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

Claim 9:
10. A ball joint coupling assembly for a steering system of a machine, the ball joint coupling assembly defining a longitudinal axis, the ball joint coupling assembly including:
a ball joint housing configured to be received within a first passage of a control arm of the steering system, the ball joint housing defining a ball pocket and a first 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 configured to engage with a lower mounting surface of the control arm, the ball joint housing defining a plurality of apertures;
a mounting plate configured to be positioned along an upper mounting surface of the control arm, the mounting plate defining a second sensor passageway that aligns with the first sensor passageway, the mounting plate defining a plurality of slots, the plurality of slots and the plurality of apertures cooperatively receive fasteners to couple the mounting plate to the ball joint housing;
a ball joint including:
a ball portion disposed within the ball pocket, the ball portion defining a conical recess that aligns with the first sensor passageway and the second sensor passageway, the conical recess (i) having an opening at an upper end of the ball portion and (ii) terminating inside the ball portion with a shaft head pocket; and
a shaft portion extending from the ball portion, the shaft portion configured to engage with an interface of a steering knuckle of the steering system; and

a steering sensor including:
a sensor head coupled to a top surface of the mounting plate; and
a driveshaft extending from the sensor head along the longitudinal axis into the conical recess of the ball portion, the driveshaft having a shaft head that engages with the shaft head pocket;

wherein the plurality of slots facilitate rotating the mounting plate about the longitudinal axis relative to the ball joint housing and the ball joint during installation to allow for minor adjustments such that the shaft head of the driveshaft is properly received by and sits within the shaft head pocket of the conical recess of the ball portion;
wherein the ball portion is configured to pivot within the ball pocket 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.