TITLE
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`KING PIN ASSEMBLY
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`FIELD
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`The present documentrelates to a king pin assembly,in particular for rotatably
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`connecting a steering knuckle with an axle member. King pin assemblies of the
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`presently proposed type mayfind application in vehicles, for example in heavy-duty
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`vehicles such as agricultural vehicles, wheel loaders, wheeled excavators, heavy trucks,
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`or the like.
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`BACKGROUND
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`Steering mechanisms for vehicles, for example for heavy-duty vehicles such as heavy
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`trucks, are commonly realized by means of one or more king pins. Typically, a king pin
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`is an elongate member made of metal such as steel and provides a rotatable
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`connection between two components. A bearing for reducing wear is commonly
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`provided between the king pin and the component on whichthe king pin is rotatably
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`mounted. Advantageously, the king pin preload may be adjusted in order to prevent
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`excessive free play and the risk of brinelling or stiff steering.
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`For example, the preload of the bearing receiving the king pin may be adjusted by
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`placing shims between the bearing and the steering Knuckle or the axle member during
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`
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`KING PIN ASSEMBLY
`
`FIELD
`
`The present documentrelates to a king pin assembly,in particular for rotatably
`
`connecting a steering knuckle with an axle member. King pin assemblies of the
`
`presently proposed type mayfind application in vehicles, for example in heavy-duty
`
`vehicles such as agricultural vehicles, wheel loaders, wheeled excavators, heavy trucks,
`
`or the like.
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`Steering mechanisms for vehicles, for example for heavy-duty vehicles such as heavy
`
`trucks, are commonly realized by means of one or more king pins. Typically, a king pin
`
`is an elongate member made of metal such as steel and provides a rotatable
`
`connection between two components. A bearing for reducing wear is commonly
`
`provided between the king pin and the component on whichthe king pin is rotatably
`
`mounted. Advantageously, the king pin preload may be adjusted in order to prevent
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`excessive free play and the risk of brinelling or stiff steering.
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`For example, the preload of the bearing receiving the king pin may be adjusted by
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`placing shims between the bearing and the steering Knuckle or the axle member during
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`
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`assembly. In this case, the preload of the bearing receiving the king pin correlates with
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`the height of the shims. However, the shimming processis a trial and error process
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`which is often time consuming and imprecise.
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`Another approachfor adjusting the preload of a king pin in a steering knuckle is known
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`from reference US 2004/0227319 A1. This assembly includes a single taperedroller
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`bearing mounted on a lower yoke arm and a needle bearing mounted on an upper yoke
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`arm of the steering knuckle, while a king pin is disposed in between both of said
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`bearings. A spring cap disposed on the upper yoke arm acts on the top bossof the king
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`pin for preloading the tapered roller bearing mounted on the lower yoke arm.
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`A common disadvantage of known king pin assemblies is that the king pin preload
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`cannot be adjusted easily without disassembling the joint.
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`Thus, there is a demandfor a king pin assembly in which the king pin preload may be
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`adjusted quickly and easily.
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`SUMMARY
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`This object is solved by a king pin assembly including the features of the claims stata.
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`Special embodiments are described in the dependentclaims.
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`The presently proposed king pin assembly comprisesa first king pin and a first member
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`comprising or forming a first recess for receiving the first king pin, the first member
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`comprising or being configured as a steering Knuckle or an axle member, wherein a
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`portion of the first member enclosing the first recess includes a female thread or female
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`screw thread. The female thread enclos-ing the first recess may be directly machined
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`into the portion of the first member enclosing or delimiting the first recess. In other
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`words, the female thread enclosing thefirst recess and the first member are preferably
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`formed in one piece. The first king pin comprises a male thread or male screw thread
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`engaged with or configured to be engaged with the female thread enclosing the first
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`recess. The male thread ofthe first king pin is usually formed in an outer surface of the
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`first King pin. Preferably, the first king pin and the male thread ofthe first king pin are
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`madein onepiece. In this way, a position of the first king pin with respectto the first
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`member is adjustable by moving the male thread ofthe first king pin along the female
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`thread enclosing the first recess. This allows setting or adjusting a preload on the first
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`king pin quickly and easily. For example, the preload on the first king pin may usually be
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`selectively increased or decreased by moving or rotating the male thread ofthe first king
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`pin along different directions along the female thread enclosing thefirst recess. The king
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`pin and the first member may be made ofor at least partially made of metal such as
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`steel.
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`The king pin assembly may further comprise a fastening or locking member for fixing,
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`fastening or locking thefirst king pin in or with respect to the first member when thefirst
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`king pin is received in the first recess and the female thread enclosing the first recess
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`
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`and the male thread ofthe first king pin are engaged with one another. For example, the
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`fastening member or locking member may be configured to preventthe first king pin
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`from rotating relative to the first member when the first king pin is received in the first
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`recess. For instance, the fastening member or locking member may comprise a locking
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`screw, a spring based locking mechanism and/or any other Knowntype of releasable
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`retainer.
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`Additionally, the first member may further comprise or form a bore for receiving the
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`fastening member. The bore may be in communication with the first recess so that wnen
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`the fastening member is received in the bore, the fastening member is configured to fix
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`or lock the first king pin with respectto the first member when the first king pin is
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`receivedin the first recess. The first recess may extend in or the female thread
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`enclosing the first recess may define an axial direction, and the bore may extend from
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`the first recess, for example perpendicular to the axial direction.
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`The bore may further end in an outer surface of the first member. For example, when
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`the fastening member is received in the bore andafirst end portion of the fastening
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`member fixes or locks the first king pin with respect to the first member, a second end
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`portion of the fastening member may be accessible via the bore or may protrude out of
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`the bore. This way, the fastening member for fixing or locking the first king pin with
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`respectto the first member may be handled with ease, thereby saving assembly and
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`maintenancetime.
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`Furthermore, a portion of the first member enclosing the bore mayinclude a female
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`thread or female screw thread and the fastening member may have a male thread or
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`male screw thread engaged with or configured to be engaged with the female thread
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`enclosing the bore. Thus, the first king pin may be fixed or locked in or with respect to
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`the first member by moving the male thread of the fastening member along the female
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`thread enclosing the bore. An end portion of the fastening member such as the second
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`end portion may comprise or form a structure such as a recess, a trench or a protrusion
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`for engagementwith a fastening tool such as a screwdriver.
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`The first recess may be a through hole. An end portion of the first king pin may
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`comprise an increased diameter portion and the first recess may have an increased
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`diameter end section for receiving the increased diameter portion of the first king pin
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`whenthe first king pin is receivedin thefirst recess and the male thread ofthe first king
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`pin is engaged with the female thread enclosing the first recess. The increased diameter
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`portion may facilitate assembly and the handling of the king pin assembly during
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`maintenance or assembly. For instance, the increased diameter portion of thefirst king
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`pin may act as a mechanical stop and may be configured to preventthe first king pin
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`from being screwedtoo farinto the first recess, thereby reducing the risk of causing
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`damage to the king pin assembly. Whenthe first member comprises the bore for
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`receiving the fastening member, the bore may be in communication with first recess the
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`increased diameter end section of the first recess. This way, when the increased
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`diameter portion of the first king pin is received in the increased diameter end section of
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`the first recess, a force applied to the first king pin via the fastening member received in
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`the borefor fixing the first king pin with respect to the first member may be applied to
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`the more robust increased diameter portion of the first king pin, thereby reducing
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`material strain and fatigue and increasing safety and longevity of the assembly.
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`The male thread ofthe first king pin may extend along both axial halves of the first king
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`pin. Preferably, the male thread ofthefirst king pin may extend over at least 20 percent,
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`or over at least 30 percentof the overall axial length of the first king pin. The female
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`thread enclosing the first recess may have the same axial extension as the male thread
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`of the first king pin, for example.
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`The first King pin may comprise a lubrication channel extending through the first king
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`pin. The lubrication channel mayfluidly connect a bearing for receiving thefirst king pin
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`or a portion thereof with a lubricant reservoir.
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`The king pin assembly may further comprise a second member. In one embodiment, the
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`first member may comprise or may be configured as a steering Knuckle, and the second
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`member may comprise or may be configured as an axle member such as an axle
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`housing. Alternatively, the first member may comprise or may be configured as an axle
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`member such as an axle housing, and the second member may comprise or may be
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`configured as a steering Knuckle. A portion of the first king pin protruding outof the first
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`recess may then rotatably connect the first member with the second member,in
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`particular with respect to a rotation axis or steering axis defined bythe first king pin
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`whenthe first king pin is received in the first recess and when the male thread of the
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`first King pin is engaged with the female thread enclosing the first recess. The second
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`member may be madeof or may at least partially be made of metal such assteel.
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`The second member may comprise or mayformafirst receiving portion. Thefirst
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`receiving portion may be a blind hole. Within the scope of this document, a blind hole is
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`a hole which does not break through a workpiece such as the steering knuckle or an
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`axle member. The portion of the first King pin protruding out of the first recess may be
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`rotatably mountedin the first receiving portion of the second member, for example by
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`means of a first bearing. Thefirst bearing may comprise a roller bearing or an angular
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`contact spherical plain bearing, for example.
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`The king pin assembly may further comprise a second king pin coaxial with the first king
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`pin with respect to the rotation axis or steering axis. The second king pin mayrotatably
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`connect the first member with the second member, for example by means of a second
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`bearing. The second king pin may be made of or mayat least partially be made of metal
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`such as steel. The second bearing may comprise a roller bearing or an angular contact
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`spherical plain bearing, for example. For example, the use of two short king pins may
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`require less material than a single long king pin, thereby reducing material and
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`production costs. Further, in some embodiments the two king pins may be arranged
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`only between thefirst and second member, thereby allowing a clearance to beleft
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`between the first king pin and the second king pin along the rotation axis.
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`
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`The second member mayfurther comprise a second receiving portion coaxial with the
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`first receiving portion with respect to the rotation axis. The second king pin may be
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`rotatably mounted in the second receiving portion of the second member, for example
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`by means of the second bearing. However,it is likewise conceivable that the second
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`king pin is fixedly mounted on the second member and that the second receiving portion
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`in which the second king pin is rotatably received is formed in or by the first member.
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`When the second member comprisesor forms both the first receiving portion and the
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`second receiving portion and both the first receiving portion and the second receiving
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`portion are configured as blind holes, the first receiving portion and the second receiving
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`portion may face in opposite directions along the rotation axis. For example, the first
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`receiving portion and the second receiving portion formed in or by the second member
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`may face away from one another along the rotation axis or steering axis. For example,
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`the first receiving portion may face upward and the second receiving portion may face
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`downward along the rotation axis.
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`In some embodiments, the first member may comprise a second recessfor receiving
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`the second king pin and a portion of the first member enclosing the second recess may
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`include a female thread or female screw thread. The second king pin may comprise a
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`male thread or male screw thread engaged with or configured to be engaged with the
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`female thread enclosing the second recess. In this way, a position of the second king
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`pin with respectto the first member is adjustable by moving the male thread of the
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`second king pin along the female thread enclosing the second recess, as described
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`above with respect to the threaded connection between the first king pin and the first
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`member.
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`The first member and the second member maybe configured such that they form a
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`clearance in between the first King pin and the second king pin along the rotation axis or
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`steering axis so that a drive shaft or a joint may pass through the clearance.
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`In some embodiments, the king pin assembly may comprise a vehicle wheel hub and a
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`drive shaft or joint drivingly engaged with the vehicle wheel hub. The steering knuckle
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`may be configured to steer the vehicle wheel hub, and the drive shaft or joint may pass
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`through the clearance formed in between the first king pin and the second king pin
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`along the rotation axis or steering axis.
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`The steering knuckle may further comprisea first arm portion extending at least partially
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`perpendicular to the rotation axis, a second arm portion extending at least partially
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`perpendicular to the rotation axis, and a connecting portion connecting the first arm
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`portion and the second arm portion. Thefirst king pin may be mounted on the first arm
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`portion, the second king pin may be mounted on the second arm portion, and the axle
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`member may be disposed in between the first arm portion and the second arm portion
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`or the axle member mayalternatively enclose the first arm portion and the second arm
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`portion of the steering knuckle along the rotation axis.
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`
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`The above-mentioned object may also be solved by a method for adjusting a king pin
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`preload, in particular in the above-described king pin assembly. As such, the king pin
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`assembly includes at least a steering Knuckle, an axle member and a king pin rotatably
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`connecting the steering knuckle with the axle member.
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`The method comprise the step of adjusting a position of the king pin relative to a
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`steering knuckle or relative to an axle member such as an axle housing by moving a
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`male thread formed on an outer surface of the king pin along a female thread formedin
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`a portion of the steering knuckle enclosing a recess for receiving the king pin.
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`DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
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`Embodiments of the presently proposed king pin assembly and steps for adjusting a
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`king pin preload are described in the following detailed description and are depicted in
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`the Figures, in which
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`Fig. 1a
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`showsa sectional view of a king pin assembly for a vehicle of the
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`presently proposed type according to a first embodiment;
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`Fig. 1b
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`showsa detail of the king pin assembly of Fig. 1a;
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`Fig. 2a
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`showsa first sectional view of a king pin assembly for a vehicle of the
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`presently proposed type according to a second embodiment;
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`Fig. 2b
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`shows a second sectional view of the king pin assembly of Fig. 2a; and
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`Fig. 3
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`showssteps of a method of adjusting a king pin preload.
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`The Figures relate to two proposed embodiments of a king pin assembly and to a
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`method of adjusting a king pin preload. The figures are drawn to scale. However, the
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`presently proposed king pin assembly shall not necessarily be limited to the drawn scale
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`and may be realized using other dimensions, in particular other relative dimensions.
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`Furthermore, same features recurring in different figures are designated with the same
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`reference signs.
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`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
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`Figs. 1a showsa sectional view of a king pin assembly 100 of the presently proposed
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`type according to a first embodiment. Fig. 1b depicts a detail of the king pin assembly
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`100 of Fig. 1a. The king pin assembly 100 comprises a steering knuckle 1, an axle
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`member 2 such as an axle housing, andafirst king pin 5. A vehicle wheel (not shown)
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`may be rotatably mounted on the steering knuckle 1. The first king pin 5 maybefixedly
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`received in a first recess 4 of or formedin the steering knuckle 1 and rotatably mounted
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`in a first receiving portion 20 of the axle member 2, thereby providing a rotatable
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`connection between the steering knuckle 1 and the axle member 2. The rotatable
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`connection forms part of a steering assembly of the vehicle.
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`
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`According to the embodiment shownin Figs. 1a, 1b, a first bearing 21 may be received
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`in the first receiving portion 20 of the axle member 2. Thefirst bearing 21 may comprise
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`a roller bearing or an angular contact spherical plain bearing, for example. The first king
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`pin 5 and the steering Knuckle 1 may be made of metal suchas steel, for example. The
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`first bearing 21 facilitates rotation of the steering knuckle 1 relative to the axle member 2
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`and reducesfriction. The functionality of the rotary joint including the first king pin 5 and
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`the first receiving portion 20 may be improved by adjusting the king pin preload. For
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`example, an incorrectly set preload may lead to excessive free play or to a risk of
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`brinelling or stiff steering of the king pin assembly 100.
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`In order to allow the king pin preload to be adjusted, a portion of the steering knuckle 1
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`enclosing the first recess 4 includes a female thread or female screw thread 6, and the
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`first King pin 5 includes a male thread or screw thread 8 configured to be engaged with
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`the female thread 6 enclosing the first recess 4. The female thread 6 enclosing thefirst
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`recess 4 may be directly machinedinto the portion of the steering knuckle 1 enclosing
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`and delimiting the first recess 4. In other words, the female thread 6 and the steering
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`knuckle 1 may be formed in one piece. Similarly, the male thread 8 of the first king pin 5
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`may be directly machined into an outer surface of the first king pin 5. In other words, the
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`male thread 8 and the first king pin 5 may be formedin one piece. The male thread 8 of
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`the first king pin 5 may extend over both axial halves of the first king pin 5.
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`
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`When the female thread 6 enclosing the first recess 4 and the male thread 8 ofthefirst
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`king pin 5 are engaged with each other the first king pin 5 defines a rotation axis or
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`steering axis 19. The steering knuckle 1 may be rotated relative to the axle member 2
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`with respect to the rotation axis or steering axis 19. By moving the male thread 8 of the
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`first King pin 5 along the female thread 6 enclosing the first recess 4, an axial position of
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`the first king pin 5 with respect to the steering knuckle 1 may be adjusted, thereby
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`adjusting a preload of the first king pin 5 acting on the first receiving portion 20 along the
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`rotation axis 19, and in particular acting on the first bearing 21 in which a portion of the
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`first King pin 5 protruding out of the first recess 4 is rotatably received. The threaded
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`connection between thefirst king pin 5 and the steering Knuckle 1 allows adjusting the
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`preload of the first king pin 5 acting on the first receiving portion 20, and in particular on
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`the first bearing 21, fast, easily and with high precision. In particular, the king pin
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`preload may be adjusted without disassembling.
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`The king pin assembly 100 mayfurther comprise a fastening member9 for fixing or
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`locking the first king 5 pin in or with respect to the steering knuckle 1 when the first king
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`pin 5 is receivedin the first recess 4 and the threads 6, 8 are engaged with one another.
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`The fastening member 9 may be forced or pressed againstor frictionally engaged with
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`the first king pin 5, for example, thereby preventing the first king pin 5 from rotating
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`relative to the steering knuckle 1 and fixing the first king pin 5 relative to the steering
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`knuckle 1 along the axial direction 19. As shown in Figs. 1a, 1b, the fastening member9
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`may configured as a locking screw that may be screwedto apply a forcefor fixing the
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`first King pin 5 relative to the steering Knuckle 1. However, the fastening member 9 may
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`
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`also or alternatively comprise a spring based locking mechanism and/or any other
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`knowntype of releasable retainer capable offixing the first king pin 5 relative to the
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`steering knuckle 1.
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`The fastening member 9 may be received in a bore 10 formedin the steering knuckle 1.
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`The bore 10 may be in communication with the first recess 4 formed in the steering
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`knuckle 1. The bore 10 may extend perpendicular to the axial direction 19, thereby
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`allowing the fastening member9 receivedin the bore 10 to be forced or pressed against
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`the first king pin 5 at a 90 degree angle or possibly at a smaller angle. Consequently, a
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`fastening member, such as the fastening member 9, may prevent preload losses
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`caused by axial movementofthe first king pin 5 relative to the steering knuckle 1.
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`Further-more, the bore 10 and fastening member 9 according to the embodimentof the
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`assembly 100 shownin Figs. 1a, 1b may contribute to reducing the extension of the
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`assembly 100 along the axial direction 19.
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`Asillustrated in Figs. 1a, 1b, the first receiving portion 20 may be configured as a blind
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`hole formed in the axle member2 or in a surface of the axle member2. In this way, the
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`first receiving portion 20 may be used as a reservoir for supplying lubricant to thefirst
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`bearing 21. The lubricant reservoir may be connected to an external lubricant reservoir
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`and/or to a greaser via a lubrication channel 18 extending through the first king pin 5.
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`Seals may be provided for sealing the first bearing 21.
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`The king pin assembly 100 mayfurther comprise a second king pin 22 coaxial with the
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`first King pin 5 with respect to the rotation axis or steering axis 19. The second king pin
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`22 may be made of metal such as steel. The second king pin 22 rotatably connects the
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`steering knuckle 1 with the axle member 2, for example by means of a second bearing
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`23. The second bearing 23 comprise a roller bearing or an angular contact spherical
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`plain bearing. The second bearing 23 may be arranged in a second receiving portion 24
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`disposed on or formed in the axle member 2 for receiving the second king pin 22. The
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`second receiving portion 24 may be coaxial with the first receiving portion 20 disposed
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`on or formed in the axle member 2. In the embodiment shownin Fig. 1, the second
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`receiving portion 24 is configured as a blind hole formed in the axle member2 or ina
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`surface of the axle member2. The blind holes forming the first receiving portion 21 and
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`the second receiving portion 24 of the axle member 2 may face in opposite directions
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`along the rotation axis or steering axis 19. In particular, the blind holes forming the first
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`receiving portion 21 and the second receiving portion 24 of the axle member 2 may face
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`away from one another along the rotation axis 19. For example, the blind hole forming
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`the, first receiving portion 21 may face upward and the blind hole forming the second
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`receiving portion 24 may face downward along the rotation axis 19. For example, the
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`use of two short king pins 5, 22 aligned coaxially may require less material than a single
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`long king pin, thereby reducing material and production costs. Further, when both king
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`pins 5, 22 are arranged only between the steering Knuckle 1 and the axle member,
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`respectively, for example, a clearance 28 may be formed between the first king pin 5
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`and the second king 22 pin along the rotation axis 19. The clearance 28 may be used to
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`accommodatea drive shaft or a joint which may pass through the clearance 28.
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`As shownin the first embodimentof Figs. 1a, 1b, the steering knuckle 1 may further
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`comprise or form a second recess 25 for receiving the second king pin 22, and a portion
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`of the steering Knuckle 1 enclosing the second recess 25 mayinclude a female thread
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`26. The second king pin 22 may comprise a male thread 27 configured to be engaged
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`with the female thread 26 enclosing the second recess25. In this way, a position of the
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`second king pin 22 with respect to the steering knuckle 1 along the rotation axis 19 may
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`be adjusted by moving the male thread 27 of the second king 22 pin along the female
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`thread 26 enclosing the second recess 25.
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`In the embodiment depicted in Figs. 1a, 1b,
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`both the first king pin 5 and the second king pin 22 are mounted on or connectedto the
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`steering knuckle 1 via a threaded connection. However,it is to be understood thatin
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`alternative embodiments only one of the two king pins 5, 22 may be mounted on or
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`connected to the steering knuckle 1 via a threaded connection.
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`The fastening member 9 comprises two opposite axial ends, a first end portion 9a and a
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`second end portion 9b. The first end portion 9a may be pressed against or engaged
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`with the first king pin 5 to fix the first king pin 5 relative to the steering Knuckle 1. The
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`bore 10 may end in an outer surface of the steering Knuckle 1 so that the second end
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`portion 9b of the fastening member9 is accessible via the bore 10 or protrudes out of
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`the bore 10 when the fastening member9 is received in the bore 10 and the first end
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`portion 9a of the fastening member9 fixesthe first king pin 5 in thefirst recess 4 with
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`respect to the steering knuckle 1.
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`Furthermore, a portion of the steering knuckle 1 enclosing the bore 10 mayinclude a
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`female thread or female screw thread 13. The fastening member 9 may have a male
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`thread or male screw thread 14 engaged with or configured to be engaged with the
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`female thread 13 enclosing the bore 10. The female thread 13 enclosing the bore 10
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`may be directly machinedinto the portion of the steering knuckle 1 enclosing and
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`delimiting the bore 10. In other words, the female thread 13 and the steering Knuckle 1
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`may be formedin one piece. In order to fix the first king pin 5 in the first recess 4 with
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`respect to the steering Knuckle 1 or in order to releasethe first king pin 5, the male
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`thread 14 of the fastening member 9 may be moved along the female thread 13
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`enclosing the bore 10. As shownin Figs. 1a, 1b, the fastening member 9 mayinclude or
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`may be configured as a locking screw. The second endportion 9b of the fastening
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`member 9 may comprise a structure such as a recess, a trench or a protrusion for
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`engagement with a fastening tool such as a screwdriver.
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`The first recess 4 may be configured as a through hole extending through the steering
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`knuckle 1 or through a portion thereof. In the embodiment depicted in the figures, end
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`portion of the first king pin 5 comprises an increased diameter portion 15, and the first
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`recess 4 has a corresponding increased diameter end section 16 for receiving the
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`increased diameter portion 15 of the first King pin 5 when the first king pin 5 is received
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`in the first recess 4 and the male thread 8 ofthe first king pin 5 is engaged with the
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`female thread 6 enclosing the first recess 4. The increased diameter end section 16
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`forms a shoulder 17 in the portion of the steering knuckle 1 delimiting the first recess 4.
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`The shoulder 17 forms a mechanical stop for the increased diameter portion 15 of the
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`first King pin 5. The mechanical stop formed by the shoulder portion prevents thefirst
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`king pin 5 from being screwedtoofar into the first recess 4, thereby reducing the risk of
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`causing damageto the king pin assembly 100. In the embodiment depicted in the
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`figures, the bore 10 is in communication with the increased diameter end section 16 of
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`the first recess 4. In this way, a force applied to thefirst king pin 5 via the fastening
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`member 9 for fixing the first King pin 5 with respect to the steering knuckle 1 may be
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`applied to the more robust increased diameter portion 15 of the first king pin 5, thereby
`
`reducing material strain and fatigue and increasing safety and longevity of the assembly
`
`100.
`
`Figs. 2a, 2b show sectional views of a king pin assembly 200 of the presently proposed
`
`type according to a second embodiment. The sectional planes of Figs. 2a, 2b are
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`arranged perpendicular with respect to each other. The king pin assembly 200 again
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`comprises a steering Knuckle 1, an axle member 2 such as an axle housing, and a king
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`pin 5 providing a rotary connection or rotary joint between the steering Knuckle 1 and
`
`the axle member 2. The king pin 5 defines a rotation axis or steering axis 19, allowing
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`the king pin 5 to rotate relative to the axle member 2 with respect to the rotation axis or
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`steering axis 19.
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`The king pin assembly 200 of Figs. 2a, 2b according to the second embodimentdiffers
`
`from the king pin assembly 100 of Figs. 1a, 1b according to the first embodimentin that
`
`in the king pin assembly 200 the king pin 5 Is fixedly mounted on the axle member 2 via
`
`
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`a threaded connection between the axle member 2 and the king pin 5, and rotatably
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`mounted on the steering Knuckle 1.
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`Specifically, the axle member 2 comprisesor forms a recess 4. In the embodiment
`
`depicted in Figs. 2a, 2b the recess 4 is configured as a through hole extending through
`
`a portion of the axle member 2. A portion of the axle member 2 enclosing and delimiting
`
`the recess 4 includes a female thread or screw thread 6. The thread 6 may bedirectly
`
`machined in the portion of the axle member 2 enclosing and delimiting the recess 4. In
`
`other words, the axle member 2 and the female thread 6 enclosing the recess 4 may be
`
`formed in one piece. The king pin 5 comprises a corresponding male thread or screw
`
`thread 8 formed on an outer surface of the king pin 5. The male thread 8 of the king pin
`
`5 and the female thread 6 enclosing the recess 4 are engaged or configured to be
`
`engaged with one another.
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`A portion of the king pin 5 protruding out of the recess 4 formedin the axle member 2 is
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`received in a receiving portion 20 of the steering knuckle 1. In the embodiment depicted
`
`in Figs. 2a, 2b the receiving portion 20 is configured as a through hole extending
`
`through a portion of the steering Knuckle 1. A bearing 21 such as a roller bearing, an
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`angular contact spherical plain bearing or the like is received in the receiving portion 20
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`of the steering Knuckle 1 and disposed between the portion of the steering Knuckle 1
`
`enclosing the receiving portion 20 and the king pin 5. In other words, the king pin 5 is
`
`rotatably mounted in or supported by the bearing 21. The king pin 5 comprises a
`
`lubrication channel 18 extending through the king pin 5. When the king pin 5 is received
`
`
`
`in the receiving portion 20 of the steering knuckle 1, the lubrication channel 18 fluidly
`
`connects the bearing 21 with an outside of the King pin assembly 200 sothat the
`
`bearing 21 maybe lubricated via the lubrication channel 18. In the embodiment
`
`depicted in Figs. 2a, 2b the lubrication channel extends in parallel to the rotation axis or
`
`steering axis 19 and perpendicular thereto.
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`A position of the king pin 5 relative to the axle member2 in the direction of the rotation
`
`axis or steering axis 19 may be adjusted by moving the male thread 8 of the king pin 5
`
`along the female thread 6 enclosing the recess 4. In this manner, a king pin preload
`
`acting on the steering knuckle 1 and in particular on the bearing 21 mounted on the
`
`steering knuckle 1 for receiving the king pin 5 may be set such asfor optimizing the
`
`functionality of the rotary connection or rotary joint.
`
`Similar to the king pin assembly 100 according to the first embodiment depicted in Figs.
`
`1a, 1b the king pin assembly 200 according to the second embodiment 200 depicted in
`
`Figs. 2a, 2b further comprises a fastening member or locking member9 for fixing,
`
`fastening or locking the king pin 5 in or with respect to the axle member 2 when the king
`
`pin 5 is received in the recess 4 and the threads 6, 8 are engaged with one another.
`
`The fastening member9 is received in a bore 10 which extends through a portion of the
`
`axle member 2 and is in communication with the recess 4. The bore 10 ends in an outer
`
`surface of the axle member2. In this manner, the fastening member 9 is accessible via
`
`the bore 10 when the fastening member9 Is received within the bore 10. In the
`
`
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`embodiment depicted in Figs. 2a, 2b the bore 10 extends perpendicular to the rotation
`
`axis or steering axis 19.
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`A portion of the axle member2 enclosing the bore 10 includes a female thread or screw
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`thread 13, and the fastening member9 includes a corresponding male thread formed on
`
`an outer side of the fastening member9 and configured to be engaged with the female
`
`thread 13 enclosing the bore 10. For example, the fastening member 9 may be
`
`configured as a locking screw. Thus, the fastening member 9 may be moved or
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`displaced within the bore by moving the male threads 14 of
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