Steerable front axle for motor vehicles

• US 4,881,749 A
• Filed: 09/06/1988
• Issued: 11/21/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Bausch, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Rice, Kenneth R.
• Application Number:
  US07/241,044
• Time in Patent Office: 441 Days
• Field of Search: 280/88, 280/95.1, 280/846, 280/661, 280/716
• US Class Current: 280/5.522
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/246 Change of direction
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 7/20 Links, e.g. track rods means for adjusting camber, castor, or toe-in B62D17/00
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 9/00 Steering deflectable wheels not otherwise provided for steering positon indicators B62D15/02

Abstract

The present invention pertains to a steerable front axle for motor vehicles with a steering knuckle for each of the two front wheels, which steering knuckle is pivotedly mounted on at least one axle connecting rod supported pivotedly on the chassis via a connecting rod bearing. The axes of rotation of the connecting rod bearings are essentially arranged in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. A steering tie rod, which is linked with the corresponding steering knuckle, is associated with each of the front wheels. A steering mechanism connected to the steering tie rods is provided between the two steering tie rods. The steering tie rods have an expansion chamber for the hydraulic length adjustment, into which hydraulic fluid can be admitted. Both of the connecting rod bearings associated with each of the front wheels have a hollow displacement zone which can be compressed in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, in which the hydraulic fluid is located which will enter the expansion chamber of the steering tie rod of the associated front wheel via a hydraulic tube in the case of the compression of the displacement zone which occurs during braking.

Claims

1. Steerable front axle for motor vehicles, comprising a steering knuckle for each of the two front wheels which is rotatably mounted on at least one axle connecting rod pivoted on the chassis via a connecting rod bearing, in which the axes of rotation of the connecting rod bearings are essentially arranged in the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle, and one steering tie rod each associated with each of the front wheels, which steering tie rod is linked with a steering tie rod lever connected to the corresponding steering knuckle, in which a steering mechanism connected to the steering tie rods is arranged between the two steering tie rods, characterized in that, for hydraulic length adjustment, the steering tie rods have an expansion chamber to which a hydraulic fluid can be admitted and that both the connecting rod bearings associated with each of the front wheels have a hollow displacement zone between the junction points of the axle connecting rod and the chassis which displacement zone is compressible in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and in which the hydraulic fluid is housed which enters the expansion chamber of the steering tie rod of the associated front wheel via a hydraulic tube in the case of the compression of the displacement zone which occurs during braking.

2. Front axle in accordance with claim 1, in which each steering knuckle is supported pivotedly on the chassis with a front and a rear axle connecting rod arm by means of a connecting rod bearing each, characterized in that each connecting rod bearing has a hollow displacement zone.

3. Front axle in accordance with claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the displacement zone of the left and right connecting rod bearings form a closed hydraulic system with the expansion chamber of the left and right steering tie rod, respectively.

4. Front axle in accordance with claim 3, characterized in that the displacement zone has a hydraulic piston and a hydraulic cylinder which are elastically pretensioned away from each other.

5. Front axle in accordance with claim 4, characterized in that each axle connecting rod or each axle connecting rod arm is mounted on an elastic sleeve which has a bellows vulcanized into the cylinder on the chassis mounting side, which bellows surrounds the hydraulic fluid limited by the sleeve, and that on the side turned away from the bellows, the cylinder is connected to a closing plate attached to the chassis, which plate limits the hydraulic fluid on the side opposite the sleeve and has a connection bore for the hydraulic tube leading to the steering tie rod, in which the connecting rod bearing is attached to the chassis with a vulcanized locking bolt on the opposite side.

6. Front axle in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that each steering tie rod has a hydraulic cylinder in which a hydraulic piston defining an expansion chamber is arranged, and the piston is elastically pretensioned against the hydraulic cylinder.

7. Front axle in accordance with claim 6, characterized in that a first steering tie rod section is integral with the hydraulic cylinder of the steering tie rod with a fastening means arranged on it, and that a piston rod of the hydraulic piston, projecting from the hydraulic cylinder, forms a second steering tie rod section, and a connecting pin for linking the steering tie rod with the steering tie rod lever is arranged at the end of the second steering tie rod section which is turned away from the piston.

8. Front axle in accordance with claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the hydraulic piston of the steering tie rod is pretensioned by a compressive coil spring against the bottom of the hydraulic cylinder against which bottom abuts the hydraulic piston in its end position.

9. Front axle in accordance with claim 8, characterized in that the compressive coil spring, one end of which is supported by the side of the hydraulic piston turned away from the expansion chamber, is supported at its other end by a guide bush for the piston rod of the hydraulic piston, which bush is inserted in the hydraulic cylinder.