An adjustable positioning structure for a control arm ball joint of a vehicle suspension system

Abstract

This invention provides an adjustable positioning structure for the ball joint of a control arm in a vehicle suspension system. The structure includes: a control arm body comprising two protruding arms and an mounting section; the ends of the protruding arms form a sleeve portion defining the X-axis, and the mounting section defining the Y-axis; an elongated hole penetrating the mounting section, with the elongated end of the hole corresponding to the Y-axis; a ball joint comprising a seat, a universal kingpin connector, and a threaded component, allowing the threaded component to pass through the elongated hole and be locked in place by a nut; and a toothed engagement unit comprising a toothed block and an engagement pad. The toothed block is formed around the elongated hole, and the engagement pad includes a toothed abutment surface, a pressure surface, and a through hole. The engagement pad is threaded through the through hole to the threaded component, with the toothed abutment surface engaging with the toothed block, and the pressure surface being pressed against by the nut.

Claims

1. An adjustable positioning structure for a control arm ball joint of a vehicle suspension system, comprising: a control arm body including two protruding arms extending toward opposite sides, and an mounting section between the two protruding arms, the ends of the two protruding arms forming two sleeve portions, the two sleeve portions defining an X-axis at a distance from each other, the mounting section defining a Y-axis such that the Y-axis is orthogonal to the X-axis, and the mounting section including a front and a back; an elongated hole formed in the mounting section of the control arm body and extending through the front and back, the elongated hole including two elongated ends, and the elongated ends corresponding to the Y-axis; A ball joint includes a seat, a universal kingpin connector, and a threaded component. The seat includes a set of relatively distant joints and a protruding end. The threaded component protrudes from the set of joints. The universal kingpin connector is pivotally mounted to the protruding end, and the threaded component passes through the elongated hole and is locked in place on the back of the mounting section by a nut. A toothed engagement unit includes a toothed block and an engagement washer. The toothed block is integrally formed around the elongated hole on the back of the mounting section of the control arm body. The engagement washer includes a toothed abutment surface, a pressure surface, and a through hole. The engagement washer is mounted to the threaded component through the through hole, and the toothed abutment surface engages with the toothed block. The pressure surface is pressed against by the nut. In this way, when the nut is loosened, the toothed block and the engagement pad are disengaged, allowing the screwed component to be adjusted and displaced along the Y-axis; conversely, when the nut is tightened, the toothed block and the engagement pad are engaged, thereby achieving a tight and fixed position of the screwed component.

2. The adjustable positioning structure of the control arm ball joint of the vehicle suspension system as described in claim 1, wherein the elongated hole is configured in a single quantity, the screwed component is a single stud protruding from the assembly end, and the screwed component extends through the elongated hole and is locked in place on the back of the mounting section by a nut.

3. The adjustable positioning structure of the control arm ball joint of the vehicle suspension system as described in claim 1, wherein the universal kingpin joint of the ball joint and the screw connection component have a Y-axis misalignment relationship.

4. The adjustable positioning structure of the control arm ball joint of the vehicle suspension system as described in claim 1, wherein the elongated holes are arranged in a plurality of spaced configurations, and the seat of the ball joint is fitted to form two lugs, each lug forming a through hole that is aligned with the elongated holes, and the bolted component is composed of two locking bolts, which pass through the aligned through holes and elongated holes and are locked in place by a nut.

5. The adjustable positioning structure of the control arm ball joint of the vehicle suspension system as described in claim 4, wherein the perforation of each lug is elongated along the X-axis, so that the ball joint seat has a displacement adjustment function along the X-axis before positioning.

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