Dana Corporation

Other

Paul R Pollock

Richard D Ryan

James Foltan Ziech

David G Moses

James H Sheets

Richard D Joslin

Dennis T Mahoney

Anil K Bansal

Dennis Timothy Mahoney

Jim Sheets

Larry P Stoneburner

William Odisho

A modular sub-frame comprises an upper portion, a lower portion and an intermediate shock absorbing member. The upper portion is a steel fabrication for mounting to the chassis and the lower portion is a light-weight metal, e.g., aluminum, casting or castings for mounting to the steering components, whereby these two portions are separated by a vibration-dampening bushing. The lower portion of the modular sub-frame may be formed as a one-piece cast member or a multi-piece casting design where the casting members are jointed by bolts or other fastening means. In the multi-piece casting design, the front and rear bulkhead castings are the same identical part as are the top longitudinal members to provide interchangeability among the various components. By splitting the sub-frame into two parts, the top part can be isolated from the bottom part to reduce noise transmission from the sub-frame to the chassis, while maintaining the necessary rigid positioning of the suspension control arms and steering system. Also, the top part of the sub-frame can be readily revised to adapt to various chassis configurations without having to revise the bottom part of the sub-frame. With this invention, the lower half of the sub-frame can be highly tooled for low cost and improved dimensional reliability. The upper half of the sub-frame can be tooled with a lower volume manufacturing process to save on capital investment. The design of this invention adds flexibility for various chassis configurations while maintaining a constant suspension mounting framework.

Modular subframe assembly for a motor vehicle

A brake tester which is capable of mapping the position of the brake shoe in its extended position. The tester includes a plurality of sensors which are mounted about the brake assembly. The sensors are capable of measuring the distance between the sensor and the brake shoe. In the preferred embodiment, laser sensors are rotated about the brake assembly while the brake shoe is fully extended. The sensed signal is recorded and compiled to generate a mapping of the brake shoe. Alternatively, a plurality of stationary capacitive proximity sensors are disposed about the brake shoe generating a distance signal indicative of the distance between the brake shoe and a simulated drum surface. Such mapping tests for accurate displacement of the brake shoe can predict premature shoe wear and particular wear zones. A secondary function maps the entire surface of the brake shoe lining/friction pad when initial contact is made with the drum surface using the laser sensor.

Brake tester and method of using same

A wheel mount for a wheel comprises a spindle, a hub for surrounding the spindle and a bearing assembly interposed between the spindle and the hub. The spindle extends from an end of an axle of a vehicle and has a generally decreasing diameter from its proximal end to its distal end. The spindle is provided with a pair of lands near the ends of the spindle for receiving bearings, and has bearing retainers near the respective ends also, the distal retainer being removably attached. These inboard and outboard bearing retainers define an axial bearing space. The hub has a central aperture with an inboard land and an outboard land provided on an internal surface of the central aperture, also for receiving bearings. The bearing assembly comprises an inboard bearing and an outboard bearing in spaced apart relationship within the axial bearing space. The inboard bearing has an internal diameter larger than the internal diameter of the outboard bearing. The bearing assembly further has a conical shim placed in frictional fit between the cone portions of the inboard and outboard bearings and holding the respective bearings in the spaced apart relationship.

Wheel end assembly

An integrally joined two-piece motor vehicle steering knuckle assembly which includes a first component, preferably having a steering knuckle, a brake mounting bracket, a tie rod arm and, if needed, a steering rod arm, and a second component, preferably having a wheel spindle. The first component and the second component are integrally joined together by a process such as interference fit, welding and/or adhesive bonding, in the case of welding, most preferably friction welding, to form an integrally joined two-piece motor vehicle steering knuckle assembly.

Motor vehicle steering knuckle assembly

A self-steering assembly for self-steering wheels used on trucks carrying heavy loads includes a kingpin arm unit with a unitary adaptor collar at one end for mounting on a conventional tubular axle and a knuckle at the other end for retaining the clevis of a pivot link with a kingpin. The pivot link has a knuckle upon which is fixed a standard spindle unit having a steering arm secured thereto so that the assembly may be coupled to a similar assembly at the other end of the axle. A damper is pivoted at one end to the steering arm and at the other end to the axle. The self-steering assembly provides for the utilization of standard components in self-steering assemblies heretofore used only for steered axles.

Self-steering assembly

A steerable axle assembly having an axle with a generally vertically extending bore therein, a kingpin that is non-rotatably positioned in the bore in the axle in such a manner that the kingpin is longitudinally engaged by the bore so that the kingpin can not drift upwardly in the bore, the kingpin having upper and lower cylindrical portions that receive first and second tapered roller bearings, respectively, the first and second tapered roller bearings being retained, respectively, in apertures in upper and lower yoke arms of a steering knuckle. The first and second tapered roller bearings are adjustably preloaded by an externally threaded bearing adjuster that is threaded into an internally threaded portion of the aperture in the upper yoke arm of the steering knuckle. The aperture in the upper yoke arm is covered by bolting an end of the steering arm to the upper yoke arm over the aperture and the aperture in the lower yoke arm is covered by bolting an end of the tie rod to the lower yoke arm over the aperture. The kingpin is prevented from migrating upwardly within the bore in the axle either by providing the kingpin with a tapered portion that engages a tapered bore, or by providing the kingpin with a shoulder between a lower, larger diameter portion and a higher, smaller diameter portion that engages a shoulder in the bore between an upper bore portion and a lower counterbore portion.

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Fort Wayne, IN, United States of America

Paul R Pollock