US 12,296,899 B2
Steering system
Jesse Johnson, Shreveport, LA (US); and Joseph Anastacio Higuera, West Monroe, LA (US)
Assigned to Nivel Parts & Manufacturing Co., LLC, Jacksonville, FL (US)
Filed by Nivel Parts & Manufacturing Co., LLC, Jacksonville, FL (US)
Filed on Apr. 1, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/711,116.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/170,408, filed on Apr. 2, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0315101 A1, Oct. 6, 2022
Int. Cl. B62D 5/12 (2006.01); B62D 5/08 (2006.01); B62D 7/16 (2006.01)
CPC B62D 5/12 (2013.01) [B62D 5/08 (2013.01); B62D 7/163 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
13. A vehicle, comprising:
a vehicle chassis;
a front wheel assembly coupled to the vehicle chassis and including a left wheel, a right wheel, a first tie rod operably connected to the left wheel, and a second tie rod operably connected to the right wheel; and
a steering system configured to steer the left wheel and the right wheel of the front wheel assembly, the steering system including:
a steering control configured to receive user input in order to control turning of wheels of the vehicle;
a steering assist assembly operably connected to the steering control and including:
a housing;
a piston slidably arranged within the housing and configured to move axially within the housing;
an axial rod slidably arranged within the housing and spaced apart from the piston, the axial rod configured to move axially within the housing, the first tie rod connected to a first axial end of the axial rod and the second tie rod connected to a second axial end of the axial rod opposite the first axial end;
a shaft operably connected to the steering control and configured to rotate therewith, the shaft configured to engage with the axial rod such that rotation of the shaft causes axial movement of the axial rod, the axial movement of the axial rod causing axial movement of the first and second tie rods so as to turn the left and right wheels of the vehicle; and
at least one anti-rotation arm operably connected to the piston and to the axial rod, the at least one anti-rotation feature configured to prevent rotation of the piston and the axial rod.