Fabricated steer axle assembly
AssigneeDana Corporation
InventorsKraig Schlosser, Kent Davison, Cortland Ratliff
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The inventive fabricated steer axle assembly includes an axle beam, a kingpin housing, and, a fabrication connecting the axle beam and kingpin housing. The kingpin housing comprises an open-ended cylindrical tube having a groove disposed proximate each end of the tube. The fabrication includes a first end and a second end and is bent around the kingpin housing so that the first and second ends may be attached to the axle beam. A continuous weld may be used to couple the ends of the fabrication to the axle beam and secure the ends of the fabrication together along a seam extending between the kingpin housing and the beam formed after bending the fabrication around the kingpin housing.
Claims21
A steer axle assembly comprising:
- an axle beam;
- a kingpin housing;
- and,
- a fabrication connecting said axle beam and said kingpin housing,
- wherein said fabrication includes a first end and a second end and said fabrication surrounds said kingpin housing so that said first and second ends are attached to said axle beam.
A steer axle assembly comprising:
- an axle beam;
- a kingpin housing;
- and,
- a fabrication connecting said axle beam and said kingpin housing
- wherein said fabrication is unitary in construction and includes a first end and a second end and said fabrication surrounds said kingpin housing so that said first and second ends are attached to said axle beam.
A steer axle assembly comprising:
- an axle beam;
- a kingpin housing;
- and,
- a fabrication connecting said axle beam and said kingpin housing
- wherein said fabrication includes a first end and a second end and said fabrication surrounds said kingpin housing so that said first and second ends are attached to said axle beam and a single continuous weld attaches said fabrication to said axle beam and said fabrication to said kingpin housing.
A steer axle assembly comprising:
- an axle beam;
- a kingpin housing;
- and,
- a fabrication connecting said axle beam and said kingpin housing,
- wherein said fabrication includes a first end and a second end and said fabrication surrounds said kingpin housing so that said first and second ends are attached to said axle beam and said fabrication includes a top wall, a bottom wall, and a side wall connecting said top and bottom walls, said top wall received within a first groove in said kingpin housing and said bottom wall received within a second groove in said kingpin housing.
A steer axle assembly comprising:
- an axle beam;
- a kingpin housing;
- and,
- a fabrication connecting said axle beam and said kingpin housing
- wherein said fabrication is unitary in construction and includes a first end and a second end and said fabrication surrounds said kingpin housing so that said first and second ends are attached to said axle beam and said fabrication includes a top wall, a bottom wall, and a side wall connecting said top and bottom walls, said top wall received within a first groove in said kingpin housing and said bottom wall received within a second groove in said kingpin housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.