Patent ID: 7788993

Claim:
A tie rod assembly, comprising: a composite tie rod shaft having a first end having a first shaft attachment head and a second end having a second shaft attachment head; a first clevis comprising a pair of complementary half-clevis sections coupled to said first shaft attachment head and defining a first clevis base, each half-clevis section comprising one of a pair of complementary first shaft receptacles within said first clevis base for receiving said first shaft attachment head, one of a pair of spaced-apart clevis eyes extending from said first clevis base, and a tapered lock ring seat; a lock ring having a tapered non-threaded through hole circumferentially engaging said lock ring seats of said half-clevis sections and being axially slid toward a distal end of said clevis eyes to clamp said first shaft attachment head within said first shaft receptacles; an externally threaded clevis adjustment collar comprising a pair of complementary half-collar sections coupled to said second shaft attachment head, each half-collar section comprising one of a pair of complementary second shaft receptacles for receiving said second shaft attachment head; and a second clevis comprising an internally threaded cylindrical second clevis base threadably engaging and adjustable along said clevis adjustment collar to secure said second shaft attachment head within said second shaft receptacles, a pair of spaced-apart clevis arms extending from said second clevis base and extending on opposite sides of said clevis attachment collar, and a pair of clevis eyes extending said second clevis arms, respectively.