STEERING PIN AND KNUCKLE ASSEMBLY

Abstract

Methods and system are provided for a steering pin and knuckle assembly. In one example, the assembly comprises a steering knuckle comprising a recess and a female threaded portion, a steering pin partially received in the recess, a connection member comprising a male threaded portion, and the male threaded portion of the connection member is engaged with the female threaded portion of the steering knuckle and the connection member fixes the steering pin on the steering knuckle.

Claims

1. A steering pin and knuckle assembly, comprising: a steering knuckle comprising a recess and a female threaded portion, a steering pin partially received in the recess, and a connection member comprising a male threaded portion, wherein the male threaded portion of the connection member is engaged with the female threaded portion of the steering knuckle and the connection member fixes the steering pin on the steering knuckle.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the steering pin and the connection member are configured as separate members.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein a symmetry axis of the steering pin is coaxial with a symmetry axis of the female threaded portion of the steering knuckle.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the connection member is partially disposed in and protrudes out of a hollow formed in the steering pin.

5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the female threaded portion of the steering knuckle defines an axial direction and an axial end portion of the connection member comprising the male threaded portion and protruding out of the hollow formed in the steering pin is fully received within the steering knuckle and does not protrude out of the steering knuckle.

6. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the female threaded portion of the steering knuckle defines an axial direction and the hollow formed in the steering pin extends entirely through the steering pin along the axial direction.

7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein the connection member is insertable into the hollow formed in the steering pin from an axial end of the steering pin protruding out of the recess formed in the steering knuckle, and the connection member fixes the steering pin on the steering knuckle.

8. The assembly of claim 6, wherein an axial end portion of the connection member disposed within the hollow formed in the steering pin comprises an engagement structure configured for engagement with a tool for fastening the connection member, the tool including a screw driver or a wrench.

9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the connection member includes an increased diameter portion locking the steering pin to the steering knuckle in a tight fit.

10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the increased diameter portion of the connection member is received in a seat formed by a shoulder portion of the steering pin enclosing the hollow.

11. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the recess formed in the steering knuckle comprises a female tapered or conical portion.

12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the steering pin comprises a male tapered or conical portion received in the female tapered or conical portion of the recess.

13. The assembly of claim 11, wherein an inner diameter of the female threaded portion of the steering knuckle is smaller than a smallest diameter of the female tapered or conical portion of the recess.

14. The assembly of claim 1, wherein a portion of the steering pin protruding out of the recess formed in the steering knuckle comprises a male spherical joint portion.

15. A steered suspension system, comprising: a steering knuckle comprising a recess and a female threaded portion; a steering pin partially received in the recess; a connection member comprising a male threaded portion; wherein the male threaded portion of the connection member is engaged with the female threaded portion of the steering knuckle and the connection member fixes the steering pin on the steering knuckle, a portion of the steering pin protruding out of the recess formed in the steering knuckle comprises a male spherical joint portion; and a suspension control arm including a female spherical joint portion; wherein the male spherical joint portion of the steering pin is received in the female spherical joint portion of the suspension control arm to form a spherical joint between the steering pin and the suspension control arm.

16. The steered suspension system of claim 15, further comprising: a vehicle wheel mounted on the steering knuckle, a drive shaft for driving the vehicle wheel, and a cardan joint connecting the vehicle wheel and the drive shaft.

17. The steered suspension system of claim 15, further comprising a steering sensor, the steering sensor comprising a fixed sensor portion mounted on the suspension control arm and a movable sensor portion mounted on the connection member.

18. The steered suspension system of claim 17, wherein the movable sensor portion is mounted on the connection member via a double cardan shaft.

19. An assembly, comprising: a steering knuckle comprising a recess and a female tapered or conical portion; a steering pin partially received in the recess; and a connection member comprising a male threaded portion, and the connection member comprises an increased diameter portion locking the steering pin to the steering knuckle in a tight fit; wherein the male threaded portion of the connection member is engaged with the female threaded portion of the steering knuckle and the connection member fixes the steering pin on the steering knuckle.

20. The assembly of claim 19, wherein the steering pin comprises a male tapered or conical portion received in the female tapered or conical portion of the recess, and an inner diameter of the female threaded portion of the steering knuckle is smaller than a smallest diameter of the female tapered or conical portion of the recess.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0021] Embodiments of the presently proposed steering pin and knuckle assembly and of the presently proposed steered suspension system are described in the following detailed description and are depicted in the accompanying drawings.

[0022] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a sectional view of a steered suspension system including a steering pin and knuckle assembly of the presently proposed type according to a first embodiment.

[0023] FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a sectional view of a steered suspension system including a steering pin and knuckle assembly of the presently proposed type according to a second embodiment.

[0024] FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a detail of FIG. 2.

[0025] FIGS. 1-3 are shown approximately to scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] FIG. 1 depicts a steered suspension system 100. The steered suspension system 100 may include a suspension control arm 1 that may be pivotally connected to stationary portion of a vehicle. The vehicle may be a tractor. However, it is understood that the vehicle may be of another type. For example, the vehicle may also be a harvester, a wheel loader, a dumper, or any other type of vehicle. The stationary portion to which the suspension control arm 1 may be connected to a vehicle body or chassis, for example. The system 100 further includes a female spherical joint portion 2 which is fixedly mounted in a recess or bore 3 formed in the suspension control arm 1. The recess or bore 3 extends all the way through the suspension control arm 1. However, a plate 4 is mounted on the suspension control arm via screws 5 and closes the recess or bore 3 on one end thereof, for example in order to prevent dirt or dust from entering the recess or bore.

[0027] The steered suspension system 100 further includes a steering and knuckle assembly 200. The steering and knuckle assembly 200 comprises a steering knuckle 6, a steering pin 7 partially received in a recess 8 formed in the steering knuckle 6 and partially protruding out of the recess 8, and a threaded connection member 9 fixing or fixedly connecting the steering pin 7 on the steering knuckle 6. Typically, the steering knuckle 6 and/or the steering pin 7 and/or the connection member 9 may include a metal such as steel. However, it is understood that they may include other materials, such as aluminum, cast iron, carbon fiber, magnesium, combinations thereof, and/or other alloys. The steering pin 7 includes an elongate shaft portion 7a and a male spherical joint portion 7b. One portion of the elongate shaft portion 7a is received in the recess 8 formed in the steering knuckle 6, and another portion of the elongage shaft portion 7a protrudes out of the recess 8 formed in the steering knuckle 6. The male spherical joint portion 7a is fixedly mounted on the portion of the elongate shaft portion 7a that protrudes out of the recess 8. In the embodiment depicted here, the two steering pin portions 7a, 7b are configured as separate members that are fixedly connected to one another. In other embodiments not explicitly depicted here, the two portions 7a, 7b may possibly be formed in one piece. The male spherical joint portion 7a of the steering pin 7 is received in the female spherical joint portion 2 mounted in the recess or bore 3 of the suspension control arm 1. The portions 2 and 7a form a spherical joint between the steering and knuckle assembly 200 and the suspension control arm 1 of the steered suspension system 100.

[0028] The steering knuckle 6 further includes a female threaded portion 10. The female threaded portion 10 and the recess 8 are symmetrical with respect to an axis 11 defining an axial direction. The female threaded portion 10 extends from the recess 8 along the axial direction and is in communication with the recess 8. In the embodiment depicted here, the steering pin 7 and the connection member 9, too, are symmetrical with respect to the axis 11. Both the elongage shaft portion 7a and the male spherical joint portion 7b of the steering pin 7 may be symmetrical with respect to the axis 11.

[0029] The steering pin 7, more specifically the elongage shaft portion 7a of the steering pin 7, includes or encloses a hollow 12. The hollow 12 extends all the way through the steering pin 7 or through the elongate portion 7a of the steering pin 7 along the axial direction 11. A portion of the elongage shaft portion 7a of the steering pin 7 enclosing the hollow 12 forms a shoulder portion 13. At the shoulder portion 13, an inner diameter of the hollow 12 perpendicular to the axial direction 11 may feature a step-like discontinuity, for example.

[0030] The connection member 9 has an elongate shape or form. One portion of the connection member 9 is disposed or received in the hollow 12 of or enclosed by the steering pin 7. Or in other words, one portion of the connection member 9 is disposed or received in the hollow steering pin 7. Another portion of the connection member 9 protrudes out of the hollow 12 or out of the steering pin 7 and is received in the female threaded portion 10 extending from the recess 8 formed in the steering knuckle 6. More specifically, the connection member 9 has an increased diameter portion 9a and a decreased diameter portion 9b. A diameter of the increased diameter portion 9a of the connection member 9 perpendicular to the axial direction 11 is greater than a diameter of the decreased diameter portion 9b of the connection member 9 perpendicular to the axial direction 11. The portions 9a, 9b of the connection member 9 may be formed in one piece.

[0031] The shoulder portion 13 of the steering pin 7 or of the elongate shaft portion 7a of the steering pin 7 forms a seat for the increased diameter portion 9a of the connection member 9. Or in other words, the increased diameter portion 9a of the connection member 9 is received in a seat formed by the shoulder portion 13 of the steering pin 7 or of the elongate shaft portion 7a of the steering pin 7. The increased diameter portion 9a of the connection member 9 is disposed or received within the hollow 12 or within the steering pin 7. The decreased diameter portion 9b extends from the increased diameter portion 9a along the axial direction 11.

[0032] A portion of the decreased diameter portion 9b protrudes out of the hollow 12 or out of the steering pin 7 and has a male threaded portion 9c formed on its outer surface. The male threaded portion 9c of the connection member 9 or of the decreased diameter portion 9b of the connection member 9 protrudes into or is received in and engaged with the female threaded portion 10 formed in the steering knuckle 6. For example, in a direction along the axial direction 11 pointing away from the steering pin 7 the male threaded portion 9c of the connection member 9 may not protrude out of the female threaded portion 10 of the steering knuckle 6.

[0033] The steering pin 7 is fixed or attached to the steering knuckle 6 by screwing the male threaded portion 9c of the connection member 9 into the female threaded portion 10 formed in the steering knuckle 6. More specifically, the male threaded portion 9c of the connection member 9 is screwed into and/or engaged with the female threaded portion 10 formed in the steering knuckle 6 in such a way that the increased diameter portion 9a of the connection member 9 locks the steering pin 7 to or presses the steering pin 7 against the steering knuckle 6 in a tight fit. In the embodiment of the steering pin and knuckle assembly 200 depicted here, the recess 8 formed in the steering knuckle 6 has a female tapered or female conical portion 8a. Further, a portion of the steering pin 7 or of the elongate shaft portion 7a of the steering pin 7 received in the recess 8 has a correspondingly shaped male tapered or male conical portion 7c which is received in the female tapered or female conical portion 8a of the recess 8. The correspondingly shaped male and female tapered or conical portions 7c and 8a of the steering pin 7 and of the recess 8, respectively, may facilitate tight-fitting the steering pin 7 to or against the steering knuckle 6. Here, an inner diameter of the female threaded portion 10 extending from the recess 8 in the axial direction 11 is smaller than a minimum inner diameter of the recess 8 or of the female tapered or female conical portion 8a of the recess 8.

[0034] In the embodiment of the steering pin and knuckle assembly 200 depicted here, the hollow 12 and the connection member 9 are shaped or designed such that in order to screw the connection member 9 into the female threaded portion 10 of the steering knuckle 6 the connection member 9 may be inserted into the hollow 12 extending through the steering pin 7 from an axial end of the steering pin 7 that protrudes out of the recess 8 formed in the steering knuckle 6. For example, in an axial section of the hollow 12 extending from the shoulder portion 13 to the axial end of the steering pin 7 protruding out of the recess 8, a minimum diameter of the hollow 12 perpendicular to the axis 11 may be greater than a maximum diameter of the increased diameter portion 9a of the connection member 9. In this way, the connection member 9 may be inserted into the hollow 12 from the axial end of the steering pin 7 that protrudes out of the recess 8 until the increased diameter portion 9a of the connection member 9 abuts the seat formed by the shoulder portion 13 of the steering pin 7.

[0035] In order to facilitate the process of screwing the connection member 9 into the female threaded portion 10 formed in the steering knuckle 6, an axial end portion of the connection member received within the hollow 12 may comprise an engagement structure 15 for engagement with a tool for fastening the connection member 9 to the steering knuckle 6 or for screwing the connection member 9 into the female threaded portion 10 formed in the steering knuckle 6. For example, the engagement structure 15 may include a cross slot, a female hexagonal recess, or the like.

[0036] FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of a steered suspension system 300 according to a second embodiment. Here and in all of the following, recurring features in different figures are designated with the same reference signs. The steered suspension system 300 of FIG. 2 includes the suspension control arm 1 with the female spherical joint portion 2 mounted thereon, and a steering pin and knuckle assembly 400 which is a variation of the steering pin and knuckle assembly 200 depicted in FIG. 1. Details of the steering pin and knuckle assembly 400 of FIG. 2 are shown in FIG. 3. The steering pin and knuckle assembly 400 of FIGS. 2 and 3 includes all features of the steering pin and knuckle assembly 200 of FIG. 1, except for the engagement structure 15 indicated in FIG. 1 and discussed above. For simplicity, in the following only the differences between the steering pin and knuckle assembly 400 of FIGS. 2 and 3 and the steering pin and knuckle assembly 200 of FIG. 1 are discussed in some detail.

[0037] In the system 300 of FIGS. 2 and 3, the female spherical joint portion 2 and the male spherical joining portion 7b of the steering pin 7 form a spherical joint between the suspension control arm 1 and the steering pin and knuckle assembly 400. The system 300 further includes a vehicle wheel 16 rotatably mounted in the steering knuckle 6, and a drive shaft 17 connected to the vehicle wheel 16 via a cardan joint 18 for driving the vehicle wheel 16. The system 300 may further include a steering rod (not shown) pivotably connected to the steering knuckle 6 for steering the steering knuckle 6.

[0038] As can best be seen in FIG. 3, the system 300 further comprises a steering sensor 19. The steering sensor 19 is configured to measure a steering angle or a variation of a steering angle between the steering knuckle 6 and the suspension control arm 1. The steering sensor 19 includes a fixed sensor portion 19a and a movable sensor portion 19b which is movable or rotatable with respect to the fixed sensor portion 19a, for instance with respect to a steering axis which may be aligned with or which may substantially be aligned with the symmetry axis 11 of the steering pin 7. The fixed sensor portion 19a is fixedly mounted on the suspension control arm 1, more specifically on the plate 4 closing or capping the recess or bore 3 extending through the control arm 1. The movable sensor portion 19b on the other hand is fixedly mounted on the steering knuckle 6, for instance on the connection member 9. Here, the movable sensor portion 19b is mounted on the connection member 9 via a double cardan shaft 20 including two cardan joints 20a and 20b. The double cardan shaft 20 is at least partially disposed within the hollow 12 formed within the steering pin 7. However, it is understood that the movable sensor portion 19b may be mounted on the steering knuckle 6 by other elements.

[0039] The sensor portions 19a, 19b are configured and arranged such that rotation of the movable sensor portion 19b relative to the fixed sensor portion 19a changes a voltage in the fixed sensor portion 19a wherein the voltage is indicative of a rotation angle of the steering knuckle 6 relative to the suspension control arm 1 or of a change in the rotation angle. For example, the steering sensor 19 may be an inductive sensor. For instance, the fixed sensor portion 19a may include an inductive element such as a coil, and the movable sensor portion 19b may include a magnet. However, it is understood that the steering sensor 19 is not limited to inductive sensors but may include other types of sensors known in the art.

[0040] FIGS. 1-3 show example configurations with relative positioning of the various components. If shown directly contacting each other, or directly coupled, then such elements may be referred to as directly contacting or directly coupled, respectively, at least in one example. Similarly, elements shown contiguous or adjacent to one another may be contiguous or adjacent to each other, respectively, at least in one example. As an example, components laying in face-sharing contact with each other may be referred to as in face-sharing contact. As another example, elements positioned apart from each other with only a space there-between and no other components may be referred to as such, in at least one example. As yet another example, elements shown above/below one another, at opposite sides to one another, or to the left/right of one another may be referred to as such, relative to one another. Further, as shown in the figures, a topmost element or point of element may be referred to as a “top” of the component and a bottommost element or point of the element may be referred to as a “bottom” of the component, in at least one example. As used herein, top/bottom, upper/lower, above/below, may be relative to a vertical axis of the figures and used to describe positioning of elements of the figures relative to one another. As such, elements shown above other elements are positioned vertically above the other elements, in one example. As yet another example, shapes of the elements depicted within the figures may be referred to as having those shapes (e.g., such as being circular, straight, planar, curved, rounded, chamfered, angled, or the like). Further, elements shown intersecting one another may be referred to as intersecting elements or intersecting one another, in at least one example. Further still, an element shown within another element or shown outside of another element may be referred as such, in one example. It will be appreciated that one or more components referred to as being “substantially similar and/or identical” differ from one another according to manufacturing tolerances (e.g., within 1-5% deviation).