Steering knuckle
AssigneeThe Boler Company
InventorsAshley Thomas Dudding, Michael John Gottschalk, Lawrence Edward Miller, Rodolfo Rosales, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle steering knuckle assembly for use in association with a vehicle steering axle assembly is shown to include an upper piece having a first king pin bore extending through it and a backbone piece removably connectable to the first piece. The backbone has a second king pin bore extending through it. The upper piece has an integral steering arm and a pad through which is machined a steering ball taper. The lower piece has an integral tie rod and a pad through which is machined a tie rod ball taper. Because the two pieces are removable from each other, the steering knuckle can be assembled and serviced while a king pin is retained in place in an axle beam.
Claims50
A steering knuckle assembly for use in association with a vehicle steering axle assembly, comprising:
- a first piece having a first king pin bore extending through it;
- second piece removably connectable to the first piece, said second piece having a second king pin bore extending through it;
- a first king pin bushing installed within said first king pin bore;
- and
- a second king pin bushing installed within said second king pin bore.
A steering knuckle assembly for use in association with a vehicle steering axle assembly, comprising:
- first piece having a first steering pivot axis bore extending through it;
- a second piece removably connectable to the first piece, said second piece comprising a backbone portion;
- and
- a third piece removably connectable to the second piece, said third piece having a second steering pivot axis bore extending through it.
A vehicle steering axle assembly, comprising:
- a steering axle having a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion of said steering axle having a steering axle first king pin bore extending through it, and the second end portion of said steering axle having a steering axle second king pin bore extending through it;
- a first steering knuckle mounted on said first end portion of said steering axle, said first steering knuckle including a first steering knuckle first piece having a first steering knuckle first king pin bore extending through it, and a first steering knuckle second piece removably connected to the first steering knuckle first piece, said first steering knuckle second piece having a first steering knuckle second king pin bore extending through it;
- second steering knuckle mounted on said second end portion of said steering axle, said second steering knuckle including a second steering knuckle first piece having a second steering knuckle first king pin bore extending through it, and a second steering knuckle second piece removably connected to the second steering knuckle first piece, said second steering knuckle second piece having a second steering knuckle second king pin bore extending through it;
- a first king pin secured within said steering axle first king pin bore;
- and
- a second king pin secured within said steering axle second king pin bore.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.