Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • US7850178B2

    Uploaded by

    marcgleb
    4 views7 pages
    Adjustable toe link

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    PDF or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    Report this Document
    Adjustable toe link

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    4 views7 pages

    US7850178B2

    Uploaded by

    marcgleb
    Adjustable toe link

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    of 7
    (2) 6 sy 03) wo an @ 6s) (60) on (2) 68) 656) United States Patent Fischer et al. MOTOR VEHICLE ADJUSTABLE TO! ‘USOO7850178B2 1E LINK Inventors: Markus Fischer, Aan Arbor, MI (US) Erie Holmes, Aan Arhor, Mi S) Assignee: ZF Lemforder GmbH, Lemfoede (DE) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the patent is extended of adjusted under 35 USC. 154(b) by 107 days. Appl. Now 12/828,282 Biled: Dee. 4, 2008 Prior Publication Data US 2009101405061 Jun, 4, 2009 Related US. Application Data Provisional aplication No, 601992,176, fk 4.2007, sssn0s2 01296 S506 S088 pre 7185356 7201500 20060127166 KR KR KR KR led on Dee. m me me alt (10) Patent No. 4s) Date of Patent: aig Siem ‘199% 21997 22007 32007 ‘42007 62006 US 7,850,178 B2 Dec. 14, 2010 Meee 298967 Mach ‘se Nea font waaes ‘oad ier Bie >see apes ina Hoc woe PORPIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS 20020068591 2o0s00n1901 * cited by examiner Primary Examiner Assistant Examiner (74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Gillord, Keass, Sprinkle Anderson & Citkovsi, 2:C Inc B06 702 (2006.01) us.cl, 280786.758 Fleld of Classification Search 28086.758, (5 2RO/9R.S1; 405/43, 44, 45, 46, 47.48, 74/57 74/586 ‘ce pplication file for complete search history. References Cited USS. PATENT DOCUMENTS 396.800 A * 2/1970 Brernsk 120 103 20 i? Ir r197 n197 52002 42003 Panl N Dickson Robert A Coker ABSTRACT A toe link for the suspension system of a vehicle includes ‘means for adjusting the axial length of the we link while preventing relative rotation of the extending ends of the toe Tink, 79586 104 / 100 8 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets 105 101 é, 110 | Ft aoa ‘222 _! nt U.S. Patent Dec. 14, 2010 Sheet 1 of 3 US 7,850,178 B2 U.S. Patent Dec. 14, 2010 Sheet 2 of 3 US 7,850,178 B2 U.S. Patent Dec. 14, 2010 Sheet 3 of 3 US 7,850,178 B2 oT) 100 212 US 7,850,178 B2 1 MOTOR VEHICLE ADJUSTABLE TOE LINK (CROSS-REPERENCE TO RELATED "APPLICATIONS, ‘This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No, 60992,176, lsd Dee. 4 2007, which is Jinconporated herein by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION “The present invention relates to motor vehicle suspension systems and more particularly to an improved toe link for such systems which is capable of being longitudinally adjusted. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Suspensions of modern passenger cars have become rela. tively complex in order to fulfil the safety and performance ‘demands required by customers. Ths eomplexity has led (0 multi-link rear suspension systems with contol aems and a toe ink. The toe fink is typically longitudinally adjustable in ‘onde a allow forthe compensation within a given tolerance ‘during the final assembly of the suspension system, Referring to FIG. 1, a prior art adjustable toe link 10 is shown as having a frst rod 120 with a machined alignment surface 315 anda second rod 130 with a machined alignment sutface 328, These mschined aligned surfaces 315 and 328 ‘are located within an adjuster 100 that permits axial move ment of the machined alignment surfeews 318 and 328, and thus the ods 120 and 130, rlativetoone another hy using the ‘extemal threads 122 and 132 of the rods 120 and 130 respec tively in combination with intemal treads (aot shown) ofthe ‘adjuster 100, The extomal tress 122 canbe either et-hand, threads or right-hand threads, with the extemal threads 132 being opposite to the extemal threads 122. Ia this manser, rotation of the adjuster 100 causes the extension or contrac= tion ofthe overall length ofa toe fink 10. Inoperation, rotation of the adjuster 100 ina first direction results in the serowing ofthe first od 120 and the second rod 130nto the adjuster thus shortening the length othe toe link 10. Inthe alterative, rotation of the adjuster 100 in an oppo- site second direction rests in the unscrewing ofthe first rod 120d the second rod 130 rom the adjuster 100 causing the ‘we link 100 lengthen axially. The machined alignment sur- faces 31S and 328 prevent relative rotation ofthe ist rod 120 ‘andthe second rod 130 3 the adjuster 100 is rotated with one ‘ofthe rods 120 o¢ 130, In addition, the machined aignaseat surfaces lessen the load on the distal ens ofthe frst ro 120 and the second rd 130 that attach tothe suspension system of the motor vehicle wo resist rotation of the toe link. 1. ‘Afler the desired overall length ofthe toe link 10 has been ‘obtained by otating the adjuster 100 relative tothe first rod 4120 and the second red 130, a pair oF jamb nuts 110 can be tightened against the adjuster 100 inorder to set the te link ata desired fixed length In thismanncr, the toe link 10.can be lengthened and shortened and subsequently fixed at 2 siven length. Although such a toe link adjuster 100 is useful, the requirement of the machined alignment surfves M8 and 325 increases the complexity snd cost of adjustable toe links. 0 o 2 Therefore, an adjustable toe ink that ean provide adjustmes to ts overall length while not requiring machined alignment selaces would be desirable ‘SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION ‘The present invention discloses an adjustable toe ink fora motor Vehicle As ste, the toe link has wily asa part of @ suspension sysiem or a vehicle ‘The adjustable te Tink disclosed herein includes a fest threaded ro, a second threaded rod and an adjuster having a srenerlly hollow eylindrical body witha first end anda see- ‘ond end. ‘The first en! ofthe adjuster hs internal threads dimensioned to accept external thrwads on the frst threaded ro and the second end has intemal threads dimensioned t0 ‘accept external threads on the second threaded rod. A gener- ally rigid inser is located between and atached to the end oF the first threadod rod and the end of second thread ro Located within the generally hollow eylindrical body of the adjuster, the generally rigid insert is located between and inserted at least partially into the end ofthe frst threaded rod ‘and the end ofthe second threxed cod. The generally rigid insert is operable w prevent the fist threaded rod and the second threaded rod from rotating relative to one another ‘when teadjustersrtated to lengthen or shorten the oe ink. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS. FIG. 1s Iongitudinal view partially in cross-section ofan adjustable toe link ofthe prior at, FIG, 2s view similar to FIG, 1 but illustrating a portion ofan adjustable toe link ofthe present invention: IG. 3isan exploded perspective view ofthe adjustabletoe link shown in FIG. 2 FIG. 4 isan exploded perspective view imilarto FIG. 3but ithistating another adjustable toe link ofthe present inven- ‘ion: FIG, Sis an exploded perspective view similarto FIGS. 3 and but illustrating yet another preferred adjustable toe link ‘ofthe present invention: FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of sill another adjustable te link ofthe present invention FIG. 7 is another exploded perspective view of another adjustable toe Tink ofthe present invention FIG, 8 is yet another exploded perspective view of yet another adjustable toe fink of the present invention; and FIG. 9 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the pro {ered adjustable toe ink shown in FIG. 8 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS, ‘Turningnow toFIGS. 2and3, anembodiment of anadjust- able te lnk is shown generally at reference numeral 20, The toe lnk 20 includes first rod 210 and a second ol 220, The fist rod 240 is provided with external threads 212 and a slot 211. The second rod 220 is provided with external heads 222 fand a slot 221 The te link 20 includes an adjuster 100, the adjuster 100, having a generally hollow cylindrical body 104 with frst end 101 ada second end 108, The frst end 101 has inter ‘threads 105 that are dimensioned such that the fist rod 210 ‘with the externa threads 212 ean be serewed into the frstend 101 of the ajuster 100. | ikewise, the second end 103 of the adjuster 100 has internal threads 108 that are dimensioned such that the second rod 220 with the external threads 222 can be sewed there into, In some instances, the external threads US 7,850,178 B2 3 212 ofthe first rod 210 ae left-hand threads and the external threads 222 ofthe second rod 220 are right-hand threads. la the aliemative the fist rod 210 can have external right-hand threads and the second rod 220 ean have extemal leftshand threads, Loctted within the generally hollow cylindrical bosly 104 ‘ofthe adjuster 100 isa insert 300. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the jnsert 300 is inthe form of fat spring 310, the spring 30 having a first end 311 and a second end 312. In berween the first end 311 and the second end 312, the spring 310 is pro- Vided with nonparallel sections 318 adjoined with crowns ‘314, The frst end 311 is dimensioned such that i fits atleast Parially within the ot 211 of the first od 210. Likewise, the Second end 312 is dimensioned such that atleast patil it ‘within the slot 221 of the second rod 220. ‘Upon assembly ofthe te link 20, the first od 210 and the second rod 220 ate screwed into the adjuster 100 with the inser 300 located within the hollow cylindrical body of the juste between the first rod 210 and the second rod 220. ln ‘addition, due insert 300 as its frst end 311 inserted atleast parially within the slot 211 andits second end 312 inserted at Feast partially within the slot 21. It is appreciated that the spring 310 pesmits axial movement of the ist ro 210 and the second od 220 toward and away from each other long the toe Fink 20 while preventing rotational movement of the frst rod 210 of second rod 220 when the auster 100 is rotated and ‘oneo the rods 210 oF 220 ished ina fixed rotational position. In this manner, the insert 300 affords for adjustment of the ‘overall length of the toe link 20 while preventing rotation of ‘one of the rods when the other rod is held in fixed rotational positon. Its appreciated that a distal end of the frst rod 210 ‘and a distal end of the second rod 220 can be attached 10 different locations of motor vehicle suspension system, Turning now to FIG. 4, another prefered embodiment of the invention is shown generally at reference numer 30 as including the spring 310 in combination witha firstinset 238 anda second insert 248, The toe link adjuster 30 hasa ist rod 230 with extemal threads 292 and a eavity 291 atthe end of the od 230, Likewise, a second rod 240 has external threads 242 with a cavity 241 atthe end of the rod 240 facing the ‘cavity 231, The cavity 231 and the fist insert 235 are dimen- ‘honed such that he inser 235 fits at least partially within the ‘cavity 231 and yet does not rotate therein. In addition, the ‘cavity 241 and ihe second inser 245 are dimensioned such, that the inser 245 can it atleast partially within the cavity 241 and not rotate therein, The frst inser 235 has a slot 236 ‘andthe second insert 248 hasa slot 246, The slots 236:nd 246, ‘are gimensioned such thatthe firstend 311 ancl thesecondend, $312of the spring 310 can fit at least paral therein, respec- tively. Itis appreciated that the external threads 232 and the ‘extemal threads 242 work in a similar fashion with respect {0 the adjuster 100 as diselosed above with respect to FIGS. 2 ‘and 3. ‘Upon assembly, tho first rod 230, with the first insert 235 inserted at last partially within the cavity 231, is threaded into the frstend 101 ofthe adjuster 100. Likewise, the second rod 240, with the second insert 248 inserted at least partially ‘within th cavity 241, is threaded int the second end 103 of the adjuster 100, Located within the generally hollow cylin- ical body of the adjuster 100 with the socond end 311 at least partially inserted within the slot 296 of the firs isert 235 and the second end 312 at least partially inserted within the slot 246 ofthe secon insert 245 ithe spring 310. Thusas ‘explained for the te link 20 above, the te link 30 permits ‘axial movement ofthe first rod 230 and the second rod 240 ‘with respect to the adjuster 100 while preventing rotational ‘movement of the first rod 280 or the second rod 240 when one 0 o 4 ‘ofthe rods is held ina fixed rotational position, Inthis manner theadjuster 100 provides for adjustment ofthe overall legth of the toe link 30 while the distal ends of the we link 30 are held ina fixed rotational position relative to each other. The spring 310 prevents relative rotation ofthe rods 230 and 240 ‘hile the adjuster is being rotated to adjust the axial lnk of the toe link 3. Turing now to FIG, §, another embodiment is shown generally a reference mimeral 40. The adjustable toe fink 40 Jncludes frst rod 250 with extemal threads 252 nd a cavity 251, Also included isa second rod 260 with extemal theads 262and cavity 261, A single invert 25S is included, theinsert 26S having first end 256 and a second end 287, The first end 256 is dimensioned such that it ean fit at east pata within ‘the eavity 251 and not rotate therein. The second end 257 is

    You might also like