Land vehicles – Wheeled – Running gear
Patent
1993-12-21
1996-01-16
Focarino, Margaret A.
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Running gear
267220, B62D 1700
Patent
active
054841615
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to adjustable automotive suspension components and has been devised as an adjustable mount for the upper end of a vehicle suspension strut, particularly although not limited to a mount for the upper ends of McPherson-type struts used in the front suspension of motor vehicles.
BACKGROUND ART
Strut-type suspension is well known in motor vehicles wherein a telescopic strut normally incorporating an hydraulic damper is used as one locating member for a motor vehicle wheel. The most common form of strut suspension is the so-called McPherson strut where the suspension spring is located concentrically around the telescopic strut which has an upper mounting point to the vehicle chassis in a tower located above the front wheel arch and protruding into the engine bay of the motor vehicle. The lower end of the strut is typically further located by a transverse link and a fore and aft or drag link.
The wheel alignment of a motor vehicle, and particularly the front wheel alignment is important to the safe handling of the vehicle and to preventing wear on the tires. There are many times in the life of a vehicle when it is necessary or desirable to adjust the castor and camber of a motor vehicle wheel either due to normal wear and tear or to some form of minor damage such as the striking of kerbs or other obstacles. On many motor vehicles fitted with McPherson strut suspensions, this adjustment is often difficult to perform as the motor vehicle manufacturer provides little or no mechanism for relocating the upper end of the strut where it mounts into the vehicle chassis. It is often necessary to relocate the mounting point of the upper end of the strut to achieve the desired castor and camber settings.
It is common for the upper end of a McPherson strut to be secured to the chassis member by way of three vertical studs located on a pitch circle and passing from a flange at the upper end of the strut through aligned holes in the vehicle chassis member. Some manufacturers have provided a degree of adjustment by locating the axis of the strut off-center from the pitch circle of the studs so that disengaging the studs from the holes in the vehicle chassis member, rotating the strut and re-engaging the studs through the holes will relocate the axis of the strut relative to the vehicle chassis member. This is however an extremely coarse adjustment which only permits the top end of the strut to be located in three defined positions. Furthermore, if it is required to alter the camber of the suspension without affecting the castor (or visa versa), this adjustment is not possible using the mounting described above.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The present invention therefore provides an adjustable mount for the upper end of a vehicle suspension strut allowing the strut to be relocated relative to a vehicle chassis member, said mount comprising a bush adapted to receive and secure the upper end of the strut, a flange extending radially outwardly from an upper part of the bush and having upper and lower faces, a clamping plate adapted to abut the lower face of the flange and having an opening therethrough larger than the perimeter of the bush such that the clamping plate can slide over the lower face of the flange over a limited area, and a plurality of studs extending upwardly from the clamping plate through apertures in the flange, each said aperture being significantly larger than the diameter of the stud passing therethrough in directions both radial and circumferential to the axis of the strut, permitting sliding movement of the flange relative to the clamping plate.
Preferably the apertures are at least twice as large as the diameter of the studs in directions both radial and circumferential to the axis of the strut.
Preferably a face plate is provided abutting the upper face of the flange, said studs passing through aligned holes in the face plate.
Preferably the flange is provided with slots orientated circumferentially relative to the bush, said slots being sized to receive the end of a screwdriv
REFERENCES:
patent: 3549167 (1970-12-01), Haverbeck
patent: 4213631 (1980-07-01), Wilkerson
patent: 4372575 (1983-02-01), Hyma
patent: 4581802 (1986-04-01), Castoe
patent: 4817984 (1989-04-01), Ferman et al.
patent: 4867473 (1989-09-01), Jordan
patent: 4909642 (1990-03-01), Hoermandinger
patent: 4921271 (1990-05-01), Berry et al.
Dickson Paul N.
Focarino Margaret A.
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