The bushing 26 has a cylindrical surface 58, of substantially the same diameter as the aperture 24 as shown in FIG. The adjustment bushing 26 has a cylindrical axis 60 that is parallel to the cylindrical surface The adjustment bushing 26 has an upper locking surface The adjustment bushing 26 has a throughbore 62 and a lower surface The throughbore 62 completely bisects the upper locking surface 64 and the lower surface The throughbore 62 in the preferred embodiment has a throughbore axis 68 which is skewed and offset with respect to the cylindrical axis The throughbore axis 68 in another preferred embodiment is offset with respect to the cylindrical axis The cylindrical axis 60 in the preferred embodiment intersects the throughbore axis 68 between upper locking surface 64 and the lower surface However, the cylindrical axis 60 and the throughbore axis 68 may intersect at a point above the upper locking surface 64 or below the lower surface Similarly, the cylindrical axis 60 need not intersect the throughbore axis 68 at all.
The throughbore 62 in the preferred embodiment is tapered. The upper opening defined by the intersection of the throughbore 62 with the upper locking surface 64 is of a smaller diameter than the diameter of the lower opening defined by the intersection of the throughbore 62 with the lower surface Typically, the U-joint shaft 52 as shown in FIG. The larger end is located at the U-joint ball not shown. The U-joint shaft 52 in the preferred embodiment tapers inwardly terminating at the upper end The taper in the throughbore 62 is sized to receive the taper on the upper U-joint shaft 52 in a close-fitting relationship.
By inserting the upper end 54 of the U-joint shaft 52 into the lower opening of the lower surface 66 of the adjustment bushing 26, and by sliding the adjustment bushing 26 onto the U-joint shaft 52, the bushing is secured over the U-joint shaft 52 in a tight-fitting relationship. At the same time, the outer cylindrical surface 58 of the bushing 26 is positioned in the aperture 24 of the upper steering yolk arm The aperture 24 as shown in FIG.
The surface 70 is of substantially the same diameter as the diameter defined by the outer cylindrical surface 58 of the adjustment bushing The adjustment bushing 26 fits tightly into the aperture The adjustment bushing 26 in the preferred embodiment has an upper flange 72 extending radially outward from the upper locking surface The upper flange surface 36 of the upper flange 72 in one preferred embodiment is perpendicular to the cylindrical axis 60 and is an axial stop for the bushing 26 as shown in FIG.
The upper flange 72 has an outer cylindrical surface 74 having a centrally located outer cylindrical groove The bushing 26 has a radial slot 50 extending from the upper flange surface 36 to the lower surface 66 and extends from the outer cylindrical surface 74 of the flange 72 inwardly intersecting the inner surface defined by the throughbore The radial slot 50 allows the adjustment bushing 26 to expand along the cylindrical surface 58 as an upward force is applied by the tapered upper U-joint shaft 52 as shown in FIG.
The radial expansion of the cylindrical surface 58 provides one method for securing the bushing 26 into locking engagement with the inner cylindrical surface 70 of the aperture The radial slot 50 also indicates the rotational position of the bushing 26 in the aperture The positioning tool 44, generally indicated at FIG.
The positioning tool 44 has an aperture 80 of substantially the same diameter as the diameter defined by the outer cylindrical surface 74 of the upper flange 72 as shown in FIG. The positioning tool 44 has a first clamping ear 82 and a second clamping ear The positioning tool 44 also has first and second setscrews 86 and 88 located on the first and second clamping ears 82 and The tool 44 also has an indicating scale 48 positioned on the upper tool surface The indicating scale 48 consists of a plurality of indicating marks spaced around the outer circumference defined by the aperture 80 of the tool The clamping ears 84 and 86 secure the positioning tool 44 onto the upper surface of upper steering yolk arm The locking ears 82 and 84, as indicated in FIG.
The clamping ears 82 and 84 in the preferred embodiment extend outwardly along the plane defined by the upper tool surface In the preferred embodiment, the clamping ears 82 and 84 extend outwardly and bend downwardly. The first clamping ear 82 has an aperture and the second clamping ear 84 has an aperture The apertures and are positioned radially inward from the outer tool surface 90 as shown in FIG.
The first and second setscrews 86 and 88 are positioned in the threaded apertures and , extend radially inward, engaging the outer cylindrical groove 76, as illustrated in FIG. The upper flange 72, as illustrated in FIG. The aperture 80 of the positioning tool 44 is aligned with the aperture 24, and the positioning tool 44 is installed on the upper surface of steering yolk arm The apertures and are threaded in the preferred embodiment to receive the setscrews 86 and 88 The tool 44 is installed on the upper steering yolk arm 15 with the first clamping ear 82 pointing toward the front of the vehicle.
Typically, the first clamping ear 82 is marked "front" such that the positioning tool 44 is installed the same way each time the tool 44 is used.
The positioning tool 44 as shown in FIG. The apertures A, B, and C are equally spaced along the outer surface 90 of the positioning tool The apertures extend from the outer surface 90 and terminate at the intersection with the inner surface defined by the tool aperture The setscrews 78A, 78B, and 78C extend inwardly past the inner surface defined by the tool aperture 80, and terminate in the outer cylindrical groove 76 as shown in FIG. The positioning tool 44 is positioned on the bushing 26 as illustrated in FIG.
Because the rotational position of positioning tool 44 on the upper steering yolk arm -5 is fixed, the position of the indicating scale 48 is fixed. It is possible to set the bushing in the upper steering yolk aperture 24 in a multiplicity of rotational positions.
The positioning tool 44 is placed into the upper steering yolk arm 15, and the bushing 26 is installed in the aperture The lower opening not shown of the throughbore 62 of the bushing 26 is positioned over the upper U-joint shaft end 54 and into the aperture The bushing 26 is forced downwardly until the lower flange surface 38 as shown in FIG. In order to use the positioning tool 44 of the present invention, the following installation steps are required. First, it is necessary to measure the existing camber and caster in the steering assembly to be realigned.
Camber and caster are measured using conventional methods. The existing U-joint bushing not shown is removed to determine whether the throughbore is concentric or whether there is currently an adjustment bushing 26 in place. A shaft nut positioned on the upper end 54 of the upper U-joint shaft 52 is removed, and the bushing not shown is lifted upwardly, and out of the aperture If there is an adjustment bushing in place, a concentric bushing is installed and the existing camber and caster is measured.
The second step in the realignment procedure requires a calculation of the required camber and caster adjustment. By referring to factory specifications defining camber and caster, and by comparing the factory specifications to the actual measurements, the amount of necessary adjustment is calculated.
The factory specifications, or standard measurements minus the actual measurements will define the amount of adjustment necessary in either the positive or negative direction. For example, if the right front tire requires a plus two degree caster measurement and the current measurement is minus one degree, a positive three degree adjustment is required. Next, by referring to reference charts similar to those indicated at in FIG. The reference charts and indicate which bushing 26 should be used.
A plurality of bushings 26 are provided having throughbores 62 having a variety of axial orientations. The reference charts and also define which indicium on the indicating scale 48 that the radial slot 50 is to be aligned with to achieve the desired caster and camber settings.
Each reference chart and has a plurality of boxes, each having two numbers. The upper number indicates the number corresponding to the selection of bushing. The lower number corresponds to the indicium on the indicating scale The lower number defines the rotational position of the radial slot 50 in the aperture 24 as illustrated in FIG. The setscrews 78A, 78B, and 78C on the positioning tool 44 are tightened until the set screws 78A, 78B, and 78C extend inwardly beyond the inner surface defined by the tool aperture 80 until contact is made with the outer cylindrical groove 76 of the bushing The upper U-joint shaft nut is positioned on the threaded upper U-joint shaft end The nut is tightened to a specified torque, typically 90 foot-pounds.
By applying torque to the upper U-joint shaft nut , the bushing 26 is forced to expand radially outward such that the outer cylindrical surface 58 engages the inner cylindrical surface 70 of upper steering yolk aperture The upper U-joint shaft nut in the preferred embodiment is a six-sided hex nut. The nut has an upper surface and a lower surface The upper surface is radially bisected by a plurality of notches In one preferred embodiment, there are six notches and the depth of the notches is approximately half the distance between the upper surface and the lower surface After the upper U-joint shaft nut is tightened onto the upper U-joint shaft 52, the nut is turned in the direction opposite that of tightening until the closest notch is aligned with the cylindrical cavity 56 located on the upper U-joint shaft end A locking device such as a cotter pin is placed in the notch , through the cavity 56, and through a second opposite notch of the shaft nut This completes the first procedure for looking the bushing 26 into place.
Often the expansion of the cylindrical surface 58 is insufficient to adequately lock the cylindrical surface 58 securely onto the upper steering yolk aperture For this reason, the present invention includes an additional locking mechanism for securing the bushing 26 into a fixed rotational position on the upper steering yolk arm aperture By installing a first and second aperture 32 and 34 on the upper flange 72 of the bushing 26 extending from the upper flange surface 36 through the lower flange surface 38 as shown in FIG.
The two threaded setscrews 28 and 30 secure the bushing 26 to the yolk arm The next step in realigning the steering structure of the vehicle includes removing the positioning tool The final step in aligning the steering structure of a wheeled vehicle of the type mentioned above includes measuring the final caster and camber and comparing that measurement to the factory specifications. By using the proper bushing 26, the positioning tool 44, and by using the reference chart of FIG.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
All rights reserved. Login Sign up. Search Expert Search Quick Search. Tool for adjusting camber and caster. United States Patent A tool for adjusting the alignment in a wheeled vehicle steering structure using a bushing includes a plate having indicia disposed around an aperture that runs through the plate wherein the indicia indicate an angular position for rotatably adjusting the bushing and including a mechaism for securing the plate to the steering structure in a selectable and fixed position and for retaining the bushing in a position during alignment.
Specktor, Gerald A. Click for automatic bibliography generation. Pune, Maharashtra. Rajkot, Gujarat. Off Garware Marg, Ambad, Dist. Jalna, Maharashtra. Tilak Gali, Delhi No. Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. Girgaon, Mumbai No. Mumbai, Maharashtra. Srinagar No. Have a requirement? Get Best Price. View by: Product Supplier. Location Near Me.
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