Ball joint assembly with wear indication
US7048461B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 20, 2002 |
| Grant date | May 23, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 20, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T403/32737
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A ball joint assembly (10) comprises a socket (12) with a chamber (18), an opening extending through a first axial end (20) of the socket (12), and electrically conductive structure (60) closing the second axial end (22) of the socket (12). An electrically conductive ball stud (30) has a head portion (32) that is received in the chamber (18) and a shank portion (34) that extends through the opening. An electrically conductive bearing member (40) is received in the chamber (18) and provides an electrical connection between the structure (60) and the ball stud (30). An electrically non-conductive biasing member (50) is interposed between the structure (60) and the bearing member (40) and urges the bearing member away from the structure such that, in response to a predetermined amount of wear, the electrical connection between the structure (60) and the ball stud (30) is discontinued.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.