US4229017A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
King pin assembly
Assignee: Ford Motor Co
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Filing: 1978-09-29
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Granted: 1980-10-21
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Expires: 1998-09-29
Abstract
Abstract A vehicle suspension assembly has a spindle with lower and upper arms forming a yoke, a knuckle support portion of a front axle fitted between the lower and upper arms, a kingpin extending through aligned holes in the knuckle support and lower and upper arms, a bearing assembly between the knuckle support and lower arm, a plate with a threaded aperture affixed to the spindle and a bolt threaded through the plate and abutting the top end of the kingpin to push the knuckle against the bearing assembly to assure a flush fit without vertical play of the bearing assembly between the lower arm and knuckle support.
Inventors
- 👤 Vincent H. Hagedorn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 11:03
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D17/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
174 words
A king pin assembly comprising: a yoke with a first and second arm spaced apart from each other and a hole in each arm; a knuckle support sized to fit within the space between the two arms with an aperture extending therethrough and aligned with said holes in the two arms; a kingpin extending through the aperture in the knuckle support and into the holes in the two arms; retaining means for retaining the kingpin in its position relative to the knuckle support; a bearing assembly operatively interposed between the knuckle support and one of the arms; a separate adjustable member being longitudinally adjustable in the hole of the first arm; means for adjustably securing said separate member in a plurality of fixed longitudinal positions in the hole of the first arm; said separate member being operably connected to the knuckle support for pressing the knuckles and bearing assembly toward the second arm such that the bearing assembly is in snug abutting relationship interposed between the knuckle support and said one of the arms.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
174 words
A king pin assembly comprising: a yoke with a first and second arm spaced apart from each other and a hole in each arm; a knuckle support sized to fit within the space between the two arms with an aperture extending therethrough and aligned with said holes in the two arms; a kingpin extending through the aperture in the knuckle support and into the holes in the two arms; retaining means for retaining the kingpin in its position relative to the knuckle support; a bearing assembly operatively interposed between the knuckle support and one of the arms; a separate adjustable member being longitudinally adjustable in the hole of the first arm; means for adjustably securing said separate member in a plurality of fixed longitudinal positions in the hole of the first arm; said separate member being operably connected to the knuckle support for pressing the knuckles and bearing assembly toward the second arm such that the bearing assembly is in snug abutting relationship interposed between the knuckle support and said one of the arms.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
A kingpin assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein; the adjustable securing means includes threaded means fixed to said first arm; said separate member includes a threaded bolt member threadably engaging said threaded means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
A kingpin assembly as defined in claim 2 and further comprising: said threaded bolt member being in abutting relationship with the kingpin; the threaded bolt member extending into the hole in the first arm; the retaining means includes locking means for longitudinally fixing the kingpin to the knuckle support.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
A kingpin assembly as defined in claim 3 wherein the thread means includes a plate secured to the top of the first arm covering the hole in the first arm and having a threaded aperture therethrough vertically aligned with the hole in the first arm; the threaded bolt means threadably engages the threads in the plate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
A kingpin assembly as defined in claim 4 and further comprising: a grease fitting extending through the first arm of the yoke; the fitting having a bore therethrough in fluid communication with the hole through the upper arm for allowing the introduction of lubricant through the fitting and into the hole.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
A kingpin assembly as defined in claim 4 and further comprising: a grease fitting extending through the plate; the grease fitting having a bore therethrough in fluid communication with the hole in the first arm for allowing the introduction of lubricant through the fitting and into the hole.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
53 words
A kingpin assembly as defined in claim 6 wherein the fitting is mounted on top of the threaded bolt means the thread bolt means has a bore therethrough in fluid communication at one end with a second bore through the fitting and at an opposing end with the hole in the first arm.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
A kingpin assembly as defined in claim 3 wherein the thread means comprises internal threads within the hole of the first arm and separate threaded bolt means threadably engages the internal threads.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
A kingpin assembly as defined in claims 4 or 8 and further comprising a lock nut having an internally threaded aperture threadably engaging the threaded bolt means for movement to an abutting position with one of the upper arm and plate for locking the threaded bolt means in position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
A kingpin assembly as defined in claim 3 wherein the locking means includes horizontal grooves in the king pin; aperture through the knuckle support aligned with the grooves, and a locking pin extending through the apertures in the knuckle support and engaging the grooves in the king pin.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-10-21 | 1984-04-21 | 1984-10-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-10-21 | 1988-04-21 | 1988-10-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-10-21 | 1992-04-21 | 1992-10-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |