Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention.
The present invention relates to devices for
adjusting alignment of a vehicle wheel and, in
particular, it relates to a device that displaces an
arm member that affects the alignment of the wheel.
2. De~cription _ the Prior Art.
There has been a general trend in the
manufacture of automobiles to make automobiles
lighter. To further accomplish this end,
conventional axles and suspensions are being
eliminated and strut-type suspensions, such as the
McPherson-type suspension, are being used more and
more.
One type of strut suspension used by the
Ford Motor Company in their Tempo and Topaz brand
auto~obiles uses two spaced-apart front and rear
control arms to hold the wheels in a selected toe
angle. Toe angle, as used in the present
application, is defined as the side-to-side slant of
the tires along their forward portion and referenced
from a line positioned along an axis common to the
front and rear tires. The front and rear control
arms are attached a~ their outer ends to the wheels
and are pivotally attached at their inner ends to the
underside of the vehicle. The inner ends are
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positioned ~etween two plates that extend downwardly
from the underside of the vehicle and a pin or bolt
extends through the plates and through the inner end
of the control arm. If the toe angle of the wheels
has been altered due to an accident, or is in error
due to factory assembly, readjustment of the wheels
to the proper toe angle is not readily possible.
SUMMARY OF THE INVE~TION
The present invention includes a device for
adjusting alignment o~ a vehicle wheel whose
alignment is affected by an arm member. The arm
member has a first bore dispQsed transversely to the
arm member's axis. The arm member is attached to a
mounting mechanism by a bolt extending through a
second bore in the mounting mechanism and the first
bore of the arm member. The device of the present
invention displaces the bolt thereby adjusting the
alignment of the vehicle wheel.
BRIEF DESCRIPTIO~ OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a plan view illustrating a
vehicle having a pair of nondriven rear wheels whose
toe angle is retained by a pair of control arms.
Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view
illustrating the ~anner in which the control arms are
connected to the vehicle.
Figure 3 is a front elevational view of a
device of the present invention.
Figure 4 is a side view of the device of
Figure 3.
Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view
illustrating how the device of Figures 3 and 4 is
used to adjust toe angle.
Figure 6 is a sectional view of the device
of Figures 3 and 4 illustrating the device with the
bolt being angularly displaced and the control arm
being moved.
Figure 7 is an elevational view of an
alternative embodiment of the device of the present
invention.
Figure 8 is a side view of the alternative
embodiment of Figure 7.
Figure 9 i9 a sectional view showing the
device of Figures 7 and 8 in use.
Figure 10 is a perspective view o an
alternative embodiment of the device of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention includes a device and
method for adjusting toe angle of a vehicle wheel
having a pair of transversely-disposed control arms
for controlling the toe angle. Referring now to
Figure 1, ~ motor vehicle is generally indicated in
broken lines at 10. The motor vehicle 10 is a
front-wheel drive vehicle with the front wheels not
being shown and the rear wheels indicated genera~ly
at 12. The rear wheels 12 are non-driven wheels and
are independently suspended. Typically, such wheels
are suspended by a strut-type suspension which is
well known in the art. The wheels include individual
left road wheel 14 and right road wheel 16.
The toe angle of the road wheel 14 is
retained by a left front control arm 18 and a left
rear control arm 20. Similarly, the toe angle of the
wheel 16 is retained by a right front control arm 22
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and right rear control arm 24. Each control arm is
pivotally attached to a wheel spinclle (not shown) of
the respective road wheel at an outer end. Each of
the control arms are attached to the vehicle 10 at
inner ends 26, 28, 30 and 32. The inner ends 26 and
28 of the front control arms are positioned between a
front mounting plate 40 and a rear mounting plate
38. Similarly, the inner ends 30 and 32 of the rear
control arms 20 and 24 are positioned between a front
mounting plate 36 and a rear mounting plate 34. The
mounting plates 34 and 36, and the mounting plates 38
and 40 are disposed substantially parallel to each
other and transversely to the longitudinal axi~2 of
the vehicle~ The mounting plates are fixedly
attached to the underside of the vehicle, such as to
a unitized body chassis that is common in present-day
vehicles.
The pivotal connection of the control arms
to the vehicle is best illustrated in Figure 2 where
the pivotal connection of the control arms 20 and 24
is illustrated in an exploded view. Since the
pivotal connection of the front control arms is
-qimilar to the rear control arms, only the rear
control arms will be described. The end portion 30
of the left rear control ar~ 20 includes a bore 42
lined with a resilient bushing 44. The end portion
32 also includes a bore 46 lined with a resilient
bushing 48. The control arm 20 is pivotally attached
to the mounting plates 34 and 36 by a bolt 50
extending through an aperture 52 in the mounting
plate 34, then through the bore 42 and through an
aperture 54 in the mounting plate 36. A threaded end
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portion 56 of the bolt i~ engaged by a nut 58
contained by a harness 60. Similarly, the control
arm 24 is pivotally attached to the mounting plates
34 and 36 by a bolt 62 extending through an aperture
64 in the mounting plate 34, and then through the
bore 46 of the end portion 32, and then through an
aperture 66 in the mounting plate 35. A threaded end
portion ~8 of the bolt 62 is engaged by a nut 70
contained by a harness 7~.
The control arm 20 pivots about an axis 74
defined by the po~ition of the bolt 50 as installed
in the factory. Similarly, the control arm 24 pivots
about an axis 76 defined by the position of the bolt
62 as installed in the factory.
As stated previously, a problem exists in
adjusting the toe angle if the vehicle beco~es
involved in an accident. In most cases, the control
arms as installed by the manufacturer do not include
a mechanism for adjusting toe angle.
A preferred embodiment of the device of the
present invention is indicated at 78 in Figures 3-6.
As illustrated in Figure~ 3 and 4, the device 78
includes a main plate member 80 preferably of an
octogonal configuration, an aperture-engaging portion
81 and a bolt engaging memher 82, as best illustrated
in Figure~ 3 and 4. The portion 81 is preferably a
circular disk portion being formed by stamping the
plate member 80 such that the disk portion extends
outwardly there~rom. The member 82 is attached by
screws 83 or can be welded to the plate 80. The
me~ber 82 i5 preferably a circular plate with a
center 90 and a slot 84 extending through the center
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of the member. The slot 84 ends in an arcuate wall
86. An aperture 86 having a diameter substantially
equal to or greater than the bolts 50 and 62, and
having a center 88 is drilled through the portion 81
such that the center 88 is offset from the center
90. The member 82 is positioned on the plate 80 such
that the aperture 86 is aligned with the slot 84.
In another aspect of the present invention,
the device 78 includes indicia located on the plate
me~ber 80, as illustrated in Figure 3. The inclicia
include part number indicia 79 and direction inclicia
~1. The part number indicia 79 indicate the distance
of the off~et, in other words, the distance of the
center 88 from the center 90. In the working
embodiment described in the present application, a
number of devices 78 axe provided for use, with the
centers 88 offset from the center 90 in increments of
1/64 inch. In the part number indicia 79, the last
number, the number on the right, indicates the number
of 1/64 inch increments that the center 88 is offset
fro~ the center 90. In the example in Figure 3, the
number 5 indicates that the center 88 is offset from
the center 90 by 5/64 inch. The directional indicia
81, which is an arrow in the example given, indicates
the direction in which toe of the wheel is adjusted,
as indicated by arrows 85 in Figure 1. It should be
noted that the arrow 81 points in the opposite
direction of the offset from the center 90, which is
the direction that the forward portion of the wheel
is ~oved. It should be further noted that if the
device 78 is turned 180 to produce the offset in an
opposite direction from the center 90, the indicia 79
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and 89 will be at the lowermost position of the
device, and the arrow 81 will correctly point to the
direction in which the front of the wheel, as
indicated by arrows 85 in Figure 1, will move.
Referring to Figures 5 and 6, where the
device 78 is illustrated in use, for example, to
correct toe adjustment on wheel 16. One of the
control arms 20 or 24 is disconnected from its
mounting to the underside of the vehicle. In the
example discussed, control arm 24 is disconnected, as
illustrated in Figure 5, by disconnecting the bolt 62
from the nut 70 and removing the bolt from the
apertures 64, G6 and the bore 46 of the arm 24. The
aperture 64 is then drilled out to form a larger
aperture 91 substantially equal to the diameter of
the portion 81. In the case of a Ford Tempo or
Topaz, th~ original aperture is at least three-eighths
inch (3/8") diameter to accommodate a 3/8" bolt. The
aperture 64 in the present example is drilled out to
three-quarters inch (3/4") diameter to accommodate
the member 81 which is also 3/4" in diameter. The
device 78 is then placed alongside the plate 34 with
the member 81 inserted into the aperture, as best
illustrated in Figure 6. The bolt 62 is then
inserted through the apertures 86 and 91, through the
bore 48 of the control arm 24 and the aperture 66 to
threadably engage the nut 70. The member 82 provides
a surface for the head of the bolt Ç2 to rest. Since
the center 88 of the aperture 86 is offset from the
center 90 of the member 82, the bolt 62 is offset
from the original axis 76 illustrated in Figure 2 to
a new axis 92. The bolt 62 is displaced along the
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new axis 92 angularly fro~ the original axis 76 a
preselected distance through the use of the device 78
as indicated by reference chaxacter 93. The flexible
sleeve 48 permits the bolt 62 to be angularly
disposed within the bore 46. Since the bolt 62 has
been moved, the control arm 24 is also moved a
preselected distance in a direction of arrow 94. By
moving the one control arm 24 a preselected distance,
the toe angle of the wheel 16 is adjusted a
preselected value.
Preferably, a qet of the devices 78 is
provided to the user. The set includes a plurality
of the devices with each device in the set having the
center of the aperture 86 offset from the center of
the member 82 an incrementally larger amount. For
example, in the first device of the set, the aperture
86 is offset from the center 90 1/32 of an inch. The
next device is offset 3/64 of an inch or 1/64 of an
inch more than in the first device. Each device
thereafter is offset an additional increment of 1/64
of an inch. Nine such devices have been found to be
sufficient to provide an adequate range to adjust the
toe angle in a Ford Tempo or Topaz back to the
~anufacturer's suggested toe angle.
- The bolt 62 can also be offset parallel to
the original axis 76. The aperture 66 of the plate
36 can also be redrilled as the aperture 64, and the
device 78' (indicated in broken lines in Figure 5)
inserted therein. The bolt 62 is then displaced
along a new axis that is substantially parallel to
the old axis, thereby moving the control arm and
adjusting the toe angle.
In addition, if both control arms 24 and 22
~ere adjusted using the device 78 of the present
invention with one device having a greater offset
than the other device, camber of the wheel may also
be adjusted.
An alternative embodiment of the present
invention is generally indicated at 100 in Figures
7-9. The device 100 includes a primary plate 102 and
an aperture-engaging member 104. The plate 102 is
preferably of a generally circular configuration,
although any configuration i8 suitable. The plate
102 includes an aperture 106 having a center 108.
The aperture-engaging member 104 also includes a
center 112. The center 108 i5 offset from the center
112. The aperture 106 has a diameter sufficient to
permit pas~age of the bolt 62. The member }04 is of
a crescent-shaped configuration having an inner
surface 114 adjacent the aperture 106 and an outer
surface 116 for engaging the wall of the aperture
64. The surface 116 has approximately the same arc
as the wall of the aperture 64.
In Figure 9, the device 100 i3 shown in
use. The bolt 62 is disengaged from the nut 70 and
removed from the apertures 64, 66 and the bore 48 of
the control arm 24. The member 104 of the device 100
is then inserted into the aperture 64 of the plate
34. The member 104 i5 positioned against the wall of
the aperture 64 such that the aperture 106 of the
device 100 is partially blocked by a portion of the
plate 34. Using the aperture 106 as a guide, the
portion of the plate 34 blocking the aperture 106 is
then drilled out using a 3/8" drill (which i~
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approximately the diameter of the bolt 62). After
drilling o~t the portion of the plate 34 blocking the
aperture 106, the bolt 62 is then inserted through
the apertur~ 106, the newly drilled-out portion of
the plate 36 and aperture 64 ~hrough the bore 46 of
the arm 24 and through the aperture 66 of the plate
36 for threadable engagement with the nut 70. Since
the center of the aperture 106 is offset from the
center 112 ~which lies along the original axes 76
illustrated in Figure 2), the bolt is displaced
angularly to a new axis 92. The flexible sleeve 48
permits the bolt 62 to be angularly disposed. Since
the bolt 62 has been moved, the control arm 24 is also
moved a preselected distance in a direction of arrow
118 and as indicated by reference character 119. By
moving the one control arm 24 a preselected distance,
the toe angle of the wheel 16 is adjusted a
preselected value.
Similar to the device 78, a set of the
devices 100 is provided to the user for adjusting toe
angle. The set includes a plurality of the devices
with each device in the set having the center of the
aperture 116 offset from the center 112 of the member
104 an incrementally larger amount. For example, in
the first device of th~ set~ the center 108 of the
aperture 106 is offset from the center 112 by 1/32 of
an inch. The center 108 of the aperture 106 in the
next device is offset 3/64 of an inch, or 1/64 of an
inch more than in the first device, from the center
112. The center 108 of the aperture 106 in each
device thereafter is offset an additional increment
of 1/64 of an inch. Again, similar to the device 78,
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nine of the devices 100 have been found to be
sufficient to provide an adequate range to adjust the
toe angle in a Ford Tempo or Topaz back to the
manufacturer's suggested toe a~gle.
The device 100, similar to the device 78,
can be used to displace the bolt to a new axis
substantially parallel to the old axis by attaching
the device to both plates 34 and 36. In addition,
placing the device 100 in plates 34, 36, 38 and 40,
moving both control arms can also adjust the camber
of the wheel.
Referring to Figure 10, an alternative
embodiment of the present invention is generally
indicated at 130. The device 130 includes a main
plate member 132 having a front surface 134 and a
back surface 136 and a plurality of side surfaces
138. Any number of side surfaces are includable
within the present invention. The device 130 further
includes an aperture-engaging portion 140, preferably
in the form of a disk that is formed by stamping the
main plate 132. A bore 142 is disposed within the
disk 140. The center of the bore 142 is disposed a
selected distance from the center of the disk 140.
; The device 130 also includes a plurality of
prongs 144 extending outwardly from the surface 136.
The prongs 144 are positioned to engage the mounting
plate 34, as illustrated in Figure 5, or any other
type of mounting mechanism to which the control arm
24 is attached.
The device 130 i~ used in the same manner as
the device 78, as was described with reference to
Figures 5 ana 6. The prongs 144 engage the mounting
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plate 34, or any other mounting surface that the
device is used against, and retain the device 130 in
a fixed angular relationship with respect to the axis
extending through the center of the bore 142.
In summary, the device of the present
invention provides a simple manner to adjust the toe
angle of a wheel wherein the toe angle is retained by
a pair of transversely-disposed control arms. A
minimum amount of alteration to the mounting plates
is required to use the device of the present invention
for adjusting the toe angle.
The device of the present invention further
provides a permanent and stronger connection between
the control arms and the mounting plate than the
original equipment design.
Although the present invention has been
described with reference to preferred embodiments,
workers skilled in the art will recognize that
changes may be made in form and detail without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
