Spindle system for wheel alignment correction with brake adjustment
AssigneeCompagnie Generale Des Etablissements Michelin
InventorsZachary Alexander Merrill, Matthew J Hanlon
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A spindle sleeve and washer for adjusting the camber, toe, or thrust angle of a vehicle wheel to a desired predetermined angle which allows for use of existing hub and spindle assembly without permanent modification to the vehicle.
Claims18
An apparatus for inducing a desired angular orientation of an axis of revolution of a tire about a spindle and accommodating change in position of brake components resulting from use of said apparatus, said apparatus comprising:
- a sleeve which includes an inner surface and an outer surface, an inboard end and an outboard end, said inner surface of said sleeve aligned with a surface of revolution about a first axis, said outer surface of said sleeve aligned with a surface of revolution about a second axis, said second axis positioned at a predetermined angle compared to said first axis, said outboard end includes at least one slot extending from said inner surface to said outer surface;
- a washer includes an outboard surface, an inboard surface, an inner surface forming an aperture, said aperture extending from said outboard surface to said inboard surface, said washer includes at least one tooth protruding radially inward from said inner surface for engaging said first slot of said sleeve;
- a first brake pin having a first reduced diameter end portion and a second reduced diameter end portion;
- and
- a second brake pin having a first reduced diameter end portion having a diameter smaller than the diameter of said first brake pin first reduced diameter end portion and a second reduced diameter end portion having a diameter smaller than the diameter of said first brake pin second reduced diameter end portion,
- wherein when said at least one tooth of said washer engages said at least one slot of said sleeve and said outboard surface of said washer is positioned perpendicular to said first axis of said sleeve, said inboard surface of said washer is perpendicular to said second axis of said sleeve.
An apparatus for inducing a desired angular orientation of an axis of revolution of a tire about a spindle and accommodating change in position of brake components resulting from use of said apparatus, said apparatus comprising:
- a sleeve which includes an inner surface and an outer surface, an inboard end and an outboard end, said inner surface of said sleeve aligned with a surface of revolution about a first axis, said outer surface of said sleeve aligned with a surface of revolution about a second axis, said second axis positioned at a predetermined angle compared to said first axis;
- a first brake pin having a first reduced diameter end portion and a second reduced diameter end portion;
- and
- a second brake pin having a first reduced diameter end portion having a diameter smaller than the diameter of said first brake pin first reduced diameter end portion and a second reduced diameter end portion having a diameter smaller than the diameter of said first brake pin second reduced diameter end portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.