Steering linkage

Claim 2

In a vehicle steering linkage, the improvement of a stamped centerlink member, said centerlink member substantially U-shaped in cross section having punched openings adjacent either end thereof in the side legs of the U for attachment of pitman arm and idler arm assemblies and stamped openings through the bight thereof intermediate the ends for attachment of tie rod sockets.

Claim 3

In a vehicle steering linkage, the improvement of a stamped centerlink member, said centerlink member substantially U-shaped in cross section having punched openings adjacent either end thereof in the side legs of the U for attachment of pitman arm and idler arm assemblies and stamped openings through the bight thereof intermediate the ends for attachment of tie rod sockets.

Claim 4

In a vehicle steering linkage, the improvement of a stamped centerlink member, said centerlink member substantially U-shaped in cross section having punched openings adjacent either end thereof in the side legs of the U for attachment of pitman arm and idler arm assemblies and stamped openings through the bight thereof intermediate the ends for attachment of tie rod sockets.

Claim 5

The improvement of claim 1 wherein the said tie rod sockets have portions thereof projecting the said punched openings, the said portions freely movable in the said openings whereby the vehicle wheels associated with the said linkage may be adjusted for toe by moving the said portion within the said openings and means for attaching the said sockets to the said centerlink member in non-movable relation.

Claim 6

In a vehicle steering linkage, the improvement of a stamped centerlink member, said centerlink substantially U-shaped in cross section having side legs and a bright section interconnecting the side legs, the side legs at one end thereof having punched openings therein for attachment of a pitman arm assembly, the other end of the said centerlink being rolled into a substantially circular cross section for engagement with a slip bushing, and punched openings are provided through the bight of the said centerlink intermediate the ends thereof for attachment of tie rod sockets.

Claim 7

In a vehicle steering linkage, the improvement of a stamped centerlink member, said centerlink substantially U-shaped in cross section having side legs and a bright section interconnecting the side legs, the side legs at one end thereof having punched openings therein for attachment of a pitman arm assembly, the other end of the said centerlink being rolled into a substantially circular cross section for engagement with a slip bushing, and punched openings are provided through the bight of the said centerlink intermediate the ends thereof for attachment of tie rod sockets.

Claim 8

The improvement of claim 3 wherein said tie rod sockets have portions thereof projecting through the said punched openings, the said portions freely movable in the said openings whereby the vehicle wheels associated with the said linkage may be adjusted for toe by moving the said portion within the said openings and means for attaching the said sockets to the said centerlink member in non-movable relation.

Claim 9

In a steering linkage for attachment to dirigible wheels of a vehicle incorporating tie rods each attached at one end to a centerlink and at the opposite end to a dirigible wheel, the improvements of one piece tie rods attached to said centerlink, said centerlink having axially elongated slots, said tie rods having adjusting means axially shiftable in said slots, and locking means on said adjusting means securing said adjusting means in selected fixed positions in said slots, whereby the points of attachment of said tie rods to the said centerlink may be moved to provide for toe adjustment of the dirigible wheels of the vehicle attached to the ends of the said tie rods.

Claim 10

In a steering linkage for attachment to dirigible wheels of a vehicle incorporating tie rods each attached at one end to a centerlink and at the opposite end to a dirigible wheel, the improvements of one piece tie rods attached to said centerlink, said centerlink having axially elongated slots, said tie rods having adjusting means axially shiftable in said slots, and locking means on said adjusting means securing said adjusting means in selected fixed positions in said slots, whereby the points of attachment of said tie rods to the said centerlink may be moved to provide for toe adjustment of the dirigible wheels of the vehicle attached to the ends of the said tie rods.

Claim 11

In a steering linkage for attachment to dirigible wheels of a vehicle incorporating tie rods each attached at one end to a centerlink and at the opposite end to a dirigible wheel, the improvements of one piece tie rods attached to said centerlink, said centerlink having axially elongated slots, said tie rods having adjusting means axially shiftable in said slots, and locking means on said adjusting means securing said adjusting means in selected fixed positions in said slots, whereby the points of attachment of said tie rods to the said centerlink may be moved to provide for toe adjustment of the dirigible wheels of the vehicle attached to the ends of the said tie rods.

Claim 12

In a steering linkage for attachment to dirigible wheels of a vehicle incorporating tie rods each attached at one end to a centerlink and at the opposite end to a dirigible wheel, the improvements of one piece tie rods attached to said centerlink, said centerlink having axially elongated slots, said tie rods having adjusting means axially shiftable in said slots, and locking means on said adjusting means securing said adjusting means in selected fixed positions in said slots, whereby the points of attachment of said tie rods to the said centerlink may be moved to provide for toe adjustment of the dirigible wheels of the vehicle attached to the ends of the said tie rods.

Claim 13

A steering linkage having a movable centerlink, spaced-apart openings through said centerlink, said openings having a greater dimension along the length of the said centerlink than along the width thereof, a plurality of sockets, said sockets having portions thereof projecting therefrom, said portions extending through the said centerlink openings, said portions freely receivable in the said openings whereby the said portions and the said sockets are movable lengthwise of the said centerlink, and means for attaching the said sockets to the said centerlink in non-movable relation.

Claim 14

A steering linkage having a movable centerlink, spaced-apart openings through said centerlink, said openings having a greater dimension along the length of the said centerlink than along the width thereof, a plurality of sockets, said sockets having portions thereof projecting therefrom, said portions extending through the said centerlink openings, said portions freely receivable in the said openings whereby the said portions and the said sockets are movable lengthwise of the said centerlink, and means for attaching the said sockets to the said centerlink in non-movable relation.

Claim 15

A steering linkage comprising: a centerlink, socket attachment openings through said centerlink intermediate the ends thereof, sockets having members projecting therefrom, said members received in the said openings, said openings having a dimension lengthwise of the said centerlink greater than their dimensions across the width of the said centerlink, said portions having a dimension with respect to the said openings whereby the said portions are movable lengthwise of the said centerlink in the said openings, and means for preventing lengthwise movement of the said projections in the said opening unless the said projections are rotated.

Claim 16

A steering linkage comprising: a centerlink, socket attachment openings through said centerlink intermediate the ends thereof, sockets having members projecting therefrom, said members received in the said openings, said openings having a dimension lengthwise of the said centerlink greater than their dimensions across the width of the said centerlink, said portions having a dimension with respect to the said openings whereby the said portions are movable lengthwise of the said centerlink in the said openings, and means for preventing lengthwise movement of the said projections in the said opening unless the said projections are rotated.

Claim 17

A movable stud joint socket to centerlink connection for vehicle steering linkages which comprises: an opening in said centerlink, said opening being non-circular with a major axis and a minor axis, teeth along one wall of said opening, said one wall extending in the direction of the major axis, a projection on the socket, said projection having a cylindrical portion, said cylindrical portion splined, the splines mating with said teeth, the major diameter of said cylindrical portion substantially equal to said minor axis, the said projection extending through the said opening, and means to retain said socket with the projection in said opening and said spline indexing with said teeth, said means adjustable to control movement of said projection in said opening.

Claim 18

A movable stud joint socket to centerlink connection for vehicle steering linkages which comprises: an opening in said centerlink, said opening being non-circular with a major axis and a minor axis, teeth along one wall of said opening, said one wall extending in the direction of the major axis, a projection on the socket, said projection having a cylindrical portion, said cylindrical portion splined, the splines mating with said teeth, the major diameter of said cylindrical portion substantially equal to said minor axis, the said projection extending through the said opening, and means to retain said socket with the projection in said opening and said spline indexing with said teeth, said means adjustable to control movement of said projection in said opening.

Claim 19

A vehicle steering linkage comprising a centerlink, a pair of tie rods, movable stud joints attaching said tie rods to said centerlink, said joints having a cylindrical portion extending therefrom, said centerlink having spaced-apart openings therethrough intermediate the ends thereof, said openings having a major axis and a minor axis, said major axis greater than said portions of said joints, said portions projecting through the said openings, said portions terminating in a threaded portion, nuts received around said threaded portion for enclamping a portion of the said centerlink between a main body of the said joints and the said nut with the said cylindrical portion of the said joints received through the said openings, the said cylindrical portion of the said joints movable in the said opening along the said major axis and the said nut tightenable to restrict said movement.

Claim 20

A vehicle steering linkage comprising a centerlink, a pair of tie rods, movable stud joints attaching said tie rods to said centerlink, said joints having a cylindrical portion extending therefrom, said centerlink having spaced-apart openings therethrough intermediate the ends thereof, said openings having a major axis and a minor axis, said major axis greater than said portions of said joints, said portions projecting through the said openings, said portions terminating in a threaded portion, nuts received around said threaded portion for enclamping a portion of the said centerlink between a main body of the said joints and the said nut with the said cylindrical portion of the said joints received through the said openings, the said cylindrical portion of the said joints movable in the said opening along the said major axis and the said nut tightenable to restrict said movement.