Calibrated replacement torque rod

• US 4,146,340 A
• Filed: 11/07/1977
• Issued: 03/27/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gulf & Western Manufacturing Company
• Original Assignee: Gulf & Western Manufacturing Company
• Inventors: Smith, Joseph E. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kundrat, Andrew V.
• Application Number:
  US05/848,944
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• Field of Search: 403/56, 403/180, 403/181, 403/122, 403/46, 403/13, 403/14, 403/77, 403/76, 403/271, 403/272, 403/27, 74/586, 280/95 A, 280/95 R
• US Class Current: 403/27
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/11 the arm being a radius or track or torque or steering rod or stabiliser end link
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/111 of adjustable length
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/1112 Manually, for alignment purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 7/20 Links, e.g. track rods means for adjusting camber, castor, or toe-in B62D17/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2226/36 by welding
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2326/05 Vehicle suspensions, e.g. bearings, pivots or connecting rods used therein in general B60G
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 7/06 Adjustable connecting-rods
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/20 with indicator or inspection means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/36 Three or more serial joints, at least one diverse
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2151 Longitudinally adjustable

Abstract

A torque rod replacement assembly which includes ball joint assemblies, each having a projection arm, one of which telescopes into the other, weld slots being provided for permanent assembly, and graduation being provided on the telescoping parts to facilitate accurate adaptation to a vehicle being serviced.

Claims

1. A vehicle rod replacement assembly comprising:

(a) a pair of movable joint assemblies,

(b) a hollow tube permanently secured to and extending from one of said joint assemblies having an axial bore,

(c) a rod permanently secured to and extending from said other joint assembly having a series of lineal graduations thereon, said rod having in assembly a freely slidable, unrestrained fit with the axial bore of said tube, and

(d) welds at adjoining surfaces of said tube and rod to secure said parts in a permanent longitudinal relationship at a selected dimension whereby said joint assemblies are properly spaced for assembly into a vehicle suspension system.

2. A vehicle rod replacement assembly comprising:

(a) a pair of movable joint assemblies,

(b) a hollow tube permanently secured to and extending from one of said joint assemblies having an axial bore, said tube having axial slots in walls thereof positioned toward the distal end,

(c) a rod permanently secured to and extending from said other joint assembly having a series of lineal graduations thereon visible through said axial slots, said rod having in assembly a freely slidable, unrestrained fit with the axial bore of said tube, and

(d) welds extending through said slots to secure adjoining surfaces of said tube and rod in a fixed and permanent longitudinal spaced relationship at a selected dimension whereby said joint assemblies are properly spaced for assembly into a vehicle suspension system.

3. A fixed dimension replacement rod assembly for field replacement in vehicles which comprises:

(a) a first movable joint having a first containing body and a fastening stud extending axially therefrom movable relative to the body and a first elongate member permanently secured at a proximal end to and extending radially from the containing body,

(b) a second movable joint having a second containing body and a fastening stud extending axially therefrom movable relative to the body and a second elongate member permanently secured at a proximal end to and extending radially from the second containing body,

(c) said first and second elongate members being dimensioned to have in assembly a freely slidable unrestrained axial telescoping relation, the outer of said members having one or more axial slots through the wall thereof spaced from the digital end thereof, and

(d) welds to secure said elongate members in a permanent fixed predetermined longitudinal relationship to establish a permanent lineal dimensional spacing between said movable joint bodies to accommodate to a particular vehicle suspension application comprising an encircling weld between the end of the outer of said telescoping members and the inner member, and a puddle weld in said slot welding said outer member to the outer surface of said inner member in an area spaced from said encircling weld.