GB2144685A

GB2144685A - Suspension of a motor vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2144685A
Application number: GB08321647A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Viktor Ivanovich Evlanov
Original assignee: AVTOMOBILNY Z IM LENINSKOGO KO; Avtomobilny Zavod Imeni Leninskogo Komsomola
Current assignee: AVTOMOBILNY Z IM LENINSKOGO KO; Avtomobilny Zavod Imeni Leninskogo Komsomola
Priority date: 1983-08-11
Filing date: 1983-08-11
Publication date: 1985-03-13
Also published as: GB8321647D0; GB2144685B

Abstract

A mechanism for adjusting wheel camber is mounted on one of two bolts, particularly bolt (10), connecting a steering knuckle (2) to (5). The mechanism has the form of a nut-screw kinematic pair defined by a threaded portion (a) of the bolt (10) passing through a bore (15) in the steering knuckle (2) and a nut (13) secured on this bolt (10), which nut (13) is capable of translational motion during wheel camber adjustment and has parallel outer surfaces disposed at an angle ( alpha ) to axis (c) of a threaded hole thereof. The invention is applicable to front, rear, parallel arm and trailing arm suspensions. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Suspension of a motor vehicle This invention relates to automobile engineering, and more particularly to suspension of motor vehicles.

The invention can find application in front wheel suspension wherein a suspension guiding means is provided with telescopic struts.

The invention can also be utilized for adjusting wheel camber in other types of suspensions, such as parallel arm type suspensions and trailing arm type suspensions.

The invention can further be used both in the front and rear wheel suspensions.

The aim of the invention is attained by that in suspension of a motor vehicle in which a mechanism for adjusting wheel camber is mounted on one of bolts connecting a steering knuckle to a link of a suspension guiding means, according to the invention, the mechanism for adjusting wheel camber is fashioned as a nut-screw kinematic pair defined by a threaded portion of a bolt passing through a bore in the steering knuckle and a nut secured on this bolt to be capable of translational motion during wheei camber adjustment and having parallel outer surfaces disposed at an angle to the axis of a threaded hole in this nut, the bore in the steering knuckle being disposed at the same angle to a perpendicular passed through bearing surfaces thereof for the bolt as the angle of inclination of the outer surfaces of the nut, this bore having in cross-section configuration and dimensions corresponding to those of the nut.

Preferably, the threaded hole in the nut is offset toward one of the outer surfaces of the nut arranged at an angle to the axis of this hole.

The aforedescribed arrangement of the nut affords to expand the angle of wheel camber adjustment at substantially the same size of the wheel camber adjustment mechanism.

The mechanism for adjusting wheel camber according to the invention, althrough being structurally simple, provides for a greatiy improved durability of suspension through maintaning optimized camber angle. In addition, the mechanism allows to expand the range of camber angle adjustment.

The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to a specific embodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a general view of suspension of a motor vehicle according to the invention; Figure 2 is a section taken along the line ll-ll in Figure 1, an enlarged view; Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a nut; and Figure 4 is a view taken along the arrow "A" in Figure 3.

Suspension of a motor vehicle, in this case front wheel suspension, comprises a guide means indicated by 1 (Figure 1), a steering knuckle 2, and a mechanism 3 for adjusting camber of wheels 4. A telescopic suspension strut 5, which is one of the links of the guide means 1, is spring-biased by a spring 6 and is rigidly connected by one end thereof to a body 7 of the vehicle. The other end of the strut 5 is connected to a boss 11 (Figure 2) of the steering knuckle 2 by way of bracket 8 (Figure 2), bolt 9 (Figure 1) and bolt 10.

The other end of the steering knuckle 2 is pivotally connected to the vehicie's body (not shown) through an arm 12 (Figure 1)which is another link of the guide means.

The mechanism for adjusting wheel camber is fashioned as a nut-screw kinematic pair defined by the bolt 10 (Figure 2) having threads at its portion "a" passing through the boss 11, this portion of the bolt functioning as the screw of the kinematic pair. A nut 13 having a threaded hole 14 (Figure 3) is disposed at the portion "a" of the bolt 10, this nut 13 having parallel cylindrical sections "b1" and "b2" at the outer surface arranged on its opposite sides at an angle "a" to the axis "c" which is the longitudinal centerline of the threaded hole 14. For preventing the nut 13 from rotation during its travel (such as during camber adjustment) sides "d" thereof (Figure 4) have cuts parallel with the axis "c".

For accommodating the nut 13 (Figure 2) and bolt 10 in the boss 11 a through bore 15 is provided in the boss 11. In cross-section this bore 15 has the shape and dimensions conforming to the shape and dimensions of the nut 13. The through bore 15is at an angle "CL" to a perpendicular passed through the surface "e" of the boss 11 serving as a bearing surface for the bolt 10. A self-locking nut 17 is used for tightening the connection of the bracket 8 and boss 11 through aflange 16. The steering knuckle2 has mounted thereon a wheel hub 18 with a half-axle 19.

For expanding the range of adjustment of the wheel camber angle the threaded hole 14 (Figure 3) is offset in the nut 13 toward the surface "b2".

The suspension according to the invention operates as follows.

When camber of the wheels 4 is to be adjusted, the two nuts 17 on the bolts 10 and 9 must be slackened.

Then, by turning the bolt 10 camber adjustment is executed by virtue of transforming rotational motion of the bolt 10 into translational motion of the nut 13, which moves on the threads of the bolt 10 at the portion "a" and in the bore 15 inclined at the angle "a" to thereby change the relative position of the boss 11 and bolt 10. Therewith, the steering knuckle 2 tends to turn about the axis of the bolt 9 whereby the wheel 4 is displaced relative to the telescopic strut 5.

After wheel camber is adjusted, the threaded connection is tightened by turning the nut 17.

The suspension of a motor vehicle provided with a mechanism for adjusting wheel camber embodying the features of the present invention has been tested on pilot car models. The test run covered close to 150 thousand kilometers of lughways and roads without any signs of displacement of the steering knuckle relative to the telescopic strut.

1. Suspension of a motor vehicle wherein a

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Suspension of a motor vehicle This invention relates to automobile engineering, and more particularly to suspension of motor vehicles. The invention can find application in front wheel suspension wherein a suspension guiding means is provided with telescopic struts. The invention can also be utilized for adjusting wheel camber in other types of suspensions, such as parallel arm type suspensions and trailing arm type suspensions. The invention can further be used both in the front and rear wheel suspensions. The aim of the invention is attained by that in suspension of a motor vehicle in which a mechanism for adjusting wheel camber is mounted on one of bolts connecting a steering knuckle to a link of a suspension guiding means, according to the invention, the mechanism for adjusting wheel camber is fashioned as a nut-screw kinematic pair defined by a threaded portion of a bolt passing through a bore in the steering knuckle and a nut secured on this bolt to be capable of translational motion during wheei camber adjustment and having parallel outer surfaces disposed at an angle to the axis of a threaded hole in this nut, the bore in the steering knuckle being disposed at the same angle to a perpendicular passed through bearing surfaces thereof for the bolt as the angle of inclination of the outer surfaces of the nut, this bore having in cross-section configuration and dimensions corresponding to those of the nut. Preferably, the threaded hole in the nut is offset toward one of the outer surfaces of the nut arranged at an angle to the axis of this hole. The aforedescribed arrangement of the nut affords to expand the angle of wheel camber adjustment at substantially the same size of the wheel camber adjustment mechanism. The mechanism for adjusting wheel camber according to the invention, althrough being structurally simple, provides for a greatiy improved durability of suspension through maintaning optimized camber angle. In addition, the mechanism allows to expand the range of camber angle adjustment. The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to a specific embodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a general view of suspension of a motor vehicle according to the invention; Figure 2 is a section taken along the line ll-ll in Figure 1, an enlarged view; Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a nut; and Figure 4 is a view taken along the arrow "A" in Figure 3. Suspension of a motor vehicle, in this case front wheel suspension, comprises a guide means indicated by 1 (Figure 1), a steering knuckle 2, and a mechanism 3 for adjusting camber of wheels 4. A telescopic suspension strut 5, which is one of the links of the guide means 1, is spring-biased by a spring 6 and is rigidly connected by one end thereof to a body 7 of the vehicle. The other end of the strut 5 is connected to a boss 11 (Figure 2) of the steering knuckle 2 by way of bracket 8 (Figure 2), bolt 9 (Figure 1) and bolt 10. The other end of the steering knuckle 2 is pivotally connected to the vehicie's body (not shown) through an arm 12 (Figure 1)which is another link of the guide means. The mechanism for adjusting wheel camber is fashioned as a nut-screw kinematic pair defined by the bolt 10 (Figure 2) having threads at its portion "a" passing through the boss 11, this portion of the bolt functioning as the screw of the kinematic pair. A nut 13 having a threaded hole 14 (Figure 3) is disposed at the portion "a" of the bolt 10, this nut 13 having parallel cylindrical sections "b1" and "b2" at the outer surface arranged on its opposite sides at an angle "a" to the axis "c" which is the longitudinal centerline of the threaded hole 14. For preventing the nut 13 from rotation during its travel (such as during camber adjustment) sides "d" thereof (Figure 4) have cuts parallel with the axis "c". For accommodating the nut 13 (Figure 2) and bolt 10 in the boss 11 a through bore 15 is provided in the boss 11. In cross-section this bore 15 has the shape and dimensions conforming to the shape and dimensions of the nut 13. The through bore 15is at an angle "CL" to a perpendicular passed through the surface "e" of the boss 11 serving as a bearing surface for the bolt 10. A self-locking nut 17 is used for tightening the connection of the bracket 8 and boss 11 through aflange 16. The steering knuckle2 has mounted thereon a wheel hub 18 with a half-axle 19. For expanding the range of adjustment of the wheel camber angle the threaded hole 14 (Figure 3) is offset in the nut 13 toward the surface "b2". The suspension according to the invention operates as follows. When camber of the wheels 4 is to be adjusted, the two nuts 17 on the bolts 10 and 9 must be slackened. Then, by turning the bolt 10 camber adjustment is executed by virtue of transforming rotational motion of the bolt 10 into translational motion of the nut 13, which moves on the threads of the bolt 10 at the portion "a" and in the bore 15 inclined at the angle "a" to thereby change the relative position of the boss 11 and bolt 10. Therewith, the steering knuckle 2 tends to turn about the axis of the bolt 9 whereby the wheel 4 is displaced relative to the telescopic strut 5. After wheel camber is adjusted, the threaded connection is tightened by turning the nut 17. The suspension of a motor vehicle provided with a mechanism for adjusting wheel camber embodying the features of the present invention has been tested on pilot car models. The test run covered close to 150 thousand kilometers of lughways and roads without any signs of displacement of the steering knuckle relative to the telescopic strut. CLAIMS

1. Suspension of a motor vehicle wherein a mechanism for adjusting wheel camber is mounted on one of bolts connecting a steering knuckle to one of the links of suspension guiding means; the mechanism for adjusting wheel camber is fashioned as a nut-screw kinematic pair defined by a threaded portion of the bolt passing through a bore in the steering knuckle and a nut secured on this bolt to be capable of translational motion during wheel camber adjustment and having parallel outer surfaces disposed at an angle to the axis of a threaded hole made therein, the bore in the steering knuckle being inclined at the same angle to a perpendicular passed through bearing surfaces thereof for the bolt as the angle of the outer surfaces of the nut, this bore in the steering knuckle having in cross-section configuration and dimensions corresponding to the shape and dimensions of the nut.

2. Suspension of a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1 in which the threaded hole in the nut is offset toward one of the outer surfaces thereof arranged at an angle to the axis of this threaded hole.

3. Suspension of a motor vehicle as described in the description and claimed in the claims with reference to the accompanying drawings.