Spindle system for wheel alignment correction with brake adjustment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10124829-B2
Application number	US-201515521712-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 18, 2015
Priority date	Nov 18, 2014
Publication date	Nov 13, 2018
Grant date	Nov 13, 2018

Abstract

A spindle sleeve and washer for adjusting the camber, toe, or thrust angle of a vehicle wheel to a desired predetermined angle which allows for use of existing hub and spindle assembly without permanent modification to the vehicle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for inducing a desired angular orientation of an axis of revolution of a tire about a spindle and accommodating change in position of brake components resulting from use of said apparatus, said apparatus comprising:
a sleeve which includes an inner surface and an outer surface, an inboard end and an outboard end, said inner surface of said sleeve aligned with a surface of revolution about a first axis, said outer surface of said sleeve aligned with a surface of revolution about a second axis, said second axis positioned at a predetermined angle compared to said first axis, said outboard end includes at least one slot extending from said inner surface to said outer surface;
a washer includes an outboard surface, an inboard surface, an inner surface forming an aperture, said aperture extending from said outboard surface to said inboard surface, said washer includes at least one tooth protruding radially inward from said inner surface for engaging said first slot of said sleeve;
a first brake pin having a first reduced diameter end portion and a second reduced diameter end portion; and
a second brake pin having a first reduced diameter end portion having a diameter smaller than the diameter of said first brake pin first reduced diameter end portion and a second reduced diameter end portion having a diameter smaller than the diameter of said first brake pin second reduced diameter end portion,
wherein when said at least one tooth of said washer engages said at least one slot of said sleeve and said outboard surface of said washer is positioned perpendicular to said first axis of said sleeve, said inboard surface of said washer is perpendicular to said second axis of said sleeve.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein when said washer is positioned upon said outboard side of said sleeve, one of said at least one tooth protrudes past said inner surface of said sleeve.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said tooth engages a slot positioned upon said spindle.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said outboard end of said sleeve possesses a plurality of slots.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said washer possesses a plurality of teeth.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein each of said plurality of teeth engage each of said plurality of slots.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said teeth, and said corresponding slots are positioned in an asymmetric pattern such that said teeth and said slots all engage only if said inboard surface of said washer faces in the direction of the inboard end of said sleeve, and said outboard surface of said washer faces in the direction of the outboard end of said sleeve.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said teeth, and said corresponding slots are positioned in a symmetric pattern whereby said teeth and said slots all engage only if the washer is rotated in the correct direction whereby the washer may be reversed and used on either the left or right sides of the vehicle.

9. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein two slots of said plurality of slots are positioned at an angle in the range of 133 degrees to 163 degrees from each other.

10. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein two slots of said plurality of slots are positioned 148 degrees from each other.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second axis is positioned at a predetermined intersection point with said first axis.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sleeve further includes a lip extending radially along the inboard end of said sleeve.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sleeve possesses a groove positioned on said inner surface on said inboard end of said sleeve, said groove adapted to receive a seal.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first brake pin possesses a first reduced diameter end portion having a diameter that is smaller than said first brake pin's second reduced diameter end portion and said second brake pin possesses a first reduced diameter end portion having a diameter that is smaller than the second brake pin's second reduced diameter end portion.

15. An apparatus for inducing a desired angular orientation of an axis of revolution of a tire about a spindle and accommodating change in position of brake components resulting from use of said apparatus, said apparatus comprising:
a sleeve which includes an inner surface and an outer surface, an inboard end and an outboard end, said inner surface of said sleeve aligned with a surface of revolution about a first axis, said outer surface of said sleeve aligned with a surface of revolution about a second axis, said second axis positioned at a predetermined angle compared to said first axis;
a first brake pin having a first reduced diameter end portion and a second reduced diameter end portion; and
a second brake pin having a first reduced diameter end portion having a diameter smaller than the diameter of said first brake pin first reduced diameter end portion and a second reduced diameter end portion having a diameter smaller than the diameter of said first brake pin second reduced diameter end portion.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said outboard end includes of said sleeve includes a plurality of slots extending from said inner surface to said outer surface, and further comprising:
a washer that has an outboard surface, an inboard surface, and an inner surface that defines an aperture, said aperture extending from said outboard surface to said inboard surface, said washer includes a plurality of teeth that protrude radially inward from said inner surface for engaging said slots of said sleeve such that each one of the teeth engage a separate one of said slots.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said first brake pin possesses a first reduced diameter end portion having a diameter that is smaller than said first brake pin's second reduced diameter end portion and said second brake pin possesses a first reduced diameter end portion having a diameter that is smaller than the second brake pin's second reduced diameter end portion.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein when said teeth of said washer engage said slots of said sleeve said outboard surface of said washer is positioned perpendicular to said first axis of said sleeve, and said inboard surface of said washer is positioned perpendicular to said second axis of said sleeve.

Assignees

• Michelin & Cie
• Michelin Rech Tech

Inventors

• Merrill Zachary Alexander
• Hanlon Matthew J

Classifications

• B60B35/02

  Dead axles, i.e. not transmitting torque · CPC title

• B62D17/00 Primary

  Means on vehicles for adjusting camber, castor, or toe-in · CPC title

• F16D65/09

  Pivots or supporting members therefor · CPC title

• B60G2200/462

  Toe-in/out · CPC title

• F16D51/20

  extending in opposite directions from their pivots · CPC title