension.
Many forms of motor vehicle suspension use a telescopic strut upper end mounted to the body or chassis of the motor vehicle and the lower end provided with a pair of transversely extending parallel flanges (or plates) which typically each extend in a substantially vertical plane and between which is bolted and support the motor vehicle wheel hub assembly. The most common design is called a Chapman 2 bolt flange strut and commonly has a coiled spring engaged coaxially about the strut.
Strut-type suspensions of this nature are very common, particularly on the front suspension of a motor vehicle. However, many forms of such suspensions commonly in use on motor vehicles do not make any, or adequate, provision for camber alignment adjustment of a wheel mounted on the wheel hub. Such adjustment is desirable to correct misalignment due to suspension wear or sagging or to correct minor defects after collision damage has been repaired or after the vehicle suspension has been misaligned following impact with an object such as a curb or pothole. If the camber adjustment on a motor vehicle is not correct, steering problems may result and tire wear becomes significant.
Currently a previous US patent describes a method where one of the 2 existing bolts is replaced by a smaller diameter bolt. This difference is used as the means to gain this amount of offset adjustment at the stub axle plus pivoting of the other locating bolt thereby changing the vehicles camber/tire contact area.
This design of the adjustment range is dependent on reducing one of these 2 critical OEM specified bolt diameters that hold the stub axle wheel assembly. Adjustment range is minimal and the design does not allow for secure locking in position.
Another method is my (Kevin McIntyre) US patent which allows twice or more adjustment range of the previously mentioned invention/patent by boring the actual flange hole larger and allows existing OEM diameter bolts to be used.
This new innovative design described here in the present application overcomes and substantially ameliorates the shortcomings of the previously mentioned designs using undersize bolts or requiring extra large holes to be bored, insufficient adjustment and not a positive locking system.
Notwithstanding any other forms that may fall within its scope, one preferred form of the invention will now be described to the accompanying drawings wherein:
In the preferred form of the invention a camber adjuster is provided for a motor vehicle suspension having a strut 18 typically with a coaxial coil spring 19 and pair of parallel flanges 16 and 17 between which is mounted a support 15 for a motor vehicle hub 14. This support 15 is normally bolted between the flanges by way of a bolt 20 through aligned holes 3 and a lower bolt 7. To use the adjuster according to the invention the upper bolt 20 (or lower bolt 7) is removed as shown in
(a) A drill bit location device is provided 1.
(b) Similar size drill bit 2 to the existing flange hole size 3.
(c) Allowing it to be bored through the flange 4 in an offset position.
(d) The offset position is maintained while drilling by an extension of the drill location 9.
(e) Can be of different thickness but preferably would be half the size of the existing hole 3 with preferably the inside matching the radius of the drill 2.
(f) The lug 9 maintains straightness of the drill with it extending through to the hole in the rear flange enabling it also to be drilled accurately.
(g) Effectively now the front and rear flange holes are now slotted.
(h) In order that the slots are drilled or formed horizontally the actual drill location device may have a handle or a means to retain the drill device from moving from horizontal whilst drilling.
(i) One method that may be utilised is a plate 5 having a pair of legs 6 designed to be secured under or to pass either side of the existing other bolt 7 in a strut having a 2 bolt flange.
(j) With the drill device having a matching parallel flat section 29 allowing it to be securely located in a slotted hole 13. at the other end of this plate advantageously there would be no need for one hand to hold the device horizontal while drilling to ensure the hole being slotted horizontal.
(k) The bolt is held in the new position by tabs 11 placed in the slot
(l) Effectively, this design offers 3 times the adjustment travel of the previous invention/patent as in practice this normal reduction in bolt diameter is 2 mm.
(m) Further, this new invention is not a rotational, cam type adjustment so it is not subject to slippage or kerb knock damage.
(n) Placement of these tab spacers may be facilitated by any means. One suggested method is by including the tabs in a slotted washer 10. (
(o) Two washers may be used with one tab in each washer the washers having a slot 12 similar in length to the actual flange slot.
(p) Each tab 11 is positioned at the end of one slot with the tab protruding at 90 degrees to the washer face.
(q) The washers may be placed one on top of the other with both tabs protruding down into the flange slot.
(r) If the washers are stacked so both tabs are at one end means the bolt is located fully at opposite end of the slot.
(s) If the washers are placed so that one tab is at one end and the other tab is at the opposite end means the bolt is at the middle of the slot.
(t) Having both tabs at the other end means the bolt is now fully 100 offset the other direction.
(u) For additional slot length the drill jig may include a spacer so that the other end of the slot is drilled out the same length extending the bolt travel . . . this necessitates the inclusion of extra tab spacer to retain the location.
Although preferred embodiments of the invention may have been described in detail and with reference to specific examples, it should be appreciated and understood that various changes; substitutions and alterations may be made herein by those of ordinary skills in the relevant arts/s without departing from the no spirit or scope of the present invention and that it may be embodied in other forms.
The invention may also be said broadly to consist in or of parts, elements and features as illustrated and or referred to in the description of the invention, individually or collectively, in any or all combinations of parts or a plurality of said parts, elements or features.
It should be noted that the invention maybe formed from different natural or synthetic materials, for example metals or plastics. Different components of the inventory may be made of different materials in order to provide desired properties of strength and rigidity etc.
Where specific integers are mentioned which have known equivalents in the arts/s to which the invention relates, such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated as if individually set forth.
Features defining the invention include all the aspects set forth above in the description and illustrated in the drawings.
The inventor asserts his moral rights to be recognised as the creator and owner of this invention and design and the Intellectual Property therein together with copyright in this description and illustrations.
