Steering knuckle for a motor vehicle, assembly comprising such a steering knuckle, motor vehicle comprising such an assembly, and method for dismantling such an assembly

Abstract

Steering knuckle for a motor vehicle, an assembly comprising such a steering knuckle, a motor vehicle comprising such an assembly, and a method for dismantling such an assembly. The invention relates to a steering knuckle (3) for a motor vehicle, designed to support a steering ball joint (7) of a steering system of said motor vehicle, said steering knuckle (3) comprising a pivot (13) and said steering ball joint (7) comprising a tie rod (9) having at one of its ends (9a, 9b) a pin (11) intended to be received by said pivot (13) of said steering knuckle (3). According to the invention, the steering knuckle (3) has a lug (15) extending outwards from said pivot (13) and having a threaded hole extending opposite said tie rod (9) when said steering ball joint (7) is mounted on said steering knuckle (3). Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Steering knuckle for a motor vehicle, assembly comprising such a steering knuckle, motor vehicle comprising such an assembly, and method for dismantling such an assembly technical field

[0001] The invention relates to the field of motor vehicles, in particular to the field of motor vehicle steering systems.

[0002] The invention relates more particularly to a rocket carrier for a motor vehicle.

[0003] The invention also relates to an assembly comprising such a steering knuckle and a steering ball joint, as well as a motor vehicle comprising such an assembly and a method for dismantling such an assembly. Previous technique

[0004] A motor vehicle includes, at the level of each of its steering wheels, a spindle, an element fixed to each end of the steering axle in which the hubs of the wheels of the motor vehicle are engaged.

[0005] Each steering wheel hub of a motor vehicle is mounted on a stub axle, at the level of an axle.

[0006] At its front end, the steering knuckle carrier has a pivot mounted on the shaft of a steering ball joint. A nut is mounted on the shaft of the steering ball joint to assemble the steering knuckle carrier and the steering ball joint.

[0007] The steering ball joint includes a steering tie rod, having at one of its ends the axis of the steering ball joint and being connected at the other of its ends to a steering rack mechanism of a steering system of the vehicle.

[0008] For maintenance purposes, the steering ball joint may need to be removed from the steering knuckle.

[0009] The relatively low frequency at which the steering ball joint is removed from the steering knuckle, as well as the high stress resulting from the mounting of the steering ball joint on the steering knuckle, lead to difficulties in disassembly.

[0010] In order to achieve the removal of the steering ball joint relative to the steering knuckle, an operator is obliged to use a ball joint extractor, also called a ball joint puller, designed to disengage the steering ball joint.

[0011] In certain cases, the operator must also use a hammer, in addition to the ball joint extractor.

[0012] The use of these tools complicates the implementation of this dismantling step.

[0013] Also, the intervention time is relatively long. Description of the invention

[0014] The present invention aims to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks, and for this purpose relates to a steering knuckle for a motor vehicle, designed to support a steering ball joint of a steering system of said motor vehicle, said steering knuckle comprising a pivot and said steering ball joint comprising a steering tie rod having at one of its ends an axle intended to be received by said pivot of said steering knuckle, said steering knuckle being remarkable in that it has an ear extending outwards from said pivot and having a threaded orifice extending opposite said steering tie rod when said steering ball joint is mounted on said steering knuckle.

[0015] Thus, by providing a steering knuckle with an ear having a threaded hole extending opposite the steering tie rod of the steering ball joint when the steering ball joint is mounted on the steering knuckle, the operation of removing the steering ball joint is carried out by inserting a loosening screw into the threaded hole and rotating the loosening screw until it comes to rest against the steering tie rod of the steering ball joint and continuing the rotation of the loosening screw until the pivot of the steering knuckle is freed from the axis of the steering ball joint on which it is mounted.

[0016] In this way, the dismantling of the steering ball joint is carried out using only a loosening screw and a screwdriver, without the use of a ball joint extractor and possibly a hammer.

[0017] Thanks to the present invention, the implementation of the steering ball joint dismantling step is simplified, which makes it possible to considerably reduce the intervention time of this maintenance step.

[0018] According to optional features of the rocket carrier according to the invention: - the axis of said tapped orifice is collinear with the axis of rotation of said pivot; - said ear comprises an upper wall and a lower wall and the axis of said tapped orifice is perpendicular to said upper wall and to said lower wall of said ear; - said pivot comprises an upper wall, a lower wall and a peripheral wall connecting said upper wall and said lower wall, and said ear extends from said peripheral wall; - said ear comprises an upper wall and said pivot comprises an upper wall, and said upper wall of said ear is contained in a plane distinct from a plane containing said upper wall of said pivot; - said plane containing said upper wall of said ear is located below said plane containing said upper wall of said pivot relative to a vertical direction.

[0019] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle assembly, remarkable in that it comprises: - a rocket carrier according to the invention, - a steering ball joint, said axis of said steering ball joint being received by said pivot of said steering knuckle and said threaded orifice of said ear extending opposite said steering tie rod, - an assembly element for said steering ball joint on said steering knuckle

[0020] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising an assembly, remarkable in that said assembly is according to the invention.

[0021] The invention also relates to a method for dismantling an assembly of a motor vehicle, said assembly being according to the invention, said dismantling method being remarkable in that it comprises the following steps aimed at: - removing the assembly member of said steering ball joint on said steering knuckle, - inserting a loosening screw into said tapped hole of said ear, - rotating said loosening screw until said loosening screw comes to rest against said steering tie rod of said steering ball joint, - continuing the rotation of said loosening screw until the axis of said steering ball joint releases the pivot of said steering knuckle. Brief description of the drawings

[0022] Other features, purposes and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, for the understanding of which reference should be made to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0023] [Fig-1] is a perspective view of an assembly according to the invention comprising a steering knuckle and a steering ball joint.

[0024] [Fig. 2] is an enlargement of zone II of [Fig. 1], the steering ball joint having has been removed.

[0025] [Fig.3] illustrates a first step in the disassembly process of the assembly according to the invention.

[0026] [Fig.4] illustrates a second step in the disassembly process of the assembly according to the invention.

[0027] [Fig.5] illustrates a third step in the disassembly process of the assembly according to the invention. Description of the implementation methods

[0028] In the following description, elements having an identical structure or analogous functions are designated by the same reference.

[0029] Reference is made to [Fig.1] showing a motor vehicle assembly 1 according to the invention.

[0030] Assembly 1 belongs to a steering system (not shown) of the motor vehicle.

[0031] Assembly 1 includes a steering knuckle 3 consisting of a part having an axle 5 receiving the hub of a steering wheel (not shown) of the vehicle and being designed to keep the steering wheels in their axis of rotation.

[0032] Assembly 1 further includes a steering ball joint 7 of the steering system of the motor vehicle, mounted on the steering knuckle 3. For this purpose, the steering knuckle 3 is designed to support the steering ball joint 7.

[0033] The steering ball joint 7 includes a steering tie rod 9, having at one of its ends 9a an axle 11 and being intended to be connected at the other end 9b to a steering rack mechanism (not shown) of a steering system of the vehicle.

[0034] The steering knuckle 3 has a pivot 13 suitable and intended to receive the shaft 11 of the steering ball joint 7.

[0035] When the steering ball joint 7 is mounted on the steering knuckle 3, the shaft 11 of the steering ball joint 7 is engaged in the pivot 13 of the steering knuckle 3.

[0036] The assembly is further finalized by means of an assembly element (not shown) ensuring that the steering ball joint 7 is held in position on the steering knuckle 3.

[0037] For example, the assembly member may consist of a fixing nut screwed onto the shaft 11 of the steering ball joint 7 so as to prevent the relative disengagement of the shaft 11 and the pivot 13.

[0038] According to the invention, the rocket carrier 3 has an ear 15, extending outwards from the pivot 13.

[0039] In addition to the reference made to [Fig.1], reference is made to [Fig.2] showing an enlargement of zone II of [Fig.1], the steering ball joint 7 having been removed.

[0040] The ear 15 has a threaded orifice 17, extending opposite the steering link 9 when the steering ball joint 7 is mounted on the steering knuckle 3.

[0041] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the axis 19 of the tapped orifice 17 is substantially collinear with the axis of rotation 21 of the pivot 13.

[0042] The pivot 13 comprises an upper wall 23, a lower wall 25 and a peripheral wall 27 ensuring the connection between the upper wall 23 and the lower wall 25.

[0043] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the ear 15 extends from the peripheral wall 27 of the pivot 13.

[0044] The ear 15 comprises an upper wall 29, an lower wall 31 and a peripheral wall 33 ensuring the connection between the upper wall 29 and the lower wall 31.

[0045] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the axis 19 of the tapped orifice 17 is perpendicular to the upper 29 and lower 31 walls of the ear 15.

[0046] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the upper wall 29 of the ear 15 is contained in a plane PI distinct from a plane P2 containing the upper wall 23 of the pivot 13. For example, the planes PI and P2 are parallel to each other.

[0047] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the plane PI containing the upper wall 29 of the ear 15 is located below the plane P2 containing the upper wall 23 of the pivot 13 relative to the vertical direction.

[0048] Reference is made to figures 3 to 5 illustrating the steps of the dismantling process of assembly 1 according to the invention.

[0049] According to the invention, the dismantling of assembly 1 is carried out by performing the following steps.

[0050] When an operator wishes to disassemble the assembly 1, for example for maintenance purposes, the assembly member (not shown) ensuring the retention of the steering ball joint 7 on the steering knuckle 3 is first removed in order to allow clearance of the shaft 11 relative to the pivot 13.

[0051] Next, the operator inserts a loosening screw 35 into the tapped hole 17 of the ear 15 of the rocket carrier 3, as shown by the arrow 37 in [Fig.3].

[0052] The loosening screw 35 is driven in rotation, as represented by arrow 39 in [Fig.4], until the loosening screw comes to rest against the steering tie rod 9 of the steering ball joint 7.

[0053] The rotation of the loosening screw 35 is then continued, as shown by arrow 41 in [Fig. 5]. The loosening screw 35, bearing against the steering tie rod 9 of the steering ball joint 7, pushes the steering ball joint 7 relative to the steering knuckle 3 during its rotation, as shown by arrow 43 in [Fig. 5].

[0054] The rotation of the loosening screw 35 is continued until the axis 11 of the steering ball joint 7 releases the pivot 13 from the steering knuckle 3.

[0055] As will be understood, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments of this steering knuckle for motor vehicles, of this assembly comprising such a steering knuckle, of this motor vehicle comprising such an assembly and of this method of dismantling such an assembly, described above solely by way of illustrative examples, but on the contrary it encompasses all variants involving the technical equivalents of the means described as well as their combinations if these fall within the scope of the invention.

Claims

Demands

1. Steering knuckle (3) for a motor vehicle, designed to support a steering ball joint (7) of a steering system of said motor vehicle, said steering knuckle (3) comprising a pivot (13) and said steering ball joint (7) comprising a steering tie rod (9) having at one of its ends (9a, 9b) a pin (11) intended to be received by said pivot (13) of said steering knuckle (3), said steering knuckle (3) being characterized in that it comprises an lug (15) extending outward from said pivot (13) and comprising a threaded hole (17) extending opposite said steering tie rod (9) when said steering ball joint (7) is mounted on said steering knuckle (3).

2. Rocket carrier (3) according to claim 1, characterized in that the axis (19) of said tapped orifice (17) is collinear with the axis of rotation (21) of said pivot (13).

3. Rocket carrier (3) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that said ear (15) comprises an upper wall (29) and a lower wall (31) and in that the axis (19) of said tapped orifice (17) is perpendicular to said upper wall (29) and to said lower wall (31) of said ear (15).

4. Rocket carrier (3) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said pivot (13) comprises an upper wall (23), a lower wall (25) and a peripheral wall (27) connecting said upper wall (23) and said lower wall (25), characterized in that said ear (15) extends from said peripheral wall (27).

5. Rocket carrier (3) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein said ear (15) comprises an upper wall (29) and said pivot (13) comprises an upper wall (23), characterized in that said upper wall (29) of said ear (15) is contained in a plane (PI) distinct from a plane (P2) containing said upper wall (29) of said pivot (13).

6. Rocket carrier (3) according to claim 5, characterized in that said plane (PI) containing said upper wall (29) of said ear (15) is located below said plane (P2) containing said upper wall (23) of said pivot (13) relative to a vertical direction.

7. Assembly (1) of a motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises: - a rocket carrier (3) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, - a steering ball joint (7), said axis (11) of said steering ball joint (7) being received by said pivot (13) of said steering knuckle (3) and said threaded orifice (17) of said ear (15) extending opposite said steering tie rod (9), - an assembly element for said steering ball joint (7) on said steering knuckle (3).

8. Motor vehicle comprising an assembly (1), characterized in that said assembly (1) is according to claim 7.

9. A method for dismantling a motor vehicle assembly (1), said assembly (1) being according to claim 7, said dismantling method being characterized in that it comprises the following steps aimed at: - remove the assembly component of said steering ball joint (7) from said steering knuckle (3), - insert a loosening screw (35) into said threaded hole (17) of said ear (15), - rotate said loosening screw (35) until said loosening screw (35) comes to rest against said steering tie rod (9) of said steering ball joint (7), - continue rotating said loosening screw (35) until the axis (11) of said steering ball joint (7) releases the pivot (13) of said steering knuckle (3).

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