A BUSH PIN, A BRACKET AND A MOUNTING ASSEMBLY FOR A V-STAY FOR A VEHICLE

Abstract

A bush pin is provided for a V-stay presenting two arms adapted to structurally connect an axle casing for a vehicle wheel axle to a respective of a left and right vehicle frame member, including a central bush portion and a fastening portion on each side of the central bush portion, wherein each of the fastening portions is adapted to be connected to a bracket by a fastening arrangement, wherein the bush pin includes a first contact surface on each side of the central bush portion, and displaced from the fastening portions, for contacting a corresponding contact surface of the bracket in order to transfer loads.

Claims

1. A bush pin for a V-stay presenting two arms adapted to structurally connect an axle casing for a vehicle wheel axle to a respective of a left and right vehicle frame member, comprising a central bush portion and a fastening portion on each side of the central bush portion, wherein each of the fastening portions is adapted to be connected to a bracket by a fastening arrangement, wherein the bush pin comprises a first contact surface on each side of the central bush portion, and displaced from the fastening portions, for contacting a corresponding contact surface of the bracket in order to transfer loads, each of the first bush pin contact surfaces presents a normal which is non-perpendicular to an axial direction of the bush pin, wherein each of the first contact surfaces of the bush pin is inclined so that the first contact surfaces form a wedge when inserted between the corresponding contact surfaces of the bracket.

2. A bush pin according to claim 1, wherein each first contact surface of the bush pin is located axially inwards of the respective fastening portion, and at least partly faces axially outwards.

3. A bush pin according to claim 1, wherein each of the fastening portions presents a through hole for receipt of a respective fastener of the fastening arrangement for clamping the fastening portion to the bracket, and wherein a normal of the first contact surface presents an angle to an extension direction of the respective through hole of 15-90 degrees.

4. A bush pin according to claim 1, wherein each of the fastening portions presents a second contact surface for being clamped to the bracket by the fastening arrangement, and wherein each of the first contact surfaces extends in a plane which presents an angle to the respective second contact surface of 15-90 degrees.

5. A bush pin according to claim 3, wherein each of the fastening portions presents a second contact surface for being clamped to the bracket by the fastening arrangement, and wherein each of the first contact surfaces extends in a plane which presents an angle to the respective second contact surface of 15-90 degrees, and wherein the through hole extends through the second contact surface.

6. A bush pin according to claim 1, wherein each first contact surface of the bush pin forms a transition of bush pin thickness in a first transverse direction of the bush pin between the central bush portion and the respective fastening portion.

7. A bush pin according to claim 1, wherein each of the fastening portions is formed by a plate-shaped part.

8. A bush pin according to claim 1, wherein each of the first contact surfaces of the bush pin has a rounded shape.

9. A mounting assembly for a V-stay presenting two arms adapted to structurally connect an axle casing for a vehicle wheel axle to a respective of a left and right vehicle frame member, comprising two connection members adapted to be connected to the arms, and two load transfer members adapted to be connected to the axle casing, each of the connection members being adapted to be connected to a respective of the load transfer members by a fastening arrangement cooperating with a fastening formation presented by the respective load transfer member, and each of the load transfer members presenting a first contact surface adapted to abut a complementary first contact surface on the respective connection member, wherein each first contact surface on the respective load transfer member is displaced from the respective fastening formation, the mounting assembly comprising a bushing, a bushing cover (502) enclosing the bushing and adapted to be connected to the arms, and a bush pin extending through the bushing and presenting the connection members protruding on either side of the bushing, the first contact surfaces of the load transfer members face at least partly towards each other and the first contact surfaces of the connection members face at least partly away from each other, wherein each of the first contact surfaces on the connection members is inclined so that the first contact surfaces on the connection members form a wedge when inserted between the contact surfaces of the load transfer members.

10. A mounting assembly according to claim 9, wherein each first contact surface on the respective load transfer member is entirely located between the bushing and the respective fastening formation.

11. A mounting assembly according to claim 9, wherein the connection members present respective fastening formations each adapted to cooperate with the respective fastening arrangement, and each first contract surface on the respective connection member is displaced from the respective fastening formation of the respective connection member.

12. A mounting assembly according to claim 9, wherein each first contact surface on the respective load transfer member is entirely located between the fastening formations.

13. A mounting assembly according to claim 9, wherein the first contact surfaces of the load transfer members face, in the mounted condition of the V-stay, at least partly towards the arms.

14. A mounting assembly according to claim 9, wherein at least one of the first contact surfaces of the load transfer members is a concave or convex surface and the first connection member contact surface to which the first load transfer member contact surface is adapted to abut has a complementary convex or concave shape.

15. A mounting assembly according to claim 14, wherein the load transfer members are distributed along a distribution axis, and the convex or concave secondary contact surface presents end regions which are distributed laterally to the distribution axis, and the end regions being offset, in relation to an intermediate region (5313, 5323) of the secondary contact surface in the direction of the distribution axis.

16. A mounting assembly according to claim 9, wherein the fastening arrangements comprise elongated threaded fasteners which are arranged to be, in the mounted condition of the V-stay, oriented in an essentially vertical direction.

17. A bush pin for a V-stay presenting two arms adapted to structurally connect an axle casing for a vehicle wheel axle to a respective of a left and right vehicle frame member, comprising a central bush portion and a connection member on each side of the central bush portion, wherein each connection member presents an ear-like fastening portion, provided as a plate-shaped part, wherein each of the connection members is adapted to be connected to a bracket by a fastening arrangement, and each of the connection members presents a primary contact surface adapted to abut a respective complementary primary contact surface on the bracket, wherein each of the connection members presents a further, secondary contact surface adapted to abut a complementary further, secondary contact surface on the bracket, normals of the primary contact surfaces are non-parallel to normals of the secondary contact surfaces, wherein each secondary contact surface on the respective connection member forms a transition of bush pin thickness in a first transverse direction of the bush pin between the central bush portion and the respective fastening portion.

18. A bush pin according to claim 17, wherein each of the connection members presents a through hole for receipt of a respective fastener of the fastening arrangement for clamping the connection member to the bracket, which through hole extends through the primary contact surface.

19. A bush pin according to claim 17, wherein the secondary contact surfaces of the connection member face at least partly away from each other.

20. A bush pin according to claim 17, wherein a normal of each of the secondary contact surfaces presents an angle to a normal of the respective primary contact surface of 15-90 degrees.

21. A bush pin according to claim 17, wherein each of the connection members presents a through hole for receipt of a respective fastener of the fastening arrangement for clamping the connection member to the bracket, and the secondary contact surfaces each present a maximum length (ML) and a maximum width (MW), each of which are at least one eighth of a diameter of the through hole.

22. A bush pin according to claim 17, wherein at least one of the secondary contact surfaces is a concave or convex surface.

23. A bush pin according to claim 22, wherein the convex or concave secondary contact surface presents end regions which are distributed laterally to the axial direction of the bush pin, and the end regions being offset, in relation to an intermediate region of the secondary contact surface, in the axial direction of the bush pin.

24. A mounting assembly for a V-stay presenting two arms adapted to structurally connect an axle casing for a vehicle wheel axle to a respective of a left and right vehicle frame member, comprising two connection members adapted to be connected to the arms, and two load transfer members adapted to be connected to the axle casing, wherein each connection member presents an ear-like fastening portion, provided as a plate-shaped part, each of the connection members being adapted to be connected to a respective of the load transfer members by a fastening arrangement including an elongated threaded fastener, and each of the load transfer members presenting a primary contact surface (528, 529) adapted to abut a complementary primary contact surface on the respective connection member, wherein each of the load transfer members presents a further, secondary contact surface adapted to abut a complementary further, secondary contact surface on the respective connection member, the mounting assembly comprising a bushing, a bushing cover (502) enclosing the bushing and adapted to be connected to the arms, and a bush pin extending through the bushing and presenting the connection members protruding on either side of the bushing, the bush pin comprising a central bush portion located inside the bushing, normals of the primary contact surfaces are non-parallel to normals of the secondary contact surfaces, wherein each secondary contact surface on the respective connection member forms a transition of bush pin thickness in a first transverse direction of the bush pin between the central bush portion and the respective fastening portion.

25. A mounting assembly according to claim 24, wherein the secondary contact surfaces of the load transfer members face at least partly towards each other and the secondary contact surfaces of the connection members face at least partly away from each other.

26. A mounting assembly according to claim 24, wherein the secondary load transfer member contact surfaces face, in the mounted condition of the V-stay, at least partly towards the arms.

27. A mounting assembly according to claim 24, wherein the connection members are adapted to be, in the mounted condition of the V-stay, distributed in parallel with the wheel axle and a normal of each secondary load transfer member contact surface presents, in the mounted condition of the V-stay, an angle to the wheel axis of 0-75 degrees.

28. A mounting assembly according to claim 24, wherein the fasteners are arranged to be, in the mounted condition of the V-stay, oriented in an essentially vertical direction.

29. A vehicle provided with a bush pin according to claim 1.

30-43. (canceled)

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0069] Below embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings, in which

[0070] FIG. 1 shows a side view of a vehicle,

[0071] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of parts of a frame and rear axles of the vehicle in FIG. 1, as well as V-stays connecting the axles to the frame,

[0072] FIG. 3a shows a perspective, exploded view of a mounting assembly connecting arms of one of the V-stays in FIG. 2 to one of the wheel axles therein,

[0073] FIG. 3b shows a perspective view of the mounting assembly in FIG. 3a in an assembled state,

[0074] FIG. 4 shows a top view of parts shown in FIG. 3a,

[0075] FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view, the section being oriented such that the longitudinal axes 522 of two bolts 521 shown in FIG. 3a extend within the section,

[0076] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a part of the mounting assembly in FIG. 3a,

[0077] FIG. 7a shows a perspective, exploded view from above of a mounting assembly according to an alternative embodiment of the invention,

[0078] FIG. 7b shows a perspective view of the mounting assembly in FIG. 3a in an assembled state,

[0079] FIG. 8 shows a perspective view from below of a part of the mounting assembly in FIG. 7a,

[0080] FIG. 9 shows a perspective view from above of another part of the mounting assembly in FIG. 7a,

[0081] FIG. 10 shows a cross-sectional view, the section being oriented such that the longitudinal axes 522 of two bolts 521 shown in FIG. 7a extend within the section,

[0082] FIG. 11 shows a cross-sectional view, the section being oriented as indicated with the arrows XI-XI in FIG. 10,

[0083] FIG. 12 shows a top view of the part shown in FIG. 9,

[0084] FIG. 13 shows a cross-section, oriented similarly to the cross-section in FIG. 1, of parts of a mounting assembly according to another embodiment of the invention, and

[0085] FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 show cross-sections, oriented similarly to the cross-section in FIG. 10, of parts of mounting assemblies according to further alternatives of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0086] FIG. 1 shows a vehicle in the form of a truck 1 for pulling a semi-trailer. The vehicle 1 has frame 2 and two rear wheel axles 3.

[0087] In FIG. 2 it can be seen that the frame 2 comprises a left and right vehicle frame member 201, 202. For each rear wheel axle 3 there is a V-stay 4, each presenting two arms 401, 402 structurally connecting an axle casing 301 of the respective wheel axle to the frame members 201, 202. Thereby, the arms extend partially longitudinally and partially laterally in the vehicle, from a mounting assembly 5 on the axle casing 301 to a respective of the left and right frame members 201, 202. The arms 401, 402 thereby form angles such as to present, as viewed from above, the “V” of the V-stay 4, which transfers loads between the respective wheel axle 3 and the frame 2.

[0088] Reference is made also to FIG. 3a, FIG. 3b, FIG. 4 and FIG. 5. The mounting assembly 5 connects the arms 401, 402 to the axle casing 301. The mounting assembly comprises a bushing 501 in an elastic material, a bushing cover 502 enclosing the bushing 501 and connected to the arms 401, 402, and a bush pin 503 extending through the bushing 501. The bush pin 501 and the axis of the bushing 501 are oriented in parallel with the wheel axle 3.

[0089] As can be seen in FIG. 5, the bush pin 503 comprises a central bush portion 5031 located inside the bushing 501, and two connection members 504, 505, one on each side of the central bush portion 5031 protruding from the bushing 501. The bushing 501 presents an outer cylindrical surface between two end surfaces, and a transverse symmetry plane halfway between the end surfaces. The central bush portion 5031 has a thickened shape in the middle housed in a complementary inner cavity of the bushing 501.

[0090] Each connection member 504, 505 presents an ear-like fastening portion 5041, 5051, provided as a plate-shaped part, adapted to be connected to a bracket 510 by a fastening arrangement. Each connection member 504, 505 also presents a first contact surface 541, 542 which is displaced from the fastening portions 5041, 5051, for contacting a corresponding first contact surface 531, 532 of the bracket 510 in order to transfer loads. Each first contact surface 541, 542 forms a transition of bush pin thickness in a first transverse direction of the bush pin between the central bush portion 5031 and the respective fastening portion 5041, 5051.

[0091] As can be seen for example in FIG. 3a, the bracket 510 comprises two boss-like load transfer members 511, 512 distributed along a distribution axis DA, which is parallel to the wheel axis 3. The load transfer members 511, 512 are connected by a base portion 5101. Each load transferring member 511, 512 presents a fastening formation in the form of a threaded hole 5111, 5121, adapted to cooperate with a bolt 521 of a fastening arrangement for connecting the load transferring member 511, 512 to the respective fastening portion 5041, 5051 of the bush pin 503. For this the fastening portions 5041, 5051 present fastening formations in the form of through holes 5042, 5052, indicated in FIG. 5, through with the bolts 521 extend.

[0092] The first contact surfaces 531, 532 of the bracket 510 are presented by the load transfer members 511, 512. Each first contact surface 531, 532 is displaced from the respective hole 5111, 5121.

[0093] As understood from above, the displacement of the first contact surfaces 531, 532, 541, 542 from the bolts 521 provides for the loads in the V-stay 4 to be transferred through the first contact surfaces 531, 532, 541, 542, while the bolts 521 are provided merely to hold the bracket 510 to the bush pin 503.

[0094] As can be seen in FIG. 4, each of the load transfer members 511, 512 presents a further, second contact surface 528, 529 adapted to abut a complementary further, second contact surface 538, 539 on the respective connection member 504, 505. Each through hole 5042, 5052 of the bush pin 503 extends through a respective of the second contact surfaces 538, 539 of the bush pin. Each hole 5111, 5121 of the bracket 510 extends through a respective of the second contact surfaces 528, 529 of the bracket 510. The first and second contact surfaces 528, 529, 531, 532 on each load transfer member 511, 512 are separated with an edge 533, 534. Further, the first and second contact surfaces 538, 539, 541, 542 on each connection member 504, 505 are separated with a corner 543, 544. Thus, the first and second contact surfaces are angled to each other, i.e. normals of the first contact surfaces 531, 532, 541, 542 are non-parallel to normals of the second contact surfaces 528, 529, 538, 539.

[0095] The first contact surfaces 531, 532, 541, 542 are herein also referred to as secondary contact surfaces, and the second contact surfaces 528, 529, 538, 539 are herein also referred to as primary contact surfaces.

[0096] As can be seen in FIG. 5, each first contact surface 531, 532, 541, 542 is entirely located between the bushing 501 and the respective bolt 521. Thus, each first contact surface 531, 532, 541, 542 is entirely located between the bolts 521. The first contact surfaces 531, 532 of the load transfer members 511, 512 face partly towards each other and the first contact surfaces 541, 542 of the connection members 504, 505 face partly away from each other. The word “partly” is here used to indicate an inclination of the face orientation as described in the following paragraph.

[0097] Each of the first contact surfaces 541, 542 of the bush pin 503 is inclined so that the first contact surfaces 541, 542 form a wedge when inserted between the corresponding contact surfaces 531, 532 of the bracket 510. For this, the first contact surfaces 531, 532 of the load transfer members 511, 512 face partly towards the arms 401, 402. More specifically, the first contact surfaces 531, 532 of the bracket are inclined so that these first contact surfaces 531, 532 delimit a tapered reception space to receive the bush pin 503 contact surfaces 541, 542. Thereby, it is possible to mount the bush pin 503 so as to be firmly wedged between the bracket contact surfaces 531, 532. This provides for loads to be transferred by friction forces in the contact surfaces. It should be noted that the bolts 521 are directed in parallel with the direction, from the bottom to the top in FIG. 5, of wedge dependent decrease of the distance between the first contact surfaces 541, 542 of the bush pin 503.

[0098] The bolts 521 are oriented horizontally, and in parallel with the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, i.e. transversely to the wheel axle 3. A normal of each first contact surface 531, 532, 541, 542 presents an angle to the wheel axis 3 of 5 degrees. Further, a normal of each first contact surface 531, 532, 541, 542 presents an angle to the longitudinal extension of the bolts 521 of 85 degrees.

[0099] As understood from FIG. 6, the area of the first contact surface 531 of each load transfer member 511 of the bracket 510 is of the same order of magnitude as the cross-sectional area of the hole 5111. More specifically, each of the first contact surfaces have a quadrangular shape and presents a length ML which approximately equals the diameter of the hole 5111, and a width MW which approximately equals half the diameter of the hole 5111. More generally, the shape of the first contact surfaces 531 may vary from embodiment to another, but preferably they all present a maximum length ML and a maximum width MW, each of which are at least one eighth, preferably one sixth, more preferably one fourth, of the diameter of the hole 5111.

[0100] Each of the first contact surfaces 541, 542 of the bush pin 503 has an extension transversely to the respective through hole 5042, 5052 which is greater than the extension of the respective fastening portion 5041, 5051 transversely to the respective through hole 5042, 5052.

[0101] As stated above with reference to FIG. 4, the first and second contact surfaces 528, 529, 531, 532 on each load transfer member 511, 512 are separated with an edge 533, 53, and the first and second contact surfaces 538, 539, 541, 542 on each connection member 504, 505 are separated with a corner 543, 544. Preferably, the radius of such an edge or corner is less than 20%, preferably less than 10%, more preferably less than 5% of the shortest of the maximum length ML and the maximum width MW of any of the first contact surfaces which the edge or corner separate.

[0102] Reference is made to FIG. 7a-FIG. 12, showing an alternative embodiment of the invention. In the embodiment described above with reference to FIG. 3a-FIG. 6, the bolts 521 are oriented horizontally, and transversely to the wheel axle 3. In the embodiment in FIG. 7a-FIG. 12, the bolts 521 are oriented vertically.

[0103] Also, while in the embodiment described above with reference to FIG. 3a-FIG. 6, the first contact surfaces are planar, in the embodiment in FIG. 7a-FIG. 12, each of the first contact surfaces 531, 532, 541, 542 of the bush pin has a rounded, part-spherical shape. Each first contact surface 531, 532 of the load transfer members 511, 512 is concave, and the first bush pin contact surface 541, 542 to which the respective first load transfer member contact surface 531, 532 is adapted to abut has a complementary convex shape.

[0104] Reference is made to FIG. 12. As in the embodiment in FIG. 3a-FIG. 6, the load transfer members 511, 512 are distributed along a distribution axis DA which is parallel to the wheel axle 3 of the vehicle, (FIG. 2). Each first contact surface 531, 532 presents end regions 5211, 5312, 5321, 5322 which are distributed laterally to the distribution axis DA. The end regions are concave such that they are offset, in relation to an intermediate region 5313, 5323 of the respective first contact surface 531, 532, in the direction of the distribution axis DA.

[0105] On the bracket 510, the radius of each concavity of may be 0.5-2.5 times the distance between the end regions 5211, 5312, 5321, 5322 of the respective first contact surface 531, 532. For example, where said distance is 40 mm, said concavity radius can be 70 mm. The centre of said concavity radius might be at the centre of the bracket 510. Alternatively, it might be offset towards either of the load transfer members 511, 512, e.g. up to 0.8 times the distance between the end regions 5211, 5312, 5321, 5322 of the respective first contact surface 531, 532. In any of these alternatives, preferably, the first contact surfaces 541, 542 of the bush pin 503 are complementary so that each of them abuts the respective load transfer member first contact surface 531, 532 throughout its respective extension.

[0106] As explained above, the complementarily convex and concave first contact surfaces provide a guiding function when assembling the connection members to the load transfer members, and also a load transfer function in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

[0107] As can be seen in FIG. 10, similarly to the embodiment in FIG. 3a-FIG. 6, each of the first contact surfaces 541, 542 of the bush pin 503 is inclined so that the first contact surfaces 541, 542 form a wedge when inserted between the corresponding contact surfaces 531, 532 of the bracket 510. For this, the first contact surfaces 531, 532 of the load transfer members 511, 512 face partly upwards 401, 402. More specifically, the first contact surfaces 531, 532 of the bracket 510 are inclined so that these first contact surfaces 531, 532 delimit a tapered reception space to receive the bush pin 503 contact surfaces 541, 542. Thereby, it is possible to mount the bush pin 503 so as to be firmly wedged between the bracket contact surfaces 531, 532. As explained above, this provides for an effective load transfer in the contact surfaces.

[0108] FIG. 13 shows that as an alternative to the arrangement in FIG. 11, each first contact surface 531, 532 of the load transfer members 511, 512 can be convex, and the first bush pin contact surface 541, 542 to which the respective first load transfer member contact surface 531, 532 is adapted to abut may have a complementary concave shape.

[0109] In the embodiments in FIG. 3a-FIG. 13, each first contact surface 531, 532, 541, 542 is entirely located between the bushing 501 and the respective bolt 521. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 14 and FIG. 15, each first contact surface 531, 532, 541, 542 may be entirely located on the opposite side of the respective bolt 521 in relation to the bushing 501. I.e. each first contact surface 531, 532, 541, 542 may be entirely located externally of the bolts 521.

[0110] In FIG. 14 the first contact surfaces 531, 532 of the bracket 510 face partly towards each other and the first contact surfaces 541, 542 of the bush pin 503 face partly away from each other. In FIG. 15 the first contact surfaces 531, 532 of the bracket 510 face partly away from each other and the first contact surfaces 541, 542 of the bush pin 503 face partly towards each other.