US 12,330,731 B2
Steering axle arrangement
Idris Poonawala, Pune (IN); Praveen Malvi, Pune (IN); and Paresh Joshi, Pune (IN)
Assigned to DANA ITALIA S.R.L., Arco (IT)
Filed by DANA ITALIA S.R.L., Trentino (IT)
Filed on Feb. 15, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/169,670.
Prior Publication US 2024/0270309 A1, Aug. 15, 2024
Int. Cl. B62D 7/18 (2006.01); B62D 15/02 (2006.01); F16C 19/36 (2006.01); F16C 33/66 (2006.01)
CPC B62D 7/18 (2013.01) [B62D 15/023 (2013.01); F16C 19/364 (2013.01); F16C 33/6622 (2013.01); F16C 2326/24 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An axle, comprising:
an axle body;
a steering knuckle;
a top bearing directly coupled to the axle body;
a bottom bearing directly coupled to the steering knuckle;
a top pin that rotates as the steering knuckle moves, the top pin configured to couple the axle body to the steering knuckle;
a bottom pin that is stationary as the steering knuckle moves, the bottom pin configured to couple the axle body to the steering knuckle, wherein the bottom pin is spaced away from the top pin;
one or more shims positioned between the bottom pin and a section of an axle housing and configured to preload the top bearing and the bottom bearing, wherein the section of the axle housing is positioned vertically below the bottom bearing; and
a top grease zerk fitting coupled directly to the axle body, wherein the top grease zerk fitting includes a grease opening that is in fluidic communication with a passage in the axle housing that is adjacent to the top bearing, wherein the grease opening in the top grease zerk fitting extends therethrough;
wherein the top grease zerk fitting is positioned radially outward from a sensor and a magnet;
wherein the sensor and the magnet are aligned with a rotational axis of the top pin;
wherein the top bearing is assembled in the axle body; and
wherein the bottom bearing is assembled in the steering knuckle.