King-pin joint assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10793189-B2
Application number	US-201815898779-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 19, 2018
Priority date	Feb 19, 2018
Publication date	Oct 6, 2020
Grant date	Oct 6, 2020

Abstract

A king-pin joint assembly used in a vehicle. The king-pin joint assembly includes a king-pin, an axle beam and a steering knuckle. At least a portion of an intermediate portion of the king-pin is received and/or retained within at least a portion of an axle beam king-pin receiving aperture in a connector portion of the axle beam. The steering knuckle has a yoke portion with a first yoke arm and a second yoke arm. At least a portion of a first bearing assembly and a first end portion of the king-pin is received and/or retained within at least a portion of a first yoke arm king-pin aperture in the first yoke arm. Additionally, least a portion of a second bearing assembly and a second end portion of the king-pin is received and/or retained within at least a portion of a second yoke arm king-pin aperture in the second yoke arm.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A king-pin joint assembly, comprising:
a king-pin having an outer surface;
an axle beam having a connector portion with a radially outboard end portion and a radially inboard end portion;
wherein an axle beam king-pin receiving aperture extends from said radially outboard end portion to said radially inboard end portion of said connector portion;
wherein at least a portion of an intermediate portion of said king-pin is received and/or retained within at least a portion of said axle beam king-pin receiving aperture;

a steering knuckle having a yoke portion;
wherein said yoke portion has a first yoke arm and a second yoke arm;
wherein a first yoke arm king-pin aperture having a first end portion and a second end portion extends from an inner surface to an outer surface of said first yoke arm;
wherein at least a portion of a first end portion of said king-pin and at least a portion of said radially outboard end portion of said connector are received and/or retained within at least a portion of said first yoke arm king-pin aperture;
wherein a second yoke arm king-pin aperture extends from an inner surface to an outer surface of said second yoke arm;
wherein at least a portion of a second end portion of said king-pin is received and/or retained within at least a portion of said second yoke arm king-pin aperture;

a first bearing assembly comprising a first bearing cup and one or more first rolling elements that are received and/or retained within at least a portion of said first yoke arm king-pin aperture;
wherein at least a portion of a first end of said first bearing cup of said first bearing assembly is in direct contact with at least a portion of said radially outboard end portion of said connector portion of said axle beam;

a second bearing assembly that is received and/or retained within at least a portion of said second yoke arm king-pin aperture.

2. The king-pin joint assembly of claim 1 , wherein said first bearing cup has an outer surface, said first end, a second end and a body portion;
wherein a hollow interior portion extends inward from at least a portion of said first end of said first bearing cup;
wherein at least a portion of said first end portion of said king-pin and said one or more first rolling elements are received and/or retained within at least a portion of said hollow interior portion of said first bearing cup;
wherein one or more first retaining members are received and/or retained within at least a portion of one or more first yoke arm retaining member grooves circumferentially extending along at least a portion of a surface defining said first yoke arm king-pin aperture and at least a portion of one or more first cap retaining member grooves circumferentially extending along at least a portion of said outer surface of said body portion of said first bearing cup;
wherein said second bearing assembly comprises a second bearing cup and one or more second rolling elements;
wherein said second bearing cup has an outer surface, a first end, a second end and a body portion;
wherein a hollow interior portion extends inward from at least a portion of said first end of said second bearing cup;
wherein at least a portion of said first end portion of said king-pin and said one or more first rolling elements are received and/or retained within at least a portion of said hollow interior portion of said first bearing cup; and
wherein one or more second retaining members are received and/or retained within at least a portion of one or more second yoke arm retaining member grooves circumferentially extending along at least a portion of a surface defining said second yoke arm king-pin aperture and at least a portion of one or more second cap retaining member grooves circumferentially extending along at least a portion of said outer surface of said body portion of said second bearing cup.

3. The king-pin joint assembly of claim 2 , further comprising a first lubrication member and a second lubrication member;
wherein at least a portion of said first lubrication member is received and/or retained within at least a portion of a first bearing cup aperture within a base portion of said first bearing cup; and
wherein at least a portion of said second lubrication member is received and/or retained within at least a portion of a second bearing cup aperture within a base portion of said second bearing cup.

4. The king-pin joint assembly of claim 1 , wherein said first cap has an inner surface, an outer surface and a body portion;
wherein at least a portion of said first cap is disposed radially outboard from at least a portion of said first bearing cup of said first bearing assembly;
wherein one or more first retaining members are received and/or retained within at least a portion of one or more first yoke arm retaining member grooves circumferentially extending along at least a portion of a surface defining said first yoke arm king-pin aperture and at least a portion of one or more first cap retaining member grooves circumferentially extending along at least a portion of said body portion of said first cap;
wherein said second bearing assembly comprises a second cap, second bearing cup and one or more second rolling elements;
wherein said second cap has an inner surface, an outer surface and a body portion;
wherein at least a portion of said second cap is disposed radially outboard from at least a portion of said second bearing cup of said second bearing assembly; and
wherein one or more second retaining members are received and/or retained within at least a portion of one or more second yoke arm retaining member grooves circumferentially extending along at least a portion of a surface defining said second yoke arm king-pin aperture and at least a portion of one or more second cap retaining member grooves circumferentially extending along at least a portion of said body portion of said second cap.

5. The king-pin joint assembly of claim 4 , further comprising a first lubrication member and a second lubrication member;
wherein at least a portion of said first lubrication member is received and/or retained within at least a portion of a first cap aperture extending from said inner surface to said outer surface of said first cap; and
wherein at least a portion of said second lubrication member is received and/or retained within at least a portion of a second cap aperture extending from said inner surface to said outer surface of second first cap.

6. The king-pin joint assembly of claim 1 , wherein said king-pin further comprises an increased diameter portion circumferentially extending from at least a portion of said second end portion of said king-pin; and
wherein said increased diameter portion of said second end portion of said king-pin prevents said king-pin from working its way out of said king-pin joint assembly when in operation.

7. The king-pin joint assembly of claim 6 , wherein at least a portion of said increased diameter portion of said second end portion of said king-pin is received and/or retained within at least a portion of a receiving portion circumferentially extending along at least a portion of a first end portion of a surface defining said second yoke arm king-pin aperture.

8. The king-pin joint assembly of claim 6 , wherein said increased diameter portion of said second end portion of said king-pin has one or more king-pin apertures extending from a first end to a second end of said increased diameter portion of said king-pin; and
wherein said one or more king-pin apertures are of a size and shape to allow an amount of lubrication fluid to flow therethrough.

9. The king-pin joint assembly of claim 6 , wherein said increased diameter portion of said second e

Assignees

• Dana Heavy Vehicle Sys Group

Inventors

• Batz Christopher P
• Bosler Thomas R
• Slesinski Steven G
• Stoychev Stoyan I
• Trost Harry W

Classifications

• B62D7/16

  Arrangement of linkage connections (pivots per se F16C) · CPC title

• B62D7/18 Primary

  Steering knuckles; King pins · CPC title

• B60B35/003

  Steerable axles · CPC title

• B60K17/306

  with a universal joint in the axis of the steering knuckle · CPC title