Fabricated steer axle assembly

• US 6,641,150 B1
• Filed: 05/16/2001
• Issued: 11/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group LLC (Dana, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dana Corporation (Dana, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ratliff, Cortland, Schlosser, Kraig, Davison, Kent
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): To, Toan
• Application Number:
  US09/859,174
• Time in Patent Office: 902 Days
• Field of Search: 280/124.125, 280/93.512, 180/905, 180/253
• US Class Current: 280/93.512
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/32 Hollow cross section
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/722 Plates
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/80 Manufacturing procedures
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/8201 by welding
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 9/00 Resilient suspensions of a rigid axle or axle housing for two or more wheels the axle being a part of a set of tandem axles B60G5/00-B60G5/065; with leaf springs B60G11/02-B60G11/08
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 180/905 Axles

Abstract

The inventive fabricated steer axle assembly includes an axle beam, a kingpin housing, and, a fabrication connecting the axle beam and kingpin housing. The kingpin housing comprises an open-ended cylindrical tube having a groove disposed proximate each end of the tube. The fabrication includes a first end and a second end and is bent around the kingpin housing so that the first and second ends may be attached to the axle beam. A continuous weld may be used to couple the ends of the fabrication to the axle beam and secure the ends of the fabrication together along a seam extending between the kingpin housing and the beam formed after bending the fabrication around the kingpin housing.

Claims

1. A steer axle assembly comprising:

an axle beam;

a kingpin housing; and

,

a fabrication connecting said axle beam and said kingpin housing,

wherein said fabrication includes a first end and a second end and said fabrication surrounds said kingpin housing so that said first and second ends are attached to said axle beam.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said fabrication curves toward a longitudinal axis of said axle beam as said fabrication extends in an outboard direction.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said fabrication is coupled to an external surface of said axle beam.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said fabrication is disposed on one side of a longitudinal axis extending through said axle beam.

5. A steer axle assembly comprising:

an axle beam;

a kingpin housing; and

,

a fabrication connecting said axle beam and said kingpin housing

wherein said fabrication is unitary in construction and includes a first end and a second end and said fabrication surrounds said kingpin housing so that said first and second ends are attached to said axle beam.

6. The assembly of claim 5 wherein said fabrication curves toward a longitudinal axis of said axle beam as said fabrication extends in an outboard direction.

7. The assembly of claim 5 therein said fabrication is coupled to an external surface of said axle beam.

8. The assembly of claims 5 wherein said fabrication is disposed on one side of a longitudinal axis extending through said axle beam.

9. A steer axle assembly comprising:

an axle beam;

a kingpin housing; and

,

a fabrication connecting said axle beam and said kingpin housing

wherein said fabrication includes a first end and a second end and said fabrication surrounds said kingpin housing so that said first and second ends are attached to said axle beam and a single continuous weld attaches said fabrication to said axle beam and said fabrication to said kingpin housing.

10. The assembly of claim 9 wherein said fabrication curves toward said longitudinal axis of said axle beam as said fabrication extends in an outboard direction.

11. The assembly of claim 9 wherein said fabrication is coupled to an external surface of said axle beam.

12. The assembly of claim 9 wherein said fabrication includes a top wall, a bottom wall, and a side wall connecting said top and bottom walls, said top wall received within a first groove in said kingpin housing and said bottom wall received within a second groove in said kingpin housing.

13. The assembly of claim 12 wherein said side wall does not contact said kingpin housing.

14. The assembly of claim 12 wherein said top and bottom walls surround said kingpin housing.

15. The assembly of claim 9 wherein said fabrication is unitary in construction.

16. A steer axle assembly comprising:

an axle beam;

a kingpin housing; and

,

a fabrication connecting said axle beam and said kingpin housing,

wherein said fabrication includes a first end and a second end and said fabrication surrounds said kingpin housing so that said first and second ends are attached to said axle beam and said fabrication includes a top wall, a bottom wall, and a side wall connecting said top and bottom walls, said top wall received within a first groove in said kingpin housing and said bottom wall received within a second groove in said kingpin housing.

17. The assembly of claim 16 wherein said side wall does not contact said kingpin housing.

18. The assembly of claim 16 wherein said top and bottom walls surround said kingpin housing.

19. A steer axle assembly comprising:

an axle beam;

a kingpin housing; and

,

a fabrication connecting said axle beam and said kingpin housing

wherein said fabrication is unitary in construction and includes a first end and a second end and said fabrication surrounds said kingpin housing so that said first and second ends are attached to said axle beam and said fabrication includes a top wall, a bottom wall, and a side wall connecting said top and bottom walls, said top wall received within a first groove in said kingpin housing and said bottom wall received within a second groove in said kingpin housing.

20. The assembly of claim 19 wherein said side wall does not contact said kingpin housing.

21. The assembly of claim 19 wherein said top and bottom walls surround said kingpin housing.