Motor vehicles – Transmission mechanism – With particular drive coupling
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-08
2001-07-31
Mai, Lanna (Department: 3619)
Motor vehicles
Transmission mechanism
With particular drive coupling
C180S348000, C180S359000, C180S353000, C280S788000, C280S124135, C280S124136
Reexamination Certificate
active
06267197
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to vehicle suspension systems, and more particularly to an axle shaft spacer member for moving a wheel of a vehicle outwardly a slight amount to enable the upper control arms of the vehicle to be lowered using otherwise conventional lift kit components, to thereby achieve a desired degree of lift of the vehicle.
BACKGROUND
It has become desirable with many owners of trucks and sport utility vehicles to employ a “lift kit” to increase the ride height of the vehicle. This typically requires the upper and lower control arms to be re-mounted at a lower position than with the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) suspension system. This is typically accomplished through the use of “drop” brackets to which the control arms are secured. Portions of the brackets are then secured at the original mounting locations of the upper and lower control arms, and the brackets thereby serve to lower all of the control arms. Other replacement components such as coil springs and shock absorbers are also often included in such lift kits, and the lift kit project is one which an individual with some mechanical aptitude and experience can do by himself.
When attempting to re-mount the upper control arms at a lower position, the construction of the vehicle frame often impedes or makes impossible the task of simply lowering the upper control arms by using the drop brackets as intermediate members between the frame and the upper control arms. In this instance, to increase the vehicle ride height would require upper control arms having lengths which are shorter than the OEM control arms or possibly require other extensive suspension modifications. Obviously, replacing the upper control arms with ones which are of an altered length would add significantly to the cost of the lift kit, the complexity of the kit, the time required to install the kit and may sacrifice the intended suspension geometry.
When faced with a situation where the vehicle frame will not permit the upper control arms to be dropped straight down and remounted at a lower position relative to the frame, moving the entire wheel spindle outwardly slightly would become a solution to the clearance problem. By moving the wheel spindle outwardly a small distance, for example, about 0.5 inch, which represents that distance which the upper control arm has to be offset laterally from its OEM mounting location before it can be lowered with a drop bracket, the OEM upper control arms and wheel spindles could be used. This slight degree of outward displacement of the entire wheel spindle would therefore enable convention drop brackets to be used and mounted to the vehicle frame such that the OEM upper control arms would not encounter interference from the frame. By simply moving the entire above-mentioned assembly as described would sacrifice the intended engagement of the outboard CV joint. This may lead to a premature failure or reduced performance of the CV joint.
It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide a lift kit which enables the ride height of a vehicle to be increased in instances where it is not possible to simply lower the upper control arms because of interference with the vehicle frame.
It is further an object of the present invention to provide a spacer member which is adapted to move the entire wheel spindle of the vehicle outwardly such that the upper control arms can be lowered, as well as laterally displaced a required amount, and still maintain the intended function and service of the CV joint.
It is further an object of the present invention to provide an axle spacer member which serves to permit the wheel spindle with which it is associated to be moved outwardly a distance approximately equal to the distance by which the upper control arms have to be laterally displaced to overcome the interference from the frame. This would enable the OEM upper control arms to be used without modification, and simply remounted to the frame at the desired vertical position to achieve the desired degree of lift.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to an axle shaft spacer member which serves to move the entire wheel spindle assembly with which it is associated outwardly a desired distance equal to that distance by which the upper control arms have to be moved outwardly to overcome interference from the frame of the vehicle. The spacer comprises a disc-like element which is adapted to be secured between the OEM differential end flange and the stub axle flange end at each wheel of the vehicle. The thickness of the spacer member is approximately equal to that distance by which the wheel spindle needs to be moved outwardly to accommodate the lateral displacement of the upper control arms required before same can be lowered with a drop bracket.
Each spacer member includes a plurality of apertures formed in a pattern which conforms to the pattern of apertures in the stub axle flange. In this manner the spacer member can be coupled in between the differential end flange and the stub axle flange without requiring the user to drill precisely positioned holes in the spacer member. The spacer member serves to laterally displace the entire wheel spindle with which it is associated outwardly the desired distance needed so that the upper control arm can be re-mounted to the frame via a drop bracket.
It is anticipated that the spacer member will in most instances form an important part of a complete lift kit for a specific vehicle, where the frame of the specific vehicle does not permit the upper control arms of the vehicle to be simply lowered with conventional drop brackets.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4773889 (1988-09-01), Rosenwinkel et al.
patent: 5326128 (1994-07-01), Cromley
patent: 5868624 (1999-02-01), Fukushima et al.
patent: 5899813 (1999-05-01), Bunce
patent: 5938533 (1999-08-01), Watanabe
patent: 9317847 (1997-12-01), None
Rancho Catalog, 1998, pp. 4 and 8.*
Shandley, Rick, “Suspension Guide: . . . ”, Off Road, v31, n6, p. 38.
Buchanan Christopher
Harness Dickey & Pierce PLC
Mai Lanna
Tenneco Automotive Inc.
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