# US 6,719,312 B2 · Steering linkage and ball joint

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- Number: US 6,719,312 B2
- Document ID: US6719312B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 10/054,639
- Filed: 2002-01-22
- Published: 2003-07-24
- Granted: 2004-04-13
- Earliest claimed: 2002-01-22
- Assignees: TRW Inc.
- Inventors: John Thompson; Steven P. Levesque; Adham El-Haw
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6719312B2

## CPC

- B62D 7/16: Arrangement of linkage connections (pivots per se F16C)
- F16C 11/06: Ball-joints; Other joints having more than one degree of angular freedom, i.e. universal joints (universal joints in which flexibility is produced by means of pivots or sliding or rolling connecting parts F16D3/16)
- F16C 11/0614: {the female part of the joint being open on two sides}
- F16C 11/0619: {the female part comprising a blind socket receiving the male part}
- F16C 11/0671: {allowing operative relative movement of joint parts due to flexing of the sealing means}
- B60G 2204/416: Ball or spherical joints
- F16C 2326/24: Steering systems, e.g. steering rods or columns
- Y10T 403/32032: Plural ball and socket
- Y10T 403/32681: Composite ball
- B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M)
- F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
- B60G: VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS (air-cushion vehicles B60V; {cycle suspensions B62K25/00})
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

An apparatus for use in a vehicle comprises a first steering link (30) having a first socket (54), a second steering link (34) having a second socket (70), and a steering knuckle (20) having a through hole (44). A stud (90) comprises first and second stud parts (92, 94). The first stud part (92) comprises a first ball portion (100) received in the first socket (54) to connect the first stud part for pivotal movement relative to the first link, and a shank portion (108) projecting from the first ball portion. The second stud part (94) has a second ball portion (132) received in the second socket (70) to connect the second stud part for pivotal movement relative to the second link. The second stud part (94) has an axially extending through opening (130). The shank portion (108) of the first stud part (92) extends through the through hole (44) in the steering knuckle (20) and through the through opening (130) in the second stud part (94).

## Claims

### Claim 1

Apparatus for use in a vehicle, comprising:
a first steering link having a first socket fixed for movement with said first link;
a second steering link having a second socket fixed for movement with said second link;
a steering knuckle having a through hole; and
a stud extending through said through hole and interconnecting said first and second sockets, said stud comprising a first stud part and a second stud part;
said first stud part comprising a first ball portion received in said first socket to connect said first stud part for pivotal movement relative to said first link and a shank portion in one piece with said first ball portion and not separate parts secured together, said shank portion projecting from said first ball portion;
said second stud part having a second ball portion received in said second socket to connect said second stud part for pivotal movement relative to said second link;
said second stud part having a through passage extending axially entirely through said second stud part including said second ball portion; and
said shank portion of said first stud part extending through said through hole in said steering knuckle and entirely through said axially extending through passage in said second stud part.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further including a pitman arm located on one side of the vehicle, said steering knuckle being on the other side of the vehicle, said first steering link being a drag link extending from said pitman arm to said steering knuckle, said second steering link being a tie rod, said tie rod extending from said steering knuckle to the one side of the vehicle.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first socket and said through hole in said steering knuckle and said second socket are stacked vertically along one linear axis and centered on said axis.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said axis extends generally perpendicular to the direction of movement of said steering knuckle.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said first and second stud parts are centered on said axis.

### Claim 6

Apparatus for use in a vehicle, comprising:
an axially extending stud comprising a first stud part and a second stud part;
said first stud part comprising a first ball portion and a shank portion in one piece with said first ball portion and not separate parts secured together, said shank portion projecting from said first ball portion;
said second stud part having a second ball portion and two axially extending portions in one piece with said second ball portion and not separate parts secured together, said two axially extending portions projecting from said second ball portion in opposite axial directions, said second stud part having a through passage extending axially entirely through said second stud part including said second ball portion and said two axially extending portions;
said shank portion of said first stud part being for extending entirely through said axially extending through passage in said second stud part;
said shank portion of said first stud part having an end for projecting from said axially extending through passage through said second stud part, said end of said first stud part being threaded;
a nut for threading on said end; and
said first and second stud parts, when assembled, being centered on an axis extending through centers of said first and second ball portions.

### Claim 7

Apparatus for use in a vehicle, comprising:
a first steering link having a first socket fixed for movement with said first link;
a second steering link having a second socket fixed for movement with said second link;
a steering knuckle having a through hole; and
a stud comprising a first stud part and a second stud part;
said first stud part comprising a first ball portion received in said first socket to connect said first stud part for pivotal movement relative to said first link and a shank portion projecting from said first ball portion;
said second stud part having a second ball portion received in said second socket to connect said second stud part for pivotal movement relative to said second link;
said second stud part having a through opening extending axially through said second stud part; and
said shank portion of said first stud part extending through said through hole in said steering knuckle and through said axially extending through opening in said second stud part, said shank portion of said first stud part having an end which projects from said axially extending through opening through said second stud part and further comprising a fastener on said end for securing said first and second stud parts together.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said end of said first stud part is threaded and said fastener is a nut threaded on said end.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

Apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said nut abuts one end of said second stud part and forces the other end of said second stud part into engagement with said steering knuckle.

### Claim 10

Apparatus for use in a vehicle, comprising:
an axially extending stud comprising a first stud part and a second stud part;
said first stud part comprising a first ball portion and a shank portion in one piece with said first ball portion and not two separate parts secured together, said shank portion projecting from said first ball portion;
said second stud part having a second ball portion and two axially extending portions in one piece with said second ball portion and not separate pieces secured together, each of said two axially extending portions projecting from said second ball portion in opposite axial directions, said second stud part having a through passage extending axially entirely through said second stud part including said second ball portion and said two axially extending portions;
said shank portion of said first stud part being for extending entirely through said axially extending through passage in said second stud part;
said shank portion of said first stud part having an end for projecting from said axially extending through opening through said second stud part, and
said first and second stud parts, when assembled, being centered on an axis extending through centers of said first and second ball portions.