GB2343666A - Steering knuckle - Google Patents

Steering knuckle Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2343666A
GB2343666A GB9824888A GB9824888A GB2343666A GB 2343666 A GB2343666 A GB 2343666A GB 9824888 A GB9824888 A GB 9824888A GB 9824888 A GB9824888 A GB 9824888A GB 2343666 A GB2343666 A GB 2343666A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
bore
annular portion
steering knuckle
clamp arms
stud
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB9824888A
Other versions
GB9824888D0 (en
GB2343666B (en
Inventor
Rolf Dominique Tigges
Andrew Herbert
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Delphi Automotive Systems France
Original Assignee
Delphi Automotive Systems France
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Delphi Automotive Systems France filed Critical Delphi Automotive Systems France
Priority to GB9824888A priority Critical patent/GB2343666B/en
Publication of GB9824888D0 publication Critical patent/GB9824888D0/en
Publication of GB2343666A publication Critical patent/GB2343666A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2343666B publication Critical patent/GB2343666B/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
    • B60G7/00—Pivoted suspension arms; Accessories thereof
    • B60G7/005—Ball joints
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
    • B62D7/00—Steering linkage; Stub axles or their mountings
    • B62D7/18—Steering knuckles; King pins
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
    • B60G2200/00—Indexing codes relating to suspension types
    • B60G2200/10—Independent suspensions
    • B60G2200/14—Independent suspensions with lateral arms
    • B60G2200/142—Independent suspensions with lateral arms with a single lateral arm, e.g. MacPherson type
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
    • B60G2204/00—Indexing codes related to suspensions per se or to auxiliary parts
    • B60G2204/10—Mounting of suspension elements
    • B60G2204/12—Mounting of springs or dampers
    • B60G2204/129—Damper mount on wheel suspension or knuckle
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
    • B60G2204/00—Indexing codes related to suspensions per se or to auxiliary parts
    • B60G2204/10—Mounting of suspension elements
    • B60G2204/14—Mounting of suspension arms
    • B60G2204/148—Mounting of suspension arms on the unsprung part of the vehicle, e.g. wheel knuckle or rigid axle
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
    • B60G2204/00—Indexing codes related to suspensions per se or to auxiliary parts
    • B60G2204/40—Auxiliary suspension parts; Adjustment of suspensions
    • B60G2204/416—Ball or spherical joints
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
    • B60G2206/00—Indexing codes related to the manufacturing of suspensions: constructional features, the materials used, procedures or tools
    • B60G2206/01—Constructional features of suspension elements, e.g. arms, dampers, springs
    • B60G2206/50—Constructional features of wheel supports or knuckles, e.g. steering knuckles, spindle attachments

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Vehicle Body Suspensions (AREA)
  • Steering-Linkage Mechanisms And Four-Wheel Steering (AREA)

Abstract

A steering knuckle 10 comprises an annular portion 12; a first arm 14 connected at one end 20 to the annular portion and having a free end 22 with a steering system attachment bracket 24; a second arm 16 connected at one end 26 to the annular portion and having a free end 28 with a suspension mounting portion 30; and a pivot mounting bracket 18 connected to the annular portion. The pivot mounting bracket includes a pair of spaced clamp arms 32 defining a first bore 34 therebetween extending between first and second surfaces 50,52 of the clamp arms, and a second bore 36 opening tangentially into the first bore and extending substantially perpendicular to the first bore and substantially parallel with the first and second surfaces, the second bore being unequally spaced from the first and second surfaces. Provides off-centre clamping of the stud 40 of a ball-joint assembly 42.

Description

A STEERING KNUCKLE Technical Field The present invention relates to a steering knuckle for a motor vehicle, and an assembly of a steering knuckle and a ball-joint assembly.
Background of the Invention A steering knuckle is positioned in a motor vehicle adjacent each front wheel. The steering knuckle provides support for the wheel bearing; and a mechanical connection between the vehicle chassis, the shock absorber or suspension strut for the wheel, and the steering system of the vehicle. A pinch bolt connection arrangement is typically provided between the pivot mounting bracket on the steering knuckle and a ball-joint assembly attached to the vehicle chassis.
Summary of the Invention It is an object of the present invention to provide an improvement over known steering knuckles having a pinch bolt connection arrangement.
A steering knuckle in accordance with the present invention for a motor vehicle comprises an annular portion; a first arm connected at one end to the annular portion and having a free end with a steering system attachment bracket; a second arm connected at one end to the annular portion and having a free end with a suspension mounting portion; and a pivot mounting bracket connected to the annular portion; wherein the pivot mounting bracket includes a pair of spaced clamp arms defining a first bore therebetween extending between first and second surfaces of the clamp arms, and a second bore opening tangentially into the first bore and extending substantially perpendicular to the first bore and substantially parallel with the first and second surfaces, the second bore being unequally spaced from the first and second surfaces.
The present invention also includes an assembly of a steering knuckle as herein defined and a ball-joint assembly attached to the steering knuckle.
The present invention provides for off-centre clamping of the stud of a ball-joint assembly when positioned in the pivot mounting bracket of the steering knuckle, which has advantages in terms of improved packaging with potential reduced weight and reduced cost.
Brief Description of the Drawings The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a steering knuckle and an assembly in accordance with the present invention on the line I-I of Figure 2; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view on the line II-II of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a perspective view of the steering knuckle and assembly of Figures 1 and 2 with the bolt and nut omitted for clarity.
Description of the Preferred Embodiment Referring to the drawings, the steering knuckle 10 is for use in a motor vehicle and is positioned adjacent a front wheel (not shown) of the motor vehicle. The steering knuckle 10 is formed in one piece and comprises an annular portion 12, a first arm 14, a second arm 16, and a pivot mounting bracket 18. The annular portion 12 provides support for the wheel bearing (not shown) and, where required, allows passage of a drive shaft (not shown) for the wheel. The first arm 14 is connected at one end 20 to the annular portion 12, and has a free end 22 with an attachment bracket 24 for connection to the steering system (not shown) of the motor vehicle. The second arm 16 is connected at one end 26 to the annular portion 12, and has a free end 28 with a mounting portion 30 for connection to a shock absorber or suspension strut (not shown) for the wheel. The pivot mounting bracket 18 is connected to the annular portion 12 and provides part of a pivot connection to the chassis (not shown) of the motor vehicle. The pivot connection further includes a ball-joint assembly 42 having a stud 40. The steering knuckle 10 is cast or forged in metal.
The pivot mounting bracket 18 comprises a pair of spaced clamp arms 32 which define a first bore 34 therebetween for receiving the stud 40 of the ball-joint assembly 42. The first bore 34 extends between first and second surfaces 50,52 of the clamp arms 32. A second bore 36 extends through the clamp arms 32 in an axial direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of the first bore 34 and substantially parallel to the first and second surfaces 50,52, and tangentially opens into the first bore. A bolt 46 passes through the second bore 36 and makes a screw thread connection with a nut 48. Tightening of the bolt 46 and nut 48 draws the clamp arms 32 together to clamp or pinch the clamp arms against the stud 40 of the ball-joint assembly 42. The stud 40 may have a circumferential notch 44, or a tangential notch, for accurate positioning and aligning of the stud 40 relative to the bolt 46.
In the present invention, the second bore 36 in the clamp arms 32 of the pivot mounting bracket 18 is unequally spaced (off-centre) from the first and second surfaces 50,52. That is, the second bore 36 is either positioned closer to the second surface 52 than the first surface 50, as shown in the drawings, or is positioned closer to the first surface than the second surface. The notch 44, when present, is positioned on the stud 40 to ensure that the clamping area (contact area between the stud and the clamping arms 32) on the stud above the bolt 46 is unequal to the clamping area on the stud below the bolt. Where no notch is present, unequal clamping areas can be achieved by ensuring full insertion of the stud 40 in the first bore 34. As a consequence of the above arrangement, smaller and better packaging with increased stiffness is possible, along with potential weight reduction (the use of aluminium for the steering knuckle rather than iron).

Claims (6)

Claims
1. A steering knuckle for a motor vehicle comprising an annular portion; a first arm connected at one end to the annular portion and having a free end with a steering system attachment bracket; a second arm connected at one end to the annular portion and having a free end with a suspension mounting portion; and a pivot mounting bracket connected to the annular portion; wherein the pivot mounting bracket includes a pair of spaced clamp arms defining a first bore therebetween extending between first and second surfaces of the clamp arms, and a second bore opening tangentially into the first bore and extending substantially perpendicular to the first bore and substantially parallel with the first and second surfaces, the second bore being unequally spaced from the first and second surfaces.
2. A steering knuckle as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the second surface of the clamp arms of the pivot mounting bracket is remote from the annular portion; and wherein the second bore is positioned closer to the second surface than the first surface.
3. A steering knuckle substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.
4. An assembly of a steering knuckle as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, and a ball-joint assembly having a stud, wherein the stud is positioned in the first bore between the clamp arms of the pivot mounting bracket; and wherein a bolt is passed through the second bore and screw threaded with a nut to clamp the clamp arms against the stud.
5. An assembly as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the stud has a notch which aligns with the bolt.
6. An assembly substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.
GB9824888A 1998-11-13 1998-11-13 A steering knuckle Expired - Fee Related GB2343666B (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9824888A GB2343666B (en) 1998-11-13 1998-11-13 A steering knuckle

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9824888A GB2343666B (en) 1998-11-13 1998-11-13 A steering knuckle

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB9824888D0 GB9824888D0 (en) 1999-01-06
GB2343666A true GB2343666A (en) 2000-05-17
GB2343666B GB2343666B (en) 2002-06-05

Family

ID=10842384

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB9824888A Expired - Fee Related GB2343666B (en) 1998-11-13 1998-11-13 A steering knuckle

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2343666B (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN104942619A (en) * 2015-06-19 2015-09-30 法格霭德兰汽车配件（昆山）有限公司 Steering knuckle positioning fixture

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN111516753A (en) * 2020-04-24 2020-08-11 东风汽车集团有限公司 Knuckle for connecting driving wheel of hub motor with Macpherson front axle and connecting structure of knuckle

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2340093B (en) * 1998-07-31 2002-01-23 Delphi France Automotive Sys Steering knuckle and method of manufacture
DE19841811A1 (en) * 1998-09-12 2000-03-16 Opel Adam Ag Steering knuckle with hub and console has projecting arm formed by vertical console arm and bridge between hub and console wall end

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN104942619A (en) * 2015-06-19 2015-09-30 法格霭德兰汽车配件（昆山）有限公司 Steering knuckle positioning fixture

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9824888D0 (en) 1999-01-06
GB2343666B (en) 2002-06-05

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US7614629B2 (en) King pin suspension mount adapter
US4722540A (en) Steering knuckle assembly
US7708124B1 (en) Anchoring sleeve assembly and method of use
EP1043212B1 (en) Steering knuckle and suspension module
KR930000752B1 (en) Steering knuckle assembly
US6170919B1 (en) Vehicle suspension assembly
JP2593889Y2 (en) Bicycle hub axle
US7673724B2 (en) Brake mechanism
EP0473876A1 (en) Stamped steering knuckle for mounting suspension components
US6419250B1 (en) One-piece forged steering knuckle assembly
JPS59216714A (en) Ball joint for suspension of wheel
EP3027438B1 (en) Cross arm bushing assembly useful for vehicle suspension
US4418938A (en) Vehicle strut suspension with camber adjustment
US7163217B2 (en) Device for steerable suspension of a vehicle wheel
GB2343666A (en) Steering knuckle
US5785141A (en) Motorcycle chassis and swing arm combination
US11938770B2 (en) Shock absorber mounting assembly
CA2469057A1 (en) Method for mounting a wheel on an axle housing for vehicles
GB2309947A (en) Vehicle suspension
EP0108041B1 (en) Strut for macpherson suspensions for motor vehicles
JP3995271B2 (en) Non-drive steerable wheel suspension
JPS62146792A (en) Mounting structure to car body of front fork
JPH0231344Y2 (en)
JPH07186652A (en) Shaft member fixing structure of suspension member made of light alloy
JPH07186651A (en) Shaft member fixing structure on suspension member made of light alloy

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20061113