King pin assembly
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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 may find application in vehicles, for example in heavy-
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`duty vehicles such as agricultural vehicles, wheel loaders, wheeled excavators,
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`heavy trucks, or the like.
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`Steering mechanisms for vehicles, for example for heavy-duty vehicles such as
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`10
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`heavy trucks, are commonly realized by means of one or more king pins. Typi-
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`cally, a king pin is an elongate member made of metal such as steel and pro-
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`vides a rotatable connection between two components. A bearing for reducing
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`wear is commonly provided between the king pin and the component on which
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`the king pin is rotatably mounted. Advantageously, the king pin preload may be
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`adjusted in order to prevent excessive free play and the risk of brinelling or stiff
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`steering.
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`For example, the preload of the bearing receiving the king pin may be adjusted
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`by placing shims between the bearing and the steering knuckle or the axle
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`member during assembly. In this case, the preload of the bearing receiving the
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`king pin correlates with the height of the shims. However, the shimming pro-
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`10
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`cess is a trial and error process which is often time consuming and imprecise.
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`Another approach for adjusting the preload of a king pin in a steering knuckle
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`is known from reference US 2004/0227319 A1. This assembly includes a single
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`tapered roller bearing mounted on a lower yoke arm and a needle bearing
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`15
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`mounted on an upper yoke arm of the steering knuckle, while a king pin is dis-
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`posed in between both of said bearings. A spring cap disposed on the upper
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`yoke arm acts on the top boss of the king pin for preloading the tapered roller
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`bearing mounted on the lower yoke arm.
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`20
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`A common disadvantage of known king pin assemblies is that the king pin pre-
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`load cannot be adjusted easily without disassembling the joint.
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`Thus, there is a demand for a king pin assembly in which the king pin preload
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`may be adjusted quickly and easily.
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`25
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`This object is solved by a king pin assembly including the features of claim 1.
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`Special embodiments are described in the dependent claims.
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`The presently proposed king pin assembly comprises a first king pin and a first
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`30
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`member comprising or forming a first recess for receiving the first king pin, the
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`first member comprising or being configured as a steering knuckle or an axle
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`member, wherein a portion of the first member enclosing the first recess in-
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`cludes a female thread or female screw thread. The female thread enclosing
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`the first recess may be directly machined into the portion of the first member
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`35
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`enclosing or delimiting the first recess. In other words, the female thread en-
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`closing the first recess and the first member are preferably formedin one piece.
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`The first king pin comprises a male thread or male screw thread engaged with
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`or configured to be engaged with the female thread enclosing the first recess.
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`The male thread of the 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 of the first king
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`pin are made in one piece. In this way, a position of the first king pin with re-
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`spect to the first member is adjustable by moving the male thread of the first
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`king pin along the female thread enclosing the first recess. This allows setting
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`or adjusting a preload on the first king pin quickly and easily. For example, the
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`preload on the first king pin may usually be selectively increased or decreased
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`10
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`by moving or rotating the male thread of the first king pin along different direc-
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`tions along the female thread enclosing the first recess. The king pin and the
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`first member may be made ofor at least partially made of metal such as steel.
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`The king pin assembly may further comprise a fastening or locking member for
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`15
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`fixing, fastening or locking the first king pin in or with respect to the first mem-
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`ber when the first king pin is received in the first recess and the female thread
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`enclosing the first recess and the male thread of the first king pin are engaged
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`with one another. For example, the fastening member or locking member may
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`be configured to prevent the first king pin from rotating relative to the first
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`20
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`member when the first king pin is received in the first recess. For instance, the
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`fastening member or locking member may comprise a locking screw, a spring
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`based locking mechanism and/or any other known type of releasable retainer.
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`Additionally, the first member may further comprise or form a bore for receiv-
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`25
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`ing the fastening member. The bore may be in communication with the first
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`recess so that when the fastening member is received in the bore, the fastening
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`member is configured to fix or lock the first king pin with respect to the first
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`member when the first king pin is received in the first recess. The first recess
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`may extend in or the female thread enclosing the first recess may define an
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`30
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`axial direction, and the bore may extend from the first recess, for example per-
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`pendicular to the axial direction.
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`The bore mayfurther end in an outer surface of the first member. For example,
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`when the fastening member is received in the bore and a first end portion of
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`35
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`the fastening member fixes or locks the first king pin with respect to the first
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`member, a second end portion of the fastening member may be accessible via
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`the bore or may protrude out of the bore. This way, the fastening member for
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`fixing or locking the first king pin with respect to the first member may be han-
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`dled with ease, thereby saving assembly and maintenance time.
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`Furthermore, a portion of the first member enclosing the bore may include a
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`female thread or female screw thread and the fastening member may have a
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`male thread or male screw thread engaged with or configured to be engaged
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`with the female thread enclosing the bore. Thus, the first king pin may be fixed
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`or locked in or with respectto the first member by moving the male thread of
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`10
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`the fastening member along the female thread enclosing the bore. An end por-
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`tion of the fastening member such as the second end portion may comprise or
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`form a structure such as a recess, a trench or a protrusion for engagement with
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`a fastening tool such as a screwdriver.
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`15
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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 in-
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`creased diameter end section for receiving the increased diameter portion of
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`the first king pin when the first king pin is received in the first recess and the
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`male thread of the first king pin is engaged with the female thread enclosing
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`20
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`the first recess. The increased diameter portion may facilitate assembly and the
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`handling of the king pin assembly during maintenance or assembly. For in-
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`stance, the increased diameter portion of the first king pin may act as a me-
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`chanical stop and may be configured to prevent the first king pin from being
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`screwed too far into the first recess, thereby reducing the risk of causing dam-
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`25
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`age to the king pin assembly. When the first member comprises the bore for
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`receiving the fastening member, the bore may be in communication with first
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`recess the increased diameter end section of the first recess. This way, when
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`the increased diameter portion ofthe first king pin is received in the increased
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`diameter end section of the first recess, a force applied to the first king pin via
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`30
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`the fastening member received in the bore for fixing the first king pin with re-
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`spectto the first member may be applied to the more robust increased diame-
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`ter portion of the first king pin, thereby reducing material strain and fatigue and
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`increasing safety and longevity of the assembly.
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`35
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`The male thread of the first king pin may extend along both axial halves of the
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`first king pin. Preferably, the male thread of the first king pin may extend over
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`at least 20 percent, or over at least 30 percent of the overall axial length of the
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`first king pin. The female thread enclosing the first recess may have the same
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`axial extension as the male thread of the first king pin, for example.
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`The first king pin may comprise a lubrication channel extending through the
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`first king pin. The lubrication channel may fluidly connect a bearing for receiving
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`the first king pin or a portion thereof with a lubricant reservoir.
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`The king pin assembly may further comprise a second member. In one embod-
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`10
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`iment, the first member may comprise or may be configured as a steering
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`knuckle, and the second member may comprise or may be configured as an axle
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`member such as an axle housing. Alternatively, the first member may comprise
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`or may be configured as an axle member such as an axle housing, and the sec-
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`ond member may comprise or may be configured as a steering knuckle. A por-
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`15
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`tion of the first king pin protruding out of the first recess may then rotatably
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`connect the first member with the second member,in particular with respect
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`to a rotation axis or steering axis defined by the first king pin when the first king
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`pin is received in the first recess and when the male thread of the first king pin
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`is engaged with the female thread enclosing the first recess. The second mem-
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`20
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`ber may be made of or may at least partially be made of metal such as steel.
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`The second member may comprise or may form a first receiving portion. The
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`first receiving portion may be a blind hole. Within the scope of this document,
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`a blind hole is a hole which does not break through a workpiece such as the
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`25
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`steering knuckle or an axle member. The portion of the first king pin protruding
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`out of the first recess may be rotatably mounted in the first receiving portion
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`of the second member, for example by means of a first bearing. The first bear-
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`ing may comprise a roller bearing or an angular contact spherical plain bearing,
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`for example.
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`30
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`The king pin assembly may further comprise a second king pin coaxial with the
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`first king pin with respect to the rotation axis or steering axis. The second king
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`pin may rotatably connect the first member with the second member, for ex-
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`ample by means of a second bearing. The second king pin may be made of or
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`35
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`may at least partially be made of metal such as steel. The second bearing may
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`

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`comprise a roller bearing or an angular contact spherical plain bearing, for ex-
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`ample. For example, the use of two short king pins may require less material
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`than a single long king pin, thereby reducing material and production costs.
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`Further, in some embodiments the two king pins may be arranged only be-
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`tween the first 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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`The second member mayfurther comprise a second receiving portion coaxial
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`with the first receiving portion with respect to the rotation axis. The second
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`10
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`king pin may be rotatably mounted in the second receiving portion of the sec-
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`ond member, for example by means of the second bearing. However,it is like-
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`wise conceivable that the second king pin is fixedly mounted on the second
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`member and that the second receiving portion in which the second king pin is
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`rotatably received is formedin or by the first member.
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`15
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`When the second member comprises or forms both the first receiving portion
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`and the second receiving portion and both the first receiving portion and the
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`second receiving portion are configured as blind holes, the first receiving por-
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`tion and the second receiving portion may face in opposite directions along the
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`20
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`rotation axis. For example, the first receiving portion and the second receiving
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`portion formed in or by the second member may face away from one another
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`along the rotation axis or steering axis. For example, the first receiving portion
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`may face upward and the second receiving portion may face downward along
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`the rotation axis.
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`25
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`In some embodiments, the first member may comprise a second recess for re-
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`ceiving the second king pin and a portion of the first member enclosing the
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`second recess may include a female thread or female screw thread. The second
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`king pin may comprise a male thread or male screw thread engaged with or
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`30
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`configured to be engaged with the female thread enclosing the second recess.
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`In this way, a position of the second king pin with respect to the first member
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`is adjustable by moving the male thread of the second king pin along the female
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`thread enclosing the second recess, as described above with respect to the
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`threaded connection between the first king pin and the first member.
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`35
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`The first member and the second member may be configured such that they
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`

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`form a clearance in between the first king pin and the second king pin along the
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`rotation axis or steering axis so that a drive shaft or a joint may pass through
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`the clearance.
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`In some embodiments, the king pin assembly may comprise a vehicle wheel
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`hub and a driveshaft or joint drivingly engaged with the vehicle wheel hub. The
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`steering knuckle may be configured to steer the vehicle wheel hub, and the
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`drive shaft or joint may pass through the clearance formed in between the first
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`king pin and the second king pin along the rotation axis or steering axis.
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`10
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`The steering knuckle may further comprise a first arm portion extending at least
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`partially perpendicular to the rotation axis, a second arm portion extending at
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`least partially perpendicular to the rotation axis, and a connecting portion con-
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`necting the first arm portion and the second arm portion. The first king pin may
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`15
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`be mounted on the first arm portion, the second king pin may be mounted on
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`the second arm portion, and the axle member may be disposed in between the
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`first arm portion and the second arm portion or the axle member may alterna-
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`tively enclose the first arm portion and the second arm portion of the steering
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`knuckle along the rotation axis.
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`20
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`25
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`The above-mentioned object may also be solved by a methodfor adjusting a
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`king pin preload, in particular in the above-described king pin assembly. As
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`such, the king pin assembly includes at least a steering knuckle, an axle member
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`and a king pin rotatably 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
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`a steering knuckle or relative to an axle member such as an axle housing by
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`moving a male thread formed on an outer surface of the king pin along a female
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`thread formed in a portion of the steering knuckle enclosing a recess for receiv-
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`30
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`ing the king pin.
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`Embodiments of the presently proposed king pin assembly and steps for adjust-
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`ing a king pin preload are described in the following detailed description and
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`are depicted in the Figures, in which
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`35
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`

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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
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`of the presently proposed type according to a second embodi-
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`ment;
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`10
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`Fig. 2b
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`shows a second sectional view of the king pin assembly of Fig.
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`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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`15
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`The Figures relate to two proposed embodiments of a king pin assembly and to
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`a method of adjusting a king pin preload. The figures are drawn to scale. How-
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`ever, the presently proposed king pin assembly shall not necessarily be limited
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`to the drawn scale and may be realized using other dimensions, in particular
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`other relative dimensions. Furthermore, same features recurring in different
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`20
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`figures are designated with the same referencesigns.
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`Figs. 1a shows a sectional view of a king pin assembly 100 of the presently pro-
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`posed type accordingto a first embodiment. Fig. 1b depicts a detail of the king
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`pin assembly 100 of Fig. 1a. The king pin assembly 100 comprises a steering
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`25
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`knuckle 1, an axle member 2 such as an axle housing, and a first king pin 5. A
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`vehicle wheel (not shown) may be rotatably mounted on the steering knuckle
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`1. The first king pin 5 may be fixedly received in a first recess 4 of or formed in
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`the steering knuckle 1 and rotatably mounted in a first receiving portion 20 of
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`the axle member 2, thereby providing a rotatable connection between the
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`30
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`steering knuckle 1 and the axle member 2. The rotatable connection forms part
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`of a steering assembly of the vehicle.
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`According to the embodiment shown in Figs. 1a, 1b, a first bearing 21 may be
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`received in the first receiving portion 20 of the axle member 2. The first bearing
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`35
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`21 may comprise a roller bearing or an angular contact spherical plain bearing,
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`for example. The first king pin 5 and the steering knuckle 1 may be made of
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`

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`metal such as steel, for example. The first bearing 21 facilitates rotation of the
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`steering knuckle 1 relative to the axle member 2 and reduces friction. The func-
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`tionality of the rotary joint including the first king pin 5 and the first receiving
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`portion 20 may be improved by adjusting the king pin preload. For example, an
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`incorrectly set preload may lead to excessive free play or to a risk of brinelling
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`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
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`knuckle 1 enclosing the first recess 4 includes a female thread or female screw
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`10
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`thread 6, and the first king pin 5 includes a male thread or screw thread 8 con-
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`figured to be engaged with the female thread 6 enclosing the first recess 4. The
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`female thread 6 enclosing the first recess 4 may be directly machined into the
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`portion of the steering knuckle 1 enclosing and delimiting the first recess 4. In
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`other words, the female thread 6 and the steering knuckle 1 may be formedin
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`15
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`one piece. Similarly, the male thread 8 of the first king pin 5 may be directly
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`machined into an outer surface of the first king pin 5. In other words, the male
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`thread 8 and the first king pin 5 may be formed in one piece. The male thread
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`8 of the first king pin 5 may extend over both axial halves of the first king pin 5.
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`20
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`When the female thread 6 enclosing the first recess 4 and the male thread 8 of
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`the first king pin 5 are engaged with each other the first king pin 5 defines a
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`rotation axis or steering axis 19. The steering knuckle 1 may be rotated relative
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`to the axle member 2 with respect to the rotation axis or steering axis 19. By
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`moving the male thread 8 of the first king pin 5 along the female thread 6 en-
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`25
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`closing the first recess 4, an axial position of the first king pin 5 with respect to
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`the steering knuckle 1 may be adjusted, thereby adjusting a preload of the first
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`king pin 5 acting on the first receiving portion 20 along the rotation axis 19, and
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`in particular acting on the first bearing 21 in which a portion of the first king pin
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`5 protruding out of the first recess 4 is rotatably received. The threaded con-
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`30
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`nection between the first king pin 5 and the steering knuckle 1 allows adjusting
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`the preload of the first king pin 5 acting on the first receiving portion 20, and in
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`particular on the first bearing 21, fast, easily and with high precision. In partic-
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`ular, the king pin preload may be adjusted without disassembling.
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`35
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`The king pin assembly 100 may further comprise a fastening member 9 for fix-
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`ing or locking the first king 5 pin in or with respect to the steering knuckle 1
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`

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`10
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`when the first king pin 5 is received in the first recess 4 and the threads 6, 8 are
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`engaged with one another. The fastening member 9 may be forced or pressed
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`against or frictionally engaged with the first king pin 5, for example, thereby
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`preventing the first king pin 5 from rotating relative to the steering knuckle 1
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`and fixing the first king pin 5 relative to the steering knuckle 1 along the axial
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`direction 19. As shown in Figs. 1a, 1b, the fastening member 9 may configured
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`as a locking screw that may be screwed to apply a force for fixing the first king
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`pin 5 relative to the steering knuckle 1. However, the fastening member 9 may
`also or alternatively comprise a spring based locking mechanism and/or any
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`10
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`other known type of releasable retainer capable of fixing the first king pin 5
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`relative to the steering knuckle 1.
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`The fastening member 9 may be received in a bore 10 formed in the steering
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`knuckle 1. The bore 10 may be in communication with the first recess 4 formed
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`15
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`in the steering knuckle 1. The bore 10 may extend perpendicular to the axial
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`direction 19, thereby allowing the fastening member 9 received in the bore 10
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`to be forced or pressed against the first king pin 5 at a 90 degree angle or pos-
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`sibly at a smaller angle. Consequently, a fastening member, such as the fas-
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`tening member 9, may prevent preload losses caused by axial movementof the
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`20
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`first king pin 5 relative to the steering knuckle 1. Furthermore, the bore 10 and
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`fastening member 9 according to the embodiment of the assembly 100 shown
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`in Figs. 1a, 1b may contribute to reducing the extension of the assembly 100
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`alongthe axial direction 19.
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`25
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`Asillustrated in Figs. 1a, 1b, the first receiving portion 20 may be configured as
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`a blind hole formed in the axle member 2 or in a surface of the axle member 2.
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`In this way, the first receiving portion 20 may be used as a reservoir for supply-
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`ing lubricant to the first bearing 21. The lubricant reservoir may be connected
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`to an external lubricant reservoir and/or to a greaser via a lubrication channel
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`30
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`18 extending through the first king pin 5. Seals may be provided for sealing the
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`first bearing 21.
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`The king pin assembly 100 may further comprise a second king pin 22 coaxial
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`with the first king pin 5 with respect to the rotation axis or steering axis 19. The
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`35
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`second king pin 22 may be made of metal such as steel. The second king pin 22
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`rotatably connects the steering knuckle 1 with the axle member 2, for example
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`

`

`11
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`by means of a second bearing 23. The second bearing 23 comprise a roller bear-
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`ing or an angular contact spherical plain bearing. The second bearing 23 may
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`be arranged in a second receiving portion 24 disposed on or formed in the axle
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`member 2 for receiving the second king pin 22. The second receiving portion
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`24 may be coaxial with the first receiving portion 20 disposed on or formed in
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`the axle member 2. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the second receiving
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`portion 24 is configured as a blind hole formed in the axle member 2 or in a
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`surface of the axle member 2. The blind holes forming the first receiving portion
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`21 and the second receiving portion 24 of the axle member 2 may face in op-
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`10
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`posite directions along the rotation axis or steering axis 19. In particular, the
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`blind holes forming the first receiving portion 21 and the second receiving por-
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`tion 24 of the axle member 2 may face away from one another along the rota-
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`tion axis 19. For example, the blind hole forming the, first receiving portion 21
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`may face upward and the blind hole forming the second receiving portion 24
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`15
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`may face downward along the rotation axis 19. For example, the use of two
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`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
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`both king pins 5, 22 are arranged only between the steering knuckle 1 and the
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`axle member, respectively, for example, a clearance 28 may be formed be-
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`20
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`tween the first king pin 5 and the second king 22 pin along the rotation axis 19.
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`The clearance 28 may be used to accomodate a drive shaft or a joint which may
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`pass through the clearance 28.
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`As shown in the first embodiment of Figs. 1a, 1b, the steering knuckle 1 may
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`25
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`further comprise or form a second recess 25 for receiving the second king pin
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`22, and a portion of the steering knuckle 1 enclosing the second recess 25 may
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`include a female thread 26. The second king pin 22 may comprise a male thread
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`27 configured to be engaged with the female thread 26 enclosing the second
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`recess 25. In this way, a position of the second king pin 22 with respect to the
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`30
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`steering knuckle 1 along the rotation axis 19 may be adjusted by moving the
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`male thread 27 of the second king 22 pin along the female thread 26 enclosing
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`the second recess 25.
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`In the embodiment depicted in Figs. 1a, 1b, both the first
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`king pin 5 and the second king pin 22 are mounted on or connected to the
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`steering knuckle 1 via a threaded connection. However, it is to be understood
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`35
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`that in alternative embodiments only one of the two king pins 5, 22 may be
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`mounted on or connected to the steering knuckle 1 via a threaded connection.
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`

`

`12
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`The fastening member 9 comprises two opposite axial ends, a first end portion
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`9a and a second end portion 9b. The first end portion 9a may be pressed against
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`or engaged with the first king pin 5 to fix the first king pin 5 relative to the
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`steering knuckle 1. The bore 10 may end in an outer surface of the steering
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`knuckle 1 so that the second end portion 9b of the fastening member 9 is ac-
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`cessible via the bore 10 or protrudes out of the bore 10 when the fastening
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`member 9 is received in the bore 10 and the first end portion 9a of the fastening
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`member 9 fixes the first king pin 5 in the first recess 4 with respect to the steer-
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`10
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`ing knuckle 1.
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`Furthermore, a portion of the steering knuckle 1 enclosing the bore 10 may
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`include a female thread or female screw thread 13. The fastening member 9
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`may have a male thread or male screw thread 14 engaged with or configured
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`15
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`to be engaged with the female thread 13 enclosing the bore 10. The female
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`thread 13 enclosing the bore 10 may be directly machined into the portion of
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`the steering knuckle 1 enclosing and delimiting the bore 10. In other words, the
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`female thread 13 and the steering knuckle 1 may be formed in one piece. In
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`order to fix the first king pin 5 in the first recess 4 with respect to the steering
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`20
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`knuckle 1 or in order to release the first king pin 5, the male thread 14 of the
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`fastening member 9 may be moved along the female thread 13 enclosing the
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`bore 10. As shown in Figs. 1a, 1b, the fastening member 9 may include or may
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`be configured as a locking screw. The second end portion 9b of the fastening
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`member 9 may comprise a structure such as a recess, a trench or a protrusion
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`25
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`for engagementwith 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 knuckle 1 or through a portion thereof. In the embodiment depicted
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`in the figures, end portion of the first king pin 5 comprises an increased diame-
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`30
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`ter portion 15, and the first recess 4 has a corresponding increased diameter
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`end section 16 for receiving the increased diameter portion 15 of the first king
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`pin 5 when the first king pin 5 is received in the first recess 4 and the male
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`thread 8 of the first king pin 5 is engaged with the female thread 6 enclosing
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`the first recess 4. The increased diameter end section 16 forms a shoulder 17
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`35
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`in the portion of the steering knuckle 1 delimiting the first recess 4. The shoul-
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`der 17 forms a mechanical stop for the increased diameter portion 15 of the
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`

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`13
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`first king pin 5. The mechanical stop formed by the shoulder portion prevents
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`the first king pin 5 from being screwed too far into the first recess 4, thereby
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`reducing the risk of causing damageto the king pin assembly 100. In the em-
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`bodiment depicted in the figures, the bore 10 is in communication with the in-
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`creased diameter end section 16 of the first recess 4. In this way, a force applied
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`to the first king pin 5 via the fastening member 9 for fixing the first king pin 5
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`with respect to the steering knuckle 1 may be applied to the more robust in-
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`creased diameter portion 15 of the first king pin 5, thereby reducing material
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`strain and fatigue and increasing safety and longevity of the assembly 100.
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`10
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`Figs. 2a, 2b show sectional views of a king pin assembly 200 of the presently
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`proposed type according to a second embodiment. The sectional planes of Figs.
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`2a, 2b are arranged perpendicular with respect to each other. The king pin as-
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`sembly 200 again comprises a steering knuckle 1, an axle member 2 such as an
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`15
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`axle housing, and a king pin 5 providing a rotary connection or rotary joint be-
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`tween the steering knuckle 1 and the axle member 2. The king pin 5 defines a
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`rotation axis or steering axis 19, allowing the king pin 5 to rotate relative to the
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`axle member 2 with respect to the rotation axis or steering axis 19.
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`20
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`The king pin assembly 200 of Figs. 2a, 2b according to the second embodiment
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`differs from the king pin assembly 100 of Figs. 1a, 1b according to the first em-
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`bodimentin that in the king pin assembly 200 the king pin 5 is fixedly mounted
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`on the axle member 2 via a threaded connection between the axle member 2
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`and the king pin 5, and rotatably mounted on the steering knuckle 1.
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`25
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`Specifically, the axle member 2 comprises or forms a recess 4. In the embodi-
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`ment depicted in Figs. 2a, 2b the recess 4 is configured as a through hole ex-
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`tending through a portion of the axle member 2. A portion of the axle member
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`2 enclosing and delimiting the recess 4 includes a female thread or screw thread
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`30
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`6. The thread 6 may be directly machined in the portion of the axle member 2
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`enclosing and delimiting the recess 4. In other words, the axle member 2 and
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`the female thread 6 enclosing the recess 4 may be formed in one piece. The
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`king pin 5 comprises a corresponding male thread or screw thread 8 formed on
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`an outer surface of the king pin 5. The male thread 8 of the king pin 5 and the
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`35
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`female thread 6 enclosing the recess 4 are engaged or configured to be engaged
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`with one another.
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`14
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`A portion of the king pin 5 protruding out of the recess 4 formed in the axle
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`member 2 is received in a receiving portion 20 of the steering knuckle 1. In the
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`embodiment depicted in Figs. 2a, 2b the receiving portion 20 is configured as a
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`through hole extending through a portion of the steering knuckle 1. A bearing
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`21 such as a roller bearing, an angular contact spherical plain bearing or the like
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`is received in the receiving portion 20 of the steering knuckle 1 and disposed
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`between the portion of the steering knuckle 1 enclosing the receiving portion
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`20 and the king pin 5. In other words, the king pin 5 is rotatably mounted in or
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`10
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`supported by the bearing 21. The king pin 5 comprises a lubrication channel 18
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`extending through the king pin 5. When the king pin 5 is received in the receiv-
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`ing portion 20 of the steering knuckle 1, the lubrication channel 18 fluidly con-
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`nects the bearing 21 with an outside of the king pin assembly 200 so that the
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`bearing 21 may be lubricated via the lubrication channel 18. In the embodiment
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`15
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`depicted in Figs. 2a, 2b the lubrication channel extends in parallel to the rota-
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`tion axis or steering axis 19 and perpendicular thereto.
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`A position of the king pin 5 relative to the axle member 2 in the direction of the
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`rotation axis or steering axis 19 may be adjusted by moving the male thread 8
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`20
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`of the king pin 5 along the female thread 6 enclosing the recess 4. In this man-
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`ner, a king pin preload acting on the steering knuckle 1 and in particular on the
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`bearing 21 mounted on the steering knuckle 1 for receiving the king pin 5 may
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`be set such as for optimizing the functionality of the rotary connection or rotary
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`joint.
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`25
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`Similar to the king pin assembly 100 accordingto the first embodiment depicted
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`in Figs. La, 1b the king pin assembly 200 according to the second embodiment
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`200 depicted in Figs. 2a, 2b further comprises a fastening member or locking
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`member 9 for fixing, fastening or locking the king pin 5 in or with respect to the
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`30
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`axle member 2 when the king pin 5 is received in the recess 4 and the threads
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`6, 8 are engaged with one another. The fastening member 9 is received in a
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`bore 10 which extends through a portion of the axle member 2 and is in com-
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`munication with the recess 4. The bore 10 ends in an outer surface of the axle
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`member 2. In this manner, the fastening member 9 is accessible via the bore 10
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`35
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`when the fastening member 9 is received within the bore 10. In the embodi-
`
`ment depicted in Figs. 2a, 2b the bore 10 extends perpendi