Patent ID: 11859658
Assignee: CNH INDUSTRIAL AMERICA LLC
Field: Mechanical elements (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC F  B | IPC B  F

Claim 0:
1. A steering system for a machine, the steering system comprising:
a control arm having a first end and an opposing second end, the first end configured to couple to a chassis of the machine, the opposing second end defining an upper mounting surface, a lower mounting surface, and a first passage extending therethrough between the upper mounting surface and the lower mounting surface;
a steering knuckle having a knuckle arm defining a second passage extending therethrough, the steering knuckle configured to couple to a steering linkage assembly of the machine to facilitate turning the steering knuckle;
a ball joint having a ball portion and a shaft portion extending from the ball portion, the ball portion disposed within the first passage and the shaft portion disposed within the second passage, the ball portion defining a conical recess that (i) has an opening at an upper end of the ball portion and (ii) terminates inside the ball portion with a shaft head pocket;
a mounting plate positioned along the upper mounting surface, the mounting plate defining a first sensor passageway;
a ball joint housing disposed within the first passage and coupled to the mounting plate, the ball joint housing defining a ball pocket that receives the ball portion of the ball joint and a second sensor passageway that connects to the ball pocket, the ball joint housing having a peripheral lip extending radially outward from a lower end of the ball joint housing, the peripheral lip positioned to engage with the lower mounting surface; and
a steering sensor including:
a sensor head coupled to a top surface of the mounting plate;
a bushing defining a first chamber and a second chamber;
a connector disposed within the first chamber and extending to the sensor head; and
a driveshaft including an upper shaft head disposed within the second chamber and a lower shaft head that engages with the shaft head pocket, wherein the assembly of the connector, the bushing, and the driveshaft extends along the longitudinal axis and through the first sensor passageway of the mounting plate and through the second sensor passageway of the ball joint housing with the driveshaft extending into the conical recess of the ball portion;
wherein the ball portion is configured to pivot within the first passage of the control arm relative to the longitudinal axis and the shaft head of the driveshaft; and
wherein the ball joint and the driveshaft are configured to rotate together about the longitudinal axis as the steering knuckle is turned.