US1416188A

US1416188A - Drag link

Info

Publication number: US1416188A
Application number: US489362A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harry B Garman
Original assignee: Steel Products Co
Current assignee: Steel Products Co
Priority date: 1921-08-02
Filing date: 1921-08-02
Publication date: 1922-05-16
Anticipated expiration: 1939-05-16

Description

H. B. GARMAN.

DRAG LINK.

APPLICATION FILED AuG.2, |921.

wwwa.

HARRY s. Gaumen', or DETROIT, MroHIGAN, Assistme. To THE STEEL PRODUCTS omo, A conPoRiaTIoN or omo,

COANY, 0F CLEVELAND Fries.'

DRAG mi;

gan, have invented new and useful Improvements in Drag Links, l(Case BJ of which 'the following is a specification, the rinciple of the invention being herein -explained and the best mode in which 'l have contemplated applying that principle, so as` to distinguish it from other inventions.

My invention relates todrag links for use as a part-of thesteering mechanism of automobiles, and particularly to apparatus of this character of the weldless type. The illustrated type is also a floating type of 'drag link, i. e., the bearings are free to float inside the tube and thus to conform to any irregularities of the steering arm and axle arm balls. Particularly, the invention relates to mechanism of thischaracter formed from steel tubing and provided with an ap-preciably thickened wall in a section where there is unusual strain in mechanism of this character and which is usually a weak section, viz, the plane of juncture of the body of the link with the usual end sockets; also, provided with sections of increased area in the planes of the usual ball openingsformed in the end sockets. My invention also rela-tes to an improved link in which the usual end plug may be rigidly re-.

tained relatively to the socket by means of the usual Cotter-pins and yet accommodation provided for the central intersectionof said plugs by the usual grease cups having screwthreaded connections with the plugs. Furthermore, the assembly provides mechanism in which the usual end grease cups are less liable to be knocked off the link when the same is used asa cross-tube or tie-rod.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detail certain `means embodying my invention, the disclosed means, however, constituting but one of the various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawing:

Figure 1 represents a broken central vertical section through a piece of tubing formed into my improved link;

Figure 2 represents a broken partial side elevation and partial central vertical section of a completely assembled link, including a Specicatio'nof Letters iatent. Patented `Maty 16, i922.

application ale/a august a, 1921. serial No; 489,362.

suggestion of the4 usual steering and axle arms;

F igure 3 represents transverse vertical section, taken 1n the plane indicated by the lineIII--UL Figure 2;

F igure 4' represents ya transverse vertical section, taken inthe planes indicated by the l1ne.IV-IV, Figure 2; and

Figure 5 represents an end elevation,

taken from the plane indicated by the line' V-V, Figure 2.

, .'Referring to the annexed drawing., in

which the same ordinals refer respectlvely to the same parts in the several views, a plece of steel tubing is indicated by the o-rdinal 1, which has been upsetand expanded in a forging machine so as to form theend sockets 2 having an outside diameter materlally greater than that of the original tublng 1 anda section around the ball ope-ning, hereinafter fully described, of an increased area. Shoulders 3 are thus provided whlch serve as `seats at the inner end of sockets 2 for the parts usually associated with thesteeringarm and axle arm connections and which will-be hereinafter more fullydescribed. These operations result in greatly thickening the wall of the link in the sections of the shoulders 3; in forming S the walls of the enlarged sockets 2 of a thickness equal to that of the original piece of tubing 1; and in 'strengthening the link in the sections 2 of the ball openings. These enlarged ball opening sections also allow for thedrilling and tapping for grease cups ball cannot be drawn from the assembled link. These connecting arms aie indicated by the ordinals 6 and 7 and the same are coordinated with the steering and axle mechanisms, respectively, as is well understood. These connections 6 and 7 are provided, respectively, with balls 8 and 9 which are usual springs 11 formed from round spring steel in the usual Way being also provided.

The assembly is retained in the socket 2 by means of externally-threaded end plugs 12 having engagement With the outer ends of said sockets 2. These plugs 12 are counterbored, drilled and tapped and equipped With grease cups 13. The plugs 12 are held rigidly relative to the sockets 2 by means of Cotter-pins 14 and, in order that the plugs 12 may accommodate the grease cups 13 and still allow for the transverse intersection of the plugs 12 by the Cotter-pins 14, I have counter-bored the plugs 12 as indicated by the ordinal l5, and have spread the two arms 14 of the cotter-pins 14 in arcs above and below the grease cups 13, as plainly shown in Figure 5. This arrangement also enables so much of the grease cups 13 to be accommodated Within the plugs 12 as to provide more clearance for said cups s`o that the same are not so liable to beiknocked 01T the link when the latter is used as a cross-tube or tie-rod. The blocks 10 are provided with central holes 16 and communicating transverse grooves 17 for effectively passing the lubricant to the balls 8 and 9 and uniformly distributing the same upon the surfaces of said balls.

By reason of forming the sections 2' of increased area, I have greatly strengthened the link in the planes of the-ball openings and have also provided means allowing for l the drilling and tapping for greasecups to be set at any desired angle as illustrated by cup 13 at the left hand end of Figure 2;

zalso see Figure 4. In Figure 2, for purposes of illustration, I have shown the grease cups in both positions, i. e., cups 13 at the right end of the figure, intersecting plugs 12, and cups 13at the left end of the figure, mounted in enlarged areas 2".

`What I -claim is:

LA drag link consisting of a piece of tubing having a socket portion of enlarged diameter, said socket portion having a ball lever receiving slot therein, the wall of saidl socket portion being thickened at the slotted portion thereof.

2. A drag link consisting of a piece of tubing having a socket portion of enlarged diameter, a portion of the wall of said socket portion intermediate the ends thereof being thickened, said socket portion having a ball lever receiving slot therein, said slot having an enlarged ball entering portion and a narrower ball retaining portion, the enlarged portion of said slot being formed in the thickened portion of the socket Wall.

3. The method of forming a drag link which comprises upsetting an end portion of a piece of tubing to thicken the wall thereof, expandingsaid Wall to enlarge the internal ldiameter thereof.

4. The method of forming a drag link which ,comprises expanding anend portion thereof to form an end socket'of enlarged diameter and upsetting the metal at the inner end of the socket to form a thick ,walled shoulder.

5. The method of forming a drag link, which comprises upsetting and expanding an end of a piece of tubing to form an end socket of enlarged diameter, and upsetting the Wall of the socket to` form a circumferential reinforcing rib.

. Signed by me this 23d day of June, 1921. v

HARRY B. GARMAN.