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US 11,891,141 B2Granted
Knuckle for a self-steering axle/suspension system
AssigneeHendrickson USA, L.L.C.
InventorsJay D. White, David L. Schaeffer, Dhawal P. Dharaiya
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A knuckle for a heavy-duty vehicle self-steering axle/suspension system that includes integrally formed structure for mounting components of a drum brake system. The knuckle includes a spindle that is welded directly to the knuckle and a discrete tie rod arm bolted to the knuckle.
Claims21
A knuckle for a self-steering axle/suspension system for a heavy-duty vehicle having a drum brake system, said knuckle comprising:
- a body, said body being adapted for receiving a king pin of said self-steering axle/suspension system for pivotal connection of said knuckle to an axle of said self-steering axle/suspension system;
- a spindle extending from an outboard surface of said body;
- a first arm extending from an inboard surface of said body, said first arm having an opening for receiving a first end portion of said king pin;
- a second arm extending from said inboard surface of said body, said second arm having an opening coaxially aligned with said opening of said first arm for receiving an opposite second end portion of said king pin;
- and
- drum brake system component mounting structure, said drum brake system component mounting structure including:
- at least one brake shoe mounting opening;
- and
- a cam tube opening, said drum brake system component mounting structure mounting one or more components of said drum brake system, wherein said body, said first arm, said second arm, and said drum brake system component mounting structure are integrally formed, a distance between an outboard end of a bearing shoulder of said spindle and a vertical axis extending through said first arm opening and said second arm opening is within about 7.5 inches to about 10.5 inches, and a distance between a vertical centerline of said at least one brake shoe mounting opening and said vertical axis is within about 4.0 inches to about 7.0 inches.
6 more elements
A knuckle for a self-steering axle/suspension system for a heavy-duty vehicle having a drum brake system, said knuckle comprising:
- a body, said body being adapted for receiving a king pin of said self-steering axle/suspension system for pivotal connection of said knuckle to an axle of said self-steering axle/suspension system;
- a spindle extending from an outboard surface of said body;
- a first arm extending from an inboard surface of said body, said first arm having an opening for receiving a first end portion of said king pin;
- a second arm extending from said inboard surface of said body, said second arm having an opening coaxially aligned with said opening of said first arm for receiving an opposite second end portion of said king pin;
- a discrete tie rod arm, said tie rod arm being removably connected to said body of said knuckle without welds via a first fastener and a second fastener, said first fastener being positioned offset axially and vertically from said second fastener;
- and
- drum brake system component mounting structure, said drum brake system component mounting structure including:
- at least one brake shoe mounting opening;
- and
- a cam tube opening, said drum brake system component mounting structure mounting one or more components of said drum brake system, wherein said body, said first arm, said second arm, and said drum brake system component mounting structure are integrally formed.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.