Steering assembly with integrated sensor
AssigneeDana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group, LLC
InventorsAnthony N. Passero, Stoyan I. Stoychev
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A wheel-end assembly for a vehicle enabling the direct measurement of the wheel-end position. The wheel-end assembly includes a knuckle having a kingpin bore and a kingpin disposed within the kingpin bore. The knuckle is at least partially rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the kingpin. A knuckle cap assembly is coupled with the kingpin bore adjacent to an end of the kingpin. In addition, a sensor is coupled with the knuckle cap assembly which measures a position of the kingpin relative to the sensor.
Claims20
A wheel-end assembly for a vehicle, comprising:
- a knuckle having a kingpin bore;
- a kingpin disposed within said kingpin bore, whereby said knuckle is at least partially rotatable about a longitudinal axis of said kingpin;
- a magnet coupled with an end of said kingpin;
- a knuckle cap assembly coupled with said kingpin bore adjacent to said magnet;
- and
- a sensor coupled with said knuckle cap assembly, wherein said sensor measures a position of said magnet relative to said sensor, and wherein said sensor is selectively positionable relative to said knuckle cap assembly.
A wheel-end assembly for a vehicle, comprising:
- a knuckle having a kingpin bore;
- a kingpin disposed within said kingpin bore, whereby said knuckle is at least partially rotatable about a longitudinal axis of said kingpin;
- a knuckle cap assembly coupled with said kingpin bore, wherein said knuckle cap assembly comprises:
- a base portion,
- a mounting portion removably coupled with said base portion, and
- a sensor coupled with said mounting portion, wherein said sensor is selectively positionable relative to the base portion.
A method of determining a wheel-end position, comprising:
- providing a knuckle cap assembly which comprises a base portion, a mounting portion removably coupled with said base portion, a sensor in electrical communication with a controller, and a kingpin, wherein said sensor is selectively positionable relative to said base portion;
- measuring an angular rotation of said sensor relative to said kingpin;
- and
- calculating a turn angle of said wheel-end.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.