US 12,138,981 B2
Central joint device for chassis components
Christoph Werries, Bissendorf (DE); Sören Knopp, Ostercappeln (DE); and Julian Stratmann, Bad Essen (DE)
Assigned to ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG, Friedrichshafen (DE)
Appl. No. 18/019,131
Filed by ZF Friedrichshafen AG, Friedrichshafen (DE)
PCT Filed Jul. 29, 2021, PCT No. PCT/EP2021/071294
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Feb. 1, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/042996, PCT Pub. Date Mar. 3, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 10 2020 210 979.6 (DE), filed on Aug. 31, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0271472 A1, Aug. 31, 2023
Int. Cl. B60G 17/0185 (2006.01); B60G 17/019 (2006.01); F16C 11/06 (2006.01)
CPC B60G 17/0185 (2013.01) [B60G 17/01908 (2013.01); F16C 11/0647 (2013.01); B60G 2204/116 (2013.01); B60G 2400/051 (2013.01); F16C 2233/00 (2013.01); F16C 2326/05 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A central joint device for chassis components configured as a three-point link, comprising:
at least one housing unit;
at least one joint pin unit, which is movably supported at least partially inside of the housing unit; and
at least one sensor unit, which is provided for contactless detection of roll motions and pitch motions of the housing unit and of the joint pin unit relative to one another,
wherein the sensor unit comprises at least one encoder element and at least one sensor element, wherein the encoder element and the sensor element are arranged to be spaced apart from one another and movable relative to one another,
wherein one of the sensor element and the encoder element is arranged at an external surface of at least one cover element of the housing unit.