Ball joint having extended service life
US5772352A · kind A · utility
16Cited by
17References
11Claims
0Family size
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 6, 1996 |
| Grant date | Jun 30, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 6, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T403/32811
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A ball joint generates play when wear of a ball sheet reaches a predetermined allowable amount so that the end of service life of the ball joint can be recognized by a simple inspection. A spherical portion of a ball stud is interposed between an upper sheet and a lower sheet. The upper sheet is displaced toward the lower sheet when the upper sheet or the lower sheet has been worn due to sliding of the spherical portion. The displacement of the upper sheet is restricted so that the upper sheet is supported at a predetermined position relative to the lower sheet.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.