Spindle Sleeve and Washer for Wheel Alignment Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing axle systems fail to effectively adjust camber, toe, and thrust angles, leading to uneven tire wear and alignment issues, particularly in vehicles carrying heavy loads, due to flexing under load and varying road surfaces, which results in increased maintenance costs and labor.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus comprising a spindle sleeve and washer system that allows for adjustable camber, toe, and thrust angles by orienting the spindle sleeve's outer and inner surfaces at desired angles, with splines and protrusions to prevent rotation, enabling precise alignment without requiring extensive disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the axle stiffness is increased to resolve camber issues, then the camber stability improves, but the manufacturing cost and material requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the adjustment function into separate components: the spindle sleeve with angled bore for camber adjustment, and the washer with protrusion for toe adjustment. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured independently at lower cost while achieving the desired alignment stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The spindle sleeve acts as an intermediary component between the spindle and the wheel hub assembly. By introducing this intermediate element with a pre-set angled bore, the system achieves camber adjustment without requiring changes to the main axle structure, thereby avoiding increased manufacturing costs.
2Manufacturing precision
If the spindle sleeve is made adjustable for precise alignment, then the alignment precision improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spindle sleeve is pre-manufactured with a bore angled at the desired camber angle (e.g., 0.5 degrees). This preliminary action during manufacturing eliminates the need for complex field adjustments, as the alignment precision is built into the component itself rather than requiring complex adjustment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameter of the spindle sleeve bore angle to achieve camber adjustment. By varying this single parameter during manufacturing, precise alignment is achieved without adding structural complexity or multiple adjustment components.
3Reliability
If the washer is designed to prevent rotation with a protrusion, then the alignment stability improves, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The washer features an asymmetric protrusion that fits into a corresponding asymmetric depression on the spindle sleeve. This asymmetric design prevents rotation and ensures stable alignment, while the protrusion geometry is designed to be straightforward to install using standard tools.
Data Source
AI summary
A spindle sleeve and washer for adjusting the camber, toe, or thrust angle of a vehicle wheel to a desired predetermined angle which allows for use of existing hub and spindle assembly without permanent modification to the vehicle.