System and method for detecting overloading, wear and/or failure of a ball joint
AssigneeZF Friedrichshafen AG
InventorsEric HOLMES, Timothy LaBUDA, Joel LAUTERMILCH
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for detecting wear and/or failure of a ball joint. The system having a ball housing which retains a ball head of the ball joint therein. A ball race is received within the ball housing and receives the ball head of the ball joint. An inwardly facing surface of the ball race engages the bail head such that the ball head can pivot in relation to the ball housing. A detection component is supported by the ball race and is spaced from an exterior surface of the ball head by a set distance. The detection component issues an indicator signal to alert a driver when the detection component detects at least one of a worn or a failure condition of the ball joint.
Claims16
A system for detecting at least one of possible failure or sufficient wear of a ball joint, the system comprising:
- a ball housing;
- a ball race being received within the ball housing;
- a ball head being integrally fixed to an end of a ball stud;
- the ball head of the ball stud being received and retained within the ball housing with the ball race separating the ball head from the ball housing, and an inwardly facing surface of the ball race engaging with the ball head so that the ball head is movable relative to the ball housing;
- a detection component being supported by the ball race such that the detection component is initially spaced at a desired distance away from the inwardly facing surface of the ball race;
- and
- upon either failure or sufficient wear of the ball race, the detection component engages with an exterior surface of the ball head and generates an indicator signal alerting a driver indicating that servicing of the ball joint is required.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.