TECHNICAL FIELD
[001] The embodiments herein generally relate to a tie rod assembly for vehicles and more particularly to an adjustable tie rod assembly for agricultural vehicles.
BACKGROUND 5
[002] Conventionally, a front axle includes a set of extendable axles wherein front wheels could be extended/ contracted in the transverse direction of vehicle chassis to change front wheel track as per crop’s row requirement. Consequentially, tie rod assembly (part of steering linkage geometry) has to be extended/ contracted. 10
[003] Conventionally the tie rod assemblies include turnbuckle adjustment means in which a sleeve member has internal threads at each of its end portions that engage threads on the ends of first and second rod elements. The overall length of the tie rod assembly is adjusted by rotating the turnbuckle sleeve in an appropriate direction. A pair of locking bolts are 15 tightened to secure the sleeve in a predetermined position. This construction includes locking bolts with which tie rod assembly caters to the adjustment of the length of the tie rod at specific dimensions. The holes formed in the tie rod may reduce the overall strength of the rod and thereby leading to failure of the tie rod assembly. 20
[004] Therefore, there exists a need for an adjustable tie rod assembly for agricultural vehicles which eliminates the aforementioned drawback.
OBJECTS
[005] The principal object of an embodiment of this invention is to 25 provide an adjustable tie rod assembly for agricultural vehicles.
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[006] Another object of an embodiment of this invention is to provide an adjustable tie rod assembly with better strength by reducing number of holes to facilitate adjustment of the tie rod.
[007] Yet another object of an embodiment of this invention is to provide an adjustable tie rod assembly which is simple in construction, easy 5 to manufacture and inexpensive.
[008] These and other objects of the embodiments herein will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following descriptions, while indicating 10 embodiments and numerous specific details thereof, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the embodiments herein without departing from the spirit thereof, and the embodiments herein include all such modifications. 15
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[009] The embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, throughout which like reference letters indicate corresponding parts in the various figures.The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following description with reference to the 20 drawings, in which:
[0010] FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of an adjustable tie rod assembly assembled to a front axle of a tractor, according to the embodiments as disclosed herein;
[0011] FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view of an adjustable tie rod 25 assembly, according to the embodiments as disclosed herein;
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[0012] FIG. 3 depicts a front sectional view of an adjustable tie rod assembly in first position, according to the embodiments as disclosed herein; and
[0013] FIG. 4 depicts a front sectional view of an adjustable tie rod assembly in second position, according to the embodiments as disclosed 5 herein.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0014] The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-5 known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples 10 should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
[0015] The embodiments herein achieve an adjustable tie rod assembly for agricultural vehicles. Further, embodiments herein achieve an adjustable tie rod assembly having one slot for positioning and facilitating adjustment of the tie rod for two lengths. Referring now to the drawings, 15 and more particularly to FIGS. 1 through 4, where similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the figures there are shown embodiments.
[0016] FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of an adjustable tie rod assembly assembled to a front axle of a tractor, according to the 20 embodiments as disclosed herein. In an embodiment, the agricultural vehicle (not shown) used for the description is a tractor. However, any type of motor vehicle can be used along with the embodiments as discussed herein. Further, the embodiments herein relate to tie rod assembly of the tractor which transmits motion from power cylinder to steering/knuckle 25 arms which further rotates wheels via king pin stub axle assembly.
[0017] In an embodiment, the adjustable tie rod assembly 100 includes an elongated rod 102 having first portion 102a and a second
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portion 102b, an intermediate member 104, the first portion 102a of the rod defining an axial slot 106, the intermediate member having an integral clamping or securing portion 108, the clamping portion 108 defining an axial through opening 110, a fastening member 112, a shank section 114, a steering ball pin 116, and a check nut 118. 5
[0018] FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view of an adjustable tie rod assembly, according to the embodiments as disclosed herein. The adjustable tie rod assembly 100 includes an elongated rod 102. In an embodiment, the elongated rod 102 is configured to be cylindrical in shape. The elongated rod 102 includes a first portion 102a and a second portion 10 102b extending from the first portion 102a. The first portion 102a of the rod 102 includes an externally threaded portion (not shown) and the second portion 102b includes a shank section 114. Further, the first portion 102a of the rod 102 defines an axially extending slot 106. The shank section 114 is defined for a predetermined length l. Further, the second portion 102b of 15 the rod 102 is adapted to be connected to a steering ball pin 116 as shown in FIG. 3.
[0019] The adjustable tie rod assembly 100 further includes the intermediate member 104. In an embodiment, the intermediate member 104 is hollow tubular member. The intermediate member 104 can be 20 considered to be a sleeve. The intermediate member 104 defines external threaded portion (not shown) and an internal threaded portion (not shown). The external threaded portion of the intermediate member 104 is adapted to be engaged with a first end of a tubular extension (not shown). The tubular extension includes a second end which further extends to form a ball joint 25 (not shown). The internal threaded portion of the intermediate member is adapted to engage with the external threaded portion of the rod 102. The rod 102 is adapted to be rotated relative to the intermediate member 104. The rod 102 is configured to move from a first position to a second position
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and vice-versa within the intermediate member 104. The rod 102 is moved from the first position to second position to vary a length L1 of the rod 102 to L2. The slot 106 along with a pre-defined shank length is adapted for positioning and facilitating adjustment of the tie rod for two different lengths i.e. L1 and L2. 5
[0020] The intermediate member 104 further includes an integral clamping or securing portion 108 extending towards the rod 102. In an embodiment, the clamping portion and the intermediate member 104 are unitary. The clamping portion 108 defines an axial through opening 110. In an embodiment, the fastening member 112 may be a cross bolt. However, it 10 is also within the scope of the invention to provide any type of fastening means without otherwise deterring the intended function of supporting or holding as can be deduced from the description and corresponding drawings.
[0021] The adjustable tie rod assembly 100 further includes at least 15 one check nut 118. The check nut is disposed between the intermediate member 104 and the threaded section of the rod 102. The check nut 118 is configured to tighten the rod 102 against the intermediate member 104.
[0022] The rod 102 is held in the first position by aligning the axially extending slot 106 of the rod 102 defined at the first portion 20 vertically with the axial through opening 110 of the clamping portion 108 of the intermediate member 104. Further, the fastening member 112 is engaged through the axially extending slot 106 of the rod 102 and the axial through opening 110 of the intermediate member 104 to clamp the rod 102 with the intermediate member 104. 25
[0023] The rod 102 is transferred to the second position by disengaging the fastening member 112 from said clamping portion 108 of said intermediate member 104. Further, the rod 102 is rotated relative to
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the intermediate member 104 such that the rod 102 is moved inside the intermediate member 104. The rod 102 is rotated until the shank section 114 of the rod 104 is aligned adjacent to the check nut 118 (such that no threads are visible on 102a after adjustment), which signifies that desired second position is achieved. Thus, the rod 102 may be moved from the first 5 position to the second position and vice-versa. Further, the requirement of additional hole to hold the rod 102 in the first position and the second position is eliminated.
[0024] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, 10 by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or 15 terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein. 20

CLAIMS
We claim,
1. An adjustable tie rod assembly 100 for vehicles, said tie rod assembly 100 comprising:
an elongated rod 102 having first portion 102a and a second portion 102b; and
an intermediate member 104 adapted to receive said first portion 102a of said rod 102,
wherein,
said rod 102 includes an externally threaded portion at first end configured to engage with an internal threaded portion of said intermediate member 104;
said rod 102 defining an axially extending slot 106 near said first portion 102a; and
said rod 102 is adapted to be rotated relative to said intermediate member 104, whereby said rod 102 moves from a first position to a second position and vice-versa to vary a length of said rod 102 from L1 to L2 and vice-versa.
2. The adjustable tie rod assembly 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein said intermediate member 104 includes an integral clamping or securing portion 108 extending towards said rod 102, said clamping portion 108 defining an axial through opening 110 to receive a fastening member 112.
3. The adjustable tie rod assembly 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second portion 102b of said rod 102 includes a shank section 114 of predetermined length l.
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4. The adjustable tie rod assembly 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second portion 102b of said rod 102 is adapted to be connected to a steering ball pin 116.
5. The adjustable tie rod assembly 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein said adjustable tie rod assembly100 further includes at least one check nut 118 disposed between said intermediate member 104 and said shank section 114 of said rod 102, said check nut 118 is configured to tighten said rod 102 against said intermediate member 104.
6. The adjustable tie rod assembly 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rod 102 is held in said first position by aligning said axially extending slot 106 of said rod 102 vertically with said axial through opening 110 of said clamping portion 108 of said intermediate member 104 and engaging said fastening member 112 through said axially extending slot 106 and said axial through opening 110.
7. The adjustable tie rod assembly 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rod 102 is transferred to said second position by disengaging said fastening member 112 from said clamping portion 108 of said intermediate member 104 and rotating said rod 102 relative to said intermediate member 104 to align said shank section114 of said rod 104 adjacent to said check nut 118.
8. The adjustable tie rod assembly 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein said slot 106 along with a pre-defined shank length is adapted for positioning and facilitating adjustment of said tie rod from L1 to L2 and vice-versa.
9. The adjustable tie rod assembly 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fastening member 112 is a cross bolt.