Wheel end steering sensor system

• US 20060022420A1
• Filed: 07/29/2004
• Published: 02/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust), Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation (Nexteer Automotive Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lemanski, Brian D., Pressler, John F., Ruppert, Malcolm F. Jr., Richardson, Gordon D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,347,433 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/93.512
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/023 by measuring on the king pin

Abstract

A steerable element angular sensor system may include a sensor having a sensing axis positioned along an axis of rotation of a knuckle, a connector connecting a yoke and a knuckle of a steering system. The sensor may detect rotation of at least one of the knuckle and the connector. Also, the sensor system may include protection from rotation detection interference from linear and angular movements of at least one of the connector and the knuckle. The sensor system may be included within a steerable element assembly and provided within a vehicle.

Claims

1. A steerable element angular sensor system comprising:

a sensor having a sensing axis, the sensing axis positioned along an axis of rotation of a knuckle, a connector connecting a yoke and the knuckle of a steering system;

wherein the sensor detects rotation of at least one of the knuckle and the connector and wherein the sensor system includes protection from rotation detection interference from linear and angular movements of at least one of the connector and the knuckle.

2. The steerable element angular sensor system of claim 1 wherein the sensor is provided in a sensor housing positioned on an element stationary with respect to rotation of the connector.

3. The steerable element angular sensor system of claim 2 further comprising a bracket for attaching the housing to the element, wherein the bracket is attachable to a seal of the connector.

4. The steerable element angular sensor system of claim 1 wherein the sensor includes a sensor shaft, the sensor shaft lying along the sensing axis.

5. The steerable element angular sensor system of claim 4 further comprising a sensor arm having a first end attached to the sensor shaft and having a second end for connecting to the knuckle, wherein the sensor arm traces movement of the knuckle about the axis of rotation of the knuckle.

6. The steerable element angular sensor system of claim 5 further comprising a lash free attachment device for attaching the sensor arm to the knuckle.

7. The steerable element angular sensor system of claim 5 further comprising a sensor arm protector for protecting the sensor arm from foreign material.

8. The steerable element angular sensor system of claim 7 wherein the sensor arm protector is attached to a stationary bracket.

9. The steerable element angular sensor system of claim 4 wherein the sensor shaft extends within a bore of the connector.

10. The steerable element angular sensor system of claim 9 wherein the protection from rotation detection interference includes a flexible coupling positioned on the sensor shaft within the bore.

11. A steerable element assembly comprising:

a first housing element including a steering knuckle movable in response to a steering system;

a second housing element;

a connector connecting the steering knuckle to the second housing element;

a sensor having a sensing axis, the sensing axis positioned along an axis of rotation of the knuckle;

wherein the sensor detects rotation of at least one of the knuckle and the connector and wherein the sensor system includes protection from rotation detection interference from linear and angular movements of at least one of the connector and the knuckle.

12. The steerable element assembly of claim 11 wherein the sensor is provided in a sensor housing positioned on an element stationary with respect to rotation of the connector.

13. The steerable element assembly of claim 12 further comprising a bracket for attaching the sensor housing to the second housing element, wherein the bracket is attached to a seal of the connector.

14. The steerable element assembly of claim 11 wherein the sensor includes a sensor shaft, the sensor shaft lying along the sensing axis.

15. The steerable element assembly of claim 14 further comprising a sensor arm attached at a first end to the sensor shaft and connected at a second end to the knuckle, wherein the sensor arm traces movement of the knuckle about the axis of rotation of the knuckle.

16. The steerable element assembly of claim 15 further comprising a lash free attachment device for attaching the sensor arm to the knuckle.

17. The steerable element assembly of claim 16 wherein the lash free attachment device is a flexible coupling.

18. The steerable element assembly of claim 15 further comprising a sensor arm protector for protecting the sensor arm from foreign material.

19. The steerable element assembly of claim 18 wherein the sensor arm protector is attached to a stationary bracket connected to a sensor housing for the sensor.

20. The steerable element assembly of claim 14 wherein the sensor shaft extends within a bore of the connector.

21. The steerable element assembly of claim 14 wherein the connector is a ball joint having a ball stud, wherein the ball stud has a bore receiving the sensor shaft.

22. The steerable element assembly of claim 21 further comprising an attachment feature connecting the sensor shaft to the bore for translating rotation of the ball stud to the sensor shaft.

23. The steerable element assembly of claim 22 wherein the attachment feature is a lash free attachment feature for allowing movements of the ball stud, other than rotation along the axis of rotation, to occur independently of the sensor shaft.

24. The steerable element assembly of claim 23 wherein the lash free attachment feature is a flexible coupling.

25. The steerable element assembly of claim 24 wherein the flexible coupling is an O-ring.

26. The steerable element assembly of claim 22 wherein the bore has a radius for allowing movements of the ball stud, that do not occur along the axis of rotation, to occur without the ball stud bumping into the sensor shaft.

27. The steerable element assembly of claim 21 wherein the ball stud has a ball arm passing through the knuckle, and wherein the sensor shaft is attached to a sensor arm that is attached to the knuckle, wherein rotation of the sensor arm with the knuckle about the axis of rotation of the ball stud is sensed by the sensor.

28. The steerable element assembly of claim 14 wherein the connector is a knuckle pin having a bore receiving the sensor shaft.

29. The steerable element assembly of claim 28 further comprising a bushing surrounding the knuckle pin, the bushing having an opening for allowing the sensor shaft to pass into the bore.

30. The steerable element assembly of claim 28 further comprising an attachment feature for allowing the knuckle pin to translate rotation along the axis of rotation of the knuckle pin to the sensor shaft, wherein the attachment feature further allows the knuckle pin to move axially independent of the sensor shaft.

31. The steerable element assembly of claim 30 wherein the attachment feature further allows the knuckle pin to move angularly independent of the sensor shaft.

32. The steerable element assembly of claim 30 wherein the attachment feature is a lash free attachment feature that provides the protection from rotation detection interference from linear and angular movements of at least one of the connector and the knuckle.

33. A vehicle comprising:

a set of steerable elements;

a steering system for steering the steerable elements;

an electronic control unit for receiving first signals and for sending second signals in response to the first signals to at least one steering assist motor within the vehicle;

an angular sensor provided adjacent each steerable element for providing steerable element angle signals to the electronic control unit, wherein each angular sensor is positioned at a steerable element end.

34. The vehicle of claim 33 further comprising a steering knuckle and a yoke for each steerable element, the steering knuckle rotatably connected to the yoke by an upper connector and a lower connector, wherein each angular sensor is positioned above an upper connector for protection from environmental factors.