Vehicle alignment assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11845490-B1
Application number	US-202318115816-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Mar 1, 2023
Priority date	Mar 1, 2023
Publication date	Dec 19, 2023
Grant date	Dec 19, 2023

Abstract

An alignment assembly that includes a body that defines a bolt aperture and at least one pin aperture. A control arm is proximate the body and includes a bushing with a bushing aperture. A bolt extends through the bushing aperture and the bolt aperture. The bolt has a front portion and an end portion opposing the front portion. A flag nut is coupled to the end portion and includes a plate with at least one aperture. At least one pin extends through the at least one pin aperture and the at least one aperture. A position of the pin at least partially determines a position of the control arm.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An alignment assembly for a vehicle, comprising:
a body defining a bolt aperture and at least one pin aperture;
a bushing at an end of a control arm and proximate the body, the bushing defining a bushing aperture that extends through the bushing;
a bolt extending through the bushing aperture and the bolt aperture;
a flag nut coupled to the bolt, the flag nut comprising a plate, the plate defining at least one aperture; and
at least one pin extending through the at least one pin aperture and the at least one aperture, wherein the position of the at least one pin at least partially determines a position of the control arm.

2. The alignment assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a second nut coupled to the bolt and proximate the plate, wherein the second nut is configured to apply a force on the plate, and wherein a position of the plate at least partially determines the position of the control arm.

3. The alignment assembly of claim 2 , wherein the plate comprises an outer surface and an inner surface, the outer surface abutting the second nut and the inner surface abutting the body.

4. The alignment assembly of claim 3 , further comprising a spacer coupled to the inner surface.

5. The alignment assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one aperture comprises a first aperture and a second aperture, and wherein the at least one pin comprises a first pin and a second pin, and wherein the first aperture is configured to receive the first pin and the second aperture is configured to receive the second pin.

6. The alignment assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plate includes a bottom section, a top section, and a stepped section defined between the bottom section and the top section.

7. The alignment assembly of claim 6 , wherein the first aperture and the second aperture are defined at the top section.

8. The alignment assembly of claim 7 , wherein the top section defines a first corner and a second corner opposing the first corner, and wherein the first aperture is defined proximate the first corner and the second aperture is defined proximate the second corner.

9. The alignment assembly of claim 1 , wherein the body is a vehicle frame.

10. An alignment assembly for a vehicle, the alignment assembly comprising:
a vehicle frame defining a bolt aperture and at least one pin aperture;
a bushing at an end of a control arm and proximate the vehicle frame, the bushing defining
a bushing aperture extending through a center portion of the bushing;
a bolt extending through the bushing aperture, the bolt comprising a front portion and an end portion opposing the front portion, wherein the front portion comprises a bolt head with a bottom surface that is configured to abut a first end surface of the bushing, and wherein the end portion is configured to extend through the bolt aperture;
a flag nut coupled to the end portion, the flag nut comprising a plate, the plate defining at least one aperture; and
at least one pin extending through the at least one pin aperture and the at least one aperture, wherein a position of the at least one pin at least partially determines a position of the control arm.

11. The alignment assembly of claim 10 , further comprising a second nut coupled to the end portion and proximate the plate, wherein the second nut is configured to apply a force on the plate, and a position of the plate at least partially determines the position of the control arm.

12. The alignment assembly of claim 10 , wherein the plate comprises a bottom section, a top section, and a stepped section defined between the bottom section and the top section.

13. The alignment assembly of claim 12 , wherein the at least one aperture comprises a first aperture and a second aperture, and wherein the at least one pin comprises a first pin and a second pin, and wherein the first aperture is configured to receive the first pin and the second aperture is configured to receive the second pin.

14. The alignment assembly of claim 13 , wherein the first aperture and the second aperture are defined at the top section.

15. The alignment assembly of claim 14 , wherein the top section defines a first corner and a second corner opposing the first corner, and wherein the first aperture is defined proximate the first corner and the second aperture is defined proximate the second corner.

16. A vehicle, comprising:
a vehicle frame defining a bolt aperture and a pair of pin apertures;
a control arm proximate the vehicle frame;
a bushing at an end of the control arm, the bushing defining a bushing aperture extending through a center portion of the bushing;
a bolt extending through the bushing aperture, the bolt comprising a front portion and an end portion opposing the front portion, wherein the front portion comprises a bolt head with a bottom surface that is configured to abut a first end surface of the bushing, and wherein the end portion is configured to extend through the bolt aperture;
a flag nut coupled to the end portion, the flag nut comprising a plate defining a pair of apertures, wherein the plate includes a bottom section, a top section, a stepped section defined between the bottom section and the top section, and a spacer integrally coupled to an inner surface of the plate; and
a pair of pins extending through the pair of pin apertures and the pair of apertures, wherein a position of each of the pair of pins at least partially determines a position of the control arm.

17. The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the top section and the spacer are configured to abut the vehicle frame.

18. The vehicle of claim 17 , further comprising a second nut coupled to the end portion and proximate the plate, wherein the second nut is configured to apply a force on the plate, and wherein a position of the plate at least partially determines the position of the control arm.

19. The vehicle of claim 18 , wherein the plate comprises an outer surface and an inner surface, the outer surface abutting the second nut.

20. The vehicle of claim 19 , wherein the top section defines a first corner and a second corner opposing the first corner, and wherein each of the pair of apertures are respectively defined proximate the first corner and the second corner.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Shroyer Jared
• Foley Shane Edward
• Song Bojun
• Gordon Geoff Lawrence
• Warr Grant

Classifications

• B62D17/00 Primary

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

• B60G7/02

  Attaching arms to sprung part of vehicle {(B60G7/006 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B60G2204/61

  Adjustable during maintenance · CPC title

• B60G2204/143

  on the vehicle body or chassis · CPC title

• B60G2206/8207

  by screwing · CPC title