MXPA99004915A - Assembly of steering pivot, forged of a pi - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a one-piece forged steering stub assembly for a vehicle, the stub assembly comprising: a body with a flange; hydraulic brake calibration brackets constructed and arranged to receive a hydraulic brake assembly, the calibration brackets are formed as a pair of calibration rails that protect the flanged body defining a C-shaped member for direct coupling with the brake caliper, a wheel axle extending from a first side of the body with flange, enlarged upper and lower shoulders extending from a second side of the flanged body opposite the wheel axis, the shoulders have a hole with the holes being aligned axially to receive a master pin, and a tie bar arm that is extends the enlarged bottom and in the opposite direction of the second side of the flanged body and separated from it in a general manner Parallel, the flanged body, the wheel axle, the tie rod arm, the enlarged shoulders and the brake calipers are all formed from a single steel billet as a one foot heavy duty forge

Description

ASSEMBLY OF STEERING PIVOT, FORGED OF ONE PIECE DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION a) Field of the Invention This invention relates to a steering pivot assembly for vehicles, and more particularly, to a one-piece steering pivot assembly for vehicles such as trucks, wherein the arm of the connecting rod as well as the caliber support of Hydraulic brake and spindle of the tree are forged together as one piece.

Description of Related Art In the prior art it is known to provide a connecting pin with connecting rods which are fastened to the pivot. This design is provided in U.S. Patent No. 1,755,627. It is also known in the prior art to provide an integral spigot arm with a steering pivot for suspension purposes as well as to provide an integral brake flange for attachment to a brake support plate. This design is described in U.S. Patent No. 2,556,767.

It is well known that a steering pivot can be provided for heavy duty motor vehicles such as trucks where the steering arm and connecting rod arm are attached to a steering pivot by means of a threaded portion and a clamping nut. In the conventional design of the prior art, the brakes are connected to a tree via a gauge support. The support is held by bolts on the pivot with a plurality of bolts in the brake flange. In addition, the arm of the connecting rod and the steering arm are bolted on the pivot through a tapered joint. U.S. Patent No. 3,908,480 discloses a steering pivot integrated with the arm of the connecting rod, the brake rails and separately formed by the lower pivot and the shank. U.S. Patent No. 5,624,011 discloses a forged steering pivot which has the direction and the integrated connecting rod arms, a shank and support elements for a drum brake assembly. U.S. Patent No. 5,219,176 discloses a one-piece steering pivot assembly wherein a brake-brace-shaped body is formed to accommodate disc brakes. There is a need in the field of motor vehicles to provide a steering pivot assembly wherein the arm of the connecting rod, the shank and the hydraulic brake caliper bracket are integrally formed as a unit forged in one piece. Such a design would eliminate the brake / pivot gauge seal and the connecting rod / pivot arm joint, and would therefore result in savings in assembly and weight times.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a one-piece steering pivot assembly for vehicles such as trucks or the like wherein a hydraulic brake caliper bracket is provided and wherein a steering pivot, a link arm and a link are integrated. connection bracket and a brake caliper bracket on a part of a beveled body. There are enlarged projections extending from the bevelled body of the beveled body opposite the steering pivot, the projections having a bore which is axially aligned to receive a master pin. The bevelled body, the wheel pin, the connecting rod arm and the brake caliper bracket are all formed from a single billet or steel preform as a one piece heavy duty forging. Such design eliminates the brake / pivot caliper joint and the connecting rod / pivot arm joint and therefore results in savings in assembly time and weight.

Other advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description and drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a top perspective view illustrating the unitary pivot assembly of this invention integrated to form a tree, steering rod and connecting rod. Figure 2 is a side view of the pivot assembly of Figure 1 (wherein the steering arm is omitted) as seen from the side of the mounting including the enlarged projections. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the pivot assembly of Figure 1 as seen along the cross-sectional line III-III of "Figure 2. Figure 4 is a top view of the pivot assembly of Figure 1. Figure 5 is a side view of the pivot assembly of Figure 1 as viewed from the shank side of the mounting along the axis of the shank Figure 6 is a side view of a modified embodiment of the pivot assembly of the invention including a steering arm.

Figures 7 to 14 are. perspective views illustrating the forging of the steering pivot to which this invention pertains with the heated billet.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITY With reference to Figure 1, there is shown a forged body 10 from which an integrally formed wheel shaft 12 extends, a steering arm 14 and an arm 16 of the steering rod project from the emptying in the manner shown in figure 1. The usual axis of the vehicle is shown with the number 2 and ends in a collar. The steering pivot 6 is connected to the axle 2 by the master pin 7 (see broken lines in Figure 1) which extend through the enlarged projections 30 and 32 of the steering arm 14 and the arm 16 of the dipstick. connection respectively. The master bolt 21 is retained on the shaft 18 by the bolt and washer shown by number 25. The forged body 10 is further provided with upper and lower hydraulic brake caliper brackets 20 and 22, respectively. As best seen in Figure 2, there are openings 31, 33 that extend respectively through the projections 30 and 32 enlarged to accommodate the master pin 7. The covers such as that shown with the number 35 in Figure 1 are fastened to the projections 30 and 32 by screws to close the master bolt therein. A steering rod 40 is fully connected to the steering arm 14 by a nut and bolt arrangement extending through the enlarged projection 14a. Similarly, the connecting rod 50 is pivotally connected to the connecting rod arm 16 with a bolt and nut arrangement extending through the enlarged projection 16a. As best seen in Figures 1 and 3, the beveled body 11 has openings such as 39 and 40 for a connection to the hydraulic brake caliper 9 (not shown). With reference to the modified modality of the figure 6, is similar to the embodiment shown in Fig. 2 except that it includes a steering arm 14 for connection to a steering rod, as illustrated in Fig. 1. Figs. 7 to 14 illustrate the forging of the steering pivot 10. this invention. The first stage is shown in figure 7 where a steel billet is heated up to forging conditions. The next step in the process is shown in Figure 8, where the heated billet 42 is brought into contact with a forging roll to provide a reduced section such as that shown with the numeral 43. Subsequently, and as shown in FIG. Fig. 9, a tail end and a preform such as that shown with numeral 46 is provided and billet formation 42 is carried out in a die. After this, and as shown in FIG. 10, a blocking step is carried out in which the steering arm 14 and the arm 16 of the connecting rod are formed as well as the beveled body 11 and the shaft 12. of wheel. Subsequently, and as shown in Fig. 11, the finished forging impression is carried out wherein the wheel axle is formed in its finished form and the enlarged projections 30 and 32 are provided on the steering arm 14 and the arm 16 of the connecting rod. Figure 12 shows the next step which is the removal of burrs such as those indicated with the number 47 in figures 10 and 11. In figure 13, the arm 16 of the connecting rod must be bent for die forming up to the angular position, as shown. The last stage is shown in Figure 14, which is a machining step in which threads are formed on the wheel axis 12, the openings are provided in the enlarged projections 30, 32 and the threaded screw bores. An important feature of this invention is the fact that the one-piece steering pivots by having the arms of the connecting rod integrally formed with the chamfered body 10 eliminates the costly machining and connection of the separate connecting rod arms with respect to to the previous steering pivots. This is also true when the steering arms are also integrally formed. The above procedure requires the formation and machining of separate projections so that the threaded portions of these arms of the connecting rod or steering arms must also be fastened thereto. further, the fact that there is a single chamfered body 10 having caliper support for connection to a hydraulic brake assembly also avoids the previously used connection. All these features are incorporated in a one-piece steering pivot assembly which is forged from a single steel billet for use in commercial heavy-duty vehicles such as trucks. This unitary construction not only provides a robust and reliable connection, but also reduces the costs of additional components as well as machining and enlarged connection lugs, which require additional steel for their manufacture. Steel is the preferred metal used in the forging of the billet in a unitary steering pivot. Although the steering arms and arms of the connecting rod are shown in certain geometric positions with respect to the chamfered body 10, it is clear that they can take various shapes and angles with respect thereto. Although the foregoing invention has been shown and described with respect to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention described herein. .

Claims (4)

1. A one-piece forged steering pivot assembly for a vehicle, the pivot assembly is characterized in that it comprises: a chamfered body; hydraulic brake caliper brackets constructed and positioned to receive a hydraulic brake assembly; a wheel axle extending from a first side of the beveled body; enlarged upper and • lower protrusions extending from a second side of the bevelled body opposite the wheel axis, the projections have a perforation with perforations that are axially aligned to receive a master pin; and an arm of the connecting rod extending from the enlarged lower projection and away from the second side of the beveled body and spaced apart from it in a generally parallel manner, the bevelled body, the wheel axle, the arm of the connecting rod, enlarged projections and brake caliper brackets are all formed from a single single steel billet as a one piece heavy duty forging.

2. The steering pivot assembly, according to claim 1, characterized in that it also comprises a steering arm.

3. The steering pivot assembly, according to claim 2, characterized in that the steering arm and the connecting rod arm include additional enlarged projections at opposite ends to the beveled body, the additional enlarged projections have perforations therethrough. for connection to the steering and connecting rod joints. .

4. The steering pivot assembly, according to claim 2, characterized in that the wheel axis is formed to the bevelled body opposite the steering arms and the connecting rod.