Knuckle assembly for use with a wheel suspension system, a wheel suspension system and vehicle including the same

A knuckle assembly for use with a wheel suspension system of a vehicle having a vehicle longitudinal axis, a frame extending therealong, the suspension system comprising upper and lower suspension arms, each having a frame engaging end at which the arm is configured to be pivotally connected to the frame about a proximal suspension axis, and a knuckle engaging end at which the arm is configured to be pivotally connected to the knuckle assembly about a distal suspension axis parallel to the proximal suspension axis, said knuckle assembly comprising:

• (a) a knuckle configured to enable a wheel to be mounted thereto, the knuckle having a knuckle body extending along a vertical knuckle axis and coaxial therewith, and comprising upper and lower abutting surfaces, and at least an upper and a lower vertical bore portion extending inwardly from the respective abutting surface along the vertical knuckle axis, and wherein said upper and lower vertical bore portions constitute a portion of a single through-bore extending between the upper and lower abutting surfaces;
• (b) an upper steering axle and a lower steering axle, each coaxial with the vertical knuckle axis, and having an inner steering axle portion fixedly received within the respective vertical bore portion and an outer steering axle portion protruding from the upper and lower abutting surfaces, respectively, and wherein the upper and lower steering axles constitute respective upper and lower portions of a common steering axle;
• (c) an upper spacing member and a lower spacing member, each made from a low-friction material, in contact with the respective abutting surface, each spacing member having a flanged portion surrounding the outer portion of the corresponding axle and an in-bore received portion, snuggly fitted within corresponding vertical bore portion and surrounding the inner portion of the corresponding axle;
• and
• (d) an upper joint and a lower joint, each configured for connecting thereto the knuckle engaging end of the corresponding suspension arm so as to allow the arm to pivot about the distal suspension axis;
• each joint contacting the corresponding spacing member that distance it from the corresponding abutting surface and freely receiving the outer portion of the corresponding steering axle, so as to allow the knuckle, together with the axle, to pivot between the two joints only about the vertical knuckle axis which maintains its position and orientation relative to the joints.