Control rod
AssigneeThe Boler Company
InventorsMark W. Dankow, Christopher W. Forrest, Vincent Mastrangelo, Thomas Sholeen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fabricated control rod having a spacer with a “C” or “U-shaped” channel cross-section. The spacer also has a bushing tube welded to each of its ends. Each end of the spacer is shaped to have a substantially continuous mating engagement with the exterior side surface of the adjacent bushing tube. Also, at least a substantially complete perimeter weld joins both the interior and exterior of each shaped end to the bushing tube.
Claims29
A fabricated control rod for transmitting forces from a vehicle axle to at least one of a vehicle frame and vehicle suspension component, comprising:
- spacer having a generally uniform C or U-shaped channel cross-section along its length and having first and second C or U-shaped ends;
- a first bushing tube having an exterior side surface welded to said first C or U-shaped end of said spacer, said first C or U-shaped end of said spacer being shaped to have an interior and an exterior, said first C or U-shaped end of said spacer further being shaped to have a substantially continuous mating engagement with the exterior side surface of said first bushing tube, and at least a substantially complete perimeter weld along both the interior and exterior of said first C or U-shaped end of said spacer to join the first end to said first bushing tube;
- and
- a second bushing tube having an exterior side surface welded to said second C or U-shaped end of said spacer, said second C or U-shaped end of said spacer being shaped to have an interior and an exterior, said second C or U-shaped end of said spacer further being shaped to have a substantially continuous mating engagement with the exterior side surface of said second bushing tube, and at least a substantially complete perimeter weld along both the interior and exterior of said second C or U-shaped end of said spacer to join the second end to said second bushing tube.
A fabricated control rod for transmitting forces from a vehicle axle to at least one of a vehicle frame and vehicle suspension component, comprising:
- a spacer having a generally uniform C or U-shaped channel cross-section along its length and having a first C or U-shaped end and a second C or U-shaped end, said first C or U-shaped end having a perimeter defined by an outline of its shape and said second C or U-shaped end also having a perimeter defined by an outline of its shape;
- a first bushing tube having an exterior side surface welded to said first C or U-shaped end of said spacer by a substantially complete perimeter weld along the perimeter of said first C or U-shaped end of said spacer to join said first end of said spacer to said first bushing tube;
- and
- a second bushing tube having an exterior side surface welded to said second C or U-shaped end of said spacer by a substantially complete perimeter weld along the perimeter of said second C or U-shaped end of said spacer to said second bushing tube.
A fabricated control rod for transmitting forces from a vehicle axle to at least one of a vehicle frame and vehicle suspension component, comprising:
- a spacer having a C or U-shaped channel cross-section wherein said C or U-shape of said cross-section includes an open end and a closed end and wherein said spacer has a first C or U-shaped end and a second C or U-shaped end;
- a first bushing tube welded to said spacer at said first C or U-shaped end and defining a first bushing tube bore having a first bushing tube bore axis that extends in a direction parallel to a direction generally defined by a line extending from said open end of said cross-section to said closed end of said cross-section;
- and
- a second bushing tube welded to said spacer at said second C or U-shaped end and defining a second bushing tube bore having a second bushing tube bore axis that extends in a direction parallel to said first bushing tube bore axis.
A fabricated control rod assembly for transmitting forces from a vehicle axle to at least one of a vehicle frame and vehicle suspension component, comprising:
- a spacer having a generally uniform C or U-shaped channel cross-section along its length and having first and second C or U-shaped ends;
- a first bushing tube having an exterior side surface welded to said first C or U-shaped end of said spacer, said first C or U-shaped end of said spacer being shaped to have an interior and an exterior, said first C or U-shaped end of said spacer further being shaped to have a substantially continuous mating engagement with the exterior side surface of said first bushing tube, and at least a substantially complete perimeter weld along both the interior and exterior of said first C or U-shaped end of said spacer to join the first end to said first bushing tube;
- a second bushing tube having an exterior side surface welded to said second C or U-shaped end of said spacer, said second C or U-shaped end of said spacer being shaped to have an interior and an exterior, said second end of said spacer further being shaped to have a substantially continuous mating engagement with the exterior side surface of said second bushing tube, and at least a substantially complete perimeter weld joining both the interior and exterior of said second end of said spacer to said second bushing tube;
- means positioned within said first bushing tube for connecting said fabricated control rod to a vehicle axle;
- and
- means positioned within said second bushing tube for connecting said fabricated control rod to at least one of a vehicle frame and vehicle suspension component.
A fabricated control rod for transmitting forces from a vehicle axle to at least one of a vehicle frame and vehicle suspension component, comprising:
- a spacer having a generally uniform C or U-shaped channel cross-section along its length wherein said C or U-shape of said cross-section includes an open end and a closed end and wherein said spacer has a first C or U-shaped end and a second C or U-shaped end;
- a first bushing tube welded to said spacer at said first C or U-shaped end and defining a first bushing tube bore having a first bushing tube bore axis that extends in a direction parallel to a direction generally defined by a line extending from said open end of said cross-section to said closed end of said cross-section;
- and
- a second bushing tube welded to said spacer at said second C or U-shaped end and defining a second bushing tube bore having a second bushing tube bore axis that extends in a direction parallel to said first bushing tube bore axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.