Wheel alignment arrangements for vehicles
US7083176B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 6, 2004 |
| Grant date | Aug 1, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 25, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB60G2206/93
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Control arms used to support a swivel member retaining a wheel of a vehicle are attached to the body or frame rail of the vehicle by U-shaped attachment brackets having walls with lateral slots therein, each of which receives a mounting bolt therethrough. The mounting bolts pass through bushings in the ends of the control arms to pivot the control arms on the vehicle body or frame rail. Adjacent to the heads of the bolts are pairs of reaction surfaces that in one embodiment of the invention are pairs of opposed projecting surfaces on the attachment brackets. Separate tools are provided which have cams thereon each having a first peripheral cam surface for engaging one of the reaction surfaces and a second peripheral cam surface for engaging the other reaction surface. Upon loosening nuts threaded on the mounting bolts and rotating the cams with levers, socket wrench handles or other drives, the bolts shift laterally in the lateral slots enabling adjustment of the camber and caster of the wheels. In another embodiment, the reaction surfaces are opposite sides of a pin projecting from one of the flanges and the cam is a curved slot within a cam portion of the tool.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.