Abstract:
A symmetrical tie rod arm is disclosed that can be used on either side of a vehicle to eliminate the need for two separate tie rod arms.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a tie rod arm and a method of making and utilizing the same. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Tie rods are well-known devices in vehicle steering systems. In such applications, tie rods may be used to connect the steer knuckles together. Thus, when a steering input is provided to one knuckle, the knuckle on the other end of the tie rod is provided the same input. 
         [0003]    Various structures may be used to connect the tie rods to the steer knuckles. These structures may be known as tie rod arms. Typically, a tie rod arm for the left hand side of the vehicle is needed and a separate tie rod arm is required for the right hand side of the vehicle as well. 
         [0004]    The left hand tie rod arm and the right hand tie rod arm usually have different shapes from one another, thus requiring the left hand tie rod to be forged separately from the right hand tie rod arm. Two separate forgings, the tooling required for them, as well as any subsequent machining required for one or both of the tie rods arms, can be expensive. 
         [0005]    Therefore, it would be advantageous to have a single tie rod arm forging that could be used interchangeably with, or readily adapted for, the left and right hand side of the vehicle to eliminate the need for two separate forgings. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    One embodiment of a tie rod arm forging disclosed herein may have a first end portion having a first fastener aperture boss extending along a first plane. The exemplary tie rod arm forging may also have a second end portion having at least two substantially parallel surfaces oriented in a second plane. The second plane may be transverse to the first plane. The tie rod arm forging may also have a middle portion for connecting the first end portion with the second end portion. The middle portion may have a middle fastener aperture boss extending along the first plane. The tie rod arm forging may be symmetrical about the second plane. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description when considered in the light of the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a first tie rod arm; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the first tie rod arm of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a plan view of the first tie rod arm of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines U-U of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines V-V of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines W-W of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines Y-Y of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines Z-Z of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a second tie rod arm; 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  is a side view of the second tie rod arm of  FIG. 9 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 11  is a plan view of the second tie rod arm of  FIG. 9 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 12  is a side view of the first tie rod arm attached to one embodiment of a knuckle; 
           [0020]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a semi-worked tie rod arm forging; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a tie rod arm forging. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0022]    It is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative orientations and step sequences, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions, directions or other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise. 
         [0023]    Referring first to  FIG. 14 , one embodiment of a tie rod arm forging  20 B is depicted. The tie rod arm forging  20 B may have a first end portion  22 B, a second end portion  24 B and a middle portion  26 B connecting the first end portion  22 B to the second end portion  24 B. The tie rod arm forging  20 B is preferably substantially one-piece and integrally formed. The first end portion  22 B may have a first fastener aperture boss  27 B extending along a first plane  30 B. 
         [0024]    The second end portion  24 B may have substantially planar upper and lower surfaces  38 B,  40 B both of which are aligned with a second plane  34 B. The second plane  34 B is preferably substantially transverse to the first plane  30 B. The second end portion  24 B may be angled in an outboard direction. 
         [0025]    The middle portion  26 B has a middle fastener aperture boss  43 B extending along the first plane  30 B. An upper portion  46 B of the middle portion  26 B may have a depression  48 B therein. Similarly, a lower portion (not shown) of the middle portion  26 B may have a similarly shaped and positioned depression (not shown) therein. The depression or depressions save weight without compromising strength. 
         [0026]    A first concave portion  54 B may be located between the first end portion  22 B and the middle portion  26 B. The first concave portion  54 B may be located on an inboard side  56 B of the tie rod arm forging  20 B. 
         [0027]    A second concave portion  58 B may be located between the middle portion  26 B and the second end portion  24 B. The second concave portion  58 B may be located on an outboard side  60 B of the tie rod arm forging  20 B. 
         [0028]    Preferably, the first end portion  22 B, the second end portion  24 B and the middle portion  26 B are all symmetrical about the second plane  34 B. 
         [0029]    Referring now to  FIG. 13 , one embodiment of a semi-worked tie rod arm forging  20 A is depicted. As can be appreciated from the information below, the semi-machined tie rod arm forging  20 A is the tie rod arm forging  20 B but with additional features. 
         [0030]    The tie rod arm forging  20 A may have a first end portion  22 A, a second end portion  24 A and a middle portion  26 A connecting the first end portion  22 A to the second end portion  24 A. The first end portion  22 A may have a first fastener aperture  28 A extending through a first fastener aperture boss  27 A in a first plane  30 A. The first fastener aperture  28 A may be machined into the boss  27 A in a manner known by those skilled in the art. 
         [0031]    The second end portion  24 A may have substantially planar upper and lower surfaces  38 A,  40 A both of which are aligned with a second plane  34 A. The second plane  34 A is preferably substantially transverse to the first plane  30 A. The second end portion  24 A may be angled in an outboard direction. 
         [0032]    The middle portion  26 A has a middle fastener aperture  44 A extending through a middle fastener aperture boss  43 A along the first plane  30 A. The middle fastener aperture  44 A may be machined into the boss in a manner known by those skilled in the art. An upper portion  46 A of the middle portion  26 A may have a depression  48 A therein. Similarly, a lower portion (not shown) of the middle portion  26 A may have a similarly shaped and positioned depression (not shown) therein. The depression or depressions save weight without compromising strength. 
         [0033]    A first concave portion.  54 A may be located between the first end portion  22 A and the middle portion  26 A. The first concave portion  54 A may be located on an inboard side  56 A of the tie rod arm forging  20 A. 
         [0034]    A second concave portion  58 A may be located between the middle portion  26 A and the second end portion  24 A. The second concave portion  58 A may be located on an outboard side  60 A of the tie rod arm  20 A. 
         [0035]    Preferably, the first end portion  22 A, the second end portion  24 A and the middle portion  26 A are all symmetrical about the second plane  34 A. 
         [0036]    Turning now to  FIGS. 1-3 , one embodiment of a first tie rod arm  20  is depicted. As will be appreciated from the following, the first tie rod arm  20  can be created from the tie rod arm forging  20 A. 
         [0037]    The first tie rod arm  20  may have a first end portion  22 , a second end portion  24  and a middle portion  26  connecting the first end portion  22  to the second end portion  24 . The first end portion  22  may have a first fastener aperture  28  extending therethrough in a first plane  30 . The first plane  30  is best seen in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0038]    The second end portion  24  may have an aperture  32  extending therethrough in a second plane  34 . The second plane is best seen in  FIG. 2 . The aperture  32  may be located in an outboard portion  36  of the second end portion  24 . The second plane  34  is preferably substantially transverse to the first plane  30 . The second end portion  24  may have substantially planar upper and lower surfaces  38 ,  40  in which the aperture  32  is located. The second end portion  24  may be angled in an outboard direction. 
         [0039]    In one embodiment, the aperture  32  is tapered. By way of example only, the aperture  32  may taper down from the lower surface  40  of the second end portion  24  to the upper surface  38  of the second end portion  24 . The tapered aperture  32  may be created by, for example, machining. 
         [0040]    The middle portion  26  has a middle fastener aperture  44  extending therethrough along the first plane  30 . An upper portion  46  of the middle portion  26  may have a depression  48  therein. Similarly, a lower portion  50  of the middle portion  26  may have a similarly shaped and positioned depression  52  therein. The depressions  48 ,  52  in the upper and lower portions  46 ,  50  of the middle portion  26  can be seen in  FIGS. 6-8 . The depression or depressions save weight and without compromising strength. From these same figures, it can be appreciated that some of the middle portion  26  may have an H-shaped cross-section. It can also be appreciated from the cross-sectional views of  FIGS. 4-8  that the first tie rod arm  20  is preferably substantially one-piece and integrally formed. 
         [0041]    A first concave portion  54  may be located between the first end portion  22  and the middle portion  26 . The first concave portion  54  may be located on an inboard side  56  of the first tie rod arm  20 . 
         [0042]    A second concave portion  58  may be located between the middle portion  26  and the second end portion  24 . The second concave portion  58  may be located on an outboard side  60  of the first tie rod arm  20 . 
         [0043]    Referring now to  FIGS. 9-11 , one embodiment of a second tie rod arm  62  is depicted. As will be appreciated from the following, the second tie rod arm  62  can be created from the tie rod arm forging  20 A. It can also be appreciated that the second tie rod  62  is simply the first tie rod  20  flipped over, thus the two arms  20 ,  62  have substantially identical features as will be made obvious by the description below. 
         [0044]    The second tie rod arm  62  may have a first end portion  64 , a second end portion  66  and a middle portion  68  connecting the first end portion  64  to the second end portion  66 . The first end portion  64  may have a first fastener aperture  70  extending therethrough in a first plane  72 . The first plane  72  is best seen in  FIG. 9 . 
         [0045]    The second end portion  66  may have an aperture  74  extending therethrough in a second plane  76 . The second plane is best seen in  FIG. 11 . The aperture  74  may be located in an outboard portion  78  of the second end portion  66 . The second plane  76  is preferably substantially transverse to the first plane  72 . The second end portion  66  may have substantially planar upper and lower surfaces  80 ,  82  in which the aperture  74  is located. The second end portion  66  may be angled in the outboard direction. 
         [0046]    In one embodiment, the aperture  74  is tapered. By way of example only, the aperture  74  may taper down from the upper surface  80  of the second end portion  66  to the upper surface  80  of the second end portion  66 . The tapered aperture  74  may be created by, for example, machining. 
         [0047]    The middle portion  68  has a middle fastener aperture  86  extending therethrough along the first plane  72 . An upper portion  88  of the middle portion  68  may have a depression  90  therein. Similarly, a lower portion  92  of the middle portion  68  may have a similarly shaped and positioned depression (not shown) therein. The cross-sectional shape of the arm  62  may be similar to or identical to the shapes depicted in  FIGS. 4-8 . The depression or depressions reduce the weight of the arm  62  without compromising strength. 
         [0048]    A first concave portion  96  may be located between the first end portion  64  and the middle portion  68 . The first concave portion  96  may be located on an inboard side  98  of the second tie rod arm  62 . 
         [0049]    A second concave portion  100  may be located between the middle portion  68  and the second end portion  66 . The second concave portion  100  may be located on an outboard side  102  of the second tie rod arm  62 . 
         [0050]      FIG. 12  depicts the first tie rod arm  20  attached to one embodiment of a knuckle  104 . Mechanical fasteners, such as bolts  106 , are located through the first fastener aperture  28  and the middle fastener aperture  44  to be secured into, or with, respective apertures (not shown) in the knuckle  104 .  FIG. 12  depicts a bolt  106  in the first fastener aperture  28 , and another bolt  106  about to be located in the middle fastener aperture  44  as an example. The first concave portion  54  of the first tie rod  20  preferably has a complementary shape a king pin boss  108  located in a lower portion  110  of the knuckle  104 . For example, the king pin boss  108  may have an outer convex shape. The middle portion  26  and the second end portion  24  of the first tie rod arm  20  extend away from the knuckle. 
         [0051]    A tie rod (not shown) may be connected by mechanical type fasteners to the tie rod arm  20  through the aperture  32  in the second end portion  24 . 
         [0052]    It can be appreciated that the second tie rod arm  62  can be similarly attached between the other end of the tie rod and a second knuckle. 
         [0053]    It can further be appreciated that the symmetrical nature of the tie rod arm forging  20 A described herein permits it to be utilized on both sides of the vehicle without the need for two different tie rod arms forgings. 
         [0054]    In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, the present invention has been described in what is considered to represent its preferred embodiments. However, it should be noted that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its spirit or scope.