Patent Publication Number: US-8991833-B2

Title: Torsion key saddle

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of copending U.S. Utility application Ser. No. 13/672,581 filed Nov. 8, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,727,358 which claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application 61/558,327 filed Nov. 10, 2011. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTIONS 
     The inventions described below relate to the field of automotive accessories and more particularly to the field of aftermarket parts for motor vehicle suspension. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONS 
     In conventional motor vehicles there are a variety of techniques for providing flexible suspension for each wheel of the vehicle to provide a smooth ride. In many vehicles the suspension of each wheel is dependent on a torsion bar removably secured to the vehicle frame and to the wheel suspension components. When a vehicle owner desires to change the ride characteristics or suspension lift in a vehicle with independent torsion bar suspension, the owner needs to change the preload on the torsion bars. This is often accomplished by removing and replacing the torsion key for each wheel. Due to the stresses and the criticality of the torsion key, torsion keys are forged steel and are often very expensive to replace. 
     SUMMARY 
     A torsion key saddle as described below provides for the ability to readily change the suspension performance characteristic and the suspension lift in a vehicle with independent torsion suspension without the need to replace the torsion keys. Use of torsion key saddles enables each wheel to be adjusted fully between the extremes available using the six possible positions for a torsion key with a hex torsion bar socket. 
     A torsion key saddle as described below includes two or more alignment elements oriented along the long axis of the generally wedge shaped torsion key saddle. The multiple alignment elements permits the torsion key saddle to be used in multiple positions to increase or decrease the preload in controllable increments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of the torsion suspension elements for a single wheel including a torsion key saddle. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of a torsion key saddle. 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the torsion key saddle of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is an end view of the torsion key saddle of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of a torsion key saddle engaging a torsion key. 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of an alternate torsion key saddle. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONS 
     The elements used to preload and secure a torsion bar to a vehicle frame are illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Torsion key  10  is located between frame elements  11 , where socket  10 S of torsion key  10  engages torsion bar  12 . Torsion stop  13  engages frame elements  11  and prevents rotation of torsion key  10  as urged by torsion bar  12 . Adjustment bolt  14  engages a threaded hole in torsion stop  13  and extends through the torsion stop to engage torsion key  10  at dimple  10 D to provide fine adjustment of the preload on torsion bar  12 . Torsion key saddle  20  is located between first surface  10 A of the torsion key and adjustment bolt  14 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  4 , torsion key saddle  20  includes tabs or wings or other suitable retaining members such as tabs  21  to prevent misalignment between the torsion key saddle and a torsion key. A torsion key saddle such as torsion key saddle  20  includes a generally wedge shaped body  20 B with a narrow end  20 N and a wide end  20 W, however, any other suitable shape may be adopted. Mating surface  22  of torsion key saddle  20  may be shaped to correspond to the shape of first surface  10 A of the torsion key. Mating surface  22  may also includes locating nub such as nub  24  which is sized and oriented to engage the adjustment dimple of the torsion key such as dimple  10 D of torsion key  10  for torsion keys that include locating nubs and dimples. For some torsion keys locating nubs and dimples are not required. 
     Torsion key saddle  20  may be secured to a torsion key using any suitable attachment or securing means such as an adhesive or an engagement device such as a screw, bolt or clip. Adhesive layer  25  may be secured to mating surface  22  to removably secure the torsion key saddle to the torsion key during installation of the torsion key saddle. Alternatively, torsion key saddle  20  may be secured to a torsion key using bolt  26  or clip  19  through threaded socket  23 . Socket  23  may include serrations or other features to enable rotation and removal of bolt  26  in the presence of corrosion or other debris in socket  23 . Bolt  26  may engage a threaded socket in a torsion key or may pass through the torsion key as illustrated in  FIG. 5  by bolt  26 A. Lower surface  27  of a torsion key saddle such as torsion key saddle  20  includes one or more adjustment dimples such as dimple  28  for engaging the adjustment bolt. Alternately, dimples such as dimple  28  may be replaced by a threaded socket such as socket  29  of  FIG. 6 . Threaded socket  29  engages adjustment bolt  14 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , torsion key  10  is illustrated with torsion key saddle  20  engaged for use. Torsion key  10  has a generally hexagonal socket  10 S for engaging a torsion bar. The hexagonal shape permits a torsion key to raise or lower a wheel&#39;s lift in increments of 60° corresponding to the faces of socket  10 S and torsion bar  12 . The thickness  30  of torsion key saddle  20  is a function of the length  31  of lever arm  32  formed by torsion key  10  from the center of socket  10 S and a 30° angle which is half of the angle between facets of a hexagonal socket. The functional relationship is similar for torsion keys having sockets with other shapes. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , torsion key saddles such as torsion key saddle  40  may include two or more pairs of alignment or locating elements such as alignment pairs  41 ,  42  and  43 , each pair of alignment elements comprising a locating nub and dimple or threaded socket. Each pair of locating elements such as element pairs  41 ,  42  and  43  are located along long axis  44 . The orientation of the alignment element pairs along long axis  44  enables torsion key saddle  40  to engage a torsion key such as in position  46 A, position  46 B or position  46 C. The generally wedge shape of torsion key saddle  40  combined with the multiple alignment pairs permits a single torsion key saddle to provide a wide range of torsion bar preload adjustment independent of the use of the adjustment bolt. Similarly each torsion key saddle may have multiple pairs of tabs, wings or other suitable alignment aids such as tabs  47 . 
     While the preferred embodiments of the devices and methods have been described in reference to the environment in which they were developed, they are merely illustrative of the principles of the inventions. The elements of the various embodiments may be incorporated into each of the other species to obtain the benefits of those elements in combination with such other species, and the various beneficial features may be employed in embodiments alone or in combination with each other. Other embodiments and configurations may be devised without departing from the spirit of the inventions and the scope of the appended claims.