Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for determining seal failure in a ball joint

US6295863A · kind A · utility

5Cited by
15References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 26, 2000
Grant dateOct 2, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 26, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T403/20
  • WIPO fieldMechanical elements
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A method of determining seal failure is implemented in a ball joint including a stud having a ball embedded in grease within a sealed socket assembly. A dielectric characteristic of the grease is measured to determined if the sealed socket assembly has failed based upon a substantial variation of the measured dielectric characteristic from a predetermined value.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.