US 11,852,235 B2
Ball-joint selector assembly having an internal sensor and detent mechanism
Kirk Ypma, Rockford, MI (US); Dapeng Xu, Shanghai (CN); Shavin Zhang, Shanghai (CN); and Rorbin Luo, Shanghai (CN)
Assigned to GHSP, Inc., Holland, MI (US)
Filed by GHSP, Inc., Holland, MI (US)
Filed on Jul. 22, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/870,943.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/224,989, filed on Jul. 23, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0027900 A1, Jan. 26, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. F16H 59/02 (2006.01); F16H 59/10 (2006.01)
CPC F16H 59/105 (2013.01) [F16H 2059/0269 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A selector assembly comprising:
a housing having a spherical cavity and a detent cavity that extends outward from the spherical cavity;
a positioning sensor positioned within a sensor cavity of the housing, wherein the positioning sensor is adjacent to the spherical cavity and in communication with the spherical cavity; and
a selector that slidably operates within the housing about a center point of the spherical cavity, the selector comprising:
a spheroid member that is contained within the spherical cavity and slidably engages a guide surface of the housing, wherein the spheroid member includes a magnet that is in electromagnetic communication with the positioning sensor;
a first pivot having a first rotational axis that extends through the center point of the spherical cavity;
a second pivot having a second rotational axis that extends through the center point of the spherical cavity, the second rotational axis being perpendicular to the first rotational axis; and
a detent pin that is biased toward a detent surface of the detent cavity and slidably engages the detent surface to define a plurality of selector positions of the selector, and wherein operation of the selector within the spherical cavity and along the detent surface defines the plurality of selector positions that are communicated to a controller via the magnet and the positioning sensor.