Cam mechanism for an adjustable wheel mounting assembly

A adjustable mounting assembly for a steerable wheel assembly comprising:

• a yoke having an upper arm and a lower arm;
• a first ball joint forging secured to one of said upper and lower arms of said yoke;
• a second ball joint forging adjustably secured to the other of said upper and lower arms of said yoke;
• a separate cam member rotatably disposed in said other arm of said yoke and having an eccentric cylinder disposed in a slot formed in said second ball joint forging whereupon rotation of said cam member, said second ball joint is adjusted substantially in one direction;
• and
• at least one bolt connecting said second ball joint to said other arm of said yoke, said bolt extending through a second slot formed in said other arm, said second slot extending in said one direction to thereby allow adjustment of said second ball joint forging relative to said other arm;
• wherein said slot formed in said second ball joint forging substantially extends in a vertical direction;
• and
• wherein said cam member further includes;
• a first cylindrical portion disposed within a first recessed portion formed in said other arm;
• a second cylindrical portion extending from said first cylindrical portion and disposed within a second recess formed in said other arm to prevent axial displacement of said cam member in one direction, said second cylindrical portion having a common centerline with said first cylindrical portion and rotatable thereabout;
• and
• said eccentric cylindrical portion extends from said second cylindrical portion having a second center line offset from said common centerline;
• wherein when said cam member is rotated about said common centerline within said other arm, said eccentric cylinder portion displaces said second ball joint forging substantially in a horizontal direction without significant displacement in said vertical direction.

An adjustable mounting assembly for a steerable wheel assembly comprising:

• a yoke having an upper arm and a lower arm;
• a first ball joint forging unitarily formed with said upper arm of said yoke;
• a second ball joint forging adjustably secured to said lower lower arm of said yoke;
• a separate cam member rotatably disposed in said lower arm of said yoke and having an eccentric cylinder disposed in a vertical slot formed in said second ball joint forging whereupon rotation of said cam member said second ball joint is adjusted substantially in one direction, said cam member further having:
• a first cylindrical portion disposed within a first recessed portion formed in said lower arm;
• a second cylindrical portion extending from said first cylindrical portion and disposed within a second recess formed in said lower arm to prevent axial displacement of said cam member in one direction, said second cylindrical portion having a common centerline with said first cylindrical portion and rotatable thereabout;
• said eccentric cylindrical portion extends from said second cylindrical portion having a second centerline offset from said common centerline;
• wherein when said cam member is rotated about said common centerline within said lower arm, said eccentric cylinder portion displaces said second ball joint forging substantially in a horizontal direction without significant displacement in said vertical direction;
• and
• a pair of bolts connecting said second ball joint to said lower arm of said yoke, said bolts extending through a corresponding one of a pair of horizontal slots formed in said lower arm and disposed on opposite sides of said cam member to thereby allow horizontal adjustment of said second ball joint forging relative to said other arm.