STEERING KNUCKLE

Abstract: The invention relates to a spindle arrangement for a non-driven, steerable vehicle wheel for motor vehicles, comprising a spingle unit (10) with bores (11), located at an axial distance from one another and aligned axially with one another, for rotatable mounting of the spindle unit (10) relative to a kingpin (4; 4') accommodated via a central portion (5) in a through-bore (3) in a front axle-beam (2), a stub axle unit (18) which is connected to the spindle unit (10) and on which a wheel hub (19) is mounted, and, arranged at a first and second end (6, 7; 6', 7) of the kingpin (4; 4'), bearing means (8, 9) for the rotatable mounting of the spindle unit (10). The bearing means (8) at the first end (6; 6') of the kingpin (4; 4') is a spherical sliding bearing (8), which kingpin (4; 4') is oriented in such a manner in relation to the spindle unit (10) that the spherical sliding bearing (8) tales up only radial forces in relation to the centre axis (12) of the kingpin (4; 4').

Description: Steering knuck] e The present invention relates to a spindle arrangement for a non-driven, steerable vehicle wheel for motor vehicles, comprising a spindle unit with bores, located at an axial distance from one another and aligned axially with one another, for rotatable mounting of the spindle unit relative to a kingpin accommodated via a central portion in a through-bore in 0 a front axle-beam, a stub axle unit which is connected to the spindle unit and on which a wheel hub is mounted, and, arranged at a first and second end of the kingpin, bearing means for the rotatable mounting of the spindle unit . A spindle arrangement is used to make it possible to steer a motor vehicle, such as a lorry. The spindle arrangement is coupled to a vehicle wheel which is made steerable by means of the spindle arrangement . A common type of spindle arrangement for lorries 0 has a spindle unit mounted in a conical roller bearing at the upper end of the kingpin and a radial sliding bearing at its lower end. The upper bearing takes up both axial and radial forces, while the lower takes up only radial forces. In such a spindle mounting, the axial force on the upper bearing is load-dependent, for which reason the axial loading on the bearing varies with the total weight on the vehicle. Under particular driving conditions, such as during cornering with a great load, a torque arises in the spindle arrangement, 0 which is taken up by the radial sliding bearing. The torque taken up by the radial sliding bearing can result in a certain play occurring between the bearing surfaces of the radial sliding bearing. One object of the present invention is to produce a spindle arrangement which is non-sensitive to torque forces acting on the spindle arrangement. Another object of the invention is to produce a spindle arrangement which has a long useful life. This is achieved by means of a spindle arrangement of the type indicated in the introduction, in which the bearing means at the first end of the kingpin is a spherical sliding bearing and in which the kingpin is oriented in such a manner in relation to the spindle unit that the spherical sliding bearing takes up only radial forces in relation to the centre axis of the kingpin. The spherical sliding bearing allows a relative displacement between the bearing surfaces of the sliding bearing in a direction of rotation about an axis transverse to the centre axis of the kingpin. This displacement arises from the torque which acts on the spindle arrangement. By virtue of the spherical sliding bearing, the point loads which would otherwise arise in a radial sliding bearing are avoided. The forces which arise in the spherical sliding bearing are evened out over a large area between the bearing surfaces of the spherical sliding bearing. Low wear of the spherical sliding bearing is thus obtained, which results in a long useful life of the spindle arrangement. The invention will be described below by means of an exemplary embodiment shown in the appended figures, in which Fig. 1 shows a first exemplary embodiment of a spindle arrangement according to the present invention, Fig. 2 shows the spindle arrangement according to the first exemplary embodiment with a wheel arranged on the spindle unit, and Fig. 3 shows a second exemplary embodiment of a spindle arrangement according to the present invention. Fig. 1 shows a spindle arrangement 1 according to a first embodiment of the invention. The • spindle arrangement 1 comprises a front axle-beam 2 for a vehicle, which beam 2 is provided with a through-bore 3. A kingpin 4 is accommodated in the through-bore 3. The kingpin 4 has a central portion 5 and a first and second end 6, 7. Bearing means 8, 9, which support a spindle unit 10 rotatably in relation to the front axle-beam 2, are arranged on the first and second ends 6, 7. The central portion 5 of the kingpin may be conical, as shown in Fig. 1, and interact with the through-bore 3, which is also conical. However, the central portion 5 and the through-bore 3 can have a different shape, for example cylindrical. The spindle unit 10 is provided with bores 11 which are located at an axial distance from one another and aligned axially with one another and in which the ends 6, 7 of the kingpin 4 are inserted and supported by means of the bearing means 8, 9. The bearing means 8 at the first end consists of a spherical sliding bearing 8. According to the first exemplary embodiment, the first end 6 of the kingpin 4 is constituted by a lower end of the kingpin 4 in relation to the vehicle. The bearing means 9 on the second end consists of a conical roller bearing 9. The conical roller bearing 9 is designed to take up axial forces in relation to the centre axis 12 of the kingpin 4. The kingpin 4 is fixed axially to the conical roller bearing 9 by a castle nut 13 screwed onto the second end 7 of the kingpin 4, and is therefore suspended in the roller bearing 9. The conical roller bearing 9, the castle nut 13 and the second kingpin end 7 are covered by a cover 14. The spherical sliding bearing 8 is fixed, via a convex bearing portion 15, at the first end 6 by means of a castle nut 13 screwed onto the first end 6. A concave bearing portion 16 interacting with the convex bearing portion 15 is fixed in the bore 11 of the spindle unit 10. The convex and concave bearing portions 15, 16 of the spherical sliding bearing 8 have bearing surfaces 17 which are movable relative to one another in a direction of rotation about the centre axis 12 of the kingpin 4 and in a direction of rotation about an axis transverse to the centre axis 12 of the kingpin 4. The spherical sliding bearing 8 results in the kingpin 4 being allowed to be inclined in relation to the bore 11 of the spindle unit 10 without point loads and edge pressing occurring in the sliding bearing 8. The portions 15, 16 of the sliding bearing 8 will therefore be displaced relative to one another, so that a uniform surface pressure of the bearing surfaces 17 is obtained. The spherical sliding bearing 8, the castle nut 13 and the first kingpin end 6 are covered by a cover 14. Fig. 2 shows the spindle arrangement 1 according to the first exemplary embodiment, where a stub axle unit 18, on which a wheel hub 19 is mounted, is connected to the spindle unit 10. A brake disc 20 is also arranged on the wheel hub 19. Fig. 3 shows a spindle arrangement 1' according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention. According to this second exemplary embodiment, the first end 6' of the kingpin 4' constitutes an upper end of the kingpin 4' in relation to the vehicle. The spherical sliding bearing 8 is arranged at the first end 6', and the conical roller bearing 9 is arranged at the second end 7' . In this case also, the spherical sliding bearing 8 results in the kingpin 4' being allowed to be inclined in relation to the bore 11 of the spindle unit 10 without point loads and edge pressing occurring in the sliding bearing 8.

Claims: Patent Claims 1. Spindle arrangement for a non-driven, steerable vehicle wheel for motor vehicles, comprising a spindle unit (10) with bores (11) , located at an axial distance from one another and aligned axially with one another, for rotatable mounting of the spindle unit (10) relative to a kingpin (4; 4') accommodated via a central portion (5) in a through-bore (3) in a front axle-beam (2) , a stub axle unit (18) which is connected to the spindle unit (10) and on which a wheel hub (19) is mounted, and, arranged at a first and second end (6, 7; 6', 7') of the kingpin (4; 4'), bearing means (8, 9) for the rotatable mounting of the spindle unit (10) , characterized in that the bearing means (8) at the first end (6; 6') of the kingpin (4; 4') is a spherical sliding bearing (8), and in that the kingpin (4; 4') is oriented in such a manner in relation to the spindle unit (10) that the spherical sliding bearing (8) takes up only radial forces in relation to the centre axis (12) of the kingpin (4; 4'). 2. Spindle arrangement according to Claim 1, characterized in that the bearing means (9) at the second end (7; 7') of the kingpin (4; 4') is a conical roller bearing (9) which is designed to take up axial forces in relation to the centre axis (12) of the kingpin (4 ; 4' ) . 3. Spindle arrangement according to Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the first end (6) of the kingpin (4) constitutes a lower end of the kingpin (4) in relation to the vehicle. 4. Spindle arrangement according to Claim I or 2 , characterized in that the first end (6') of the kingpin (4') constitutes an upper end of the kingpin (4') in relation to the vehicle.

Inventors: BODIN JAN-OLOF, BODIN, JAN-OLOF
Applicants: BODIN JAN OLOF, VOLVO LASTVAGNAR AB, BODIN, JAN-OLOF
Application year: 2000
Main classification: B62D1
IPC codes: B62D7