Vehicle steer axle assembly

Abstract

In one aspect, a vehicle steer axle has a horizontal axle member that has a steering axis male feature integrally formed on an end, wherein a vehicle steering knuckle, which forms a vehicle steering axis female feature, is directly rotatably coupled to the vehicle steer axle. In another aspect, a vehicle steering knuckle has a horizontal steering knuckle member that has a steering axis male feature integrally formed on an end, wherein the vehicle steering knuckle is directly rotatably coupled to a vehicle steer axle, which forms a vehicle steering axis female feature. Neither of these aspects utilize a separable kingpin.

1 . A vehicle steer axle assembly, comprising:
 a vehicle steer axle comprising a one piece substantially horizontal steer axle member and a vehicle steering axis male feature integrally formed on an end portion thereof;   a vehicle steering knuckle forming a vehicle steering axis female feature, said vehicle steering knuckle having at least one steering arm and a spindle attached thereto, said spindle having a top spindle shoulder and a bottom spindle shoulder;   a first tapered bearing having a lower extremity positioned above said top spindle shoulder; and   a second tapered bearing having an upper extremity positioned below said bottom spindle shoulder;   wherein, said vehicle steering axis female feature is directly rotatably coupled, via said first and second tapered bearings, to said vehicle steer axle.   
   
   
       2 . The vehicle steer axle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said vehicle steering axis male feature extends upwardly from said horizontal steer axle member and into said vehicle steering axis female feature. 
   
   
       3 . The vehicle steer axle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a preload of said first tapered bearing and said second tapered bearing is automatically set by the dimensions of mating parts. 
   
   
       4 . The vehicle steer axle assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a nut, a washer, and a spacer, wherein said nut is tightened down onto said washer to draw said steering axis male feature up within said steering axis female feature, thus applying a compressive force between said washer and said spacer. 
   
   
       5 . The vehicle steer axle assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising caps and bolts, wherein at least two of said bolts and one of said caps attach a top portion of said steering axis female feature to a top portion of said steering axis male feature extending upwardly and at least two other of said bolts and another of said caps attach a bottom portion of said steering axis female feature to a bottom portion of said steering axis male feature extending downwardly, thus attaching said steering axis male feature between said steering axis female feature. 
   
   
       6 . The vehicle steer axle assembly of  claim 5 , further comprising a spindle, wherein two of said steering arms vertically span said spindle. 
   
   
       7 . The vehicle steer axle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said steering axis male feature radially narrows at a top portion of said steering axis male feature and at a bottom portion of said steering axis male feature. 
   
   
       8 . The vehicle steer axle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said horizontal axle member and said vehicle steering axis male feature are integrally formed by way of a metal forging or a metal casting. 
   
   
       9 . The vehicle steer axle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said horizontal axle member and said vehicle steering axis male feature are integrally formed by way of welding and/or adhesive bonding. 
   
   
       10 . The vehicle steer axle assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a nut, a spacer, and a washer utilized to dispose said vehicle steering axis male feature within said vehicle steering axis female feature. 
   
   
       11 . The vehicle steer axle assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising caps, said caps utilized to dispose said vehicle steering axis male feature between a top portion of said vehicle steering axis female feature and a bottom portion of said vehicle steering axis female feature. 
   
   
       12 . A tractor comprising the vehicle steer axle assembly of  claim 1 .