IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,066,478
Granted Patent B2
US 7,066,478 · App. 10/254,821 · Granted Jun 27, 2006

Front axle of a motor vehicle with steerable, driven or not driven wheels

Assignees: INA-Schaeffler KG; DaimlerChrysler AG
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,066,478
App. No.
10/254,821
Granted
Jun 27, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

A front axle of a motor vehicle with steerable, driven or non-driven wheels on steering knuckles pivotably hinged at a wheel-guiding element with an upper and a lower bearing position, each of which accommodates a radial bearing for mounting a steering knuckle bolt with a pot-shaped sleeve with a sealed lubricant reservoir and forms a bearing bushing. A stop disk is arranged a bottom of the sleeve to absorb axial forces and roll bodies of the radial bearing are supported with the supporting surfaces at the stop disk.

Claims (35)

1. A front axle of a motor vehicle with steerable, driven or non-driven wheels on steering knuckles, which have been pivotably hinged at a wheel-guiding element with an upper and a lower bearing position, each of which with a pot-shaped sleeve with a sealed lubricant reservoir, accommodating a radial bearing for mounting a steering knuckle bolt and forming a bearing bushing, wherein

the radial bearing includes a plurality of roll bodies arranged in an interior of the sleeve,

a stop disk which absorbs axial forces is arranged at a bottom of the sleeve, the roll bodies including first supporting surfaces and being supported with the first supporting surfaces on the stop disk,

the roll bodies also including second supporting surfaces opposite to the first supporting surfaces, and further comprising a pre-stressed disk spring placed on the second supporting surfaces of the roll bodies.

2. A bearing bushing for a steering knuckle mounting with a pot-shaped sleeve, accommodating a radial bearing and with a sealed lubricant reservoir, wherein

the radial bearing includes a plurality of roll bodies arranged in an interior of the sleeve, and

a stop disk is arranged at a bottom of the sleeve to absorb axial forces, the roll bodies including first supporting surfaces and being supported with the first supporting surfaces on the stop disk.

3. The bearing bushing of claim 2 , wherein the stop disk has a coating of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF).

4. The bearing bushing of claim 2 , wherein the lubricant reservoir includes grease or oil.

5. The bearing bushing of claim 2 , wherein the roll bodies include second supporting surfaces opposite to the first supporting surfaces, further comprising a pre-tensioned disk spring placed on the second supporting surfaces of the roll bodies.

6. The bearing bushing of claim 2 , wherein the bushing includes a sealing unit.

7. The bearing bushing of claim 6 , wherein the sealing unit comprises a spring-loaded sealing element.

8. The bushing bearing of claim 7 , wherein the sealing element comprises a radial-shaft sealing ring.

9. The bearing bushing of claim 6 , wherein the bushing is pre-assembled with the radial bearing and the sealing unit.

10. The bearing bushing of claim 2 , wherein the bushing is maintenance-free.

11. The bearing bushing of claim 2 , wherein the radial bearing is constructed in one or two rows.

12. A bearing bushing for mounting a steering knuckle bolt, comprising:

a pot-shaped sleeve having an interior and a sealed lubricant reservoir;

a plurality of roll-shaped bodies arranged in said interior of said sleeve and adapted to be positioned between the knuckle bolt and an inside surface of said sleeve; and

a stop disk arranged at a bottom of said sleeve to absorb axial forces, said roll-shaped bodies including first supporting surfaces in contact with said stop disk.

13. The bearing bushing of claim 12 , wherein said stop disk includes a coating of a friction bearing material, said roll-shaped bodies being in contact with said coating.

14. The bearing bushing of claim 12 , wherein said roll-shaped bodies include second supporting surfaces opposite to said first supporting surfaces, further comprising a pre-tensioned disk spring engaging with said second supporting surfaces of said roll-shaped bodies.

15. The bearing bushing of claim 14 , further comprising a holding ring arranged in said sleeve for fixing said disk spring.

16. The bearing bushing of claim 12 , further comprising a sealing unit for sealing said sleeve to the knuckle bolt.

17. The bearing bushing of claim 16 , wherein said sealing unit comprises a spring-loaded sealing element.

18. The bushing bearing of claim 17 , wherein said sealing element is a radial-shaft sealing ring.

19. A front axle of a motor vehicle with steerable, driven or non-driven wheels on steering knuckles, which have been pivotably hinged at a wheel-guiding element with an upper and a lower bearing position, each of which with a pot-shaped sleeve with a sealed lubricant reservoir, accommodating a radial bearing for mounting a steering knuckle bolt and forming a bearing bushing, wherein

the bushing includes a sealing unit which seals the mounting,

the sealing unit comprising a spring-stressed sealing element,

the radial bearing includes a plurality of roll bodies arranged in an interior of the sleeve, and

a stop disk which absorbs axial forces is arranged at a bottom of the sleeve, the roll bodies including first supporting surfaces and being supported with the first supporting surface son the stop disk.

20. The front axle of claim 19 , wherein the sealing element comprises a radial-shaft sealing ring.

21. A front axle of a motor vehicle with steerable, driven or non-driven wheels on steering knuckles, which have been pivotably hinged at a wheel-guiding element with an upper and a lower bearing position, each of which with a pot-shaped sleeve with a sealed lubricant reservoir, accommodating a radial bearing for mounting a steering knuckle bolt and forming a bearing bushing, wherein

the radial bearing includes a plurality of roll bodies arranged in an interior of the sleeve, and

a stop disk which absorbs axial forces is arranged at a bottom of the sleeve, the stop disk having a coating of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), the roll bodies including first supporting surfaces and being supported with the first supporting surface son the stop disk.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 5, 2006
From: DAIMLERCHRYSLER AG; SCHAEFFLER KG
To: SCHAEFFLER KG
Reel/Frame 018635/0342 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 10, 2006
From: KG, INA-SCHAEFFLER
To: SCHAEFFLER KG
Reel/Frame 017864/0582 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 9, 2002
From: TISCH, SIEGFRIED; HAMPERL, JOHANN
To: INA-SCHAEFFLER KG; DAIMLERCHRYSLER AG
Reel/Frame 013557/0329 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 101 50 228 · Oct 11, 2001 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20030075892A1 · Apr 24, 2003