Knuckle assembly
OwnerNicholas J. KELLY, Bryan D. HACKETT +1inventors
InventorsNicholas J. KELLY, Bryan D. HACKETT, Steven E. HUNTER
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A knuckle assembly for a wheelend assembly of a vehicle is disclosed, having a spindle comprising an outboard end for receiving the wheelend assembly, an inboard end, and a spindle axis extending between the outboard end and the inboard end, and a flange portion extending radially from the spindle. A knuckle is cast about the inboard end of the spindle and may at least partially encapsulate the flange on an inboard side of the flange and an outboard side of the flange. Novel geometries for the knuckle and spindle, having different materials, are disclosed, along with a method of forming the knuckle assembly.
Claims26
A knuckle assembly for a wheelend assembly of a vehicle, comprising:
- a spindle, comprising:
- an outboard end for receiving the wheelend assembly, an inboard end, and a spindle axis extending between the outboard end and the inboard end;
- a flange portion extending radially from the spindle;
- a knuckle cast about the inboard end of the spindle and at least partially encapsulating the flange portion on an inboard side of the flange portion and an outboard side of the flange portion, wherein, when the knuckle is cast about the inboard end of the spindle, the spindle is heated to above half a temperature of molten metal used to form the knuckle.
A knuckle assembly for a wheelend assembly of a vehicle, comprising:
- a spindle, comprising:
- an outboard end for receiving the wheelend assembly, an inboard end, and a spindle axis extending between the outboard end and the inboard end;
- a knuckle cast about the inboard end of the spindle;
- and
- an oxidation inhibitor disposed at an interface between the spindle and the knuckle,
- wherein, when the knuckle is cast about the inboard end of the spindle, the spindle is heated to above half a temperature of molten metal used to form the knuckle.
A knuckle assembly for a wheelend assembly of a vehicle, comprising:
- a spindle, comprising:
- an outboard end for receiving the wheelend assembly, an inboard end, and a spindle axis extending between the outboard end and the inboard end;
- and
- a knuckle, disposed at the inboard end of the spindle, comprising:
- a knuckle body disposed about the inboard end of the spindle, the inboard end of the spindle received in the knuckle body;
- and
- at least a part of the knuckle body extending inboard of the spindle and toward the spindle axis, such that a virtual cylindrical extension of the spindle in the inboard direction coincides with the part of the knuckle body extending inboard from the spindle end and toward the spindle axis,
- wherein, when the knuckle is disposed about the inboard end of the spindle, the spindle is heated to above half a temperature of molten metal used to form the knuckle.
A method of forming a knuckle assembly for a wheelend assembly of a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a spindle, comprising an outboard end for receiving the wheelend assembly, an inboard end, a spindle axis extending between the outboard end and the inboard end, and a flange portion extending radially from the spindle;
- and
- casting a knuckle about the inboard end of the spindle and at least partially encapsulating the flange on an inboard side of the flange and an outboard side of the flange.
- wherein, when the knuckle is cast about the inboard end of the spindle, the spindle is heated to above half a temperature of molten metal used to form the knuckle cast.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.